If you were injured at work, Apex Physical Rehab provides physical therapy for work-related injuries and workers’ compensation cases throughout Houston and surrounding areas. Our orthopedic physical therapists help reduce pain, restore strength and mobility, and safely return you to work and daily activities.
Physical Therapy for Work-Related Injuries
Work-related injuries can affect the back, neck, shoulders, knees, hips, wrists, and other areas of the body. Physical therapy can help restore movement, strength, flexibility, and function while addressing the physical demands of your job. At Apex Physical Rehab, our orthopedic physical therapists develop individualized treatment plans based on your injury, job requirements, and recovery goals.
Common Work-Related Injuries We Treat
- Back and low back injuries
- Neck and cervical spine injuries
- Shoulder injuries and rotator cuff injuries
- Knee injuries
- Hip injuries
- Wrist and hand injuries
- Elbow injuries and repetitive strain injuries
- Sprains, strains, and soft-tissue injuries
- Tendon and overuse injuries
- Work-related fractures and post-surgical conditions
Workers’ Compensation Physical Therapy in Houston
If you have been injured at work, physical therapy may be an important part of your workers’ compensation recovery plan. Apex Physical Rehab works with patients recovering from workplace injuries and provides individualized treatment based on the injury, medical recommendations, functional limitations, and physical demands of the job. Our goal is to help you make measurable progress toward a safe and successful return to work.
How Physical Therapy Can Help After a Work Injury
Physical therapy can help workers recover from an injury while improving strength, mobility, flexibility, balance, and functional movement. Treatment is tailored to the individual’s injury and the physical requirements of their job. Depending on the condition, treatment may include therapeutic exercise, manual therapy, neuromuscular re-education, functional activities, and a progressive return-to-work program.
At Apex Physical Rehab, our physical therapists focus on restoring function and helping patients safely progress toward their work and daily activities. We can also communicate with the appropriate healthcare and workers’ compensation professionals when documentation of functional progress is needed.
What to Expect During Workers’ Compensation Physical Therapy
Your physical therapy program will begin with an evaluation of your injury, movement, strength, mobility, and functional limitations. Your physical therapist will also consider the physical demands of your job and your current ability to perform work-related activities.
Treatment is then tailored to your specific needs. Your therapist may use therapeutic exercises, manual therapy, neuromuscular re-education, balance training, functional activities, and progressive strengthening to help restore your ability to work safely.
As you progress, your physical therapist can monitor your functional abilities and adjust your treatment program based on your recovery. The goal is to help you regain the strength, mobility, and functional capacity needed for your job and daily activities.
Return to Work After a Work-Related Injury
Returning to work after an injury often requires more than simply reducing pain. Your physical therapist can help you rebuild the strength, mobility, endurance, balance, and functional abilities needed to safely perform your job duties.
At Apex Physical Rehab, treatment can be progressed according to your functional improvements and the physical demands of your occupation. We focus on helping you safely return to your normal work activities while reducing the risk of reinjury.
When appropriate, functional limitations and progress can be documented to help your healthcare and workers’ compensation team understand your current abilities and ongoing rehabilitation needs.
Functional Capacity Evaluations for Work Injuries
Some work-related injuries may require an objective assessment of an individual’s ability to perform specific physical job demands. A Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) provides a structured assessment of strength, mobility, endurance, lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, and other functional abilities related to work activities.
Apex Physical Rehab provides Functional Capacity Evaluations for individuals who need objective information about their current functional abilities and work capacity. The results can help provide a clearer understanding of functional limitations and the physical demands an individual may be able to safely perform.
Why Choose Apex Physical Rehab for Work-Related Injuries?
Experienced Functional Capacity Evaluation Specialist: Our evaluating physical therapist is certified to perform Functional Capacity Evaluations (FCEs) and has been performing Functional Capacity Evaluations since 2003. With more than two decades of experience performing functional capacity assessments, our team provides objective evaluations focused on an individual’s physical abilities, functional limitations, and capacity to safely perform work-related activities.
What Does a Functional Capacity Evaluation Measure?
A Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) measures an individual’s physical abilities and functional limitations in relation to specific work demands. The evaluation may assess strength, mobility, endurance, and the ability to safely perform common job-related activities. Depending on the individual’s injury and occupational requirements, an FCE may evaluate:
- Lifting and carrying
- Pushing and pulling
- Sitting, standing, and walking tolerance
- Bending, squatting, kneeling, and reaching
- Balance and coordination
- Strength and muscular endurance
- Repetitive and sustained physical activities
- Ability to perform specific job-related physical demands
How Functional Capacity Evaluations Help With Return-to-Work Decisions
A Functional Capacity Evaluation can provide objective information about an individual’s ability to perform physical activities that may be required at work. The findings can help identify functional limitations, determine appropriate work restrictions, and guide recommendations for a safe return to work.
