Occupational therapy

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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?

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, such as:

  • 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
  • Vestibular: dizziness, 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
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Therapists offering Occupational therapy

Jessica Bigness

Occupational Therapist OTR/L

Nermin Salem

Occupational Therapist OTR/L

Rafael Graelan

Occupational Therapist MS , OTR/L

Fay Itzkowitz

Occupational Therapist MS , OTR/L

Joanne Chen

Occupational Therapist MS , OTR/L

Colleen Campbell

Occupational Therapist OTR/L

Yeiddy Ferreira

Occupational Therapist MS , OTR/L

Alanah O’Dea

Occupational Therapist MS , OTR/L

Kyle DiNicola

Occupational Therapist OTR/L , PTA

Kiera Holland

Occupational Therapy OTR/L

Eliana Savitsky

Occupational Therapist OTR/L

Christine Evangelista

Occupational Therapy MS , OTR/L

Julia Delzingaro

Occupational Therapist OTR/L

Danielle Lynn

Occupational Therapist OTD , OTR/L

Michelle Costa

Occupational Therapist OTR/L

Nisha Iyer

Occupational Therapist OTR/L

Evelyn Russo

Occupational Therapist MS , OTR/L

Claire Grossman

Occupational Therapist OTR/L

Angela Koziarz

Occupational Therapist MS , OTR/L

Elias Fraija

Occupational Therapist MS , OTR/L

Kathleen Siano

Occupational Therapist MS , OTR/L

Ariel Scheintaub

Occupational Therapist OTR/L

Tori Alexander

Director of Hand Therapy OTD , OTR/L

Claire Ruth

Occupational Therapist OTD , OTR/L

Brooke Brenner

Occupational Therapist MS , OTR/L

Jamie Lief

Occupational Therapist OTD , OTR/L

Kendrick Marania

Occupational Therapist MS , OTR/L

Erica Aborlleile

Assistant Director MS , OTR/L

Kateri Virgilio

Assistant Director MS , OTR/L

Shane Williams

Occupational Therapist OTR/L

Margaret Strode

Occupational Therapist MS , CHT , LSVT BIG , OTR/L

Kieran Morrissey

Occupational Therapist MS , OTR/L

Daisy Lei

Occupational Therapist LSVT BIG , OTR/L

Michael Carroll

Occupational Therapist MS , OTR/L

Delaney Wallace

Director of Pelvic Health MS , OTR/L

Kendra Barlotta

Clinical Coordinator of Hand Therapy MS , OTR/L

Ayelen Lee

Occupational Therapist OTR/L

Kathleen O'Donnell-Pickert

Occupational Therapist CHT , OTR/L
View all therapists

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Ready to get moving? Our expert team will guide you through your entire experience, from setting up your first appointment and verifying your insurance to building at-home treatment plans.

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Frequently asked questions about Occupational therapy

What is the difference between OT and PT?
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.
What makes occupational therapy unique?
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.
What is an example of occupational therapy?
  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.