The Physical and Occupational Therapy Department at Martha Jefferson Hospital is staffed with experienced professionals who offer a multidisciplinary approach to treatment. The staff works as a rehabilitation team to assist clients in achieving their maximum functional abilities. Therapy programs are individualized, aimed at helping each client reach an acceptable level of comfort and independence.

For descriptions of services and programs, choose from the list below. For additional information, talk with your physician and contact us.

Physical Therapy
Occupational Therapy
Fall Prevention
Treating Incontinence, Constipation & Pelvic Pain

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy provides inpatient and outpatient services for individuals with physical disabilities resulting in pain, decreased strength, decreased mobility, or loss of function. Early intervention for acute injuries and management of chronic conditions are provided by our expert staff. Treatment and home programs are designed to facilitate maximum independence and function.

Conditions that may benefit from Physical Therapy include:

• Arthritis
• Joint Surgery
• Tendonitis and bursitis
• Amputation
• Incontinence
• Balance disorders
• Weakness
• Sprains, strains and fractures
• Stroke and other neuromuscular disorders
• Women’s Health
• Prenatal/postnatal
• Osteoporosis
• Cancer

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Occupational Therapy

Occupational Therapy provides inpatient and outpatient services for individuals with decreased functional ability due to physical illness or injury. Individualized treatment and home programs are designed to maximize independence in self-care, work and functional activities.

Conditions that may require Occupational Therapy:

• Arthritis
• Hand and upper extremity injuries
• Work-related injuries
• Reflex sympathetic dystrophy
• Lymphedema
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and other repetitive-motion injuries
• Stroke and other neuromuscular disorders
• Cancer

Fall Prevention

Falls are common yet often preventable occurrences among the elderly. One of three individuals over the age of 65 will experience a fall each year, and the likelihood increases to 50 percent for people 72 and older.

Most falls are not simply “accidents” and are not part of normal aging but are consequences of specific, intrinsic risk factors. The U.S. Public Health Service estimates that two-thirds of falls could be prevented. Effective fall prevention includes a comprehensive strategy to target as many risk factors as possible for a given individual.

Personal Risk Factors for Falls:

• Fear of falling
• Medication
• Balance problems
• Difficulty walking
• Dizziness
• Weakness
• Loss of flexibility
• Loss of endurance
• Visual impairment
• Hearing loss
• Foot problems
• Urinary dysfunction
• Certain disease processes
• Dehydration
• Blood pressure changes

Environmental Risk Factors for Falls:

• Poor lighting
• Slippery surfaces
• Loose rugs
• Obstacles
• Inadequate footwear

How to Begin:

To find out if this program would be appropriate for you, talk with your doctor. Physician referral is required. For more information on the program itself and our staff, contact us.

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Treating Incontinence, Constipation & Pelvic Pain

Problems with pelvic floor muscles can result in incontinence, constipation and even pelvic pain. In fact, studies show that more than 20 million Americans of all ages suffer from bladder and bowel problems. The good news is that a variety of effective treatments are available, including physical therapy.

Martha Jefferson Rehabilitation Services offers a balanced program including electromyography (EMG) biofeedback to train the pelvic floor muscles. Patients learn how to exercise correctly by squeezing against a plastic sensor and watching the muscles contract and relax on a computer screen.

Benefits of this program include:

• Allows observation of muscle contraction, relaxation, endurance and evidence of spasms
• Provides resistance for focusing efforts to isolate the muscles
• Shows muscle improvement, often before symptoms change
• Helps motivate patients and uses a variety of exercises
• Provides resistance for focusing efforts to isolate the muscles

Services in the Program Include:

• EMG biofeedback
• Home exercise program instruction, with stretches and strengthening for other related muscle groups

Changes in symptoms can occur after 6-8 weeks of practice. A session with the physical therapist is usually scheduled weekly for the first three to four weeks, then less often. The total number of visits to expect depends upon the diagnosis.

How to Begin:

To find out if this program would be appropriate for you, talk with your doctor. Physician referral is required. For more information on the program itself and our staff, contact us.

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