How Exercise Physiology may help after a workplace injury

After an injury, it is common for people to lose strength, fitness, confidence and tolerance for physical tasks.

Even when pain has improved, a person may still struggle with lifting, carrying, standing, walking, stairs, repetitive tasks, fatigue or returning to the physical demands of work.

Exercise Physiology focuses on graded, measurable and goal-based rehabilitation.

Support may include rebuilding strength, improving endurance, increasing movement confidence, developing safe exercise routines and preparing the body for daily life and work-related demands.

When to consider Exercise Physiology

Exercise Physiology may be relevant if a worker is experiencing difficulty with:

• Reduced strength after injury

• Reduced fitness or endurance

• Deconditioning after time off work

• Difficulty lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling

• Reduced tolerance for standing or walking

• Reduced tolerance for repetitive work tasks

• Pain flare-ups with activity

• Reduced confidence with movement or exercise

• Post-surgical rehabilitation

• Chronic or persistent pain

• Fatigue and low activity tolerance

• Difficulty returning to physical work duties

• Weight-bearing limitations

• Reduced balance or mobility

• Need for structured gym-based rehabilitation

• Need for hydrotherapy or supervised exercise

Exercise Physiology can be particularly useful when a worker needs a clear, progressive exercise plan to rebuild capacity over time.

What Exercise Physiology support may include

Depending on the person’s injury, goals, work role and insurer requirements, Exercise Physiology may include:

• Exercise assessment

• Strength and conditioning programs

• Functional capacity screening

• Graded exercise rehabilitation

• Work conditioning

• Gym-based rehabilitation

• Hydrotherapy, where appropriate

• Mobility and balance exercises

• Endurance and cardiovascular conditioning

• Manual handling conditioning

• Task-specific strengthening

• Post-surgical exercise programs

• Pain education and activity pacing

• Fatigue management through exercise planning

• Home exercise programs

• Goal setting and progress monitoring

• Return-to-work preparation

• Communication with referrers, insurers and treating providers

• Progress updates and reports where required

The goal is to help the person build physical capacity in a safe, structured and sustainable way.

Functional strengthening and work conditioning

Exercise Physiology can help workers prepare for the physical demands of everyday life and work.

This may include exercises and programs targeting:

• Lifting and carrying

• Pushing and pulling

• Squatting and bending

• Reaching and overhead work

• Grip and upper limb strength

• Core and trunk control

• Walking and stair tolerance

• Balance and coordination

• Standing tolerance

• Repetitive task tolerance

• General strength and endurance

• Confidence with physical activity

Programs are usually progressed gradually based on symptoms, capacity, goals and medical guidance.

Gym-based rehabilitation

Gym-based rehabilitation may be suitable for workers who need structured strengthening, conditioning or functional upgrading.

At Palms, Exercise Physiology sessions may use gym equipment, functional exercises and progressive loading to help improve capacity.

This can be useful for people returning to physically demanding work, rebuilding after surgery, managing persistent pain or working toward specific functional goals.

Sessions may focus on strength, endurance, balance, coordination, mobility, pacing and confidence with movement.

Hydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy may be recommended when water-based exercise is clinically appropriate and approved.

It may be helpful for workers who have pain, stiffness, reduced weight-bearing tolerance, mobility limitations or difficulty starting land-based exercise.

Hydrotherapy can allow people to move, strengthen and build confidence in a lower-impact environment.

The suitability of hydrotherapy will depend on the person’s injury, goals, medical status, access and insurer approval.

Supporting return to work

Exercise Physiologists can assist with graded return-to-work preparation by helping workers build tolerance for physical activity and job-related demands.

This may include:

• Improving general strength and endurance

• Building tolerance for lifting and carrying

• Improving standing or walking capacity

• Preparing for manual handling tasks

• Developing safe exercise routines

• Progressing functional tasks gradually

• Supporting confidence with physical work

• Monitoring fatigue and symptom response

• Helping workers maintain activity between sessions

Exercise Physiology input may help support a worker’s physical readiness for safe and sustainable work participation.

Pain, fatigue and pacing

Persistent pain, fatigue and reduced confidence can make it difficult to return to activity after injury.

Exercise Physiology may support workers with practical strategies to build capacity without repeatedly flaring symptoms.