Depending on the individual’s condition and job requirements, an FCE may help evaluate whether a person can safely perform essential physical demands such as lifting, carrying, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, bending, or repetitive activities.
At Apex Physical Rehab, FCE findings are interpreted in the context of the individual’s injury, functional abilities, job requirements, and specific occupational demands.
What to Expect During a Functional Capacity Evaluation
A Functional Capacity Evaluation typically involves a series of standardized physical and functional activities designed to assess how an individual performs under specific work-related demands. Your physical therapist will review your medical history, injury, current symptoms, job requirements, and functional limitations before beginning the evaluation.
During the evaluation, you may be asked to perform activities such as lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, bending, reaching, walking, standing, or other tasks relevant to your occupation. Your therapist will monitor your performance, physical responses, and ability to safely complete the required activities.
The goal is to provide objective information about your current functional capacity and how it relates to the physical demands of your work.
Who May Benefit From a Functional Capacity Evaluation?
- Workers recovering from a work-related injury who need an objective assessment of their current physical abilities.
- Individuals preparing to return to work after an injury, surgery, or extended period of rehabilitation.
- Workers with ongoing functional limitations who need their ability to perform specific job demands evaluated.
- Employers and workers’ compensation professionals who need objective information about functional abilities and work-related physical demands.
- Attorneys and other professionals who require objective functional information related to a work injury or return-to-work process.
What Does a Functional Capacity Evaluation Report Include?
Following the evaluation, the findings are compiled into a detailed report describing the individual’s observed functional abilities, limitations, and performance during the assessment. The report may address physical demands such as lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, positional tolerances, and other work-related activities.
The FCE report can provide objective information that helps healthcare providers, employers, workers’ compensation professionals, and other relevant parties better understand an individual’s current functional capacity and ability to perform specific work demands.
At Apex Physical Rehab, our goal is to provide clear, objective functional information that can assist with rehabilitation planning, work restrictions, job demands, and return-to-work decisions.
FCE Services for Workers’ Compensation and Legal Professionals
Functional Capacity Evaluations can provide objective information when questions arise about an individual’s ability to safely perform the physical demands of work. At Apex Physical Rehab, our FCE services are designed to provide clear, functional information that can assist with return-to-work planning, work restrictions, rehabilitation planning, and understanding an individual’s current work capacity.
Our evaluations may be useful in workers’ compensation cases involving questions about functional limitations, physical job demands, return-to-work readiness, or ongoing work restrictions. For additional information about the Texas workers’ compensation system, visit the Texas Department of Insurance Division of Workers’ Compensation
FCE information may be useful to injured workers, employers, healthcare providers, workers’ compensation professionals, attorneys, and other authorized parties involved in the rehabilitation and return-to-work process.
Our FCE services may assist with:
- Return-to-work evaluations
- Work restriction assessments
- Evaluation of physical job demands
- Functional capacity documentation
- Lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling assessments
- Standing, walking, sitting, bending, and reaching tolerance
- Workers’ compensation rehabilitation planning
- Objective functional information for authorized legal and professional use
Functional Capacity Evaluations in Houston, Katy, Missouri City, and the Heights
Apex Physical Rehab provides Functional Capacity Evaluations for individuals who need objective information about their physical abilities and work capacity. Our evaluations are designed to assess functional performance in relation to specific physical job demands and return-to-work requirements.
With convenient locations serving Houston, Katy, Missouri City, and the Heights, Apex Physical Rehab provides accessible FCE services for injured workers, employers, healthcare professionals, workers’ compensation professionals, and authorized legal representatives. We also serve surrounding communities, including Sugar Land, Stafford, Richmond, and the greater Houston area.
Our team focuses on clear, objective functional information that can help support return-to-work planning, work restrictions, rehabilitation decisions, and understanding of an individual’s current physical capabilities.
Schedule a Functional Capacity Evaluation in Houston
Need objective information about an individual’s functional abilities or work capacity? Apex Physical Rehab provides Functional Capacity Evaluations for injured workers, employers, healthcare professionals, workers’ compensation professionals, and authorized legal representatives throughout Houston and surrounding communities. Contact our team to discuss your FCE needs and scheduling options.