Why Physical Ability Testing Is Helpful for Work Environment

Physical Ability Testing is a tool used in the work environment to identify the physical demands of a job and the ability of an employee to complete essential functions safely and efficiently.

Physical Ability Testing is important for several reasons. Keep reading to learn more about its benefits.




Benefits of Physical Ability Testing

Physical Ability Testing can help prevent any injury at work. It’s beneficial for both employers and employees.

Benefits for Employers

  • Better human resources distribution: When employers know the physical skills of their employees, they can place them in a job that is best suited for their abilities. This will prevent unnecessary injuries and improve team members’ productivity.

  • Prevention of workers’ compensation claims: If employers identify physical limitations before an employee is hired, they will avoid any issues down the road. Employees who get injured performing essential job functions may file for workers’ compensation, costing the company money.

  • Reduced insurance premiums: Physical Ability Testing helps employers create safe work environments, which lowers the cost of insurance.

Benefits for Employees

  • Opportunity for early intervention: If team members know about their physical limitations, they can take action to prevent any further injury. This could include modifying their work duties or going to physical therapy to improve strength and range of motion.

  • Injuries prevention: Early identification of physical limitations helps employees take the necessary precautions to stay safe.

  • Improved job satisfaction: When employees are able to complete essential job functions safely and efficiently, they feel fulfilled and satisfied with their work.

When It’s Better to Take Physical Ability Testing

Physical Ability Testing is recommended as pre-employment testing for jobs with physical demands. Some jobs that would benefit from physical ability testing include:

  • Jobs that involve lifting and carrying heavy objects

  • Jobs that require standing or sitting for extended periods

  • Jobs with repetitive motions

Also, Physical Ability Testing should be taken when an employee has recently been harmed. If an injury occurs and the team member can return to their job, a physical test will determine if they are able to do their essential functions again.




We Have The Tool to Identify Physical Demands of a Job

Great Northern Physical Therapy is the best physical therapy clinic in Bozeman, MT. We offer physical ability testing to help identify any physical limitations an employee may have.

We understand that an injury can occur anytime, and we want to help employers create a safe workplace. For more information about our pre-employment testing services, give us a call today!

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The pelvic floor is certainly a hot topic of conversation for many men and women. Specifically, people begin to focus on their pelvic floor when they are having incontinence, urgency/frequency, prolapse, or pain associated with going to the bathroom or having sex. These are all issues related to pelvic floor dysfunction. But, what many don’t realize, is that your pelvic floor is also integral in one of our most basic functions: breath.

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Not to be left out, the lower abdominal muscles (transverse abdominis) also contribute to this synchronous movement pattern. Working together by relaxing and stretching with inhalation and a “belly breath”, and tightening and drawing inward slightly with exhalation. In this way, the diaphragm, abdominals, and pelvic floor make up an abdominal cylinder that modulates intra-abdominal forces and pressure changes.

When this cylinder isn’t coordinating well together, or if there is tightness or weakness within the system, we see common musculoskeletal complaints: low back pain, SIJ pain, poor stability through the back and pelvis, hip pain, pelvic pain, incontinence, urgency/frequency of urine or stool, prolapse, poor posture, balance issues, and intolerance to exercise.

Our pelvic floor physical therapists can help evaluate these movement patterns and coordination of these systems, and create a treatment approach specific to you and your individual challenges.