Work-Related Injury Physiotherapy in Newmarket
Hurting yourself at work affects more than your body. It can mean missed shifts, worry about your job, and pain that follows you home at the end of the day. Physiotherapy can help you recover, manage the pain and get back to work safely. At FIT Physiotherapy in Newmarket, we treat work-related injuries one-on-one, give practical advice about your job, and help with the return-to-work paperwork your employer may need.
Work injuries are common. Sprains and strains alone make up about 34% of all allowed lost-time claims in Ontario every year, according to the WSIB, as reported by the Infrastructure Health & Safety Association. Many are muscle and joint injuries that often respond well to early, active treatment.
If you have an approved or pending WSIB claim, our partner clinic Spectrum Physiotherapy handles WSIB treatment. Our guide to work injuries and WSIB explains how the claim process works. If your injury is not going through WSIB, for example it came on gradually, you are self-employed, your employer or a disability insurer is covering your care, or you are using extended health benefits, you can book with us directly.
Hurt your back at work? First steps
- Tell your employer as soon as you can, and write down when and how the injury happened.
- Report it to WSIB if it applies. Most Ontario employees are covered, and your employer has a duty to report the injury too. For WSIB treatment, our partner clinic Spectrum Physiotherapy can help.
- Keep gently active. Short walks and normal movement within your comfort level usually help a sore back more than bed rest.
- Get assessed early if the pain is severe, getting worse or spreading down your leg.
- Go to emergency right away if you have new leg weakness, numbness around the groin or inner thighs, or trouble controlling your bladder or bowels.
Common work injuries we treat
- Low back strain from lifting, carrying, bending or twisting
- Neck and upper back pain from long hours at a desk, driving or looking up overhead
- Shoulder injuries from repetitive reaching, overhead work or pushing and pulling
- Wrist, elbow and forearm strain, including repetitive strain from typing, tools or assembly work
- Knee and ankle injuries from slips, trips, ladders or uneven ground
- Pain that built up over time, where there was no single accident
How we treat work injuries
- We start with your job. Your first assessment takes about an hour and covers your injury and the physical demands of your work: what you lift, how long you sit or stand, and which tasks hurt.
- We ease the pain. Hands-on treatment and drug-free options help calm things down so you can move more comfortably.
- We rebuild strength and movement. Progressive exercise in our on-site training facility prepares you for the real tasks your job involves.
- We look at how you work. You get practical workstation, posture and lifting advice to lower the strain on the injured area.
- We plan your return. Your physiotherapist helps you build up to full duties step by step, so you return when your body is ready.
Return-to-work support
Getting back to work often involves paperwork. We can complete return-to-work forms for your employer, such as Functional Abilities Forms, and give clear updates on what you can safely do while you recover. Many people return sooner on modified or reduced duties, then build back to their full role.
Employer-paid care, return-to-work programs and disability insurers
Not every work injury goes through WSIB. FIT works with employer-paid physiotherapy and return-to-work programs, and with private disability insurers. If your employer or insurer is covering your care, let us know when you book and bring any claim or authorization details you have. Your physiotherapist will work with you, and with the people managing your claim, on a treatment plan and a safe, gradual return to your duties.
When to start physiotherapy
The sooner, the better. Starting physiotherapy within the first days or weeks after an injury can help keep you moving and prevent a short-term problem from becoming a long-term one. No doctor’s referral is needed to book.
Seek urgent medical care first if you have numbness around the groin, loss of bladder or bowel control, new weakness in a leg or arm, or a suspected fracture or head injury.
Frequently asked questions
Can I come to FIT if my injury isn’t a WSIB claim?
Yes. We treat work-related injuries through extended health benefits or private payment, and we direct bill most insurance plans.
Do you work with employer-paid programs or disability insurers?
Yes. FIT works with employer-paid physiotherapy and return-to-work programs, and with private disability insurers. Let us know when you book and bring any claim or authorization details.
I’m not sure whether to file a WSIB claim. What should I do?
Report the injury to your employer and write down the date it happened. Our WSIB guide walks through the forms and options, and you can call us if you are unsure which route fits your situation.
My pain came on slowly from my desk job. Does that count?
Yes. Many work-related problems, such as neck, shoulder and wrist pain from computer work, build up gradually. Physiotherapy and workstation changes can help.
I’m self-employed. Can you still help?
Yes. Self-employed workers usually are not covered by WSIB, so treatment goes through your own benefits or private payment.
How many sessions will I need?
It depends on the injury, how long you have had it and the demands of your job. After your first assessment, we will give you a plan and an estimate of how long recovery may take.
Book an assessment
If a work injury is keeping you from doing your job comfortably, we can help you get back to it. Call 905-235-5360 or book online. FIT Physiotherapy is at 20 Charles Street in Newmarket, serving workers across York Region.
You may also want to read about physiotherapy for back pain and what happens at your first visit.
