Return to Work
A return to work assessment measures what your body can safely do after a work injury, so your care and your return to the job can be planned around it. Western Slope Rehab and Performance runs these assessments in Grand Junction for workers in Fruita, Palisade, Orchard Mesa, Appleton, Clifton and the Redlands.
What gets measured
Physical and evaluative testing shows your capabilities and limits as an injured employee.
Strength
How much force the injured area, and the rest of your body, can produce.
Endurance
How long you can keep working before the area tires or pain flares.
Positional tolerance
How you handle positions your job asks for, such as reaching, bending or sustained postures.
Daily physical demands
How your abilities line up with what your day actually requires.
Why testing helps you heal as well as return
The main focus is helping injured employees heal and get back on the job safely. The results point toward the best treatment for you, and they help identify the root of the injury and how further damage can be prevented.
Treatment still comes first: Therapeutic Exercise, Manual Therapy and other care in our clinic work on any problem areas while the assessment guides the plan.
How it connects to your work injury care
Start with the injury
See our Work Injuries & Workers' Comp page for how we treat injuries that happen on the job.
Testing along the way
Measurements can show where you are in recovery and what your body is ready for.
Workers' compensation
We accept workers' compensation. See Insurance for payment details.
Before your assessment
Do I need a referral?
You can start physical therapy without a referral from a doctor in most cases. Some insurance plans, including Medicare, still need a doctor's sign-off on the plan of care. If you are unsure, call us and we will check your plan. See Direct Access. If your employer or insurer needs a particular form, call us and we will talk through it.
How long does the assessment take?
That depends on your injury and the testing needed. Call (970) 314-9822 and we will tell you what to expect.
Plan a safe return to your job
If you were hurt at work in the Grand Valley, contact Western Slope Rehab and Performance in Grand Junction. You can start physical therapy without a referral from a doctor in most cases. Some insurance plans, including Medicare, still need a doctor's sign-off on the plan of care. If you are unsure, call us and we will check your plan. Call (970) 314-9822.
We see patients from Grand Junction and the surrounding Grand Valley: Fruita, Palisade, Orchard Mesa, Appleton, Clifton and the Redlands.