Occupational Therapy (OT)
Working as a registered and licensed Occupational Therapist for 35 years has been rewarding and has allowed me to meet, treat and learn from so many wonderful, interesting people. OT’s always get asked, “Do you help people get back to work?” The name is deceiving. “Occupation” refers to each person’s unique functional activities in their lives at home, work, play, and in leisure.
The goal of occupational therapy (OT) is to return patients back to their highest level of function in all areas of their life. These functional tasks are usually referred to as basic activities of daily living such as eating, dressing, bathing, and toileting, as well as advanced or instrumental activities of daily living (ADL’s) such as working, sports, hobbies, and leisure activities. Depending on an OT’s area of concentration, they will use many techniques and tools to help patients reclaim their function including: Activities of Daily Living modification or recommendations regarding adaptive techniques or aides, range of motion, strengthening, joint mobilization, soft tissue techniques, education regarding ergonomics/body mechanics, splinting, work hardening and modalities to name a few.
CranioSacral Therapy
CranioSacral is a light-touch, whole-body treatment technique developed by John E. Upledger, DO, OMM. The technique works with the natural and unique rhythms of the body’s craniosacral system to support and nourish the central nervous system – improving overall health and well-being. This form of therapy helps to alleviate the aches, pains and strains of life, while improving coping mechanisms to allow for better management of stress and the body’s ability to self-care. More about the Upledger Institute here.
Graston Technique®
Graston Technique® is an instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) technique to decrease pain and increase function. The use of specially designed instruments assist the clinician to assess and treat scar tissue or soft tissue adhesions in muscles, tendons, ligaments, and fascia. These techniques facilitate normal movement of tissue and are paired with other techniques such as joint mobilization, stretching, range of motion, strengthening, postural instruction, ergonomics, and ADL (Activity of Daily Living) modification.
Myofascial Release (MFR)
Myofascial Release (MFR) is a manual technique used to facilitate loosening and lengthening of restricted fascia. Fascia is the thin covering of tissue that envelops all the structures of our body. There is no beginning or no end. If one body area is tight, it can impact function, range of motion and cause pain in another area. Some of the benefits of MFR are to decrease pain/soreness, increase blood flow, improve nerve gliding or neuromuscular efficiency, increase range of motion, and decrease overall effects of stress throughout the body.
Cupping Therapy
“Cupping Therapy” is an ancient form of alternative medicine in which a therapist puts special cups on the skin to create suction. Some of the benefits of cupping include: To decrease pain, decrease inflammation, increase blood flow, improve range of motion, manipulate dermal/subdermal connective tissue, neurosensory stimulation, relaxation and well-being, and as a type of deep-tissue massage. Cupping is another alternative to “releasing” soft tissue restrictions.