Jamaica Hospital Rehabilitation
Occupational therapy is a specialized treatment that is focused on helping you engage in the regular activities that are part of your daily life. These include daily tasks such as taking care of your family, working, or even basic self-care activities like brushing your teeth or bathing. It also addresses higher-level activities such as cooking/homemaking and cognitive skills. Individuals who typically require this type of therapy may have suffered an acquired disability from a neurological event (like stroke or Traumatic brain injury) or other physical injury (like a car accident or other trauma). Occupational therapists also work on hand/wrist injuries, evaluate and treat patients after hand/finger surgery, and treat arthritis as well as other conditions.
Some specific examples of conditions that occupational therapy can help cope with include:
- Hand/Wrist injuries
- Arthritis
- Heart or lung disease
- Developmental disorders, such as autism or Down syndrome
Its goal is to help you adapt to a condition or injury that has impacted your physical capabilities by changing the way you engage with certain activities. This can involve modifying:
- The environment in which you perform that activity
- The skills you use to perform the activity
- The activity itself
Occupational therapists work in a variety of settings, such as hospitals, clinics, nursing facilities, community centers, and schools. In certain cases, occupational therapy may be an element of the inpatient care you receive while recovering at a hospital after an injury or other acute medical problem. You can also typically get a referral for an occupational therapy office from your physician.
Physical therapy is provided on both an inpatient and outpatient basis. When you receive certain surgical procedures, such as a knee or hip replacement, you may spend additional time in the hospital and undergo physical therapy as part of your recovery process. If you experience pain, discomfort, or disability, you may visit a physical therapist to manage these symptoms and treat their underlying physical causes.
Occupational therapy is one of several rehabilitative services offered at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Department of Rehabilitation. Our Queens, NYC occupational therapists strive to provide high-quality holistic care that allows you to remain functionally independent and keep doing the things that matter to you. To schedule an appointment or learn more, please call (718) 206-7140.