Orthopedic Injuries

Occupational therapists can treat a wide range of orthopedic injuries and musculoskeletal pain. At Community Physical Therapy and Rehab, our occupational therapists can treat and help rehabilitate patients with many common orthopedic injuries.

Some of the most common orthopedic diagnoses that are treated by occupational therapists include:

  • Hand injuries
  • Wrist fractures
  • Elbow fractures
  • Humeral fractures
  • Medial epicondylitis
  • Lateral epicondylitis
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Cubital tunnel syndrome
  • Muscle strains and sprains of the upper extremity

Degenerative Conditions

Degenerative joint disease (DJD) is also known as osteoarthritis and is caused by inflammation, breakdown and eventual loss of the cartilage of the joints. Among the over 100 different types of arthritis conditions, osteoarthritis is the most common, affecting usually the hands, feet, spine, and large weight-bearing joints, such as the hips and knees. Some of the more common causes are:
  • Genetics: Do you have a family member with arthritis?
  • Trauma: Injuries can start a degenerative cascade
  • Nutritional: Some think that vitamin D deficiency can cause arthritis
  • Mal-alignment: Are you bowlegged or knock-kneed?
  • Meniscus Tears: Loss of the meniscus function (as a shock absorber) can lead to arthritis.

 

Sports Injury

Using a multidisciplinary team approach, each patient at Ruthe B. Cowl Rehabilitation Center is evaluated individually to define their rehabilitative needs.

This includes a thorough exam including a medical history, objective measures, and any necessary tests to determine the mechanical dysfunctions related to the injury. A plan of care is then developed with you to addresses any problems, impairments, and functional limitations.

Goals are set for you with the aim of achieving the highest functional level you can.

Dizziness/ Vertigo

When the inner ear is damaged, people commonly experience severe spinning for several days. If after several weeks the person still has a loss of balance, then physical therapy can help restore this balance.

The reason physical therapy is helpful is that it helps train the brain to compensate for the loss of function in the ear. Just as you can make a muscle stronger by exercising it, you can make the balance system in the brain work better by exercising it.

Chronic Pain

Treatment of chronic pain syndrome must be tailored for each individual patient. The treatment should be aimed at interruption of reinforcement of the pain behavior and modulation of the pain response.

At Ruthe B. Cowl Rehabilitation Center we will set realistic goals of treatment that will focus on restoration of normal function, better quality of life, reduction of use of medication, and prevention of relapse of chronic symptoms.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Rehabilitation programs combine physical therapies with skill-building activities and counseling to provide social and emotional support. The education and active involvement of the newly injured person and his or her family and friends is crucial.

Physical therapy includes exercise programs geared toward muscle strengthening. Occupational therapy helps redevelop fine motor skills, particularly those needed to perform activities of daily living such as getting in and out of a bed, self-grooming, and eating.

Stroke

The best way to get better after a stroke is to start stroke rehabilitation ("rehab"). In stroke rehab, a team of health professionals works with you to regain skills you lost as the result of a stroke. Rehab can help you to:

  • Do as well as you can and be as independent as possible.
  • Learn to live with the changes to your brain and body caused by the stroke.
  • Adjust to living within your home, family, and community.

AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill

The AlterG® Anti-Gravity treadmill has arrived to Ruthe B. Cowl Rehabilitation Center. This revolutionary treadmill can reduce up to 80% of your body weight to aid in your recovery from injury or to reduce the stress and strain on your joints from impact walking or running. Begin early reduced weight bearing after joint replacement, knee surgery or leg fracture. Backwards walking to retrain calf muscle during Achilles tendon injury or repair. Safe gait training for neurological condition such as Parkinson’s disease or Multiple Sclerosis where balance and endurance are impaired.