What are Workers’ Compensation Injuries?
Workers’ Compensation Injuries, just as they sound, are injuries that happen to employees while they are working. These injuries may require that you receive physical or hand therapy to safely recover from. SportsCare Physical Therapy and Armworks Hand Therapy are experts in rehabilitating patients who have experienced workers’ compensation injuries from a wide array of occupations. Our physical and hand therapists will work hard to help you recover and return to work as soon as it is safely possible.
Your Choice for Worker Injury Rehabilitation
If you are a worker who has been injured on the job in the state of Oregon, you have the right to choose your physical therapist or hand therapist. However, if your employer is enrolled in a Managed Care Organization (MCO), you will be required to see a physical therapist or hand therapist within that MCO. Both SportsCare Physical Therapy and Armworks Hand Therapy accept ALL Workers’ Comp insurance plans and are on panel with ALL Workers’ Comp MCO plans (Kaiser, Majoris, and Providence).
Causes of Injuries at Work
You may become injured at work for a variety of reasons: unforeseen on-the-clock accidents, job duties that require repetitive body movements, lack of proper lifting techniques, or incorrect ergonomics. SportsCare Physical Therapists and Armworks Hand Therapists have extensive experience treating patients who have experienced workplace injuries. Workers’ compensation injuries are commonly caused by:
- Repetitive movements
- Traumatic injuries like slips, trips and falls
- Poor techniques used when lifting
- Falling equipment or objects
- Equipment malfunctions
- Poor Posture/ergonomics
- On-the-job car accidents
Workplace Injuries We Treat
SportsCare Physical Therapy and Armworks Hand Therapy are dedicated to helping injured employees recover and return to work safely. Our therapists regularly treat these workers’ compensation injuries:
- Neck and mid-back sprains, strains, disc herniation or surgery
- Low back sprains, strains, disc herniation or surgery
- Slips, trips, and falls related injuries
- Elbow, wrist, and hand injuries
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Shoulder, hip, knee, foot and ankle injuries or surgery
- Tendon ruptures, lacerations, and repair
- Muscle strains
- Joint sprains
- Concussions
- Crush or contusion injuries
- Fractures
- Tendonitis in the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, and ankle
Treatment for Injured Workers
At your initial SportsCare or Armworks appointment, your therapist will perform a professional evaluation. Along with assessing your injury and answering any questions you may have; they will collect information regarding your job description, work requirements, and any current work restrictions. In collaboration with your attending workers’ compensation provider, your therapist will design and monitor your individualized treatment plan. Your physical therapist or hand therapist will work hard to help you reduce your pain, rehabilitate your injury, and prevent future injuries so you can return to work safely. At SportsCare and Armworks your work injury rehab program may include:
- Manual Therapy
- Therapeutic Exercises
- Posture and Lifting mechanics
- Work Conditioning
- Treatment and education to reduce inflammation
- Education for injury prevention
- Home Exercise Program
- Extracorporeal shockwave therapy
- Biofeedback training with sEMG
- Spinal Traction
- AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill
- Unweighted Treadmill System
- Aquatic Pool Therapy
- Intermittent Compression with Cold (Game Ready and Normatec)
- Electrical stimulation, ultrasound, and cold/heat modalities
- Joint mobilization/stabilization
- Whirlpool
Frequently Asked Questions
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The best practice is to report a work injury to your employer right away. Early treatment almost always leads to a quicker recovery and can reduce the risk of further injury. After you report your injury, you may see an attending physician/provider who can then refer you to SportsCare and Armworks for your work injury therapy.
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The duration of your work injury rehab largely depends on the type/extent of injury, associated surgeries, and the physical demands of your job. Treatment may be as short as one session for very mild work injury cases, or therapy may last several months for individuals with more severe workplace injuries.
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Your attending physician/provider will work with you on a timeline for returning to work. Your physical therapist or hand therapist will help you along the way to ensure you feel ready and are safe to return to your job duties. Your therapist will be able to physically evaluate your readiness to return to work based on your job requirements and will coordinate closely with your attending workers’ comp physician for your smooth return to work.
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Here is a list of the insurance plans accepted by SportsCare Physical Therapy and Armworks Hand Therapy. If you are unsure of your coverage or if your plan is accepted, please contact one of our offices. We are happy to assist you in learning about your benefits.
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SportsCare Physical Therapy and Armworks Hand Therapy have convenient locations in Gresham, NE Portland, Clackamas, and Beaverton. In addition, Armworks has a location in Lake Oswego and SportsCare has office in Sandy. Location specific contact information can be found here: SportsCare Physical Therapy Locations and Armworks Hand Therapy Locations.