Treatment of the Injured Worker – Getting You Back on the Job!
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, work-related injuries account for over 1.1 million missed days of work. Unplanned days off can be monetarily detrimental, especially if you have a lengthy recovery period ahead of you and physically cannot return.
Work-related injuries are scary to think about, but you can find relief quickly through physical therapy. A physical therapist will work with your place of employment to ensure that worker’s compensation will cover your services. At Rebound Physical Therapy, all you’ll have to think about is recovering and regaining strength so you can comfortably return to your job.
We offer specialized rehab for work injuries that will enhance healing and reduce your risk of future injury. For more information, call our office to schedule a consultation today!
Do I have a work injury?
A work injury can be defined as anything that causes you pain or illness in your work environment. While this can sometimes be an obvious injury, such as a harsh fall off a ladder or an automobile accident while in a company vehicle, work injuries can also be more subtle. Sometimes, people may develop injuries without even realizing they are due to their occupation.
Repetitive stress injuries are common in office-related environments, typically due to improper posture throughout the workday. If you slouch at your computer for prolonged periods of time or tilt your head down to look at a keyboard or important files, you may experience back, neck, or shoulder pain. With time, your spine may even become affected – our spines all have a natural “S” curve but with continued poor posture in the workplace, it can turn into more of a “C” curve.
Tendinitis and carpal tunnel syndrome are also common work-related injuries due to repetitive stress on certain body parts. Tendinitis occurs when the tendons become inflamed by overuse. Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve in the wrist becomes pinched, typically affecting assembly-line workers and desk-job workers. Laborious workers, or those requiring day-to-day heavy lifting, can also be affected by these conditions, as their physically strenuous days put constant strains on the body. Those with physically demanding jobs may also experience chronic pain that can be relieved through physical therapy treatments.
How Will Physical Therapy Benefit Me?
The benefits of physical therapy are vast, and it has been proven that those who participate in physical therapy treatments tend to heal much quicker than those who do not.
Rehab for work injuries is the best option when seeking fast recovery and optimal results.
At Rebound Physical Therapy, we will create a personalized treatment plan for you, based on the specific needs of your condition. We will also provide “work conditioning” to train your body to perform in the correct ways while you’re on the job.
For example, if continuous poor posture is the culprit for the lower back pain you’re experiencing, we will help you improve your posture through core strengthening exercises and stretches. We will also help you implement helpful techniques into your daily work habits to prevent your risk of further injuries, such as:
- Keeping a healthy weight.
- Breaking up your repetitive tasks.
- Scheduling at least 30 minutes of physical activity into your day.
- Practicing correct lifting techniques (with your legs, not your back!)
- Maintaining proper posture throughout the day.
- Listening to your body – take a break if you are painful and seek the help of your physical therapist if it persists.
Call to Make an Appointment
Physical therapy is essential to identify the correct exercises for treatment of the injured worker and getting them back on the job! Contact Rebound Physical Therapy today to get started!
Meet Steve Yuly
Steve was born and raised in Kirkland Washington. He moved to Idaho in 1989 to attend Northwest Nazarene University where he received his undergraduate degree. Steve then went on to earn his master’s degree in physical therapy from Azusa Pacific University in California. He has practiced in the Treasure Valley for over 20 years and has taken extensive course work in functional manual therapy. This type of training allows him to address the whole person and find the compensation patterns that are driving your symptoms. Steve married his wife Tori, in 1995, and together they have two children. When not caring for patients, Steve enjoys spending time with his family and enjoying the great outdoors like backpacking, skiing, mountain biking and fly fishing in our beautiful state of Idaho.
Cranberry-Lemon Cheesecake Bars
Ingredients:
- 1 ¼ cups graham cracker crumbs (about 8 cracker sheets)
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (1/2 stick), melted
- Zest of 1 large lemon, divided
- 1 (8 ounce) package reduced-fat cream cheese, at room temperature
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar plus 2 tablespoons, divided
- ¼ cup sour cream or plain strained yogurt, such as Greek-style
- 1 large egg
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup fresh or frozen (not thawed) cranberries
Directions:
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Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat an 8-inch-square baking pan with cooking spray. Stir graham cracker crumbs, butter and half the lemon zest together in a medium bowl. Press the mixture firmly and evenly into the prepared pan. Bake until lightly browned around the edges, about 10 minutes. Let cool in the pan on a wire rack for at least 10 minutes.
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Meanwhile, thoroughly whisk softened cream cheese, 1/3 cup sugar, sour cream (or yogurt), egg, lemon juice, vanilla, salt and the remaining lemon zest together in a medium bowl.
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Add cranberries and the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar to a food processor. Pulse until well chopped. Add to the cream cheese mixture and stir until incorporated. Pour the filling evenly over the baked crust. Bake until the center appears to be just set, 35 to 40 minutes. Cool to room temperature, then cover and refrigerate until cold, about 4 hours more.
Our Patients Get Great Results
“Caleb got me right quickly! I hurt my knee and couldn’t run anymore and in a month I am back at it! Can’t wait to have his help improving my knee. If you want someone who keeps it honest and knowledgeable he’s the PT for you!” — A.S.
What is Ergonomic Training?
Ergonomic training is the study and practice of improving the way people move and function within their daily life. Emphasis is placed on maximizing efficiency and safety through the use of certain tools or body mechanic strategies, and identifying how certain factors may be contributing to injury. The term ergonomics comes from the Greek language and roughly translates to “fitting a job to the person.”
Physical therapists are trained in ergonomics teaching as a means to help people with injury prevention and resolution. Both the tools used in your home or workplace (everything from your chair to your car to your computer to industry-specific machinery), as well as the way you use these tools are subject to study and modification.
Our physical therapist can determine if these tools and your workplace requirements or home responsibilities are physically suited to you, and if not, what can be done about it.
In other words, fixing your ergonomics at work can drastically decrease your risk of sustaining an injury that may cost you in terms of medical bills, lost wages, and decreased productivity! Of course, ergonomics is not just for the workplace. In truth, everyone in your household needs to have a healthy awareness of good ergonomics in their daily lives, while doing everything from using their smartphone to driving to playing sports.
In addition to ergonomics training, we’ll likely provide you with other physical therapy services to address your symptoms, including therapeutic exercises, joint mobilizations, and modalities such as electrical stimulation or cryotherapy.
