Reddy Care PT & OT Newsletter
N E W S L E T T E R OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY AT REDDY CARE! Blog by: Michele Hughes, OTR/L less driven by arts and crafts and more so by scientific, evidence-based techniques.
So how can occupational therapy help you today? OT can help you if you can’t take care of yourself and do things like get washed, dressed, brush your teeth, feed yourself, or comb your hair. It can help you if you’re unable to do what you need to around your home such as prepare a meal, do your laundry, and clean the house. OT assists you with using your hands to open jars, turn keys, write, and hold items without dropping them. Occupational therapy can also seem similar to physical therapy in that it addresses balance, walking, range of motion, strength, and endurance. OT also works on how you do getting in and out of bed, the shower or tub, your favorite chair, and even the toilet. Despite the name, occupational therapy does not help you find a job. Nor does OT stand for the “other therapy.” OT is a profession with a long history of helping many people with varying illnesses and injuries to recover and return to their independent lives.
Occupational therapy began early last century as a means of rehabilitating people in the hospital using methods from physical therapy, psychiatry, nursing, social work, orthopedics, and other disciplines. It was founded on the principle that medical issues alone do not cause dysfunction, but rather a combination of medical, social, biological, and economic reasons all played a role. OT has roots stemming from the Arts and Crafts Movement from the late 1800s through the early 1900s. Many decades ago, occupational therapy students actually attended classes in basket weaving! The thought was that by using our hands to create, we could rehabilitate from whatever ailment was being suffered. Occupational therapy has since evolved over the last century. While it still incorporates all of the founding principles, it has become
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N E W S L E T T E R
REDDY CARE CAN HELP DETERMINE THE ORIGINS OF YOUR PAIN
INSIDE : • Understanding Your Pain
• April Is National OT Month • What Our Patients Have to Say
• Your Health And Safety Is Our #1 Priority!
Sometimes it is very easy to pinpoint the source of your pain. For example, a new pair of shoes may cause a sharp pain in your heel, or an old chair at work may cause your back to grow sore and uncomfortable as time goes on. There are other situations in which pain develops, and the cause of the pain is unclear. Physical Therapists have extensive knowledge of the skeletal and nervous system. They are able to identify the potential causes of pain, even if the pain is manifesting itself in an unusual or seemingly inexplicable way. Whether you are suffering from pain in your head, your back, your neck or anywhere else in your body, working with a physical therapist can help you find the relief you are looking for.
Physical Therapists can help decrease the need for pain medication because they are trained in identifying and treating the cause of your pain. They help find relief from your pain with a series of strategies that include stretching, muscle building and flexibility training.
Read more inside!
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Understanding Your Pain
When you meet with a physical therapist to understand where your pain may be coming from, one of the first things you’ll do is have a conversation about your pain. How long you’ve been experiencing pain, where it developed and how the pain manifests itself are all very important distinctions that can help shed some light on what may be causing your discomfort. Here are a few things you may want to consider before heading into physical therapy: • Consider exactly where the pain occurs in your body, and research what the different parts of the body are called so that you can have an accurate and helpful conversation about your pain. For example, back pain has a lot of different differentiations, and lumbar pain (which is in the lower back) is frequently caused by factors different from what would cause upper-back or neck pain. • How does the pain feel when it develops? Is it a lingering ache? Is it a sharp stab? Is it more of a tingling feeling? Each of these sensations are actually associated with different types of problems, so describing your pain appropriately may be helpful in determining the best treatment methods for your body’s needs. • What do you think may be causing the pain? Of course, it happens that a pain will develop, and you are dumbfounded as to why, but more
often than not, there is something that you think could be influencing it. If the pain started around the same time as a change in environment or life circumstances, then it is worth telling your physical therapist about the association. Another thing to consider about your pain is whether or not it develops at particular times of the day or year. There are plenty of situations when someone begins to experience pain when the weather starts to change, and it turns out that the pain is a result of arthritis and inflammation. There are other situations in which the pain will develop as a result of prolonged sitting or the opposite — such as when things get crazy at home or at work, and you find that you are not getting as much sleep as usual. Considering any changes in your daily habits or environmental factors can be very helpful in determining what is causing your pain. Regardless of where your pain is, how long you’ve been dealing with it, or how intense the pain feels, the smart thing to do when pain develops is to speak with a physical therapist. Working with a physical therapist can help you finally get a step ahead of your pain, finding treatment options that are designed to provide you with long-term relief instead of temporary relief from medication.
