Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy addresses meaningful life activities that occupy your day. At the basic level, this includes getting dressed, getting to the bathroom, and getting something to eat. On a broader level, occupations can include handwriting, cooking, parenting, driving, playing tennis, painting pictures, whatever skills required to perform the activities that fill your day. Meaningful occupations allow humans to grow and thrive.

If you are recovering from an accident or injury, your valued occupations may be disrupted. Occupational Therapy incorporates these meaningful activities into the rehabilitation process and helps you live life to its fullest no matter your health condition, disability, or risk factors.

Services include:

• An individualized evaluation, during which the client/family and occupational therapist determine the person’s goals.
• Customized intervention to improve the person’s ability to perform daily activities
• Adaptive equipment training
• Home or job site evaluations with adaptation recommendations
• Training for family members or caregivers

Occupational therapy practitioners have a holistic perspective, in which the focus is on adapting the environment and/or task to fit the person, and the person is an integral part of the therapy team. It is an evidence-based practice deeply rooted in science.

Examples of the many different conditions and situations in which occupational therapy can help are:

• Sudden serious health conditions such as a stroke, heart attack, brain injury, or amputation
• Chronic (ongoing) conditions, such as arthritis, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, or pain disorders
• Mental and physical impairments a person has had since birth
• Recovery and return to work after a work-related injury
• Learning disabilities or developmental disabilities
• Mental health or behavioral issues such as Alzheimer’s disease, post-traumatic stress, substance abuse, or eating disorders

• 
  Pediatrics Therapy
  Our experienced pediatric therapists are dedicated to providing the best possible treatment for children.
• 
  Hand Therapy
  Hand therapy is the art and science of evaluating and treating injuries and conditions of the upper extremity (shoulder, arm, elbow, forearm, wrist and hand).
• 
  Therapy for Lymphedema
  Occupational therapy practitioners help patients manage lymphedema by performing exercises, wrapping, or gently massaging the limb to help move lymph fluid up or down into the body. They also provide education on modifying or eliminating habits that might contribute to lymphedema.
• 
  Therapy for Chronic Pain
  Our experts can help reduce the amount of pain that you experience. Using an evidenced-based, individualized approach, we can help you understand your pain so that you can move more comfortably.
• 
  Therapy for Work Related Injuries
  Our team of expert physical therapists will design a treatment plan based on your work-related needs and goals.
• 
  Neurorehabilitation
  Neurologic physical therapists specializes in the evaluation and treatment of individuals with movement problems due to disease or injury of the nervous system.
• 
  Geriatric Physical Therapy
  Geriatrics is the medical subspecialty that focuses on the care of elderly adults. Older adults often have complex medical needs such as multiple chronic diseases that require a team approach to care.
• 
  Adaptive Cycling Program
  These free events enable community members with physical, cognitive and/or sensory impairments to try adaptive bikes in a safe, supported atmosphere. To learn more, please view our brochure here.

Driving Program

Occupational therapy practitioners with specialized training in driver rehabilitation may administer comprehensive driving screenings. This type of driving evaluation typically includes two phases: Phase 1 involves assessing the physical, visual, and mental abilities required for safety driving. Phase 2 involves a standardized, computer-based assessment of motor speed/control, span of attentional field, special judgement and decision making, speed of attention shifting, executive function, and identification of driving situations which are highly predictive of on-road performance.

BIG Program

The BIG program is designed to combat the little movements caused by the decrease of dopamine in the brain. The BIG program retrains your brain using a high amplitude, high effort program.

The BIG program’s design is fun for the patients and therapists! It consists of seven exercises, five tasks chosen by the patient, and a hierarchal task specific to their needs. Hierarchy tasks are everyday tasks that the patient picks such as golfing, gardening, or going out to eat. The program is fun but intense as it involves four sessions a week for four weeks (16 sessions in a month). It also includes daily homework or exercise.

To learn more, please view our brochure here.