An Occupational Therapist Could Change Your Life
You Can Live More Comfortably Through Occupational Therapy
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 you’re nodding your head “yes” to all of these questions, occupational therapy may be a good fit for you.
Occupational therapy is a great way to learn how to perform daily tasks with ease.
Our occupational therapists at Synergy Therapeutic Group in Carbondale and , IL can help you reclaim your life. Contact Synergy Therapeutic Group today to request an appointment!
What’s the difference between PT and OT?
Although occupational therapy and physical therapy are identical, there are a few key differences.
Physical therapy focuses on the patient’s general ability to perform specific movements, while occupational therapy focuses on the patient’s ability to perform specific movements during everyday activities.
A physical therapist, for example, will work with a stroke patient to strengthen back muscles, and an occupational therapist will work with a stroke patient to learn practical skills such as walking, feeding, bathing, and dressing.
Physical therapy and occupational therapy also overlap, as a patient can begin care with a physical therapist and then transition to working with an occupational therapist after their pain has been relieved and they have recovered sufficient strength/physical function.
How can occupational therapy help me?
Occupational therapy is a form of treatment that is deeply rooted in science and supported by numerous medical journals, and it’s about much more than just addressing an injury at the surface level!
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.
At Synergy Therapeutic Group, our occupational therapists in Carbondale and , IL focus on the functional needs of each patient by implementing certain exercises and activities that promote physical and psychological well-being.
Our occupational therapists work hard to help people recover from injuries and regain functional skills.
At Synergy Therapeutic Group, our occupational therapy plans in Carbondale and , IL 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 an individual’s physical well-being, Occupational Therapy practitioners address psychological, social, and environmental factors that may hinder an individual’s functioning in different ways.
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.
All about hand 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. 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, 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.
Hand therapy is used to treat several conditions surrounding the upper extremities, including but not limited to:
- Tendonitis
- Sprains/strains
- Fractures
- Amputations
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Lacerations
- Arthritis
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:
- Desensitization following nerve injury or trauma
- Customized splint fabrication for prevention or correction of injury
- Preventative, non-operative, or conservative treatment
- Training in the performance of daily life skills through adapted methods and equipment
- Conditioning before returning to work
- Sensory re-education after nerve injury
- Management of acute or chronic pain
- Design and implementation of home exercise programs to increase motion, dexterity, and/or strength
See if occupational therapy could help you
You feel better emotionally when you can comfortably engage in your hobbies and everyday activities. Occupational therapists can make this possible for you.
Therapy has several benefits, but the only way you’ll find this out for yourself is if you call Synergy Therapeutic Group to make an appointment! If you believe you could benefit from therapy, don’t hesitate to contact our Carbondale , IL clinic today.
Synergy Therapeutic Group is ready to get you started on the path toward living a more enjoyable, comfortable, and functional life!
Common Questions
How is adult occupational therapy different from physical therapy?
PT focuses on movement, strength, and physical function (range of motion, walking, gross motor). Adult OT focuses on the daily activities that movement enables — dressing, cooking, returning to work, driving, using your hands for what you love. We often work alongside PT — PT restores how your body moves, we restore what you can DO with it.
When would an adult need occupational therapy?
After stroke or brain injury (relearning daily tasks), after hand surgery, with arthritis affecting hand function, with chronic pain limiting work, with multiple sclerosis or Parkinson disease, after concussion (managing cognitive and visual challenges). If a daily activity has become hard, OT helps.
How long does adult occupational therapy take?
Varies widely — from 4–6 visits for a focused issue (return-to-work after hand surgery) to 6+ months for stroke recovery. We re-evaluate every few weeks and graduate you when goals are met. Our aim is independence, not lifetime therapy.