Grand Rapids Oam Work Center

Work Conditioning

The Work Conditioning (or OT Functional Strengthening) program at OAM’s Work Center bridges the gap between completing physical therapy and returning to a physically demanding job. You may be referred for Work Conditioning if you have achieved your desired range of motion, but not the level of strength you require at work. We focus on total body strengthening with special emphasis on your injury. Here, job-similar functional exercises are your stepping stones back to work.

OAM is one of only two dedicated work conditioning programs in West Michigan. During your rehabilitation, we incorporate tasks using materials (such as hand tools, boxes and ladders) and motions (such as pushing, pulling, carrying and reaching) like those you would use in your job. Our BTE Primus machine is the most advanced equipment available for hand & upper extremity rehabilitation: counting reps, adjusting resistance, and graphing your progress.

Our rate of successful case resolution is 85%. Thousands of patients have returned to their regular jobs in a full-duty capacity. Our department is staffed by a well-qualified team, including a Registered Occupational Therapist (OT) and Certified OT Assistants. All of our team members have more than 15 years of experience in Work Conditioning.

We treat patients of all ages, for any condition from your neck to your toes, which is the result of any work, auto or personal injury. You don’t have to see an OAM physician to take advantage of our services; we accept patients from any referring physician.

Additional services: FPAs

We also offer Functional Performance Assessments (FPA), a physician-ordered evaluation of a patient’s functional capabilities following an orthopaedic injury. These help your physician determine permanent work restrictions once you have reached maximum recovery.

What happens during my visit?

Patients are typically in our care for 90-120 minutes per session, 3 sessions per week, for 6-8 weeks. During your first visit, we will review your medical history and discuss your current limitations as well as what will be required of you in order to return to work. We’ll do a physical evaluation by observing you in motion and your tolerance with weights to create a treatment plan. Remaining visits will focus on treatment and exercise. Please wear clothing that is loose and comfortable.

Do you take my insurance?

We take many different types of insurances; to confirm we accept yours, please contact our Billing Department at (616) 459-4343.
Please note: We do not accept Medicare or Medicaid insurance.

Our Therapists

Mark Schmidtke, OTR/L (Director)
Mark Schmidtke, OTR/L (Director)
Mark Schmidtke, OTR/L (Director)
Karen Hanenburg, COTA
Karen Hanenburg, COTA
Karen Hanenburg, COTA
Sarah Dykstra, COTA
Sarah Dykstra, COTA
Sarah Dykstra, COTA

Our Location

Call us at (616) 575-7687 to find out how our team can help you get back to work quickly and at the greatest capacity possible.