Do you have an injury or medical condition that is causing you pain, limiting your daily activities, and preventing you from enjoying the things you love? Are you looking for relief for a condition that is holding you back? Would you like to learn more about how occupational therapy can help you eliminate your pain and improve performance? If so, occupational therapy can help you reclaim your life. Contact Reavis Rehab & Wellness Center today to request an appointment!
What can occupational therapy do for me?
Occupational therapy is more than just addressing an injury. At Reavis Rehab & Wellness Center, our occupational therapists focus on your functional needs by implementing certain exercises and activities that promote physical and psychological well-being.
Occupational therapy is a form of treatment that is deeply rooted in science and supported by numerous medical journals. Our Round Rock, TX occupational therapists work hard to help you recover from injuries and regain functional skills. Occupational therapy can benefit all ages, from helping children with disabilities participate in school and social arenas to helping seniors improve their physical and cognitive health.
At Reavis Rehab & Wellness Center, our occupational therapy plans include:
- An individual evaluation to determine patient goals.
- Customized intervention activities to improve daily tasks and activities for the patient.
- An evaluation of outcomes to determine if goals were met and to make changes to the plan if needed.
According to the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), in addition to dealing with your physical well-being, Occupational Therapy practitioners address psychological, social, and environmental factors that may hinder your function. For example, occupational therapy for a mother 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.
What’s the difference between physical therapy and occupational therapy?
While occupational therapy is similar to physical therapy, there are a few distinct differences. Physical therapy focuses on your ability to perform certain movements overall, while occupational therapy focuses on your ability to perform certain movements during daily activities.
For example, if you have suffered a stroke, a physical therapist will work to build back muscle strength, while an occupational therapist will work with you to practice basic skills like walking, eating, bathing, and dressing.
Physical therapy and occupational therapy tend to overlap, as you may begin treatments with a physical therapist and then move on to working with an occupational therapist once your pain is relieved and you have regained enough strength/physical function.
Hand therapy - a specialized form of occupational therapy
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:
- Sprains/strains
- Fractures
- Arthritis
- Tendonitis
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Lacerations
- Amputations
In general, hand therapy focuses on the biomechanical issues of upper-extremity conditions. It’s a patient-centered approach that addresses the needs of the patient, such as being able to lift objects, open a jar, or button a shirt.
There are several interventions that a hand therapist can make, in order to help you comfortably perform daily functions. This may include any combination of therapeutic exercises, mirror therapy, orthosis design, pain management, manual therapy, taping, ergonomics, or compression therapy. There are several activities that a hand therapist may have you perform in order 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:
- Management of acute or chronic pain
- Design and implementation of home exercise programs to increase motion, dexterity, and/or strength
- Training in the performance of daily life skills through adapted methods and equipment.
- Preventative, non-operative or conservative treatment
- Customized splint fabrication for prevention or correction of injury
- Desensitization following nerve injury or trauma
- Sensory re-education after nerve injury
- Conditioning prior to returning to work
Contact Reavis Rehab & Wellness Center for relief!
You feel better emotionally when you can comfortably engage in your hobbies and everyday activities. If you believe you could benefit from occupational therapy, don’t hesitate to request a free consultation today. Reavis Rehab & Wellness Center is ready to get you started on the path toward living a more enjoyable, comfortable, and functional life!
