Most people go through their workdays without any issues. They might get a paper cut or bang their elbow on the desk, but for the most part, they avoid serious injuries while on the job.
However, data from the National Safety Council indicates that not everyone is so lucky. In 2022 alone, nearly one million people sought help for musculoskeletal injuries like sprains, strains, and carpal tunnel. With this type of work injury, physical therapy can help you achieve a full recovery sooner and prevent further damage.
According to the Academy of Orthopaedic Physical Therapy, implementing physical therapy into a workplace injury treatment plan can help patients get back to work faster, reduce the costs of their treatment, and improve productivity. An approach that focuses on restoring function and preventing further injury, rather than simply minimizing or managing pain, typically has the best results in terms of reducing the number of days out of work.
If you aren’t sure if seeing a physical therapist can help you, this guide explains how seeking New York physical therapy can put you on the road to recovery.
Common Workplace Injuries and Their Effects
Even if you don’t think your working environment is especially dangerous, there’s always a risk that you can get hurt. Based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data, working in construction and other manual labor jobs certainly increases the risk of an accident, but even office workers can sustain injuries that require treatment.
The most common work-related injuries include:
- Repetitive strain injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis
- Muscle strains and sprains
- Slips, trips, and falls
- Crashes or collisions
- Getting hit by an object
- Back pain, usually due to poor body mechanics, improper lifting technique, or sitting at a desk
The signs and symptoms of musculoskeletal injuries can range from minor aches and soreness to debilitating pain. Because these injuries often worsen with time without treatment, getting medical attention as soon as possible is important.
What Is Physical Therapy?
Physical therapy is a personalized treatment designed to reduce pain and discomfort and help patients regain their strength, mobility, and flexibility after an injury or surgery so they can return to their normal activities. Treatment plans often include:
- Active stretches and exercises you’ll do during sessions and at home
- Massage therapy
- Passive movements guided by the therapist
- Non-invasive treatments like hot and cold therapy and electrical stimulation
According to a report from the American Physical Therapy Association, work injury physical therapy not only reduces the need for ongoing and future medical care, it also slashes the risk of hospital admission and improves patients’ overall quality of life. From a cost standpoint, physical therapy significantly reduces the cost of certain injuries; for example, treating carpal tunnel syndrome with physical therapy can save injured workers nearly $40,000.
The Benefits of Physical Therapy After Workplace Accidents
Seeking physical therapy after a workplace accident can help you in several ways.
Restoring Flexibility and Range of Motion
Whether due to the injury itself or how you compensate for the pain and stiffness afterward, injuries can result in joint stiffness and tightness. Working with a physical therapist helps loosen your joints and increase your range of motion and flexibility, making it easier to perform your normal work tasks.
Improving Body Strength
Physical therapy includes exercises that help make your muscles stronger and improve your endurance, which in turn helps you function better. Many physical therapists focus on developing a stronger core to give you a strong foundation for the rest of your body.
Work Conditioning
If your injury interferes with your ability to perform your work tasks, a physical therapist will tailor a treatment plan to help you regain the function you need. Work conditioning begins with an evaluation to determine your functional limitations and targets the treatments to carefully restore your abilities.
Injury Prevention
The focus of work injury physical therapy may be to help you heal, but you’ll also develop strategies to prevent further injuries. Physical therapy integrates occupational health and rehabilitation principles to develop a return-to-work plan that aligns with your functional capacity. Therapists offer education and guidance on ergonomics, safety principles, and workflows to help prevent further injury and pain.
Convenient Physical Therapy New Yorkers Can Trust
If you have an accident at work, immediate medical care is critical to ensuring a fast and full recovery. The sooner you make an appointment with Quantum Physical Therapy & Chiropractic Care for physical therapy in New York, the sooner you can begin your journey and return to your regular routine.
Contact us today for an appointment. Our doctors accept most insurance plans, including workers’ compensation, no-fault, and PIP (personal injury protection), and same-day appointments may be available.
Don’t let a lack of medical documentation derail your worker’s compensation claim. Call Quantum Physical Therapy & Chiropractic Care, a team specializing in work-related injuries who can provide assistance to support a successful claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you want to know more about how physical therapy can help with a work-related injury, contact the office for an appointment, and check out these frequently asked questions.
When Should You Begin Physical Therapy Following an Injury at Work?
Start physical therapy as soon as possible after sustaining an injury at work to prevent the injury and symptoms from worsening and to prevent muscle weakening or atrophy and nerve damage.
Can Physical Therapy Decrease Healing Time?
Physical therapy can help you recover from an injury more quickly, because it helps prevent you from performing “bad” movements to compensate for the pain or limited mobility caused by the injury. You won’t have to spend as much time undoing any additional damage.
How Long Will I Need Physical Therapy After a Workplace Injury?
Typical work injury physical therapy treatment plans take six to eight weeks to complete. Most soft tissue injuries heal within that period. However, individual plans may vary, and you’ll undergo treatment for as long as it takes to achieve your goals.