Occupational Therapy is a healthcare profession that focuses on an individual’s ability to perform the broad range of everyday life activities. OT promotes independence by improving the skills required to perform these activities and/or teaching alternative ways to accomplish them.
In order to receive OT, a physician’s referral is required. At your first appointment, the occupational therapist will complete a thorough evaluation of your needs, problems, and concerns. Then, the therapist will create a customized treatment plan designed to improve skills and maximize functional abilities based on your priorities and personal goals. The therapist will consider your physical, psychological, and social well-being, as well as environmental factors when developing your treatment plan.
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY SERVICES:
- Assessing Activities of Daily Living (e.g., bathing, grooming, dressing, meal prep, self-feeding, simple cleaning, community skills)
- Screening for gross motor and fine motor skills (e.g., bed mobility, transfers and balance, coordination and strength, handwriting, grasp/release, transferring objects)
- Assessing visual motor and visual perceptual skills (e.g., attention to visual space, response to visual stimuli, eye contact)
- Assessing cognitive skills (e.g. attention, orientation, following commands, problem solving, money management, object recognition)
- Therapy to improve strength, range of median /flexibility for upper extremities and trunk controls.
- Therapy to improve Activities of Daily Living, functional and fine motor skills
- Therapy to improve visual and cognitive skills
- Recommending adaptive equipment to improve activities of daily living
Alison Oest is a certified occupational therapist with 10 years of experience. She graduated from Springfield College's Occupational Therapy program with a masters degree. Alison has worked as an OT in many capacities-out patient, in patient and home care. Working in Hicksville Physical Therapy, Alison has additional expertise with treating; however, not limited to these common conditons:
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- De Quervain's Syndrome
- Fractures of the hand/wrist/fingers
- Rotator Cuff Injuries
- Shoulder Injuries
- Trigger Finger
When a patient chooses to be treated at Hicksville Physical Therapy they will have the benefits of being treated by a multidisciplinary team. We have: Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapist, Massage Therapists and a Personal Trainer on staff. Each team member assists with the treatment of the patient to aide in a greater and more functional outcome. Hicksville Physical Therapy is the only facility on Long Island that takes such a multidisciplary approach with their treatment; in addition to using the highest technology in the office.
