A workplace injury can make it difficult to perform your job, take care of everyday responsibilities, and enjoy the activities you normally do. Whether you have experienced a sudden injury at work or developed pain over time from repetitive movements, physiotherapy can play an important role in your recovery.
At Nova Physiotherapy in Langley, our physiotherapists help workers recover from workplace injuries through individualized treatment and rehabilitation programs tailored to their specific injury, physical demands, and recovery goals.
Your involvement is an important part of the rehabilitation process. We take the time to explain your treatment options, discuss your progress, and consider your goals, concerns, and job requirements when developing your recovery plan. This collaborative approach keeps you informed and involved at every stage while ensuring your treatment remains focused on your individual needs and ability to return to work safely. For accepted WorkSafeBC claims, physiotherapy treatment may be provided at no direct cost to the injured worker.
“When people have a work-related injury or disease, we help them get the health care and rehabilitation services they need.”
Understanding How Work Injuries Develop
Work injuries can develop gradually from the repeated physical demands of a job or happen suddenly during an accident or unexpected movement. Tasks such as lifting, carrying, reaching, bending, typing, or standing for long periods can place ongoing stress on muscles, joints, and other tissues. When the body is repeatedly exposed to the same movements without adequate recovery, certain areas can become irritated, strained, or overloaded.
Work injuries can also be influenced by posture, workplace setup, physical conditioning, and movement patterns. Over time, reduced strength, limited mobility, or repetitive movements can make everyday work tasks more difficult for the body to tolerate. Physiotherapy can help address these contributing factors by improving strength, mobility, movement, and physical function, which helps your body better handle the demands of your job and reduces the risk of further injury.
What Are Common Work-Related Injuries?
Work injuries can happen in virtually any occupation. Construction workers, healthcare professionals, office employees, warehouse workers, tradespeople, and other workers can all experience injuries related to the physical demands of their jobs.
Some common workplace injuries that may benefit from physiotherapy include:
- Low back pain and back strains
- Neck pain and muscle strains
- Shoulder injuries
- Rotator cuff injuries
- Knee injuries
- Sprains and strains
- Repetitive strain injuries
- Tendon injuries
- Joint pain and stiffness
- Soft tissue injuries
- Work-related muscle tension
- Injuries caused by slips, trips, or falls
Work-related injuries can also develop gradually. Repetitive lifting, reaching, prolonged sitting or standing, awkward positions, and other repetitive tasks can contribute to pain and movement problems over time.
Nova Physiotherapy treats a wide range of conditions affecting the spine, upper body, and lower body, including low back strains, shoulder pain, sprains and strains, knee injuries, and soft tissue injuries.
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety has a full list of workplace Diseases, Disorders and Injuries here.
Typical Symptoms Associated with Work Injuries
The symptoms of a work injury can vary depending on the type of injury, the physical demands of your job, and how your body responds to activity and recovery. Some symptoms may appear immediately following an injury, while others can gradually become more noticeable over time. Common symptoms associated with work injuries include:
- Pain during or after work-related activities
- Stiffness after sitting, standing, or working for extended periods
- Muscle tightness, soreness, or tenderness
- Swelling or inflammation
- Reduced strength, flexibility, or range of motion
- Numbness or tingling
- Difficulty lifting, reaching, bending, walking, or performing other job-related tasks
- Fatigue or reduced endurance throughout the workday
- Pain or discomfort that becomes worse as the workday progresses
- Difficulty returning to normal duties after an injury
How Can Physiotherapy Help with a Work Injury?
The goal of physiotherapy isn’t simply to make your pain feel better. A comprehensive rehabilitation program is designed to help you restore movement, strength, flexibility, and physical function so you can safely return to your normal activities and, when appropriate, your job.
Your physiotherapist can assess your injury and identify factors that may be limiting your recovery. Treatment may then include a combination of hands-on therapy, therapeutic exercises, education, and other appropriate physiotherapy techniques.
At Nova Physiotherapy, treatment options may include:
The specific treatment approach depends on your injury and your individual needs. Nova Physiotherapy’s physiotherapists perform an assessment that includes your medical history, physical examination, functional assessment, and identification of barriers to returning to work.
