Moving forward in occupational health physical therapy: the journey toward specialization in the United States

Abstract

Background: The Occupational Health Special Interest Group of the Orthopaedic Section of the American Physical Therapy Association has championed the role of physical therapy in the area of occupational health in the United States.

Objective: This article is a brief review of the role physical therapists play in occupational health, competencies for professional development in this practice area, and efforts to achieve physical therapy specialization in the United States through petition to the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties.

Major Findings: Physical therapists have an important role to play in the health, wellness, and sustained function of the working population based on the numbers and types of injuries sustained in the workplace, and chronic problems common to working age adults. Physical therapists can help prevent injury and promote return to work through interventions including ergonomics, job modifications and transitional duty programs, functional testing, case management and communication, and care coordination with workers and other stakeholders. Practice analysis competencies are discussed as the foundation of professional development in the field of occupational health. This article also overviews petitioning materials for specialization.

Conclusion: Physical therapist specialization in occupational health may benefit workers and employers through injury reduction and improved or sustained abilities of the workforce following injury. Specialization will help to promote consistency within the field of physical therapy for external stakeholder recognition of skills, while also promoting knowledge transfer and diffusion of best practice. The specialization petition has not been approved; however the process is ongoing.

Keywords:

• Occupational health
• Physical therapy
• Practice analysis
• Specialization

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to recognize the members of the OHSIG and especially individuals who have contributed to the petition writing process including Kathy Rockefeller, Jill Galper, John Lowe, Lorena Pettet Payne, Deborah Lechner, David Miller, Rick Wickstrom, and Drew Bossen as well as the support of the Orthopaedic Section of APTA and the past OHSIG liaison Bill O’Grady.