While it’s estimated that 78 percent of Fortune 500 companies offer some sort of programs related to health and wellness,1 relatively few companies have comprehensive health promotion programs that educate employees, encourage behavior change, teach skills and provide incentives. Examples of such programs include health screenings, health-related seminars, ongoing fitness/wellness classes, health prevention programs, fitness facilities and on-site physical therapy programs.

Unquestionably, the concept of on-site physical therapy/wellness programs is as diverse as the combination of services that are available. In fact, definition of wellness is often a matter of perception. Corporate programs range from occasional screenings and seminars to full-fledged fitness facilities, comprehensive screenings and programs that are tracked and evaluated on an ongoing basis. Studies have shown that the more comprehensive a program, the more successful it will be in terms of participation and reduction of health care costs.2

Although worksite physical therapy is a relatively new trend, the concept of rehabilitating injured workers to return to productive work has existed since World War I when programs were developed to help integrate soldiers back into the work force.

Typical on-site physical therapy services include back-care programs, work station analysis and instruction on proper lifting technique. Some companies even have on-site physical therapy facilities where treatment modalities are administered, evaluation of injuries is provided, and treatment plans for rehab and transitional programs are developed.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 8th, 2012 at 6:20 am and is filed under Wellness. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.