Occupational Therapy

Occupational Therapy at St. Joseph’s/Candler

Occupational therapy is a health and rehabilitation profession dedicated to helping individuals achieve independence and improve their quality of life despite physical, developmental, or emotional challenges. Whether it's recovering from an injury, managing a chronic condition, or addressing developmental concerns, our expert team works with people of all ages to help them lead productive and satisfying lives.

What is occupational therapy?

Occupational therapy focuses on meaningful activities—referred to as "occupations"—that enhance an individual's ability to function independently and productively in their daily lives. This includes personal care, work, education, leisure, and any actions meaningful to the individual within their environment.

At St. Joseph’s/Candler, our occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants provide personalized care to help individuals overcome barriers caused by:

• Physical injuries or disabilities
• Developmental delays
• Neurological conditions
• Social or emotional challenges

How occcupational therapy can help

Our occupational therapy services are designed to:

• Increase/ maintain muscle strength and coordination: Helping patients perform daily tasks more effectively.
• Reduce joint swelling, inflammation, and pain: Promoting optimal joint health and comfort.
• Restore and improve range of motion: Supporting joint flexibility and mobility.
• Decrease muscle spasms and spasticity: Enhancing relaxation and ease of movement.
• Recover after neurological damage: Regaining maximum strength, movement, and function following stroke, head injury, spinal cord damage, neuropathy, or peripheral nerve injuries.
• Promote wound healing and prevent scarring: Ensuring optimal recovery after burns, ulcers, or pressure sores.
• Facilitate rapid return to work or athletics: Providing tailored programs for post-injury recovery.

Conditions we treat

Our team treats a wide range of conditions, some of which are uniquely addressed by occupational therapy:

• ADHD, Autism, and Developmental Delays: These conditions focus on improving social interaction, attention, and motor skills, making them central to OT.

• Cerebral Palsy and Down Syndrome: Addressing lifelong challenges with tailored interventions to maximize independence.
• Feeding Disorders: Helping children and adults improve their feeding techniques, swallowing, and nutrition.
• Learning Disabilities: Empowering individuals to succeed in academic or workplace environments.
• Lymphedema: A specialized condition uniquely managed by OT.
• Sensory Integrative Dysfunction: Focused on sensory processing and environmental adaptation.

What makes St. Joseph’s/Candler occupational therapy exceptional?

At St. Joseph’s/Candler, we are dedicated to patient-centered care, offering outstanding service and convenience:

• Quick Access to Appointments: First-time outpatient appointments are typically available within 48 to 72 business hours.
• Streamlined Registration: Average wait time is less than three minutes, ensuring a smooth process.
• Convenient Facilities: Our outpatient centers are designed for easy access, and our knowledgeable staff can help with insurance and billing inquiries.
• High Patient Satisfaction: Our outpatient satisfaction scores consistently exceed national norms for quality and care.