Functional activities versus work hardening in the rehabilitation of the injured worker.

A correlational study was carried out to consider whether a program based on a work-hardening paradigm would result in objective improvements in return-to-work rates relative to a functional-activities approach. Subjects, 165 nurses, were obtained from the Alberta Workers' Compensation Board Rehabilitation Centre client files. The clients were described relative to their age, accident-to-admission times, length of stay, and other relevant measures. A logistic regression was carried out to ascertain whether a work-hardening program versus a functional-activities program would be more effective in facilitating return-to-work rates. The logistic regression was carried out controlling for other relevant predictor variables. The results indicated that clients who received a work-hardening program were statistically more likely to return to work.