Occupational Therapy

Regain Your Life Through The Help of JAG PT in NJ, NY, and PA

At JAG Physical Therapy, occupational therapy treatment is a key part of our certified hand therapy services. When patients come to us with a condition of the hands, our licensed occupational therapists and certified hand therapists focus on rebuilding lost skills and functional strength and dexterity. They utilize the latest occupational therapy methods to restore patients’ ability to perform everyday tasks at work, school, at home, or to adapt to doing things in new ways to lessen the impact of a hand condition.

Occupational therapy is ideally suited to support the goals of Certified Hand Therapy (CHT). Since we perceive our hands in terms of the many things we can accomplish with them during good health, healing the hands implies making them more “useful” in the aftermath of an injury or other health event. Our therapists work with patients in a variety of settings designed to mimic everyday activities involving physical movement, and our practice settings help patients perform daily activities and self-care.

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What Is Occupational Therapy?

Occupational therapy is closely related to physical therapy, but it is distinct and uses a number of unique methods. Whereas physical therapy treats the musculoskeletal system directly, occupational therapy is meant to help patients get back musculoskeletal function used for their daily “occupations” – the things that occupy their time, not just at their jobs, but at home and in recreation. This can include personal hygiene, cooking, driving a vehicle, or the type of controlled movement needed to safely navigate public spaces, all of which involves the use of the hands.

Habilitation, rehabilitation, and wellness promotion are central to the success of occupational therapy. Our therapists work to improve an impairment through specific treatments designed to increase mobility, lessen pain, or promote the proper alignment of bones and joints. This can include exercises and massage, as well as other guided movements to help patients prevent future physical injuries.

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The JAG Approach to Occupational Therapy

Since we utilize occupational therapy in a certified hand therapy context, at JAG PT, our OT teams are always up-to-date on the latest data and ideas in the field specifically focusing on the hands. Because the hands are the primary way most people interact with the world around them, all hand therapy patients stand to benefit from occupational therapy treatment.

And because almost all “occupations” are literally hands-on in one way or another, we believe a CHT session is the most effective time to apply OT. Our team knows occupational therapies must consider not only why your abilities are impacted, but also factors in your life such as additional health concerns, your environment, and your daily activities.

Occupational Therapy for Children

Hand therapy for children focuses on helping them safely recover and return to age-appropriate daily activities following injury, surgery, or orthopedic conditions affecting the arm or hand. Our hand therapists work with children who experience pain, stiffness, weakness, or limited movement that impacts their ability to participate in school, play, and self-care tasks.

Our pediatric hand therapy services commonly address conditions such as fractures, tendon or ligament injuries, nerve injuries, post-surgical recovery, and congenital or acquired upper-extremity conditions. Treatment is tailored to each child’s age, diagnosis, and functional goals.

Therapy may include exercises to improve strength, range of motion, coordination, and functional use of the hand and arm, as well as education on activity modification and injury prevention. When appropriate, our therapists may fabricate or recommend splints or adaptive equipment to support healing and promote independence.

Occupational Therapy for Adults

Occupational therapy for adults usually focuses on skills and activities associated with daily living. Individuals who struggle with basic or fine motor skills, and as a result are not fully independent, benefit from working with an occupational therapist. Our OTs can devise an individualized treatment plan that focuses on a patient’s goals and needs.

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What Is the Difference Between Occupational and Physical Therapy?

Both occupational and physical therapists work with patients using hands-on rehabilitative techniques. The common goal is to help people regain their ability to perform physical tasks with as much independence as possible. Both occupational therapists and physical therapists educate individuals on injury prevention and the healing process. However, it can be said that occupational therapy is more “big picture” in terms of building up the abilities needed for a daily routine, whereas physical therapy is more targeted in locating the cause and healing the symptoms of conditions affecting specific body areas.

When you receive occupational therapy for an upper limb condition at JAG PT, your treatment may include a diverse range of methods. Custom orthotic fabrication, managing a custom orthotic to protect upper limb function (to protect complex repairs, stabilize joints, or restore range of motion), various kinds of therapeutic exercise, ergonomic evaluations and recommendations, and adaptive device training may all be used as necessary.

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Leading Occupational Therapists in NY, NJ, & PA

At JAG Physical Therapy, our dedicated and knowledgeable team of physical and occupational therapists will work with you to create a treatment plan that helps you to tackle your goals head-on.

If an injury, joint condition, surgery, or other issue with your hand, wrist, or arm is holding you back, we have the expertise necessary to help you restore your limb function and get back to the life you love. Contact us or schedule an appointment online now to get started.

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