Are You Living With Chronic Pain? Give Occupational Therapy a Try
Do you have a pain-inducing injury or medical condition limiting your daily activities? Are you looking for a way to get rid of a problem bothering you? Do you want to learn more about how occupational therapy can help you get rid of your discomfort and boost productivity?
If this is the case, occupational therapy at Progressive Rehabilitation Associates in Coralville, IO may be able to help you reclaim your life!
Occupational therapy can benefit people of all ages, from helping children with disabilities participate in school and social arenas to helping seniors improve their physical and cognitive health.
If you believe occupational therapy could benefit you, contact Progressive Rehabilitation Associates in Coralville, IA today to schedule your consultation!
What is occupational therapy?
Occupational therapy is a form of treatment deeply rooted in science and supported by numerous medical journals. Our Coralville occupational therapists work hard to help people recover from injuries and regain functional skills.
At Empower Physical Therapy, our occupational therapy plans include:
- An evaluation of outcomes to determine if goals were met and to make changes to the plan if needed.
- An individual evaluation to determine patient goals.
- Customized intervention activities to improve daily tasks and activities for the patient.
While occupational therapy and physical therapy are similar, there are a few key differences. Physical therapy concentrates on the patient’s general capacity to perform certain motions, whereas occupational therapy concentrates on the patient’s ability to achieve specific movements throughout daily activities.
A physical therapist, for example, will help a stroke patient strengthen their back muscles, while an occupational therapist will help the patient practice basic activities like walking, eating, bathing, and dressing.
Physical therapy and occupational therapy sometimes overlap, as a patient may start with a physical therapist and then progress to an occupational therapist once their pain has subsided and they have regained sufficient strength and physical function.
Hand therapy: an OT specialty!
There are different specialties to occupational therapy, and hand therapy is one of them!
Hand therapy focuses on treating orthopedic upper-extremity issues to optimize the functional use of the arm and hand. Hand therapy is used to treat several conditions surrounding the upper extremities, including but not limited to:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Fractures
- Sprains/strains
- Tendonitis
- Arthritis
- Lacerations
- Amputations
Hand treatment focuses on the biomechanics of upper-extremity disorders in general. It’s a patient-centered strategy that focuses on the patient’s needs, such as the ability to lift objects, open jars, and button shirts.
A hand therapist can perform a variety of interventions to assist you in performing daily tasks comfortably. This could include therapeutic exercises, mirror therapy, orthotic design, pain management, manual therapy, taping, ergonomics, or compression therapy, among other things. There are several activities that a hand therapist may have you perform to strengthen your upper extremity after an injury, such as working with putty, using a gripper, or using dumbbells.
There are several benefits to hand therapy, including:
- Sensory re-education after nerve injury
- Design and implementation of home exercise programs to increase motion, dexterity, and/or strength
- Customized splint fabrication for prevention or correction of injury
- Training in the performance of daily life skills through adapted methods and equipment.
- Conditioning before returning to work
- Preventative, non-operative, or conservative treatment
- Management of acute or chronic pain
- Desensitization following nerve injury or trauma
Choosing occupational therapy over other methods could change your life
According to the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), in addition to dealing with an individual’s physical well-being, Occupational Therapy practitioners address psychological, social, and environmental factors that may hinder an individual’s functioning.
Occupational therapy is more than just addressing an injury! At Progressive Rehabilitation Associates, our occupational therapists focus on the functional needs of each patient by implementing certain exercises and activities that promote physical and psychological well-being.
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 for patients. People feel better emotionally when they can comfortably engage in their hobbies and everyday activities.
Request an appointment in Coralville, IA today
Could you or someone you care about benefit from occupational therapy? If the answer is yes, don’t hesitate to schedule a consultation today. Contact our office to get started on the path toward living a more comfortable and functional life!