St. Louis, MO Occupational Therapy

St. Louis, MO Occupational Therapy. Our everyday lives require the use of physical ability as well as cognitive, psychological, and social skills. For someone with an injury, disability, or illness, performing some of these everyday tasks can be difficult. However, the right St. Louis, MO occupational therapy intervention can restore the abilities that allow you to return to work, perform activities of daily living, and improve your overall well-being and enjoyment of life.

Axes Physical Therapy provides compassionate and evidence-based occupational therapy to patients in St. Louis, MO and across Greater St. Louis. Our services are built around a patient-centered philosophy and we personalize the care of every patient to their personal needs and goals. Axes’ St. Louis, MO occupational therapy program is headed by licensed occupational therapists who have extensive backgrounds in treating patients and are qualified to provide advanced care in specific treatment areas. When you require the best occupational therapy care available, visit the locally owned and operated Axes facility most convenient for you. Take the first step towards recovery and independence by contacting us online or finding the location closest to you.

What is Occupational Therapy?

According to the World Federation of Occupational Therapists, occupational therapy is “a client-centered health profession concerned with promoting health and well being through occupation.” In order to promote the patient’s health and well-being, treatment may include treatment strategies that address physical, cognitive, sensory-perceptual, and psychosocial performance and abilities as they relate to your everyday activities. The result of successful St. Louis, MO occupational therapy treatment is improved well-being and quality of life for the individual receiving care. Exactly what this looks like depends on the the patient’s goals and needs.

Axes St. Louis, MO occupational therapists work with patients of all ages who are recovering from an injury or illness that is affecting their ability to perform their job or everyday activities. Specifically, our St. Louis, MO occupational therapy team evaluates and treats acute or chronic upper extremity, elbow, forearm, and hand injuries or loss of functional ability due to injury or illness. Additionally, our St. Louis, MO occupational therapy team is here to assist those that are looking to return to work safely after and injury. To help you regain the abilities needed to perform your job, your occupational therapist will work with you on material handling, lifting, pushing, pulling, carrying, and any other job-specific functions.

As an occupational therapy patient in St. Louis, MO, your licensed Occupational Therapist (also known as an OT), will use their expertise to select the appropriate education, splinting, excercises, activity modifications, and other interventions to help you perform the everyday activities, or occupations, you wish to do. As you can imagine, every St. Louis, MO occupational therapy patient has a unique lifestyle with a unique set of responsibilities and interests. Your occupational therapy expeirence will be tailored to you. St. Louis, MO occupational therapy is useful for anyone who is experiencing difficulty performing activities that they are required to do in a typical day, known as an activity of daily living, or ADL. St. Louis, MO occupational therapy patients can be individuals with disabilities from birth, patients recovering from surgery or a stroke, people of advanced age adjusting to their changing bodies, workers who have been injured — essentially, occupational therapy patients can be anyone in St. Louis, MO.

Who Benefits from St. Louis, MO Occupational Therapy?

St. Louis, MO occupational therapy is a highly specialized, versatile, and patient-centered form of care that addresses patients’ goals and abilities in all environments (work, school, home, community) and through all factors (physical, psychological, cognitive, and social). Patients who can use St. Louis, MO occupational therapy to improve their well-being include essentially anyone, from school-aged children to older adults to a typically able-bodied individual who has suffered an injury. St. Louis, MO occupational therapy can be used not only as a tool of rehabilitation for anyone with an illness, injury, impairment, or disability that affects their ability to perform daily activities but also as a preventative measure to protect those at risk of developing an impairment or disability.

We use St. Louis, MO occupational therapy to help individuals with a variety of disabilities, injuries, and conditions, such as:

Hand, wrist, shoulder, and other upper extremity injuries
Amputations
Arthritis and other joint disorders
Burns
Cancer
Chronic pain
Fractures
Muscle weakness
Neurological disorders
Overuse injuries
Surgery
Tendon injuries
Traumatic brain injury
Visual or cognitive deficits
Work injuries

Every St. Louis, MO occupational therapy patient has different goals, challenges, and expectations. The treatment strategy depends on your needs and what activities you are working to return to. St. Louis, MO occupational therapy can be successful in addressing a wide range of tasks and goals depending on your individual needs, such as:

Self care such as personal hygiene and eating
Sleep
Meal preparation
Dressing
Mobility, sitting, and standing
Joint protection
Sensation recovery
Ability to return to work, school, and other activities

What to Expect in St. Louis, MO Occupational Therapy

Your personal occupational therapy treatment is based on your specific needs, daily activities, and limitations. Your Axes St. Louis, MO occupational therapist plays a critical role in your treatment. It is their responsibility to shape a course of treatment that will help you perform everyday tasks and achieve your goals, allowing you to be as independent as possible. When you seek St. Louis, MO occupational therapy, you can expect the following:

Evaluation
In order to understand your limitations and goals, your OT will perform an initial assessment and ongoing evaluations throughout your course of treatment. If your ability to perform your work is affected, there will be an emphasis on the activities you are expected to perform.
Planning
Next, your occupational therapist will apply their knowledge of evidence-based occupational therapy practices and their understanding of your needs, environments, and goals to form an individualized treatment plan. Treatment might focus on mastery of a skill, adaptation of an activity; retention of a declining skill; self-care and wellness practices; and prevention of injury or disability.
Intervention
With a plan in place, your occupational therapist will introduce a program that will enhance your ability to perform daily activities or work safely. Depending on your exact needs and your usual environments, you might see any of the following interventions:
- Exercises and activities
- Training and education
- Development of skills
- Environment modification and activity adaptation
- Assistive devices
- Cognitive, sensory, and manual therapies
Collaboration
In order to provide the level of care occupational therapy aims to achieve, participation of others is essential. This highly individualized care meant to promote your well-being in all your typical environments relies upon the teamwork, communication, and coordination of your OT with family members, caregivers, and other healthcare professionals who are involved in your everyday life.