Occupational Therapy
Occupational Therapy helps you regain your health and independence.
We offer you expert skill and experience in human growth and development with an emphasis on the social, emotional and physiological effects of illness and injury.
We work with patients who have a variety of health conditions.
We serve children at our Edmund N. Ervin Pediatric Center.
Services
- Aquatic Therapy
- Hand Therapy
- Lymphedema Program
- Neurological Rehabilitation
- Occupational Health Rehabilitation
- Wheelchair Clinic
Aquatic Therapy
You may benefit from aquatic therapy. Warm water exercises decrease stress in your joints, which helps decrease pain and stiffness. Water also lets opposing muscles work equally so you develop muscular strength, endurance and joint flexibility.
MaineGeneral Medical Center has heated aquatic therapy pools for individualized treatment at our Augusta and Manchester locations.
Group classes are offered through our partnership with the Alfond Youth Center in Waterville.
Hand Therapy
You may benefit from hand therapy if you have:
- Burns
- Cumulative trauma disorders
- Edema
- Fractures
- Nerve injuries
- Scars
- Sprains
- Tendonitis
- Tendon lacerations
- Wounds
We offer you therapists, including two certified hand therapists, who specialize in treating your elbow, wrist and hand injuries. We work with you as an individual to find your needs and develop a treatment plan for you to get you the best possible outcomes and return to function.
We can make you custom splints and brace fittings. We also can do a worksite assessment and provide recommendations to reduce the risk of injury at work.
Lymphedema Program
The lymphatic system collects and filters fluid from body tissue back into the circulatory system.
Lymphedema is a condition that happens when there is a problem in the lymphatic system that causes fluid to be retained. It can result from:
- An injury that causes physical damage
- An illness or cancer that damages the lymph system
- Surgery and/or radiation therapy to treat the lymph nodes or surrounding tissue
Lymphedema may not occur for months or even years after the initial damage happens. It usually affects the legs or arms. The danger with this condition comes from the constant risk of developing an uncontrolled infection in the affected limb.
Our staff has specialized training with manual and mechanical drainage.
Manual drainage includes massage, bandaging, exercise and education. Mechanical drainage uses specialized equipment to assist manual drainage.
If you require a compression sleeve or glove, our therapists can measure and order the item for you.
Neurological Rehabilitation
We can help you with injuries that have damaged or altered how your brain and spinal cord processes and receives information. Some examples are:
- Head trauma
- Parkinson's disease
- Spinal cord injuries
- Strokes
To help you get back your abilities to the best extent possible, we will combine occupational, speech and physical therapies for specialized rehabilitation.
We have two certified programs: LSVT BIG and LOUD to treat you if you have Parkinson's Disease.
Occupational Health Rehabilitation
When you have been injured at work, you need special care to get you back to work as early and successfully as possible.
You benefit most from physical therapy right from the beginning of injury through your return to work. Therapy includes treatment for acute muscle and skeletal problems and other injuries. Many injured employees who receive appropriate early care return to their jobs without additional rehabilitation services.
We also can provide you with body mechanics education and job site evaluations to help you with this transition.
Learn more about our Occupational Health Rehabilitation
Wheelchair Clinic
It's very important for you to have the right equipment and instructions on its use if you are in need of a wheelchair.
We'll work with you to evaluate your mobility and seating needs. We'll help you get the most mobility possible while ensuring the best possible fit.
