Occupational & physical therapy
Click on the type of therapist from the table below to learn about the general description for the nature of the service. Click the type of practitioner from the list on the right to find your local provider.
| Driver rehabilitation | Physicial therapists |
| Hand therapists | Rehabilitation therapy |
| Occupational therapists | Speech pathology |
| Books and publications of interest | Blogs, newsletters and feeds of interest |
| Professional acronyms | Interesting and helpful information |
Treatments used by occupational and physical therapists may include exercise, patient education, water therapy, ultrasound, therapeutic massage, mobilization and physical movement and heat and ice. In addition, occupational therapists are trained in the prescribing and use of adaptive equipment and will be able to recommend an appropriate piece of equipment if needed. The goal of the individualized treatments are to improve function, increase flexibility and strength and decrease pain. Such goals are usually realized by improving muscle tone, muscle length, muscle strength, balance and stability, joint mobility and range of motion.
Among the specialty therapies by occupational and physical therapists are:
Driver rehabilitation occupational therapists, sometimes with a title of "CDRS", can help drivers who have experienced numerous issues often related with aging, including strokes, arthritis, vision problems, and similar issues. Performance issues for aging drivers.
Hand therapy - the art and science of evaluation and treatment of conditions or injuries to the upper limbs, including the hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder. Specialized skills in assessing, planning and treatment are used to provide therapeutic intervention to prevent dysfunction or restore function with an aim to enhance the ability to execute tasks and participate in activities.
Occupational therapists enable people to live life to the fullest by helping promote health and live better with illness, injury or disability. Among the broad area of practice, occupational therapists may become involved in mental health, productive aging, health and wellness, work an industry and rehabilitation, disability and participation.
Physical therapists can help achieve and maintain mobility and quality of life without surgery or prescription medicine in many cases. Physical therapists have extensive clinical experience to examine, diagnose, and then prevent or treat conditions that limit the body's ability to move and function in daily life.
Rehabilitation therapy refers to the therapeutic, healing treatment a patient receives after an illness or injury and strives to help people recover from challenges or problems and function at their best ability.
Speech pathologists assess, diagnose, treat and help to prevent disorders related to speech, language, cognitive-communication, voice, swallowing and fluency. Speech, language and swallowing difficulties can result from a variety of causes including, but not limited to, stroke, brain injury or deterioration, voice pathology, hearing loss or emotional problems. The pathologist will use special instruments as well as qualitative and quantitative assessment methods to analyze and diagnose the nature and extent of impairments. A speech-language pathologist will develop an individualized plan of care, tailored to the needs of each patient.
