Occupational Therapy at Holzer Medical Therapy Center

What is Occupational Therapy?

Occupational Therapy is provided by the Holzer Medical Therapy Center at both our Gallipolis and Jackson locations.  If you wish to call or email the Medical Therapy Center, please visit our Medical Therapy Center contact page.

Services

Occupational therapy most often addresses conditions, diseases, or injuries that have either occurred in the workplace or affect a worker’s ability to perform required tasks. Occupational therapy also gives people whose capabilities have been reduced through illness or injury the skills necessary for independent and satisfying lives. Occupational therapy can include:

• Therapies that help you return to work or resume daily activities.
• Home and work evaluations, including recommended adaptations.
• Assessment of skills and performance for setting treatment goals.
• Training in the usage of adaptive equipment or adapted work areas.
• Guidance to family members and caregivers.

With the help of occupational therapy, you can achieve a higher level of independence or return to work. Even in situations where strength and skills cannot be improved, occupational therapy offers creative solutions and alternatives that will provide you with the highest level of independence possible.

Occupational therapy benefits a wide range of patients.

• Workplace injuries, commonly including lower back problems and repetitive stress injuries.
• Recovery from moderate accidents and sports injuries, including broken bones.
• Recovery from severe accidents, including burns, amputations, and spinal cord injuries.
• Limitations encountered after a heart attack or stroke.
• Mental health problems, behavioral problems, and post-traumatic stress.
• Developmental disabilities and learning problems.
• Sufferers of chronic conditions such as arthritis and multiple sclerosis.
• Problems with eating disorders or substance use.

Fitness for Duty

Fitness for duty centers on the evaluation of your physical capabilities in relation to specific job requirements. In providing fitness for duty evaluations, the Medical Therapy Center provides the information and insight necessary for your employer to make appropriate decisions. Fitness for duty evaluations focus on matching physical conditions with possible workplace conflicts. Some examples:

• An insulin dependent diabetic should not be assigned shift work. The conflict lies in how the medication is metabolized and how circadian rhythms affect metabolism.
• Sufferers of sleep apnoea should not work rotating shift schedules.
• Hypothyroidism patients should not be exposed to vibration or repetitive manual activity, as such patients are candidates for carpal tunnel syndrome.

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