What is occupational therapy?

Occupational therapy is a health care specialty that helps people accomplish the things they want and need to do when an injury or medical condition makes it difficult. With a holistic approach, occupational therapy aims to improve your quality of life while you recover from an injury.

Injuries to the upper extremity, including the hand, wrist, and elbow, can limit your ability to perform normal activities at work and home. The occupational therapists at Southern Oregon Orthopedics & Paragon Orthopedic Center are trained in hand treatments designed to increase the function of your upper extremity.

When would I need occupational therapy?

Occupational therapy may be right for you if an injury or medical condition causes pain or difficulty during daily activities like household chores, personal care, and work tasks.

At Southern Oregon Orthopedics & Paragon Orthopedic Center, highly trained occupational therapists work with people of all ages who have various conditions, such as:

• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Arthritis
• Tendonitis
• Burns
• Amputations
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Hand, wrist, and arm fractures
• Congenital deformities
• De Quervain’s tenosynovitis
• Trigger finger
• Dupuytren’s contracture
• Nerve entrapments

These conditions can cause hand, wrist, or elbow pain. Depending on the specific condition, you may experience a range of other symptoms as well, including decreased range of motion, stiffness, and muscle weakness.

What does occupational therapy entail?

The occupational therapists at Southern Oregon Orthopedics & Paragon Orthopedic Center create a personalized treatment plan for you. They thoroughly evaluate your condition and ask about your daily activities at work or school and home.

Depending on your needs, occupational therapy treatment may include:

• Custom braces or splints specially made for your injured body part
• Manual therapies such as massage and soft tissue mobilization
• Stretching to improve range of motion and flexibility
• Strengthening exercises to restore functioning
• Injury prevention techniques

They may also teach you how to perform daily activities with modifications to accommodate your condition.

Injuries to the hand, wrist, and elbow are common, but that doesn’t mean you have to endure the challenges they present. Call the hand-certified occupational therapy team at Southern Oregon Orthopedics & Paragon Orthopedic Center or request an appointment online today.