Occupational Therapy at Body in Balance Rehab in Linwood, NJ
Our occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants help people of all ages participate in what they want and need to do. Occupational therapy helps people function in all environments (e.g., home, work, school, community). It addresses the physical, psychological, and cognitive aspects of well-being.
Occupational therapy can help children with disabilities participate fully in school and develop social skills, help people recovering from injury regain function, and provide support for older adults experiencing physical and cognitive changes. Occupational therapy services typically include:
- An individualized evaluation
- Customized intervention
- An outcomes evaluation to ensure goals are met
- Comprehensive assessment of the home and other environments
- Recommendations for adaptive equipment and its use
- Training in modifying a task or activity
- Guidance and education for family members and caregivers
Occupational therapy can help people stay active in daily life. By improving your skills, showing you different ways to complete tasks, or introducing you to handy equipment, an occupational therapist can help you perform everyday activities with greater ease and satisfaction. An occupational therapist may also recommend changing your home or workplace to promote independence.
Occupational therapy generally provides assessment, treatment, and recommendations in the following areas:
- Arm and hand therapy
- Handwriting aids
- Home modification information
- Cooking and homemaking adaptations
- Eating and dinnerware adaptations
- Ways to make the most of your energy
- Computer modifications
- Workplace or work equipment modifications
- Leisure skill development
- Manual or electric wheelchair use
- Bathtub and toilet equipment use
- Dressing and grooming aids
Specialties offered at our location
- LSVT BIG
- Certified Lymphedema Therapist (CLT)
- Manual Lymph Drainage (MLD)
- Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT)
Occupational Therapy and Parkinson's Disease
The following are positive OT-based approaches to the treatment of patients diagnosed with PD:
- Help develop a daily activity program with periods for ADL, IADL, exercise, leisure and rest that coincide with medication “on” and “off” times
- Train in specific tasks in context
- Teach the biomechanical features of an action, such as donning a shirt. Practice the task, moving from blocked to random practice to improve performance
- Move from frequent to delayed feedback on the task performance. Gradually withdraw feedback as the skills develop
- Use visual cueing techniques such as a mirror, lines on the floor, etc.
- Avoid performing dual tasks
- Use auditory cueing techniques like performing an activity to music by counting or by using a metronome
- Use attentional strategies, mentally rehearsing the sequence of actions in a serial task
- Use visualization techniques for freezing to practice the task and its movement sequences
- Teach strategies to compensate for memory loss and other cognitive deficits
- Institute a stretching program for flexibility
- Help structure the environment to increase motor performance and safety
- Assessment for adaptive devices
- Instruction in motion economy, energy conservation and time management
- Referrals to PD community support and exercise groups
For more information about Occupational Therapy, contact Body in Balance Rehab in Linwood, NJ, today!