Highly specialized services provided by occupational therapists are offered for individuals with injuries or disorders of the hands or upper extremities. These injuries/disorders often include: burns, crush injuries, fractures, amputations, arthritis, joint replacements, sports injuries or problems related to repetitive motion. The LIFE Center Rehab Department offers the latest in evaluation and rehab technology for hand and upper extremity conditions, like hand occupational therapy. Patients can be evaluated for both functional performance and level of effort by using equipment such as our Dexter Evaluation System or the BTE Work Simulator.
Hands Physical Therapy Program Goals
- Restore functional range of motion
- Restore fine and gross motor strength
- Expedite and facilitate return to work
- Minimize pain and edema
- Restore function of extremity
Treatment
- Symptom management through use of modalities
- Splints
- Therapeutic exercises
- Active and passive range of motion
- Diagnosis specific education
- Joint protection training
- Energy conservation training
- Training in activities of daily living
- Work Conditioning/Work Hardening
- Wound care
- Scar management
Work Hardening
Our Work Hardening program offers an employee who has sustained a work related injury the ability to increase their functional ability in a safe and controlled environment. This program is available for those employees who no longer have a job to return to, or if the company does not offer modified duties.
Wound Care
Patients who have wound care needs on an outpatient basis can have those needs met through the SOMC Rehab Services Department at the LIFE Center. These needs may include wounds from burns, trauma or compromised circulation. We offer convenient parking and extended hours of operation that will meet the needs of those folks with the busiest of schedules. We can meet the needs of a patient of any age from newborn to adult.
Treatment philosophy centers around the concept that the body naturally heals itself. Therapeutic intervention simply promotes a healthy healing environment within the body.
Rehabilitation goals include:
- When possible, remove the source of the wound. (For instance, a tight, unpadded shoe over a wound to the heel of the foot will prohibit the body’s normal healing process.)
- Prevent infection: protective dressings and patient education are critical components.
- Promote healing: various cleansing techniques are utilized to remove dead tissue, making it possible for prescribed medications to work most effectively. Specialized dressing applications can also enhance healing of the wound.
- Patient education: instruction in nutrition, skin care, and healthy lifestyle habits supplement treatment interventions, allowing for optimal recovery.