Workers’ Compensation

What is workers' compensation? 

Workers' compensation is insurance your employer carries that covers your medical expenses after an on-the-job injury. The insurance usually covers some of your wages if your injury requires time away from work, as well as vocational rehabilitation if you can't return to the same job. 

What injuries qualify for workers' compensation?

Workers' compensation covers all injuries sustained while performing your usual work duties. This includes overuse injuries from repetitive movements. For example, the insurance covers carpal tunnel syndrome and nerve damage caused by holding power equipment for a long time.

You may also get workers' compensation for illnesses that occur as a result of your work environment. You may develop lung disease after years of inhaling dust or fumes, to give you one example.

The most common work-related injuries include:

• Soft tissue injuries (muscle strains, tendon tears)
• Slips, trips, and falls
• Being struck by an object
• Accidents involving tools
• Car and truck accidents
• Repetitive use injuries
• Construction accidents
• Crush injuries
• Lifting injuries

You can sustain many types of injuries, including a fracture, abrasion, sprain, or chronic pain.

How do I get workers' compensation?

If you suffer a workplace injury, you should immediately seek medical attention and tell your supervisor. You'll also need to file a claim, but notifying your employer and taking care of your health should be your first priority.

To ensure you get your workers' compensation benefits, your initial treatment must be done at an Occupational Health Care Clinic. Then your provider at the clinic may refer you for physical therapy and rehabilitation. After 28 days, you can choose any provider to continue your care. 

How is a workers' compensation injury treated?

Back to You Osteopractic Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation frequently treats people injured on the job. They specialize in a wide range of therapies that ease your symptoms, heal your injury, and help you rehabilitate so you can return to work as soon as possible.

During your first visit, your provider does a thorough evaluation, including a physical assessment and a functional capacity evaluation. Based on your injury, they create a customized treatment plan that may include one of many possible therapies, such as:

 Physical therapy

• Massage therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Work hardening
• Spinal manipulation
• Mechanical traction
• Vestibular therapy
• Craniosacral therapy
• KT Taping

Your provider also completes all the evaluations needed for your workers' compensation claim and recommendations for returning to work.

If you need to recover and rehabilitate from a workplace injury, call Back to Your Osteopractic Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation or book an appointment online today.