Occupational Therapy

Occupational Therapy

What is Occupational Therapy?

Occupational Therapy (OT) is a form of health care that empowers individuals to overcome physical, mental, or developmental conditions that inhibit their ability to perform everyday activities. OTs employ a variety of methods and adaptive equipment to assist people of all ages in returning to their occupations (meaningful and necessary daily activities), thereby improving their overall quality of life.

Whether it’s a child with developmental delays, an older adult regaining independence, or an art hobbyist looking to hold a brush without pain, OT addresses the needs of the whole person, not just the injury or illness.

What kind of occupational therapy treatments are provided at Spear?

At Spear, we provide customized, holistic treatment plans that transcend the standard occupational therapy practice by putting patients on a path toward optimal performance while also bypassing future injuries.

Our skilled occupational therapists treat a wide range of diagnoses, focusing on the upper extremities. They work with patients to improve their performance in functional activities or “occupations,” such as daily living, education, work, play, leisure, social participation, and sleep.

We treat a wide range of orthopedic and neuromuscular disorders. Here are just a few of the many diagnoses that our therapists address daily:

  • Hand: Post-Operative, Tendinopathies, fractures, neuropathies, stress injuries
  • Elbow: Fractures, Nerve Entrapments, Lateral and Medial Epicondylitis,
  • Shoulder: Tendonitis, Labral Pathology, Rotator Cuff,  Nerve Entrapment, Impingement
  • Wrist: Fractures, Carpal Instabilities, Ligament/Soft Tissue Sprains
  • Vision: Post-Concussion/Brain Injury Visual Impairments
  • Ergonomics: Postural Dysfunction and Workplace Modifications
  • Pediatrics: Torticollis, Developmental Delays, Sports Injuries, Musculoskeletal Impairments,
  • Splinting: Custom-Fabricated Orthosis of the Elbow, Wrist, and Hand

When is occupational therapy recommended?

Occupational therapy is recommended for anyone feeling limited in their normal day-to-day functions due to pain or other symptoms. An ideal candidate for OT is someone who is trying to reach a functional goal and is motivated to work towards and achieve that goal actively.

Whether you have difficulty managing daily living activities, exercising, participating in sports or recreational activities due to chronic illnesses, or recovering from surgery or injury, our occupational therapists can help.

Therapists offering Occupational Therapy
Erica Aborlleile, MS, OTR/L
Erica Aborlleile headshot
Erica Aborlleile, MS, OTR/L
Kendra Barlotta, MS, OTR/L
Kendra Barlotta headshot
Kendra Barlotta, MS, OTR/L
Elias Fraija, MS, OTR/L
Elias Fraija headshot
Elias Fraija, MS, OTR/L
Eric Jiang, MS, OTR/L
Eric Jiang headshot
Eric Jiang, MS, OTR/L
Angela Koziarz, MS, OTR/L
Angela Koziarz headshot
Angela Koziarz, MS, OTR/L
Daisy Lei, OTR/L, LSVT BIG
Daisy Lei Headshot
Daisy Lei, OTR/L, LSVT BIG
LSVT BIG, OTR/L
Jamie Lief, MS, OTR/L
Jamie Lief headshot
Jamie Lief, MS, OTR/L
Danielle Lynn, OTD, OTR/L
Danielle Lynn Headshot
Danielle Lynn, OTD, OTR/L
OTD, OTR/L
Kendrick Marania, MS, OTR/L
Katie Elifritz headshot
Kendrick Marania, MS, OTR/L
MS, OTR/L
Kieran Morrissey, MS, OTR/L, TPI L1
Kieran Morrissey headshot
Kieran Morrissey, MS, OTR/L, TPI L1
Kathleen O'Donnell-Pickert, OTR/L, CHT
Kathleen O'Donnell-Pickert headshot
Kathleen O'Donnell-Pickert, OTR/L, CHT
Carlene Scaravaglione, OTD, OTR/L
Carlene Scavravaglione headshot
Carlene Scaravaglione, OTD, OTR/L
Kathleen Siano, MS, OTR/L
Kathleen Siano headshot
Kathleen Siano, MS, OTR/L
Kira Sterling, MS, OTR/L
Kira Sterling Headshot
Kira Sterling, MS, OTR/L
Margaret "Maggie" Strode, MS, OTR/L, CHT
Margaret "Maggie" Strode headshot
Margaret "Maggie" Strode, MS, OTR/L, CHT
CHT, LSVT BIG, MS, OTR/L

Frequently asked questions about
Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapists assist people of all ages in performing daily activities and improving their capacity to do what they want and need to do. They use a variety of therapeutic strategies to assist patients in living independent, productive, and satisfying lives. Methods include physical exercises, adaptive techniques, customized equipment, and cognitive therapies.

While there is significant overlap between Occupational Therapy (OT) and Physical Therapy (PT), the two professions are separate. PT focuses on improving a patient’s capacity to perform human body motions, which are usually related to pain, injury, or handicap. OT, on the other hand, is primarily concerned with improving a person’s capacity to carry out daily activities on the whole. In short, a person does not need to experience pain in order to participate in occupational therapy but simply find a task difficult to complete.

  1. Assisting an adult recuperating from a stroke regain the abilities needed for cooking.
  2. Help a child with ADHD learn to do their morning routine (shower, brush teeth, organize backpack, eat breakfast, get to the bus stop) quickly and well.
  3. Providing support for older adults experiencing physical and cognitive changes so they can maintain independence.

Yes, occupational therapists can be extremely helpful with ADHD. They can put ideas into practice to enhance focus, lessen distractibility, and develop organizational and planning abilities. To establish a regimented, reliable, and encouraging atmosphere, therapists may also collaborate with parents and instructors.

Yes, occupational therapy can support people in managing their anxiety. Different treatments, like relaxation exercises, stress reduction techniques, and lifestyle modifications, may be employed by therapists. Occupational therapy can also aid in lowering anxiety related to daily chores by enhancing one’s capacity to complete them.

Yes, OT can play a significant role in treating depression. Occupational therapists can help people regain their independence and self-confidence by introducing them to activities that uplift their spirits and offering advice on how to maintain a balanced routine.

Occupational therapy is distinctive due to its all-encompassing approach to patient care. OT treats psychological, social, and environmental aspects that affect function in addition to the physical impacts of a disease or injury. They take into account the entire person, their preferred activities and goals, as well as the setting in which they live and work.

Physical and occupational therapy training and licensure are also feasible, but they require different degrees and certifications. Although they are linked, the educational requirements, certifications, and areas of specialization for these two industries vary.

Occupational therapy is an essential medical intervention that bolsters people’s capacity to carry out important daily tasks. At Spear, we are committed to delivering individualized therapy programs that address the entire body and encourage peak performance.

Named the nation's top physical therapy practice (twice).
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