The WorkCover and TAC schemes are designed to help people live with or recover from injuries. Exercise is an important part of this journey. There is no doubt exercise is important for everyone, even more so for those who are suffering from injuries. It is widely accepted as an important component of healthy recovery from injury, and has specifically been shown to reduce pain and improve function in manual wheelchair users, assist in the treatment of depression and improve the symptoms of traumatic brain injury. Of course, while it may be easy for an injured person to accept that exercise would be beneficial to them, it can be much harder to begin an exercise program when you are still dealing with restrictive pain. If you are injured and looking to begin exercising again, it is important to do so with advice from your doctor, specialist or allied health professional. Seeking guidance in your return to exercise will ensure you get the best results for your efforts and do not cause yourself further injury. You should speak to your doctor about your exercise and recovery goals, and ask them to advise which allied health treatment, gym or swim program would benefit you. If your doctor recommends treatment or exercise programs in relation to your injuries, and you are being supported by WorkCover or the TAC, it is very likely you would be entitled to have these treatments or programs paid for. For these payments to occur your doctor is required to make a written request to your WorkCover insurer or the TAC and provide medical evidence in support. We encourage you to speak with your doctor about how to integrate beneficial exercise into your life in a way which accommodates your injuries and how WorkCover or the TAC can help you achieve this. If your insurer does not provide reasonable treatment related to your injury, we can assist you to dispute their decision. Keep in mind that decisions of the TAC must be disputed within 12 months and this time limit is very strict. Under the WorkCover scheme, it is advisable that you request conciliation to dispute your insurer's decision within 60 days. If you or someone you know has been injured in a workplace or traffic accident and would like information about your entitlements under the WorkCover or TAC schemes, call one of our expert lawyers on (03) 9321 9988.