For more information about physical therapy for overcoming bodily pain, contact us.
April Is National OT Month
During the month of April, we celebrate the hard work and dedication of Occupational Therapists! This profession makes valuable contributions in helping people perform their daily activities after an illness or injury. Our therapists are competent and compassionate and provide exceptional care to our patients. Occupational Therapy gives you back the ability to perform all your everyday activities when you’re recovering from injury or illness. Occupational Therapists can provide recommendations and training on Durable Medical Equipment (DME) to ensure that you are safe in your home! An In-Home Occupational Therapist can work on upper extremity function and hand therapy at your own kitchen table! An occupational therapist can treat many conditions, here are a few: • Post Covid-19 Recovery • Home Safety • Functional Endurance • Stroke
• Balance • Tendinitis • Hip/Knee Replacement • Multiple Sclerosis • Parkinson’s Disease • Scar Management • Amputations • Brain Injury • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
If you don’t have a way to get to the clinic, Reddy Care’s In-Home Occupational Therapy Program comes to you! Our In-Home Therapists bring all the required equipment for your treatment to your home. This equipment is sanitized between every patient ensuring a sanitary one on one OT session.
WE ARE NOW PARTICIPATING WITH HEALTH FIRST!
Y our Health And Safety Is Our #1 Priority!
What Our Patients Have to Say Read more on Google or on our website “I am very satisfied with my OT, the service is excellent!” “I was receiving occupational therapy from Reddy Care to help me with my hands and arms, I have arthritis and stenosis. I had difficulty lifting my arms because my shoulders are stiff and my fingers are both numb and stiff. My therapist has helped me with my pain and stiffness. We also worked on my standing balance, so that I do not fall when I am reaching in drawers and cabinets. She brings activities and equipment to work on my fine motor skills, to strengthen my shoulders and to improve my balance. I am able to reach further and use my hands better. I am very satisfied with my OT, the service is excellent!” “...I can sit better and I have better balance.” “I had a stroke which prevented me from using my left arm and hand. I have trouble dressing, walking, feeding and just about everything. Since I began occupational therapy at home, I can sit better and I have better balance. I have more movement in my arm and I can use my hand more. I can wheel my wheelchair and stay out of bed longer!” “...you’re the ones that can help us solve our problems...” “When we are in need, and you come and help us, it is the best thing that you can do for us. When we have problems and can’t solve them by ourselves, and you’re the ones that can help us solve our problems, we greatly appreciate it. My PT and OT, both Alex have really helped my balance, shoulder and walking.” We have always taken great pride in ensuring that our clinics are clean environments for our patients. We know this is more important than ever right now. In addition to our regular cleaning routine, we have taken steps to make sure each piece of equipment is disinfected after a single-use, as well as our tables, waiting room areas and our transportation cars. With growing concerns of contamination, many are turning to home therapy as a safe alternative to avoid large groups of people. Our home therapists take precaution as instructed by the Center for Disease Control and use Environmental Protection Agency approved disinfecting products. Our equipment is disinfected after every use to protect against any cross contamination. Gloves and masks are also available to patients for every session should they choose to use them. It’s important that patients not avoid therapy all together during this time as their condition may worsen. We strive to make it possible for patients to continue receiving the care they need, in a safe and clean environment.
In-Home Physical & Occupational Therapy
Servicing all of Long Island & Queens. Covered by Medicare Part B & Medicare supplemental plans. Call (516) 829-0030 or Fax (516)466-7723! DID YOU KNOW THAT IF YOU HAVE MEDICARE YOU CAN BE SEEN IN YOUR HOME WITHOUT BEING HOMEBOUND? If you don't qualify for home health care through a certified home health care agency or have been discharged and need more therapy, then WE CAN HELP!
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