Occupational Therapy

Alzheimer’s is a progressive brain disorder for which there is no cure. It destroys memory and other key mental functions. Brain cell connections and the brain cells degenerate and die, eventually destroying memory and other important mental functions. While it is incurable, there are medications and other strategies to improve symptoms.

Arthritis is the swelling and tenderness of one or more of joints in the body and decreased range of motion. There are more than 100 types and related conditions. Arthritis does not discriminate among gender, age or race. It is the leading cause of disability in America. Arthritis can cause permanent joint changes. These changes may be visible, such as knobby finger joints, but often the damage can only be seen on X-Ray.

Autism refers to a wide-ranging list of conditions involving challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication. We know that there is not one autism but many subtypes, most influenced by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Because autism is a spectrum disorder, each person with autism has a distinct set of strengths and challenges. Those with autism fall into a range of learning, thinking and problem-solving that can range from highly skilled to profoundly challenged. Signs of autism usually appear by age 2 or 3. Research demonstrates early intervention leads to best possible outcomes later in life for those challenged with autism.

A brain injury is an injury to the brain that occurs after birth and is not congenital, degenerative or hereditary. There are two types of brain injury: Traumatic Brain Injury and Acquired Brain Injury.

Fractures are synonymous with broken bones.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease that impacts the brain and spinal cord – which collectively comprise the central nervous system. The disease occurs when the immune system attacks nerve fibers and the fatty sheathing which surrounds and insulates healthy nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord. This attack causes inflammation, altering electrical messages in the brain. MS is erratic and the effect on individual patients may range from mild to the total loss of ability to write, speak or walk.

Nerves in the body send messages to the brain, including pain, to signal danger to the body. With nerve pain condition, that messaging system is misfunctioning and there's no obvious cause for the discomfort. Nerve pain is not curable, but it is highly treatable.

Parkinson's disease is a progressive, incurable nervous system disorder that affects movement. Symptoms start gradually, sometimes starting with a barely noticeable tremor in just one hand. The most common symptom is tremors, but the condition also commonly causes stiffness or slowing of movement, slurred speech, and decreased facial expression. Parkinson’s disease symptoms worsen over time. Medications and surgery may significantly improve symptoms.

Located within the backbone, the spinal cord is tube-like and contains a bundle of nerves from the base of the brain down the back. The spinal cord serves to carry messages from the brain to the rest of the body. Spinal cord injury is any disorder or condition causing damage and deterioration to the spinal cord.

A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain are either blocked by a clot or ruptures. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen needed, and the brain and brain cells begin to die quickly. Strokes are preventable, but in the case of an occurrence, stroke victims must receive immediate emergency medical intervention.

Generally the result of severe impact to the head or face, traumatic brain injury involves temporary or permanent damage to brain tissue that results in bleeding into the brain and or swelling of the brain. Depending upon the severity of the traumatic brain injury, symptoms may range from confusion, to loss of consciousness, to coma, all of which may vary in duration. The treatment of traumatic brain injury involves support of all vital body systems.