Often, injuries that occur require a more specialized approach to patients struggling with making accommodations around daily activities and functions. Occupational therapy is designed to accommodate exactly these situations.
Petersen Physical Therapy currently offers occupational therapy in our East Mesa office.
Situations where occupational therapy is ideal:
- Rehabilitation after injury or surgery affecting hand, arm, or shoulder function
- Adaptive techniques and equipment training for motor skills and activities of daily living (ADLs)
- Sensory integration therapy for individuals with sensory processing disorders
- Ergonomic assessments and recommendations for workstations to prevent musculoskeletal injuries
- Cognitive rehabilitation for individuals with traumatic brain injury or neurological disorders affecting cognitive function
- Upper extremity rehabilitation for conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome or tennis elbow
- Work conditioning and return-to-work programs for individuals recovering from injury or illness
- Environmental modifications for home or workplace accessibility and safety
- Pediatric occupational therapy for children with developmental delays or disabilities
- Mental health support and interventions to promote independence and participation in meaningful activities
Our approach not only assists with injury recovery but also assists the patient and family members/caregivers in improving the ability to perform the tasks of daily living.
Our outpatient occupational therapy is unique in that our licensed occupational therapists also treat orthopedic and sports related injuries along with improving function in daily activities.
What is occupational therapy (OT)?
Occupational therapy is a branch of therapy that focuses directly on patients whose injury or illness affects their daily activities. The “occupation” refers to the activity – work related, hobbies, and daily endeavors that may be affected by the condition.
Commonly, occupational therapists start your therapy sessions with an assessment of what activities matter to the patient, and go from there. We then design the therapeutic program around purposeful activities designed to get patients back to the activities they’ve had to give up as a result of their conditions.
Occupational therapy vs physical therapy
What’s the difference between occupational therapy and physical therapy? This is a very common question for us. The answer is in the focus of the therapeutic program / sessions. A physical therapist will be focused on a patient’s movement, range of motion, strength, and overall healing from an injury. For this reason, physical therapy can be an invaluable tool to someone attempting to recover from an injury or condition.
By contrast, occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants focus on the tasks and activities that matter to patients most. We then gauge the patient’s progress based on their ability to complete those tasks and monitor the treatment plan as time goes on.
Though OT and PT are similar professions, they are not the same. However, our staff includes professionals who perform both duties. We pride ourselves on being able to provide long term solutions of our patients.
Conditions that respond to occupational therapy
We develop treatment plans for a wide range of conditions ranging from children with sensory processing issues to older adults working to maintain their independence. If you have any of the following conditions or require the following services, occupational therapy may be a good fit for you. We are working with patients for the following:
- Pre- and post-surgical procedures
- Tendonitis
- Joint replacements – hip or knee
- Work related injuries
- Orthopedic injuries
- Huntington’s disease
- Sports injury rehabilitation
- Sensory processing disorder or other sensory integration issues
- Auto accidents
- Self-care / home management training
- Wheel chair management training
- Work Hardening/Conditioning
- Prosthetic Training
Get occupational therapy near East Mesa
Contact our Mesa location to learn more about our Occupational Therapy Services or call us at 480-719-8080.