This may include:

• Graded exercise planning

• Pacing strategies

• Activity monitoring

• Rest and recovery planning

• Education around safe movement

• Gradual exposure to physical tasks

• Flare-up planning

• Exercise routines that fit daily life

• Confidence-building through achievable progression

The aim is to help people move more, build strength and improve participation without pushing beyond what is sustainable.

Communication and reporting

Workers compensation cases often involve several people, including the worker, GP, specialist, employer, insurer, rehabilitation consultant and other treating providers.

Exercise Physiologists can provide clear communication and progress updates to help support coordinated care.

This may include:

• Assessment summaries

• Exercise plans

• Functional recommendations

• Progress updates

• Return-to-work recommendations

• Communication with insurers or rehabilitation consultants

• Liaison with treating providers

• Goal-based rehabilitation planning

Reports and communication are completed according to the referral request, funding approval and clinical need.

Who can refer?

Referrals may come from:

• The injured worker

• A GP

• A medical specialist

• An employer

• An insurer

• A rehabilitation consultant

• A case manager

• Another treating health professional

Funding approval may be required before services commence. Our team can help guide referrers and clients through the intake process.

Where appointments can take place

Depending on the referral, approval and clinical need, Occupational Therapy may be available:

• At our Malaga clinic

• At our Noranda clinic, where suitable

• At home

• In the workplace

• In the community

• Via telehealth, where appropriate

The most suitable appointment location will depend on the person’s goals, injury, functional difficulties and insurer approval.

Working together with other services

At Palms, Occupational Therapy can work alongside other allied health services where appropriate.

This may include Physiotherapy, Exercise Physiology, Occupational Therapy or other treating providers involved in the person’s recovery.

A coordinated approach can help support physical recovery, functional independence, activity tolerance and return-to-work goals.

Getting started

To refer for Exercise Physiology under workers compensation, please complete our referral form or contact our team.

It is helpful to include:

• Worker details

• Claim details, if available

• Insurer or case manager contact details

• Medical certificate or capacity certificate, if available

• Injury details

• Current functional difficulties

• Reason for referral

• Approval information, if already obtained

• Relevant reports or treating provider information

Once received, our team will review the referral and contact you regarding the next step.

How we may help after a work injury

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy may assist with:

• pain-related movement difficulties

• mobility and walking

• strength and physical function

• balance and confidence

• rehabilitation after fracture, soft tissue injury, surgery or hospitalisation

• graded return to activity

Treatment is tailored to the person’s presentation and may focus on restoring movement, rebuilding capacity and improving day-to-day function.

Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy may assist with:

• daily living tasks

• fatigue management

• home and workplace function

• upper limb function

• return to routine

• equipment recommendations where appropriate

• practical strategies to improve independence

For some people, OT may be especially helpful when the injury is affecting self-care, household tasks, work tasks or community access.

Exercise Physiology

Exercise physiology may be helpful where a person needs:

• structured reconditioning

• strength and endurance support

• supervised exercise after injury or inactivity

• physical capacity building

• support returning to exercise safely

Exercise physiology may be especially relevant in later rehabilitation phases where graded exercise and rebuilding confidence are priorities.

Speech Pathology

Speech pathology may be relevant for some people after a workplace injury, particularly where there has been:

• brain injury

• concussion-related communication changes

• cognitive-communication difficulties

• voice changes

• swallowing or mealtime concerns

Support is based on the person’s individual needs and referral.

Common issues after a workplace injury

People recovering from a work-related injury may experience a wide range of functional difficulties depending on the type of injury and their job demands. These may include:

• neck or back pain

• reduced mobility

• weakness or deconditioning

• difficulty with lifting, carrying or physical tasks

• reduced confidence with movement

• difficulty returning to work duties

• challenges with self-care and home tasks

• cognitive or communication changes after head injury

• swallowing difficulties in more complex injury presentations

Not every person will need the same type of support. Therapy should always be based on the individual’s injuries, current function and goals.

Our Therapy Services

Claims, certificates and referrals

In WA, a worker generally makes a workers compensation claim by giving their employer a completed Workers Compensation Claim Form together with a First Certificate of Capacity completed by their treating medical practitioner. WorkCover WA explains that the First Certificate of Capacity records the worker’s description of the injury, the medical assessment, capacity for work and the injury management plan.

