Background and Purpose. The rising cost of work injuries has been a concern of American Industry for over a decade. Both an increase in on the job injuries, particularly cumulative trauma disorders and their ineffective management have led to this increased cost. The purpose of this study was to examine the programs and changes being made in American industry to reduce the cost of work injuries with particular emphasis directed at the utilization of on-site physical therapy. Subjects. Seventeen companies across the United States with health promotion programs and on-site exercise facilities participated in the study, Methods. A descriptive and qualitative research was conducted. Phone interviews using a self-generated survey was used to gather the information. Results. Eleven of the seventeen companies stated that they utilize on-site physical therapy. The primary goal of the on-site physical therapy program was to expedite the return of the injured worker back to work. Eight of the eleven companies stated that physical therapists were utilized for both prevention and treatment purposes. Companies with on-site physical therapy had more extensive and comprehensive injury prevention programs. Physical Therapists followed by Occupational Health Nurses, were the most utilized professionals in the implementation of prevention programs. Conclusion and Discussion. It appears that the implementation of on-site physical therapy is a main component strategy used to both prevent and effectively manage work injuries. However, because of a small sample size and the fact that all participating companies had on-site health promotion programs and exercise facilities, further research is warranted to confirm this finding.
| Date of Award | Jan 1 1998 |
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| Original language | English |
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