Occupational Therapy at University Hospitals Helps Patients Return to Normal Daily Activities

Occupational therapists at University Hospitals Rehabilitation Services use functional assessments to evaluate patients before devising individualized treatment plans. Working collaboratively with the referring physician and physical medicine doctor, our professional therapists offer effective occupational therapy treatment that allows patients to do daily activities and fulfill career responsibilities without further injury or pain.

Individualized Goals and Occupational Therapy Treatment

Each patient’s needs are carefully taken into consideration during occupational therapy. Working collaboratively with the occupational therapist, each patient will have specific goals established and therapies to help meet these goals. Occupational therapists focus on improving upper body strength and function. The focus of improving function includes maximizing independence of activities of daily living (self-care, home management, hand writing), return to work or school, and play/leisure activities.

Conditions

Occupational therapy at UH treat a variety of conditions. These may include:

• Arthritis
• Brain Injury
• Burns
• Cerebral Palsy
• Chronic pain
• Complex regional pain syndrome
• Fractures of the shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand
• Sports injuries
• Tendon injuries, sprains, strains
• Work injuries

Treatments

Occupational Therapy at UH use various treatment strategies and approaches to return their patients to the activities they love. They may include:

• Activity and environmental modifications
• Adaptive Equipment training
• Custom splints and orthotics for hands, wrist, elbow, fingers
• Ergonomics
• Driver evaluations
• Functional capacity evaluations
• Certified Hand Therapists
• Joint protection techniques
• Lymphatic therapy
• Manual therapy
• Neurological rehabilitation
• Shoulder, elbow, wrist rehabilitation
• Strength, coordination, and flexibility exercises
• Work conditioning