Affiliations: Occupational Therapy Department, United Christian
Hospital, Hong Kong | Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong
Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Lau Shun Sang, Occupational Therapy
Department, The United Christian Hospital, 130, Hip Wo Street, Kwun Tong,
Kowloon, Hong Kong. Tel.: +852 2379 4792; Fax: +852 2346 5541; E-mail:
hudsonlauuchot@hotmail.com
Abstract: Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the
effectiveness of a 12-week work hardening program designed for back injured
workers. Study design: In this study, 32 subjects were recruited. Pre-
and post-assessment results were used to measure the program effectiveness. The
intensity of the work hardening program was based on the overloading training
principle. Subjects were contacted by phone three months after the program
completion for their work status. Result: The findings of this study suggested that there was a
significant difference in the subjects' physical demand characteristic level
before and after the work hardening program. Seventy-five percent of the
subjects who completed the work hardening program were able to resume
employment. Conclusion: The rate of returning to work for back injured
workers in this study was comparable to that of other studies. Thus, this study
suggests that the overloading principle should be used in designing a work
hardening program to improve clients' physical function.
Keywords: Outcome measurement, work hardening, return to work
