What is Work Hardening Program and How it Differs From Work Conditioning?

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The work hardening program is an individualized centric, highly structured program. It mainly focuses on healing a person from physical injuries and returning to work. 

This program is mainly designed for patients to return to the pre-injury work level safely and timely. Patients can regain their cardiovascular, metabolic as well as psychosocial functions. 

Along with that, they regain their biomechanical, neuromuscular functions too for their work tasks.  Work hardening is a multidisciplinary approach conducted through a therapist, vocational specialist, or psychologist. 

Furthermore, it deals with other activities to aid in healing, like body strengthening,  flexibility workout, spine and joint exercises, and job task training.

What is Work Conditioning?

A work conditioning program is a rigorous conditioning program that helps patients regain their functions. 

There can be trouble in different bodily functions, and this conditioning can cope with it, namely: systemic, cardiopulmonary,  neurological, musculoskeletal functions. It is an intermediate step to help an individual get back to work. 

The goal is to restore the patient’s physical capacity, give them the ability to function, and prevent any recurrence from the same injury. It also helps the patient reduce the fear of returning to work. 

It mainly includes working on mobility, endurance and strength, and control over the body and functional activities. A typical work conditioning program works for about 2-4 hours a day, whereas for 3-5 days per week.

Who is the One to Gain Benefit from Work Hardening Program?

The program emphasizes treating various conditions of work professionals' patients. It includes:

• Police Officers

• Correction Officers

• Mechanics

• Construction Workers

• Healthcare Providers

• Painters

• Firefighters

• Electricians

• Plumbers

• FBI Agents

• Delivery Drivers

• Post office employees

• and Chef

The Benefits One Gets From Work Hardening

Work hardening vs. Work conditioning programs are different kinds of programs. However, they share the same goal, and the aim is to help relieve patients from the pain and get them back to work. 

The program gets designed keeping in mind to treat work-related, intensive injuries. Therefore, they both share almost the same benefits, which include:

• They are learning systematically the activities that a patient can accomplish safely.

• Ability to practice proper bodily functions and mechanics while also concentrating on body posture

• Increase or enhance your body's ability to tolerate all sorts of functional activities.

• Decrease any pain, stiffness, and other conditions in the body.

• Develop the necessary muscle strength, power, and endurance

• Improve the overall quality of life

Work Hardening Vs. Work Conditioning

People often don't believe it when they hear there are differences between work hardening vs. work conditioning. To burst the bubbles, there are vast differences between the two. 

Work hardening is an individualized, goal-oriented approach designed for employees to heal and get back to work. In contrast, the work conditioning program is an intensive, goal-oriented program to restore musculoskeletal and neuromuscular function. The focus is on restoring joint mobility, cardiovascular endurance, and other abilities. However, both the programs heal and offer labor-intensive pros benefits. 

These programs work for patients addressed with traditional physical therapies and exercises. But, in reality, they haven't regained much or have benefited from it! 

What to Expect From The Program?

Work conditioning and work hardening are about four to eight-week duration since it gets designed to meet each patient's specific needs. And, what suits the patient's needs are also well addressed. The time and length of the program entirely depend on how the patient is healing, the recovery, and so on. 

You can expect the therapist first to evaluate your injuries. Once they have considered the damages, they will move ahead and create a plan for the program. 

Conclusion

Now that you know what the work hardening program refers to, the benefits and why one should consider it. It is time for you to make a move and visit the advantage medical clinic Waxahachie and heal yourself with the program. Focus on regaining your body movement and getting back your strength. 

You will be asked what works best for you to share your expectations. Even if it takes time to heal, you need to be highly motivated. If you know more about work hardening then visit here Advantage health systems.