Despite the circumstances of this current season, I love the month of April. The trees are blooming, the weather is warming up, and it’s National Occupational Therapy Month! One question I’m asked a lot by patients and family members alike is “what is the difference between OT and PT?” and my typical response is “I’m so glad you asked!”. Physical therapy and occupational therapy look very similar in my setting, which is our outpatient St. Francis Hospital location where we focus on orthopedic, upper extremity conditions. Although they are similar, our goal as OTs is to evaluate and treat musculoskeletal disorders of the elbow, wrist, and/or hand.
Most of our clients have something wrong with either upper extremity that typically effects how a person functions during their everyday life. It can range from a broken bone that resulted in surgery or it can be a nagging pain or ache that just won’t go away. Just a few examples include pain at the elbow when lifting a glass, finger numbness that prevents restful sleep, pain in the forearm when lifting weights, pain at the base of the thumb when turning a key, or wrist stiffness that makes brushing hair or getting dressed difficult, just to name a few.
Some specific diagnoses we treat are carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis/golfer’s elbow, trigger finger, finger/wrist/elbow fractures, tendinopathies, and arthritis, but that list is far from exhaustive. Regardless of the diagnoses, every patient is thoroughly evaluated, and a plan of care is established with input from the client, addressing goals or activities that are most important. This facilitates a team approach between therapist and patient that ensures optimal patient outcomes. We use a variety of techniques to promote those outcomes: custom thermoplastic splinting, exercises, stretches, massage, pain management modalities, and various types of soft tissue mobilization that help decrease inflammation.
If any of those symptoms above sound all too familiar, give us a call at (706)256-0830 to schedule an appointment and let us lend you a helping hand!
Call Today To Request An Appointment With A Therapist At St. Francis Rehab Main Clinic. Written by Katherine M. Branch, OTR/L.