If a claim is accepted, treatment and allied health expenses may be payable subject to the rules of the scheme and the relevant approvals. WorkCover WA also publishes maximum fees for health services under the Workers Compensation (Health Services) Fees Order 2025, which applies to compensable health expenses in WA.

Because approvals and claim arrangements can vary, it is best to use wording such as:

• treatment may be funded if approved

• services are subject to claim acceptance and insurer requirements

• final funding decisions rest with the relevant insurer or claims manager

Avoid wording that implies automatic cover or guaranteed approval.

Return to work and workplace rehabilitation

For some workers, recovery also involves formal workplace rehabilitation support. WorkCover WA states that referrals to workplace rehabilitation providers can be made using a Workplace Rehabilitation Referral Form, or on the worker’s First or Progress Certificate of Capacity, and that the injured worker has the right to choose their workplace rehabilitation provider.

At Palms, allied health treatment can support goals that are often important in a return-to-work process, such as:

• improving physical capacity

• rebuilding confidence with movement

• improving function for daily and work-related tasks

• supporting safer participation in home and community routines

Our approach

At Palms, we focus on practical, goal-directed rehabilitation. That means treatment is built around what matters most to the individual, whether that is:

• walking more confidently

• returning to everyday tasks

• rebuilding strength after injury

• improving balance and mobility

• managing physical limitations more effectively

• getting back to work, home or community routines

We aim to make therapy relevant to real life and tailored to each stage of recovery.

FAQ

Can I have physiotherapy after a work injury?

Yes. Physiotherapy is commonly used as part of rehabilitation after a work-related injury where the person has mobility, pain-related movement, strength, balance or physical function needs.

Can treatment after a workplace injury be funded?

In WA, if a workers compensation claim is accepted, the worker may be entitled to compensation for reasonable medical and allied health treatment expenses.

How do I start a workers compensation claim in WA?

WorkCover WA says a worker starts a claim by giving their employer a completed Workers Compensation Claim Form together with a First Certificate of Capacity completed by their treating medical practitioner.

What is a First Certificate of Capacity?

WorkCover WA says the First Certificate of Capacity records the worker’s description of the injury, the treating practitioner’s medical assessment, the worker’s capacity for work and the injury management plan.

Do you offer clinic and home visits?

Yes. We offer clinic and mobile allied health services, depending on the person’s location, therapist availability and clinical suitability.

What services do you provide for workers compensation recovery?

Depending on your needs, we may provide physiotherapy, occupational therapy, exercise physiology and speech pathology.

Can occupational therapy help after a work injury?

Yes, where the injury is affecting daily living, independence, home or work function, upper limb use, fatigue management or return to routine.

Can exercise physiology help after a work injury?

For some people, yes. Exercise physiology may be useful when graded reconditioning, strength, endurance and physical capacity-building are part of recovery.

Can speech pathology help after a work injury?

Sometimes. Speech pathology may be relevant where a person has communication, cognitive-communication, voice or swallowing difficulties after the injury.

Do I need claim approval before treatment is funded?

This depends on the circumstances of the claim and the insurer’s processes. If treatment is being funded through workers compensation, claim acceptance and approval requirements can apply.

External Resources for Workers Compensation Claims in Australia

WorkCover WA
https://www.workcover.wa.gov.au
The primary regulatory body for workers compensation in Western Australia, providing guidelines, resources, and support for workers and employers.

Safe Work Australia
https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au
Offers national policy development, information, and resources on work health and safety and workers compensation.

Australian Government – Department of Employment and Workplace Relations
https://www.dewr.gov.au
Provides information on workplace relations, including workers compensation laws and rights.

WorkSafe Victoria
https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au
A comprehensive resource for workers compensation information, claims, and rights specific to Victoria.

Law Society of Western Australia – Workers Compensation
https://www.lawsocietywa.asn.au
Provides guidance on legal rights and options regarding workers compensation claims in Western Australia.

Important disclaimer: This webpage contains general information only and is not intended to be relied upon as personal clinical advice. While we aim to keep information accurate and up to date, it may not reflect the most current research or your individual circumstances. Palms Physiotherapy & Allied Health does not accept liability for decisions made based on this information without an individualised assessment by an appropriately qualified health professional. If you have concerns, please contact us to book an assessment or speak with your GP/medical team.