Physical, Occupational, & Speech Therapy

One of the finest rehabilitation opportunities that SOMC Rehab Services has to offer our patients is our Aquatic Rehab program. Our 23,000-gallon therapy pool and our 4-lane, 25-meter lap/fitness pool offer two aquatic environments that afford our therapists the opportunity to deliver the highest level of rehabilitation. The therapy pool offers a warm and supportive environment for patients recovering from knee, shoulder, hip or lumbar surgery, or acute injury. With the advantage of the warm water, therapists can initiate rehab programs sooner after a surgery. This can decrease the overall time of the healing process and, in turn, the time needed for rehabilitation. With aquatic rehabilitation, patients with osteoporosis or arthritis are able to increase their activity levels more quickly than with traditional land-based programs.

The physical properties of water make it a safe and effective environment in which to achieve certain therapeutic goals. Our 23,000 gallon therapy pool is heated to 92-94 degrees and is used by patients with multiple sclerosis, arthritis, chronic back pain, total joint replacement, orthopedic injuries, those recovering from surgery or stroke and many other conditions. This low stress environment is wonderful for our pediatric clients and is even used for rehab of expecting mothers, spinal cord injuries and patients with fibromyalgia.

Osteoarthritis is a condition that affects the everyday life of millions of people. The notion that osteoarthritis cannot be managed and that we should accept it when it limits our ability to do the things we love to do is unacceptable. The Arthritis Foundation recommends regular exercise for those patients suffering from disabling arthritis. Osteoarthritis can limit a person’s ability to perform everyday tasks, leisure activities, and in some cases it can threaten an individual’s independence.

Arthritis rehabilitation is a safe and very successful way to help manage some of the symptoms of arthritis, but most importantly, it will teach a person how to manage and deal with their arthritis in the future. Our therapy staff focuses on self-management of pain, and increased function of the arthritis patient. Individual goals are set for each patient based on why they want to manage their arthritis.

Feeling a loss of balance? Are you dizzy?

The term “dizziness” encompasses a variety of sensations and can mean a lot of different things to different people. Generally, dizziness and loss of balance involves some disturbance in postural stability, movement stability, gaze stability, or an overall illusion of motion. Patients will often describe the sensation as “spinning, unsteadiness, lightheadedness, disequilibrium, disorientation, wooziness, floating, foggy headed or drunk feeling.”

With all of the possible causes for “dizziness,” the first step to dealing with the problem is to identify the cause. The Balance Disorder Program through SOMC Rehab Services has specially trained staff and state-of-the-art evaluation equipment to help identify the cause. Once the cause is identified, options for treating the condition can be explored.

Balance Rehabilitation Program

If testing reveals that the cause of the balance problem is related to poor lower extremity strength, gait abnormalities, or issues with center of gravity, a patient can be referred for therapy.

A physical therapist will implement a program to reduce the areas of concern and improve the function of the patient. This, in turn, reduces the chance for a fall. Simple exercises for strength, flexibility and balance can be taught to a patient so they can continue to work on their balance condition after completing therapy.

Healing from cancer consists of far more than conventional medical treatments. In fact, the real healing often begins after discharge. The SOMC Cancer Well-Fit Program is a service aimed to help cancer patients currently receiving treatment and those who have received treatment in the past. Different components of the program are tailored to meet the specific needs of our clients, from overcoming physical limitations caused by the cancer or cancer treatment to helping improve the patient’s state of mind.

For older adults, falls are one of the greatest causes of serious health problems. Studies show that approximately 5 percent of falls by older adults result in a fracture. Twenty-five percent of patients over the age of 65 with hip fractures die within six months, 25 percent lose significant function, and 50 percent experience a decrease in mobility.

Entry into the Program

A doctor’s referral based on increased risk due to age, history, medication changes, muscle changes, degenerative joint disease, post arthroplasty or osteoporosis is necessary.

The program consists of two parts:

Fibromyalgia syndrome is a chronic form of muscular pain and fatigue. Pain is the most prominent symptom of the condition and is generally felt all over. It commonly disturbs sleep patterns. Fibromyalgia pain has been described in a variety of ways including burning, radiating, gnawing, sore, stiff and aching. For many, fibromyalgia significantly limits the ability to lead a normal life.

If you have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, help is available. SOMC Rehab Services has developed a Fibromyalgia Management Program designed to help manage the pain and improve the quality of life for those with this condition.

Managing Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia doesn’t have to stop you from living your life. With proper management, the pain can be reduced, sleep can be improved, and you can regain your independence. There is increasing evidence that a regular exercise routine is essential for all fibromyalgia patients.

The program through SOMC Rehab Services is the first step in a lifetime of managing fibromyalgia symptoms. It focuses on exercise and includes education that will give you the tools that you need to better control your condition. Through proper management, fibromyalgia patients can lead active lives. Upon completion of the rehabilitation program, independence can be continued under the guidance of an exercise physiologist by joining the SOMC LIFE Center.

Highly specialized services provided by occupational therapists are offered for individuals with injuries or disorders of the hands or upper extremities. These injuries/disorders often include: burns, crush injuries, fractures, amputations, arthritis, joint replacements, sports injuries or problems related to repetitive motion. The rehab team offers the latest in evaluation and rehab technology for hand and upper extremity conditions, like hand occupational therapy.

Lymphedema is a progressive disorder characterized by the impairment of the flow of water molecules from tissues to the blood. It arises after damage has occurred to the lymphatic system and results in abnormal accumulation of fluids, most typically seen in the upper extremities as result of breast cancer surgery. However, it can also occur in the lower extremities. Some other common symptoms of lymphedema include chronic inflammation and tissue fibrosis.

SOMC Rehab Services offers a specific lymphedema therapy program for the Therapeutic Management of Lymphedema for both upper and lower extremities.

The method is called Comprehensive Decongestive Therapy (CDT). Our Lymphedema specialists have received training for specific massage protocols, compression wrapping, exercises, and skin care techniques to aid in the effective management of lymphedema.

When these special lymphedema therapeutic techniques and protocols are utilized, the patient can experience significant relief from the effects of Lymphedema and learn to manage their condition in the future.

Osteoporosis is a preventable disease in which bones become fragile and more likely to break. If not prevented, or if left untreated, osteoporosis can progress quietly and painlessly until a bone breaks. These broken bones, also known as fractures, occur typically in the wrist, spine and hip.

Any bone can be affected, but fractures of the hip and spine are a special concern. A hip fracture almost always requires hospitalization and major surgery. It can impair a person’s ability to walk unassisted and may lead to prolonged or permanent disability or even death.

Spinal fractures can also be very detrimental with serious consequences such as loss of height, deformity and severe back pain.

Millions of Americans are at risk and while women are four times more likely to develop osteoporosis, men can also suffer from osteoporosis.

The SOMC Neuro Rehab Department offers a comprehensive, interdisciplinary rehabilitation program for the pediatric client who may be dealing with any one of several different diagnoses. Some of the common pediatric conditions that we treat are Cerebral Palsy, Down’s Syndrome, developmental delay, torticollis, traumatic brain injury, autism, and gross/fine motor development. The pediatric rehabilitation program focuses on increasing the client’s functional level and independence. Our interdisciplinary approach is comprised of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Pathology and Audiology services. Our program encourages involvement of family members and caretakers so that a patient and their family can be more confident and comfortable with that client’s needs at home.

Treatment principles center on facilitating achievement of normal, age-appropriate development. Appropriateness of referral to other specialists and agencies are evaluated; these may include REACH, early intervention programs, orthotists and pediatric physiatry.