Occupational Therapy

Therapy through meaningful activity

Occupational therapy focuses on activities that are meaningful to you in order to optimize your performance in day-to-day life. That includes work related activities, role as caregiver or parent, hobbies, leisure, sleep, cognition & more! At your initial evaluation, we will come up with a program specifically designed for your concerns and impairment. A full client profile is completed in order to fully investigate your problem and determine the best client-centered means to address it and meet your goals.

Occupational therapists are skilled at treating the whole person, not just a stated impairment. They take into consideration the activities that are most meaningful to you and design activities to meet your goals in a way that is functional and life-like. Our occupational therapist loves working here and comes to work every day with a positive attitude. If you trust in our process, then there is no limit to what we can achieve together. In conjunction with our physical therapy team, we come into work hoping we can make a difference in someone’s life and that is exactly what we do.
Together, we will establish goals that address your needs but also apply directly to your life. Creating goals is a great way to start with Occupational Therapy. We believe the more goals you create and complete, the more confident you will be with your rehabilitation process. With more confidence, the more you will accomplish while you are here. Our occupational therapist would be happy to discuss any questions or concerns prior to your first visit. We understand how important it is to find the right occupational therapist in order for you to feel comfortable and to achieve the best outcome.

Treatment for the following impairments include:
  • Hand, wrist, and upper extremity
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Splinting
  • Post-concussion
  • Cognitive decline/dementia

Optometrist-Directed Vision Therapy

Vision Therapy is a speciality service working under the direction of a Neuro-optometrist to re-educate the brain and eye connection by increasing your visual efficiency and visual perceptual skills. Most commonly prescribed post-concussion, vision therapy can help alleviate and/or resolve symptoms such as headaches, nausea, dizziness, blurry vision, double vision, eye strain, eye fatigue, difficulty scanning busy environments, difficulty reading and using a computer & more! In addition, Vision Therapy can be prescribed by your optometrist for developmental eye conditions in children interfering with their ability to participate in school and play effectively. 

  • Convergence insufficiency
  • Accommodative dysfunction
  • Developmental eye conditions
  • Concussion
  • Saccadic dysfunction
  • Pursuits dysfunction
  • Eye coordination

What is visual efficiency? 

Process of effectively viewing visual input. Visual efficiency encompasses visual tracking, eye-teaming and focusing. 

Examples: skills required to read a book, transition from board to table or follow a moving object. 

What is visual perception? 

How we take in information and process it in order to make sense of it. 

Examples: discriminating between right and left, an object in the foreground or background and visual memory.

Are you experiencing any of the below symptoms?

  • Headaches?
  • Blurry Vision?
  • Double Vision?
  • Difficulty staying on the line while reading/losing place?
  • Words moving on the page while reading?
  • Eye rubbing or squinting
  • Fatigue from reading?
  • Reduced attention to reading?

If you answered yes to any of the above, especially before, during or after reading, contact Priority Physical Therapy today to schedule an in-depth evaluation to determine your unique needs!
Resources:
Beck, C. (2022, December 8). Visual Efficiency and Vision Problems You Can Not “See.” The OT Toolbox. 
Eye and Vision Conditions. (n.d.). American Optometric Association. 

In-Office Driving Assessment

Do you have a loved one, family member or friend that you are concerned about continuing to be behind the wheel? Have you just been in an accident and are fearful or concerned you are not ready to return to driving? Does your doctor recommend an in-office driving assessment post-injury such as a concussion, stroke or progression of disease? 

These are all possible reasons why an in-office driving assessment might be of value to you or your loved one! Here at Priority Physical Therapy, our trained Occupational Therapist will conduct a 1 hour, in-office driving risk assessment that is covered by commercial insurance with a referral from your physician. The assessment will encompass all the basic skills required to behind the wheel including:

  • Cognition
  • Visual Perception
  • Vision
  • Range of Motion & Strength
  • Endurance
  • Sensation

Contact Priority Physical Therapy services today to schedule your in-office driving assessment!
Resources:
Adaptive Mobility Services, Inc. (2022, June 2). Home – NEW.
Driving and Community Mobility. (n.d.). AOTA. 

Potential outcomes of the In-Clinic Driving Assessment:

 No impairment indicators to report restrictions on driving and, hopefully, the confidence and knowledge that you are ready to return to driving! 

Moderate risk: need for an in-depth, behind the wheel Driving Evaluation with a certified Driving Evaluation Specialist.

High risk: need for in-office services prior to completing a behind the wheel driving evaluation and/or returning to driving.

Driving retirement: recommended to the Physician for driving retirement due to safety concerns.

What the driving assessment does not do: 

The driving assessment does not restore your license to drive; however, it is a step in the right direction depending on the assessment results. 

The driving assessment does not revoke your license or right to be behind the wheel. That remains up to your Physician and State DMV. However, your Physician will take into consideration the assessment results in determining fitness to drive.