Occupational Therapy

What is occupational therapy?

Occupational therapy (OT) is a type of therapy that focuses on helping individuals develop, recover or maintain the skills needed for activities of daily living (ADL). Occupational therapists work with people of all ages who may have physical, developmental, social or emotional challenges that impact their ability to participate in daily activities.

At Bryn Mawr Rehab, our goal is to empower our patients to reclaim their independence in ADL, including essentials such as dressing, grooming, bathing, eating, writing, toileting and driving through occupational therapy.

Whether you're with us for an inpatient stay at Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital in Malvern, Pennsylvania, just outside of Philadelphia, or on an outpatient basis at one of eight convenient locations, our seasoned occupational therapists work collaboratively with you and your support team to create a personalized work plan, perfectly tailored to the particular functions of your day-to-day schedule.

Patients who require OT can be of any age, but are typically recovering from debilitating injuries or conditions like:

Types of occupational therapy at Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital

Our programs are tailored to meet the needs of every individual, focusing on both inpatient and outpatient care.

Our team pairs occupational therapy with sensory integration. This is an essential process where your brain interprets and organizes different types of sensory information from your environment and your body, such as sight, sound, touch, taste, smell, movement and balance.

For some individuals, this process can be challenging, leading to feelings of discomfort, difficulty concentrating, motor skills issues or being easily overwhelmed by everyday situations. Therapies focusing on sensory integration can help your brain more effectively process sensory information, leading to improvements in performing daily activities, emotional regulation and overall engagement with your surroundings.

Together, occupational therapy and sensory integration can also help with ADLs such as:

  • Transferring to a bed, toilet or tub
  • Visual processing and ocular motor control
  • Returning to school, work and other daily activities

How long you require therapeutic assistance, whether inpatient or outpatient, is dependent on your individual needs.

Occupational therapy treatment options

Our treatment options are as diverse as the needs of our patients. Every therapy journey begins with a comprehensive evaluation, pinpointing the specific challenges each patient faces. Our customizable therapy programs may include:

  • Custom splinting and casting
  • Sensory stimulation
  • Cognitive, perceptual and motor training
  • Functional vision retraining
  • Home exercise programs
  • Energy-conservation and joint-protection techniques
  • Durable medical equipment (DME) usage training

What to expect from occupational therapy

The road to recovery can sometimes seem daunting, but even the smallest achievements mark significant milestones. Our occupational therapy team at Bryn Mawr Rehab is dedicated to adopting creative approaches to boost endurance, agility and teach energy-conservation techniques, helping patients navigate the challenges of daily life with greater ease.

Patients can expect a caring environment that starts with understanding the unique challenges they face. Our goal is to equip each individual with the skills, confidence and support necessary to achieve maximum independence.

Related specialties

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Stroke Rehab

Inpatient and outpatient stroke rehabilitation treatment and complex stroke treatment. We develop a unique stroke rehab therapy plan that help patients immediately build on their strengths and learn to compensate for limitations.

Hand Therapy

A hand therapy specialist is well-versed in a variety of methods and works to develop a personalized regimen for the unique needs of every patient. Our patients come from all walks of life—from young athletes to long-term arthritis sufferers to accidental burn victims.

Parkinson's Disease Treatment Program

The frustrating effects of Parkinson Disease can take a toll on a patient’s abilities and self-image. However, a customized therapy plan can help Parkinson patients make significant gains.

Aquatic Therapy

Through the aquatic therapy program at Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital, warm water helps patients relax, enhances functional movement, and boosts confidence and ability.

Speech Therapy

Our multidisciplinary approach to inpatient and outpatient speech therapy rehab includes expert diagnosis and treatment of speech, language, cognitive and swallowing disorders led by master’s-level, licensed and certified speech pathologists.

Physical Therapy

Each inpatient and outpatient physical therapy rehab is individually designed and administered by a licensed physical therapist who consistently guides you from that first visit all the way through recovery.

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