Occupational Therapy

The occupation therapy team at Greater Regional Health is highly skilled in evaluating, treating, and rehabilitating many different types of hand and upper extremity conditions such as:

• Amputations of fingers, hands, and upper extremities

• Arthritis

• Burns

• Bursitis

• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

• Crush Injuries

• Cubital Tunnel Syndrome

• De Quervain's Tenosynovitis

• Dislocations

• Duputren's Contracture

• Fractures

• Ganglions

• Golfer's Elbow

• Infections

• Joint Replacements

• Ligament injuries

• Edema (swelling)

• Sprains/strains

• Tendon and nerve repair

• Tennis elbow

• Trigger finger

• Work-Comp injuries

Interventions Provided

• Some of the areas and interventions our team may provide include:

• Exercise, myofascial massage, taping, and compression for management of edema

• Joint and soft tissue mobilization to improve flexibility

• Custom static and dynamic splinting for appropriate positioning, protection or to improve movement

• Programs to improve strength, endurance, and functionTreatment to encourage wound healing

• Scar management to improve mobility, function and appearance

• Desensitization and sensory re-education

• Education to prevent re-injury, avoid complications, minimize stiffness, and reduce treatment time

• Lymphedema management

• Ergonomic assessments

Breast Cancer Rehabilitation

Occupational Therapist, Andrea Skellenger, will work closely with your physician to ensure the best outcomes pre and post-surgery. Our comprehensive Breast Cancer Rehabiliation program offers, individualized, evidence-based treatment to address the variety of symptoms that can accompany cancer treatment, including:

• Cancer related fatigue

• Limitations in range of motion or strength

• Postural changes

• Scar tissue restrictions

• Lymphedema

• Pain

• Decreased ability to perform daily activities

Pre-Operative Therapy

With a preventative goal, our occupational therapist will begin treatment before your surgery to:

• Conduct a baseline evaluation to determine your current functional ability and arm circumference.

• Provide you with information on how to prevent shoulder limitations through exercise and stretching following surgery.

• Provide information on self-care, leisure activities, use of adaptive equipment and/or environmental modification you may wish to make following surgery.

• Skincare/scar management

• Manual lymphatic drainage (massage)

Post-Operative Therapy

Our skilled and professional occupational therapists will assess your upper extremity range of motion and strength, limb volume, and functional limitations to develop an individualized post-operative treatment plan. This plan may include exercise programs to restore motion and strength, posture and breathing exercises, pain and scar management and/or lymphedema management.