Work Hardening Program

The Work Hardening Program is an interdisciplinary, individualized, job specific program of activity with the goal of return to work.  Our work hardening program uses real and simulated work tasks and progressively graded conditioning exercises that are based on the individual’s measured tolerances.  Work hardening provides a transition between acute care and successful return to work and is designed to improve biomechanical, neuromuscular, cardiovascular and psycho-social functioning for the worker.  Programs can vary from 4 to 8 hours a day, lasting anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks.

Criteria For Admission

  1. Physical recovery sufficient to allow for progressive reactivation and participation for a minimum of 4 hours a day for 3 to 5 days a week.
  2. A defined return to work goal
  3. A documented specific job to return to
  4. Documented on-the-job training
  5. A job title agreed upon by VRC and worker, verified by a vocational evaluation, and transferable skills assessment with job analysis and labor market survey.
    1. A worker must be able to benefit from the program, which is determined through evaluations by different disciplines.
    2. The worker must be nor more than 2 years past date of injury (exceptions may be made for workers with injuries that have required long-term medical care; i.e. extensive burns and injuries with multiple surgeries)

Program Components

  • Individualized work simulation
  • Ergonomic training
  • Assessment for adaptive devices
  • Body mechanics training
  • On site job coaching
  • Assess and treat fears of return to work
  • Assess and treat psycho-social barriers to return to work (i.e. depression, anxiety, sleep deprivation, anger)
  • Energy management
  • Medication evaluation, management and reduction
  • Physical conditioning
  • Aerobic capacity training
  • Endurance training
  • Coordination training
  • Safety and injury prevention
  • Promotion of worker responsibility and self-management