New Program of Care for Lower Extremity Injuries

The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board has now introduced a new program of care for Lower Extremity Injuries. The program is designed for workers who have been diagnosed with acute ankle sprain, an anterior knee injury with patellar tendinopathy, patellofemoral syndrome or a reocurrence. The Board describes the new program as an "experience based health care delivery plan that describes treatments shown to be effective for workers" diagnosed with these conditions.



The objective of the program is to:


" - facilitate early, safe and sustainable return to work

- resolve or reduce clinical signs and symptoms

- improve or restore strength and endurance with an intent to return to pre-injury function

- prevent chronicity

- achieve satisfaction with the quality of care among workers and other stakeholders "


This is the seventh program of care introduced by the WSIB. Other more common programs that workers may be familiar with include; the back and upper extremity program.


The programs of care have been useful in expediting injured workers to specialists in order to determine the nature and level of impairment. Unfortunately, in my experience if the issue is initial entitlement, the physicians are not asked to comment on compatibility of the injury to the duties being performed or the suitability of modified work. This type of information in my humble opinion could assist in the Board's decision making process.