Occupational Therapy

Empowering Patients on Their Journey to Wellness

At Florida Orthopaedic Institute, we believe in empowering our patients to regain not just their physical abilities, but also the freedom to pursue the activities and passions that bring them joy and fulfillment in life. Our in-house physical and occupational therapy services are designed to support the rehabilitation needs of our patients, seamlessly integrating with the care provided by our orthopedic physicians.  The very nature of our orthopedic practice often involves integrating patient care with physical or occupational therapists after seeing one of our physicians. Our goal is to offer immediate access to our therapy centers and to start treatment within 24-48 hours of a physician’s referral. This permits seamless care while allowing us to track the quality of your care, ensuring you receive the highest standard of treatment.

Reclaiming Independence and Happiness

Our ultimate goal goes beyond just physical rehabilitation. We strive to empower our patients to regain their independence in everyday activities of life, enabling them to rediscover the hobbies, passions, and pursuits that bring them happiness and fulfillment. Whether it’s returning to an active lifestyle, pursuing creative endeavors, or simply enjoying quality time with loved ones, we are committed to helping our patients reclaim their ability to live life to the fullest. Our therapists work closely with each patient, tailoring treatment plans to their unique needs, goals, and aspirations. We believe that by empowering our patients to take an active role in their recovery journey, we can not only restore their physical abilities but also reignite their zest for life, enabling them to embrace the activities and experiences that truly make them happy.

Occupational Therapy Services

Education Related to Prevention

Occupational therapists are skilled in the areas of ergonomics, energy conservation and joint protection. After an initial evaluation with one of our therapists, comprehensive educational sessions can be given to educate people in areas that they can reduce forces/energy that go through painful joints allowing them to return to activities of daily living with less pain and greater function. This type of education can include joint protection, energy conservation, splint/orthotic education, workstation recommendations and adaptive equipment.

Non-Operative or Conservative Treatment

Occupational therapists are well versed in treating the common injuries that do not need surgical intervention. These diagnoses include, but are not limited to: arthritis, tendonitis, sprain/strains, simple fractures, and cumulative trauma injuries/repetitive strain injuries. After a comprehensive evaluation is completed, a customized treatment plan can be developed to maximize outcomes and increasing independence for daily living.

Post-Operative Treatment

After an injury or trauma, surgical interventions are sometimes required. Our experienced staff of occupational therapist are specialized in upper extremity surgical rehabilitation to maximize outcomes allowing people to return to prior level of functioning. Through skilled assessments and interventions, occupational therapists can help to restore strength, range of motion, and functional use through targeted exercises and activities that are graded to progress patients through the post-operative period of recovery.  Skilled occupational therapy has been shown to improve outcomes for patients by regaining function faster and safer by minimizing complications, reducing pain and inflammation, controlling scarring and optimizing outcomes.

Desensitization and Sensory Re-Education

Following surgeries or injuries, scars can become hypersensitive and may not go away on its own. This hypersensitivity can be described as oversensitive or painful, tingling, numb, shooting or burning in nature.   Desensitization and sensory re-education can be used to reduce this sensitivity.  They are used to calm down the nerve irritability that is causing the uncomfortable symptoms.  Some specific techniques include massage, texture massage, immersion, tapping/percussion and vibration.

Design and Implementation of Personalized Home Exercise Programs

Individualized exercise programs in occupational therapy involve designing tailored exercise plans that address each patient’s specific needs, impairments, functional limitations, and goals, rather than providing generic or one-size-fits-all exercises. These customized programs consider factors like the patient’s condition, deficits, abilities, preferences, and lifestyle to maximize therapeutic benefits, adherence, and successful outcomes.

Edema Management

Edema can occur after an injury or surgical procedure. It is especially common in the upper extremity specifically hand injuries.  It is caused by abnormal movement of fluids in the hand.  Occupational therapists are specialized in manual edema techniques that can help resolve edema issues as well as education with the use of movement, compression, elevation, and modalities.

Wound and Scar Care Management

Occupational therapists are educated in proper wound care and able to progress your treatment into scar management when appropriate. More importantly, when wounds and significant scarring is of concern, having access and being trained by your specific physician allows for better communication within the team.

Custom Orthotic Fabrication for The Upper Extremity

After an injury, surgery, or onset of specific symptoms, a custom orthosis/splint may be ordered by your doctor. These are most often referred to as a brace or splint.  A custom orthosis is molded to and worn on a specific body part.  The orthosis may help to protect/support bones, tendons, ligaments, nerves by keeping them in a safe and healthy position. Orthosis may also be used to fix or reduce deformities allowing people to utilize their hands better. If ordered, it will be custom made specifically for you by your hand therapist typically utilizing a material called thermoplastic (low temperature plastic).When the thermoplastic is heated it becomes soft and pliable allowing a direct mold to the body part for a perfect fit.  As the material cools, it becomes hard once again – like a cast, but removable.

Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Release (IASTM)

Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) is a manual therapy technique used in occupational therapy that involves applying specially designed tools to identify and treat soft tissue restrictions, adhesions, and scar tissue by breaking them down and promoting healing through increased blood flow and collagen remodeling. IASTM tools like stainless steel instruments are used to amplify the therapist’s ability to detect and mobilize restricted areas in muscles, tendons, ligaments, and fascia, facilitating improved range of motion, reduced pain, and faster recovery from injuries.

Manual Therapy

Manual therapy techniques are commonly used by occupational therapists to treat musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction, involving skilled hands-on techniques like joint mobilizations and soft tissue mobilization to improve joint mobility, reduce muscle tension, and facilitate proper movement patterns. These manual techniques are often integrated with therapeutic exercise, patient education, and other interventions as part of a comprehensive physical therapy treatment plan.

Myofascial Release

Myofascial release is a manual therapy technique commonly used in occupational therapy that involves applying gentle, sustained pressure to release restrictions and tightness in the body’s fascial system, which surrounds and supports the muscles, bones, nerves, and other structures. Through targeted myofascial release, occupational therapists can help reduce pain, increase mobility and range of motion, improve posture and alignment, and facilitate the body’s natural healing processes for a variety of musculoskeletal conditions.

Neuromuscular Reeducation

Neuromuscular re-education is a technique used by occupational therapists to restore normal movement patterns by retraining the brain, spinal cord, and muscles in voluntary and reflex motor activities through manual techniques, therapeutic exercises, and activities that engage core control and proximal stability for hand and upper extremity function. It aims to improve movement, strength, balance, coordination, posture, proprioception, and kinesthetic sense by facilitating the return of normal neuromuscular function after injury, surgery, or neurological conditions.

Physical Therapy Services