Occupational therapy can be widely beneficial for many different conditions. Injured soldiers, recovering athletes or seniors with Parkinson’s may rely on occupational therapy to help them manage symptoms in their regular environments. Our therapists at Performance Therapy Institute address your psychological and social well-being in addition to helping you achieve normal tasks, making treatment vital for physical and mental health. Call us today to schedule your first appointment!
What Is an Occupational Therapist?
An occupational therapist (OT) is a healthcare professional who helps you with physical, developmental, or emotional disabilities overcome barriers that prevent you from participating in the activities you enjoy.
Our occupational therapists at Performance Therapy Institute are highly skilled and experienced professionals who have completed extensive education to become certified. We routinely collaborate with other healthcare professionals, such as physicians and physical therapists, to provide comprehensive care to patients in Franklin, Nashville, Brentwood and Nolensville, TN . We also believe in educating you, your families, and caregivers about using adaptive equipment and techniques to improve your daily living skills and participate in your communities.
Want to learn more? Give us a call today and speak to an Occupational Therapist!
Conditions that occupational therapy treats
The main goal of occupational therapy at Performance Therapy Institute in Franklin, Nashville, Brentwood and Nolensville, TN is to help you achieve greater independence and improve your overall quality of life. Many conditions we treat can have a lasting effect on physical and mental health, so our occupational therapists use a holistic approach to evaluate and treat your needs. Our goal is to help you easily perform daily activities, such as dressing, cooking, and work-related tasks.
Here are some conditions that we use occupational therapy to treat at Performance Therapy Institute:
Neurological disorders: OT can help you with neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and stroke restore your physical and cognitive functions, including balance, coordination, and memory.
Orthopedic conditions: Occupational therapists can help you recover from an array of orthopedic injuries, such as:
- Arthritis: Inflammation of one or more joints, which tends to cause pain and stiffness and can worsen with age.
- Tendonopahty: Conditions that affect the tendons ranging from degenerative tearing to inflammation of the tissue. Our OTs can help you with tendon injuries, such as rotator cuff pain and tennis elbow. We help you regain strength and mobility and prevent further damage to the tendon.
- Nerve entrapment or injuries: Nerve related injuries respond well to occupational therapy treatments. Like carpal tunnel syndrome for example; a condition that causes numbness and tingling in the hand or arm due to a pinched nerve in the wrist.
Mental health conditions: Many people don’t know that certain psychological conditions, such as depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder, can be treated with occupational therapy. Treatment will focus on enhancing social skills and self-esteem and working on coping mechanisms.
Chronic pain: Chronic pain can benefit from the help of an occupational therapist at Performance Therapy Institute because we teach you techniques to manage pain and improve your function.
Work-related injuries: OT can help you regain your strength after a work-related injury. We help you return to work by providing ergonomic education and developing customized treatment plans.
Our team at Performance Therapy Institute is ready to help! Call today to request an appointment with one of our occupational therapists in Franklin, Nashville, Brentwood or Nolensville, TN !
What To Expect With Occupational Therapy
Our occupational therapists at Performance Therapy Institute will conduct a comprehensive evaluation to identify the issues impacting you or a loved one. This exam will include an assessment of your medical history, current symptoms, and other lifestyle factors that could be contributing to your condition.
We will use various treatment strategies to help you achieve a happier, healthier life.
They may include:
Exercises: Occupational therapists may integrate targeted exercises to increase patient strength, flexibility, and mobility.
Adaptive equipment: Our occupational therapist in Franklin, Nashville, Brentwood and Nolensville, TN may recommend using adaptive equipment to help you perform tasks more independently. Some other common types of adaptive equipment used by OTs include:
- Dressing aids: Button hooks, long-handled shoe horns, dressing sticks, sock aids, and elastic shoelaces to facilitate independent dressing.
- Eating utensils: Built-up handles, weighted utensils, plate guards, non-slip placemats, and adapted cups to assist with feeding and meal preparation.
- Bathing and toileting aids: Shower chairs, grab bars, raised toilet seats, and long-handled sponges to enhance safety and independence in the bathroom.
- Reachers and grabbers: Extending tools to help individuals pick up items without bending or stretching.
- Writing aids: Pen grips, weighted pens, and writing splints to improve handwriting and fine motor control.
- Fine motor aids: Hand therapy tools, such as therapy putty, hand exercisers, and grip strengtheners, improve hand function and dexterity.
- Visual aids: Magnifiers, talking clocks, and large print materials help individuals with vision impairments.
Custom splints and orthotics: Splints and orthotics are used to support an extremity and allow for proper alignment. These externally applied devices work to restore functions in the affected area. Examples of orthotics include ankle braces, finger splints, and spinal braces.
Activity modifications: Occupational therapists use activity analysis to break down complex activities into simpler components, which helps patients to learn new skills or improve existing ones.
Ergonomics: Ergonomics helps you adjust to your workplace while dealing with your condition and accompanying symptoms. An OT will assess the different products and systems that need to be designed or rearranged to fit the patient using them. Ergonomics aims to improve workspaces and reduce the risk of injury.
Maintain The Skills You Need For Daily Living And Working
Our rehabilitation programs in Franklin, Nashville, Brentwood and Nolensville, TN can help you achieve goals to develop, improve, and maintain skills needed for daily living and working. Our patient-centered care plans are designed specifically to help you thrive in recovery and achieve a better quality of life. Want to learn more about the benefits of occupational therapy? Call Performance Therapy Institute today to discover how our treatments can benefit you!
Your Next Steps…
Request An Appointment
Receive A Custom Treatment Plan
Work Hard and Progress In Your Recovery
Recover & Enjoy Life Pain-Free!