The conservative care of occupational therapy is one of the most effective ways to treat pain and regain daily function. In fact, the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) says it best when describing the vast importance of occupational therapy:
“Occupational therapy is the only profession that helps people across the lifespan to do the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of daily activities (occupations). Occupational therapy practitioners enable people of all ages to live life to its fullest by helping them promote health, and prevent—or live better with—injury, illness, or disability.”
If you or your child is living with a condition or have sustained an injury resulting in movement restrictions, frustration, and limitations, occupational therapy could be the answer you’re searching for.
Your treatment is not complete until you feel that your overall quality of life has been vastly improved. Rest assured that your goals are also ours, and we’ll stop at nothing to make sure you reach them.
Call Hand in Hand Rehabilitation, OT, PC today to learn more about how our occupational therapists can help you enjoy a higher quality of life.
What can occupational therapists help with?
Occupational therapists are extremely helpful and knowledgeable professionals who specialize in helping people maintain their daily routines, find relief from their chronic pain, and learn how to accomplish tasks with ease more comfortably.
For example, occupational therapy for a young patient may include using a special tool to make cupcakes at home. If an adaptation to a utensil needs to be fashioned, an occupational therapist will do it. This unique approach makes occupational therapy a vital part of health care.
There are several different conditions and circumstances that Hand in Hand Rehabilitation, OT, PC’s skill OT’s can treat and/or help with.
Recovery from stroke
If you or a loved one has experienced a stroke, occupational therapy can help. The long-term goal of any stroke rehabilitation plan is to improve physical function. Sometimes, a patient may have to relearn basic skills, such as walking, dressing, writing, speaking, or eating.
At Hand in Hand Rehabilitation, OT, PC, our advanced methods and modalities are equipped to help you relearn, recover, and reclaim your life. Some of the most common treatment techniques we use are explained by ChoosePT as being particularly successful in stroke rehabilitation:
- Motor imagery and mental practice. This helps the patient regain function in their arms, hands, feet, and legs by “rehearsing” the action out loud before performing it. This helps rebuild the responses between the brain and the body.
- Positioning. Positioning is used to help with transfers, such as sitting to standing or sitting to lying down. It works to reduce muscle pain, spasms, slowness, and stiffness, by helping the patient relearn proper positioning of their body.
Wrist and hand injuries
Have you sustained an injury to your wrist or hand? An occupational therapist can help you as you heal your injury so that you can strengthen your muscles in order to accommodate your lifestyle and physical activity. This will help make frequent daily chores, as well as strenuous, repetitive motions, much easier for you to do!
Your OT can also provide manual techniques for relief, such as targeted massage, pressure, and stretching of the affected area(s) to keep muscles loose and to relieve inflammation.
What is the difference between occupational and physical therapy?
It’s very important to know the difference between physical and occupational therapy, as these areas of practice provide different benefits to patients.
Physical therapy refers to a variety of natural and conservative treatments aimed at relieving pain and promoting healing. You might need physical therapy to help you recover from an injury or chronic pain symptoms.
Occupational therapy, while it is a similar form of conservative treatment, focuses more on rehabilitation and the “relearning” of daily activities. The purpose of occupational therapy is to make daily life easier by participating in treatments and exercises. Occupational therapists (OT’s) are experts at devising new ways for patients to accomplish tasks and goals in their everyday lives.
Occupational therapy at Hand in Hand Rehabilitation, OT, PC is a safe, effective, and non-invasive treatment option that is designed to relieve pain resulting from a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions, sports injuries, workplace injuries, and more. Patients typically see an occupational therapist to regain function in their daily life, help manage chronic pain symptoms and prevent future injury.
Regular appointments with an occupational therapist are ideal for people of all ages, who require guidance or help with a multitude of different conditions!
Call our clinic today
At Hand in Hand Rehabilitation, OT, PC, our occupational therapy plans include an individual evaluation to determine your goals and customized intervention activities to improve you or your child’s daily tasks and activities. Contact us today to schedule a consultation with an occupational therapist. We can help you begin your journey toward recovery and optimized function.
