Akron General understands the importance of recovering from an injury or illness and getting back to your life. Sometimes recovery requires rehabilitation, including occupational therapy.
Occupational therapy, which treats the social, mental, emotional, environmental and physiological effects of illness and injury, can help patients become or remain independent. Occupational therapists give patients the "skills for the job of living," such as caring for themselves, cooking, homemaking and working. They work with people of all ages who, because of illness, injury or impairment, need to relearn skills to return to productive, independent and satisfying lives.
Our occupational therapists work together with your other healthcare providers to help guide you down the road to recovery, including life after being discharged from the hospital. Physicians, occupational therapists, physical therapists, nurses, social workers and care managers work together with you and your family to prepare for discharge.
The rehabilitation process is different for every patient. Sometimes it requires highly specialized types of therapy or different combinations of therapy. Occupational Therapy works closely with Physical Therapy, as well as Speech and Language Therapy.
Those who benefit from occupational therapy vary widely in age, profession and health status, and include those with:
- Work-related injuries (repetitive stress injuries, such as carpal tunnel and tendinitis)
- Limitations following a stroke or heart attack
- Mental health or behavioral problems, including Alzheimer's, schizophrenia and post-traumatic stress disorder
- Birth injuries
- Learning or developmental disabilities
- Substance abuse
- Eating disorders
- Broken bones or other injuries from falls, sports injuries or accidents
- Arthritis, Multiple Sclerosis and other chronic conditions
- Burns
- Amputations
- Spinal cord injuries
- Vision or cognitive problems that compromise the ability to function safely
