Work Hardening / Work Conditioning

Work Conditioning – Work Hardening

Clinical Reasoning for Sustainable Return to Work

This course provides a structured, evidence-informed framework for the evaluation, design, delivery, and documentation of work conditioning and work hardening programs. Emphasis is placed on clinical reasoning, objective performance measurement, and defensible decision-making related to work readiness and return-to-work outcomes.

Participants will examine how job demands, sustainable work tolerance, work behaviors, and contextual factors interact to influence readiness for work participation. The course distinguishes peak capacity from sustainable capacity, outlines defensible progression and discharge criteria, and addresses common sources of clinical error that contribute to delayed or failed return-to-work outcomes.

Content integrates principles from occupational medicine, exercise science, and work rehabilitation research to guide program selection, dosing, progression, documentation, and stakeholder communication. Special attention is given to ethical practice, scope-of-care considerations, and strategies to avoid unintentional reinforcement of disability.

Through case-based learning, structured decision tools, and practical documentation examples, participants will develop skills necessary to design work-focused rehabilitation programs that support safe, sustainable return to work while meeting clinical, administrative, and medico-legal standards.

Target Audience:
Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Athletic Trainers, and other licensed rehabilitation professionals involved in work rehabilitation, functional restoration, and return-to-work decision-making.

Instructional Level:
Intermediate to Advanced

Learning Objectives:
Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Differentiate work conditioning and work hardening based on job demands, tolerance, and behavioral factors.
• Apply objective criteria to assess sustainable work capacity rather than peak performance.
• Design work-focused programs aligned with documented job demands and real-world constraints.
• Implement progression and discharge decisions based on observed tolerance, consistency, and recovery.
• Document work rehabilitation services using defensible, work-relevant language that supports return-to-work recommendations.
• Recognize ethical and scope-of-practice considerations that influence return-to-work decisions.

Educational Methods:
Didactic instruction, case-based analysis, guided clinical reasoning exercises, structured rubrics, and applied documentation activities.

Continuing Education Units/Contact Hours: 14 Hours

Sponsors: This program is not sponsored by any commercial entity. No commercial support has influenced course content.

Disclosure Statement: All faculty and planners have disclosed relevant financial and non-financial relationships. Any potential conflicts of interest have been reviewed and mitigated in accordance with continuing education standards.

Cancellation & Refund Policy:
Refunds are available in accordance with Matheson’s cancellation and refund policy. Please refer to https://roymatheson.com/policies-payments/ for full details.