Physiotherapy Can Help You Return to Work Safely
Getting back to work after an injury isn’t always as simple as waiting until the pain disappears.
Depending on your occupation, you may need to lift, carry, bend, climb, stand for extended periods, perform repetitive movements, or complete other physically demanding tasks. Returning to these activities too quickly can make it difficult to recover fully.
Physiotherapy can help you gradually rebuild the strength, mobility, endurance, and confidence needed to perform your job safely.
Your Langley physiotherapist can also identify potential barriers to returning to work and help develop a rehabilitation plan around your specific job requirements. If you are unable to immediately return to your regular duties, your rehabilitation may include modified or alternate duties while you continue recovering.
Is Physiotherapy Covered by WorkSafeBC?
If your workplace injury claim has been accepted by WorkSafeBC, physiotherapy treatment may be covered as part of your rehabilitation.
Nova Physiotherapy is a registered WorkSafeBC provider and directly bills WorkSafeBC for approved claims. This means that, once your claim has been approved, you can receive physiotherapy treatment without paying the clinic directly for covered services.
It’s important to report your workplace injury to your employer and WorkSafeBC before seeking treatment. Nova Physiotherapy also recommends seeing your doctor for a medical assessment, although a doctor’s referral is not required to get started with physiotherapy.
What Should You Do After a Workplace Injury?
If you have been injured at work, taking the appropriate steps early can help get your recovery moving.
1. Report your injury
Tell your employer about the injury and report it to WorkSafeBC.
Not sure how to get started? This article is a great place to start: How to report an injury to WorkSafeBC and what to expect.
2. Get medically assessed
Nova Physiotherapy recommends seeing your doctor for a full medical assessment, particularly after a significant injury or when symptoms are severe or persistent.
3. Start your rehabilitation
Once your claim has been accepted, physiotherapy can help address your pain and physical limitations and begin the process of restoring your function.
4. Follow your treatment plan
Your physiotherapist may provide exercises and other recommendations to complete between appointments. Following your rehabilitation program can help you make steady progress.
5. Work toward a safe return
Your rehabilitation program should take into account what your job actually requires. The goal is to help you return to your regular activities and work safely when you are ready.
What If You Still Have Pain After Returning to Work?
Returning to work doesn’t necessarily mean your rehabilitation is finished.
Some workers may be able to return to their jobs while continuing treatment for an injury. Nova Physiotherapy notes that WorkSafeBC may continue paying for treatment when ongoing physiotherapy is considered necessary by the treating healthcare professionals.
If you’re experiencing pain, weakness, reduced mobility, or difficulty performing your regular duties after returning to work, speak with your healthcare providers about your ongoing recovery.
Physiotherapy for Work Injuries in Langley
Getting better from an injury can be frustrating, particularly when you are worried about getting back to work and your normal routine.
Recovering from a workplace injury takes more than simply treating your symptoms. It requires a personalized rehabilitation plan and ongoing support to help you safely regain your mobility, strength, and confidence. As part of the WorkSafeBC provider network, Nova Physiotherapy works with injured workers throughout their recovery, focusing on their individual needs and the physical demands of their work. Our goal is to help you make steady progress and return to your daily activities and job– safely and confidently.
Our Langley physiotherapy team provides individualized rehabilitation for people recovering from workplace injuries. Your physiotherapist will assess your condition and develop a treatment plan based on your injury, physical limitations, and recovery goals.
Book Your Physiotherapy Assessment in Langley
If pain or injury is preventing you from living your best life, don’t wait for symptoms to worsen.
A comprehensive physiotherapy assessment can identify the cause of your discomfort and create a personalized recovery plan designed to get you moving again.
At Nova Physiotherapy in Langley, we’re committed to helping you recover, move better, and stay active for years to come.
Ready to Start Treatment? – No Referral Needed
If you’re in Langley and looking for professional, compassionate care, the team at Nova Physiotherapy is ready to help you move pain-free. You can book your consultation online today to take the first step toward reaching your highest physical potential.
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