Enhance Your Health and Wellness With Our Occupational Therapy Services!
Occupational therapy improves the physical health of people who have injuries, illnesses, and medical conditions. An individualized program is a conservative approach to managing these types of problems.
But it doesn’t do just that – it also improves overall health and wellbeing!
The difference between active and passive therapies
Active therapies
Active therapy focuses on targeted exercises and stretches in order to improve function in the affected area.
The purpose of active treatments is to provide exercises that the patient can do on their own in the later stages of their occupational therapy treatment plan. In fact, many active treatments are designed so the patient can perform them on their own after their PT sessions are over.
Once your pain or discomfort subsided enough that your occupational therapist believes you are ready for active occupational therapy, he or she will set up an exercise schedule specific to your needs.
The exercises prescribed in an active treatment plan are all geared toward helping you gain back your flexibility, range of motion, and muscle strength. These exercises will help provide support to the painful area and will guide you further in your recovery process.
Passive therapies
Passive treatments work to manage pain. The purpose of passive occupational therapy is to help manage and alleviate pain, so you can get back to the activities you love.
By eliminating pain first, the rest of your treatment program will be easier. Passive treatments are done first so you can focus on regaining your strength and function later on in your treatment plan.
Passive occupational therapy can include any combination of these specialty treatments, as deemed fit by your occupational therapist. These include, but are not limited to:
- Iontophoresis
- Electrical stimulation, such as TENS Units
- Hydrotherapy
- Ultrasound
- Massage
- Dry needling
- Ice and heat therapies
- Manual therapy
6 reasons why you should consider occupational therapy
Relieving pain
Manual therapy treatments like soft tissue mobilization, ultrasound, electric stimulation and targeted exercises help relieve pain and restore joint and muscle function. These types of methods also help prevent pain from coming back.
The potential to avoid therapy
When occupational therapy works to heal and reduce pain, the need for surgery is greatly decreased. “For some conditions, including meniscal tears and knee osteoarthritis, treatment by a PT has been found to be as effective as surgery.
Balance treatment and preventing falls
With therapy, an occupational therapist will screen your risk for falling. Exercises will be given to improve your balance in real-life situations. Assistive devices will be given to ensure safe walking. And if you have a problem with your vestibular system, a occupational therapist will perform specific methods to reduce or eliminate the symptoms of vertigo and dizziness.
Improving mobility
With both passive and active treatments, occupational therapy improves mobility. Muscles are strengthened and flexibility is greatly improved. This way you can engage in activities and lead a healthy lifestyle.
Relief for age-related conditions
With aging, the chances of developing osteoporosis or arthritis are increased. An occupational therapist is a trained expert at helping patients recover and manage age-related health problems like osteoporosis and arthritis.
Lowering the risk of developing heart and lung diseases
Occupational therapy is a component of cardiac rehabilitation. To address pulmonary issues, an occupational therapist will help improve your health and quality of life through breathing, strengthening and conditioning exercises. Occupational therapy also helps clear fluid from the lungs.
The proven successes of occupational therapy
Clinical studies support the benefits of therapy for health conditions like osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is one of the ten most common illnesses. “Patients were recruited from the osteoporosis outpatient clinics of Klinikum Südstadt hospital and the University hospital of Rostock to engage in occupational therapy for osteoporosis.
Over a period of 3 months, 44 patients with osteoporosis completed a twice-weekly 30-minute intensive exercise program. The conclusion was that occupational therapy reduced pain and improved function, with the sling exercise patients benefiting most.
The combination of functional improvement and pain mitigation resulted in improved health. This study is just one of the many proving the health benefits of therapy.
Find the relief that occupational therapy can offer today
With our services, you get an individualized treatment plan to address your challenges, needs, and goals. An occupational therapist will help you manage pain, improve chronic conditions, recover from an injury and prevent future chronic diseases.
An occupational therapist will also collaborate with other health professionals to ensure that you get the best of care. Patients are encouraged to be active participants in their treatment plan. All around, occupational therapy is designed to improve your health and help you engage in your regular activities. Contact our offices in New York and Carle Place, NY to find pain relief!
