Occupational Therapy
Understanding Occupational Therapy
Getting your strength back is only part of recovery. Occupational therapy focuses on the other part: getting your hands and arms working well enough to do the things you actually need to do, dressing, cooking, typing, opening a jar. Our occupational therapists work alongside your specialist to rebuild the fine motor skills and function that everyday life depends on.
Who Occupational Therapy Helps
Post-surgical hand and wrist patients. Rebuilding motion and strength after a repair or fracture.
Nerve injury patients. Restoring coordination and sensation after conditions like carpal tunnel or nerve repair.
Arthritis patients. Managing joint stiffness and pain in the hands while staying independent day to day.
Patients relearning daily tasks. Rebuilding the grip, dexterity, and coordination needed for everyday activities.
Custom splinting needs. Patients who need a splint fitted and adjusted as their hand heals.
You don’t need a diagnosis figured out before you start. Your therapist builds the plan around your evaluation.
What therapy looks like
Sessions combine hands-on treatment, targeted exercises, and custom splinting when needed, all aimed at getting your hand and arm back to doing what you need them to do. Because therapy happens under the same roof as your specialist, your therapist and doctor stay in sync on your progress, so your plan adjusts as you improve.
Recovery
Most patients see steady gains in grip strength, motion, and coordination over several weeks of consistent therapy. Timelines vary based on the injury and whether surgery was involved, and your therapist will set realistic milestones so you know what progress should look like along the way.
Why Advanced Orthopedic Center
We have four Southwest Florida offices: Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda, Venice, and North Port. No referral needed; you can be evaluated for occupational therapy directly, especially as part of a plan with one of our hand and upper extremity specialists. Because therapy is in-house, your care team communicates directly instead of working from separate notes.
What’s the difference between occupational therapy and physical therapy?
Physical therapy generally focuses on larger movements like walking and standing. Occupational therapy focuses on fine motor skills and hand function, the movements you need for everyday tasks like dressing, writing, or cooking.
Do I need a referral for occupational therapy?
Will I need a splint?
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