Professional Care PT. Occupational Therapy

Professional Care PT. Occupational Therapy

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SERVICE SPOTLIGHT: OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY INSIDE: HAND THERAPY: WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT? • STAFF SPOTLIGHT PATIENT SUCCESS SPOTLIGHT • CELEBRATING 10 YEARS! APRIL IS NATIONAL OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY MONTH

Celebrating 10 years of serving our community! EAST PATCHOGUE LOCATION

EAST PATCHOGUE • 191 PATCHOGUE YAPHANK ROAD • EAST PATCHOGUE, NY 11772 • P : 631.775.0971 RIVERHEAD • 806 EAST MAIN ST • RIVERHEAD, NY 11901 •P : 631. 591.0838

HAND THERAPY: WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

Hand therapy is a form of occupational therapy. While the title only specifies hands, this form of therapy focuses on the upper extremity as a whole, which also includes the wrist, forearm, elbow, arm, and shoulder. Hand therapists will treat injuries and ailments that affect the upper extremity and work toward returning the affected area to its highest level of function. At Professional Care Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, occupational therapy is important to us. We are happy to announce that our newest occupational therapist, Amanda Loevner, is also a Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) who will be able to aid you in the recovery and rehabilitation of any upper extremity injury you may experience. If you are suffering from pain in the upper extremity, or if you have been living with a chronic condition that has been affecting the upper extremity, don’t hesitate to call us today! We will schedule an appointment for you and figure out the best steps for your treatment plan. Benefits Of Hand Therapy Hand therapy can treat a vast variety of conditions. Some of the most common include: • Strains • Sprains • Impingement • Tendinitis • Arthritis • Bursitis • Carpal tunnelsyndrome • Cubitaltunnelsyndrome The upper extremity is used multiple times throughout the day. Just think of your morning routine: you get out of bed, brush your teeth, shower, get dressed, make breakfast, and commute to work. In just that small portion of the day, you have already used your hands, wrists, forearms, elbows, arms, and shoulders hundreds of times. If you are suffering from one of the above conditions, or from a generalized pain that you can’t figure out, it can make completing even simple activities (such as your morning routine) difficult.

Hand therapy can help with that. It can relieve pain and get you back to comfortably performing your daily activities. In fact, according to the American Physical Therapy Association, conservative treatments have worked even better than surgical treatments for the correction of certain conditions, such as carpal tunnel syndrome. But How Exactly Does It Work? A hand therapist typically uses manual techniques to manipulate the affected area, in order to release tension, swelling, and pain. Through the use of massage and hands-on treatments, patients can find significant improvement - sometimes after just one session! In some cases, additional techniques, such as ice and heat therapies, ultrasound, or electrical stimulation may also be used as part of your treatment plan, in order to enhance the healing process. Perhaps one of the biggest roles of a hand therapist, however, is prescribing targeted stretches and exercises. These will be dependent upon your diagnosis and will focus on improving your range of motion, strength, and overall function, so you can safely and comfortably perform your daily activities once again. A large part of hand therapy is helping patients regain their independence in day-to-day tasks and improving their quality of life. What Now? If you have been suffering from upper extremity pain, contact Professional Care Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation. We’ll help you schedule a consultation with Amanda so she can evaluate the extent of your condition and create a personalized hand therapy treatment plan for you. Your upper extremities are important aspects of your everyday life – find relief for them today.

Professional Care Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation

PAT I ENT SUCCESS SPOTL I GHT

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS! Itseems likenot too longago, these twogentlemenhad a tremendous vision. With hard work, determination and a passion for helping patients achieve the health andwellness theydeserve,Dr.’sGeorgeCiresiandJim Blair set that vision into motion. Their journey began in Dr. Ciresi’s hometown of Patchogue-Medford in 2009 and with the support from theirwonderfulpatientsandcommitted,hard-working staff who share in the same vision, a second facility wasopened in thecommunityofRiverheada fewshort years later. From manual therapy, neurological rehabilitation, orthopedics, pain management, occupational therapy, pre-andpost-operativerehabilitation,sportsmedicine, athletic performance and work/industry rehab services,weatProfessionalCarePhysicalTherapyand Rehabilitation continue to grow and are committed to thehealthandwellnessofourpatientsandcontinue to berecognizedas leaders inthefieldofPhysicalTherapy. STAY I NG UP -TO-DATE ! Webelievethat it’s imperativetostayaheadofthe latest research, PT treatment options, surgical procedures, and injury prevention techniques in order to provide our patients with the highest quality of care they have come to expect from us at Professional Care Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation.

