Work Hardening Program

What is work hardening?

For people with work-related injuries and chronic pain, Bryn Mawr Rehab offers a range of therapies through RehabWorks, a worker rehabilitation program that brings together a multidisciplinary team to support people who have lost functional capacity due to a work-related illness or injury. Through goal-oriented treatment, patients who attend RehabWorks receive care that allows them to heal medically, physically and emotionally. 

From injury prevention to pain management, we take a creative approach to helping patients overcome work-related injuries. Our state-of-the-art RehabWorks facility has cardiovascular and isokinetic equipment, an on-site therapeutic pool and a work-hardening center. In this center, we combine physical therapy and occupational therapy with work simulation activities for the practice, modification and instruction of work tasks.

Patients in worker rehabilitation also have access to:

Occupational health and worker evaluation services

In addition to our intensive therapy options, we identify and address occupational health issues through a comprehensive range of specialized evaluation services. We’ve designed these evaluations to maximize employee health and productivity while containing health care costs. Evaluation services include:

  • Functional capacity evaluation
  • Independent medical evaluation
  • Pre-employment physical demand level screenings
  • Physiatrist evaluation
  • Psychological evaluation

Patients who participate in therapy at RehabWorks are often working-age professionals who have suffered a traumatic injury or serious illness. Many recovering patients need to regain their strength and relearn necessary skills. Our staff helps make the transition to the workplace as smooth as possible.

Related specialties

Horticultural Therapy Center

Getting well doesn’t just happen from a hospital bed or inside a gym. Sometimes, letting patients get back to nature is the key to physical and psychological recovery.

Pain Management

Our pain management program includes a range of therapeutic techniques, whether you need chronic back pain treatment or relief from pinched nerves. We also draw on integrative medicine approaches to complement traditional pain therapies to give you the safest, most effective results.

Parkinson's Disease Treatment Program

The frustrating effects of Parkinson Disease can take a toll on a patient’s abilities and self-image. However, a customized therapy plan can help Parkinson patients make significant gains.

Hand Therapy

A hand therapy specialist is well-versed in a variety of methods and works to develop a personalized regimen for the unique needs of every patient. Our patients come from all walks of life—from young athletes to long-term arthritis sufferers to accidental burn victims.

Vestibular Therapy

At Bryn Mawr Rehab we help patients with chronic or acute dizziness and vertigo get back to active, normal living. With several outpatient locations in the western suburbs of Philadelphia, there’s sure to be a vestibular therapist near you.

Stroke Rehab

Inpatient and outpatient stroke rehabilitation treatment and complex stroke treatment. We develop a unique stroke rehab therapy plan that help patients immediately build on their strengths and learn to compensate for limitations.

Spinal Cord Rehab

Where you’ll receive innovative inpatient and outpatient spinal cord rehabilitation care at one of the country's most respected acute rehabilitation hospitals, and 92 percent of our inpatients reach their goals upon discharge and 83 percent of outpatients meet theirs.

Equestrian Therapy

Equine-assisted therapy provides physical as well as cognitive benefits for a person’s recovery. As the horse walks, the repetitive swinging motion helps to improve the person’s balance, coordination and strength and muscle tone through the trunk and legs. Cognitive skills improve because riding requires balance, stability, timing and planning.