Physical Therapy vs. Early Intervention
If you have an employee that is complaining of pain or discomfort on the job, you may be wondering what type of treatment you should pursue. Is this a case for early intervention or physical therapy? In this blog post, we will discuss the benefits of both early intervention and physical therapy in worker’s compensation cases and what the difference is between the two.
What is early intervention in worker’s compensation cases and what are the benefits?
Early intervention is a type of preventative treatment that is designed to help employees who are suffering from job-related musculoskeletal pain. Early intervention aims to help employees recover from their discomfort as quickly and safely as possible.
Early intervention is a prevention technique, not a treatment. The goal is to address fatigue and discomfort before it becomes a more serious issue. Therefore, preventing a costly claim for your company.
Early intervention is classified as a first-aid technique under OSHA regulations. This means that an employee that receives early intervention will not be classified as a recordable injury in your OSHA log.
What is physical therapy in worker’s compensation cases and what are the benefits?
Physical therapy is a type of treatment that is designed to help employees recover from job-related injuries. Physical therapy can help employees regain range of motion, strength, and flexibility. Additionally, physical therapy can help to reduce pain and swelling.
Physical therapy is a treatment, not a prevention technique. The goal of physical therapy is to help the employee recover from their injury as quickly and safely as possible.
Physical therapy is classified as a medical treatment under OSHA regulations. This means that an employee that receives physical therapy will be classified as a recordable injury in your OSHA log.
How do you know which type of treatment to pursue?
The type of treatment that you pursue will depend on the severity of the employee’s pain or discomfort. If the employee is in severe pain, then physical therapy may be the best option. However, if the employee is only experiencing mild discomfort, then early intervention may be a better option.
This is a very generalized way of looking at it. The best option is to have a professional from WorkSafe Physical Therapy evaluate the employee and make a determination on which path is correct in a case-by-case scenario.
Unless there is a trauma-type injury or another incident that requires immediate medical attention such as a broken bone, deformity in the joint, etc, the first line of defense that we recommend is early intervention. This will allow us to better recommend if early intervention is appropriate or if further treatment and evaluation are required.
When Should You Seek Out Early Intervention or Physical Therapy for an Employee?
As soon as the employee demonstrates or reports discomfort! It is always better to be proactive than reactive when it comes to addressing pain in the workplace.
Musculoskeletal injuries are very common in the workplace. If treated early, before it becomes an injury, the discomfort will result in very little if any time lost from work or worker’s compensation payout.
The earlier you begin treatment the better the employee will feel and the better your pocketbook will be!
Early Intervention and Physical Therapy with WorkSafe Physical Therapy
At WorkSafe Physical Therapy we offer both onsite early intervention and physical therapy or you can send your employees to our office for treatment in both scenarios!
Knowing the difference between the two types of treatment can be confusing. That’s why our team of experts are here to help! We will work with you to determine the best course of action for your employee.
We understand that every company is different. That’s why we offer a variety of services that can be customized to fit your needs. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you create a healthier workplace!
Early intervention and physical therapy can both be beneficial for employees who are experiencing pain or discomfort at work. However, it is important to know the difference between the two types of treatment to make the best decision for your company.
If you have any questions about early intervention or physical therapy, please contact us today. We would be happy to answer any of your questions.
Contact WorkSafe to find out how we can help your company today!
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