Ronald Barrette, an avid boater, became one of Professional Care Physical Therapy’s very first patients when we began our journey 10 years ago. And like all of our patients, we are grateful that he chose ProCare for his rehabilitation needs. Mr. Barrette became a casualty of off-shore boat racing, and after his initial neck surgery, he began working directly with Dr. George Ciresi towards his rehabilitation. Now, ten years later, after his second surgery in January 2019, Mr. Barrette visits us for his occupational therapy needs, working closely several days a week with Amanda Loevner, MS, OTR/L, CHT, to help with the loss of feeling in his arm and hand, due to a pinched nerve. Mr. Barrette has been making great strides throughout the course of his rehabilitation, making sure to incorporate ProCare’s Desensitization Program at home in addition to his in-office visits. His positive outlook and his wonderful work ethic each day are bringing him closer to attaining his goal to be back on the water, enjoying the beautiful shores of Long Island this summer. “There is a difference in my quality of life due to my rehab. When you need therapy, this is the place to come to. It’s fun, I love everyone’s personality and I wouldn’t miss one appointment.” -Ronald Barrette

STAFF SPOTL I GHT

Amanda Loevner , MS, OTR/L, CHT, Co-founder ProCare Occupational Therapy & Physical Therapy Amanda attended The University of Scranton where she received her Bachelors Degree in Health Sciences. She also completed her Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy at the University of Scranton in 2014. Amanda has always had an interest in working in hand therapy and feels that individuals all over the world communicate

Recently, Dr. Catherine Powell, PT, DPT, participated in a Knee Junction Dilemma Course at the Institute of Physical Art (IPA). This 2-day, 16-hour, hands-on continuing education course provided therapists with a

with others and their environment through the use of their hands. Throughout her schooling she enjoyed making splints and was intrigued by the extensive anatomy involved in hand therapy and decided to pursue her interest as a hand therapist at Signature Hand Therapy, and at Glen Cove Hospital: an affiliate of Northwell Health. She completed her advanced specialization in 2018 and became a Certified Hand Therapist. As a therapist, Amanda focuses on returning her clients to their previous level of functioning and works with her clients to regain the skills they need to participate in every day tasks including work, leisure, and play activities. Amanda is also a RYT500 hour certified yoga instructor and has a keen interest in maintaining a healthy and balanced lifestyle in the mind, body, and spirit.

better understanding of proper knee function and the connection with healthy motions of the foot/ankle and how to identify key dysfunctions of the lower extremity to better guide interventions aimed at enhancing knee function.

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ProfessionalCarePT.com

SERVICE SPOTLIGHT: OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

“Occupational therapy is the only profession that helps people across the lifespan to do the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic useofdailyactivities(occupations).Occupationaltherapypractitionersenable people of all ages to live life to its fullest by helping them promote health, and prevent—or live better with—injury, illness, or disability.” How Can Occupational Therapy Benefit Me? If you have been suffering from pain or injury, you can find relief and rehabilitation with us. At ProCare, we care about you and your recovery! At your initial appointment, you will undergo a physical evaluation to better understand your diagnosis and the root of your pain. Afterward, your treatment plan will be created, and you will work closely with your occupational therapist to regain function and get back to living your life to its’ fullest, without pain or discomfort. Our occupational therapy treatment plans include: • An individual evaluation to determine patient goals. • Customized intervention to improve daily tasks and activities for the patient. • An “outcomes evaluation” to determine if your goals were met and to make changes to the plan, if needed. If you are in need of orthotics, such as a brace, to improve your condition and make your daily life easier while you are recovering, your occupational therapist can also custom make that for you. Additionally, occupational therapists can provide you with helpful patient education for improving technique and posture, in order to avoid further pain or injury in the future. If your pain is limiting your daily life, don’t wait any longer to seek help. Contact our East Patchogue ProCare office today to schedule a consultation with an occupational therapist. We can help you begin your journey toward recovery, optimized function, and long-lasting relief.

Before you can understand why occupational therapy is so important, you must first understand the differences between physical therapy and occupational therapy. Physical therapy (PT) refers to a variety of natural and conservative treatments aimed at relieving pain and promoting healing. Occupational therapy (OT), while it is a similar form of conservative treatment, focuses on rehabilitation and the “relearning” of daily activities, in addition to relieving pain and promoting healing. The purpose of occupational therapy is to make daily life easier through participating in treatments, activities, and exercises. At ProCare, we are happy to say that we now offer both physical therapy and occupational therapy treatments in our East Patchogue location. For more information on how you may benefit from our PT and OT services, contact our East Patchogue office today! How Successful Is Occupational Therapy? Occupational therapy is a safe, effective, and non-invasive treatment option that is designed to relieve pain resulting from a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions, sports injuries, workplace injuries, and more. Patients typically see an occupational therapist to regain function in their daily life, help manage chronic pain symptoms, and prevent future injury. Regular appointments with an occupational therapist are ideal for people of all ages. Physical therapy treatments and occupational therapy treatments cover a wide range of conditions, and sometimes they even overlap. Some common conditions we treat with OT include: • Carpal tunnel syndrome • Arthritis • Burns • Nerve injuries • Fractures • Tendinitis • Chronic conditions • Stroke The conservative care of occupational therapy is one of the most effective ways to treat pain and regain daily function. In fact, the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) says it best when describing the vast importance of occupational therapy:

Source: https://www.aota.org/Conference-Events/OTMonth/what-is-OT.aspx

A R E Y O U L E T T I N G Y O U R PA I N H O L D Y O U B A C K ? C A L L T O S C H E D U L E Y O U R A P P O I N T M E N T T O D AY !