Regain Your Independence with Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy helps people reclaim their ability to perform tasks in their daily activities or occupations. During occupational therapy at Dignity Health, a therapist or doctor will:
- Access your capability to perform various activities
- Create a personalized treatment plan based on your lifestyle, activity goals, and goals for returning to your occupation
- Coordinate with other health care providers, such as doctors, physical therapists, and speech therapists
Your doctor may recommend occupational therapy if you have an injury or condition that limits your ability to function in daily activities or your job.
If you need occupational therapy in the Bay Area, Find a Doctor who’s right for you at Dignity Health. Our occupational therapists (OTs) are highly experienced and dedicated to helping you live your life without complications.
Do I Need Occupational Therapy?
Occupational therapy treats conditions including:
- Age-related issues, including low vision, cognitive problems, and dementia
- Cancer and cancer treatment, including weakness, fatigue, pain, and recovering from surgery
- Cognitive and developmental disorders, including autism and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Genetic and congenital conditions, including Down syndrome, birth defects, cerebral palsy, and muscular dystrophy
- Mental health conditions, including depression, substance abuse, post-traumatic stress, and mood disorders
- Musculoskeletal disorders, including arthritis, joint replacements, sprains, and broken bones
- Neurological disorders, including stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson's disease, and multiple sclerosis
- Pain disorders, including, migraines, fibromyalgia, and neck and back pain
- Occupational and overuse injuries, including carpal tunnel syndrome, plantar fasciitis, and tendonitis
- Traumatic injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, severe burns, and limb amputations
Services Provided by Occupational Therapists at Dignity Health
Our individualized occupational therapy services may include:
- Activities of daily living training, including household chores, bathing, dressing, cooking, driving, and childcare
- Assistive device training, including canes, walkers, grab bars, bath seats, toilet seats, reachers, grabbers, and custom splints
- Body mechanics training, including proper lifting and carrying, body alignment, and exercises to improve range of motion, strength, and motor skills
- Cognitive training to improve communication, reasoning, problem solving, and memory
- Environment modifications, including installing handrails, rearranging furniture, removing cabinet doors, installing sink pedals, installing stair chairs, and raising or lowering countertops, appliances, and furniture
- Low vision modifications, including installing nightlights, reducing reflective surfaces, using indirect lighting, and maximizing contrast
- Neuromuscular retraining to improve hand-eye coordination, visual processing, and nerve function
- Pain, inflammation, and joint treatments, including ultrasound, electrical stimulation, hot and cold therapy, and paraffin wax therapy
- Return to work programs, including joint protection strategies and ergonomic modifications to the workplace
- Sensory integration training to improve balance, sensations, and spatial awareness
At Dignity Health, we know how frustrating it can be to lose your ability to perform daily and occupational activities due to an injury or other medical condition. Our occupational therapists will work with you to design a personalized treatment plan to get you back to living life as independently as possible.
Patients can recover or maintain daily living skills with Dignity Health’s occupational therapy program in San Francisco, Santa Cruz, and Redwood City.