Physical & Occupational Therapy

Physical therapy can help you get relief from pain and regain strength after injury or surgery. Our licensed physical therapists, physical therapy assistants and skilled technicians work together to evaluate your needs and deliver a treatment plan that’s right for you.

 

Through exercise, education, the latest equipment and a tailored discharge plan, our highly trained physical therapists improve your:

• Strength
• Endurance
• Mobility/range of motion
• Balance and coordination

 

In addition, our orthopedics and sports medicine physicians are on the premises, which allows for closer therapist-physician interactions.

Our certified occupational therapists treat and rehabilitate hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder injuries and conditions. In collaboration with your surgeon, our therapists develop a rehabilitation plan specific to your needs and use custom bracing and splinting to aid in your therapy and help restore function.

 

We treat acute traumatic injuries, including:

• Crushed fingers
• Fractures
• Amputations
• Lacerations with nerve damage

 

We also treat repetitive-motion injuries, including:

• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• De Quervain’s tenosynovitis – a painful inflammation of tendons in the thumb, extending to the wrist
• Tennis elbow

The hand is a delicate network of bones, tendons, ligaments and cartilage and is vital to everyday activities of work and play. This also makes the hand vulnerable to a number of injuries and conditions, including:

• Carpal tunnel syndrome (repetitive movement)
• Fractures and sprains from sports and athletics
• Arthritis (joint inflammation)
• Trigger finger (a condition in which one of your fingers gets stuck in a bent position)
• Tendonitis (inflammation, irritation and swelling of a tendon)

 

Houston Methodist’s certified hand therapists are trained in the latest techniques in hand and upper extremity rehabilitation — ensuring patients recover quickly and safely. The team also educates patients about their hand-related injuries and conditions, wound care, splinting and how to manage their rehabilitation.

 

Certified Hand Therapy Services

While the primary focus of hand therapy is on strengthening and restoring range of motion and function, our certified hand therapists are uniquely trained in the following specialized diagnostic, treatment and rehabilitation options:

• Manual therapy
• Functional capacity evaluation
• Gratson technique
• Ultrasound

 

Our certified hand therapists will work with you to develop an individualized plan of treatment that can offer a pain-free recovery, so you can resume your normal activities.

Aquatic therapy is an alternative form of rehabilitation that uses a comfortable, low-impact and pain-free exercise environment to help patients regain strength, flexibility, endurance and mobility. Houston Methodist’s aquatic therapy facilities offer the latest technology, including: 

• Underwater treadmills
• Therapy jets
• Flotation devices
• Chairlifts for patients requiring assistance entering or exiting the pool

 

Our specially trained aquatic therapists are skilled in evaluating your needs and developing a customized plan for your rehabilitation.

 

Conditions Treated by Aquatic Therapy

Aquatic therapy can aid in the recovery from a wide range of conditions, including:

• Arthritis
• Chronic pain syndromes
• Hip bursitis and replacements
• Injuries and disorders affecting muscles, bones and joints
• Joint replacements
• Knee scopes and replacements
• Postsurgical pain
• Rehabilitation following stroke or brain injury

 

Benefits of Aquatic Therapy

Water has many unique properties that make it the ideal environment for rehabilitation.

• Buoyancy allows for easier body movements — helping you stand for longer periods of time and move stiff joints.
• The natural resistance of water increases muscle strength and allows for smooth, non-jerky movements.
• The pressure of water on the body can help strengthen the heart and challenge the lungs. This can significantly benefit patients with conditions like venous stasis (a complication from poor circulation in the legs).
• Warm water helps relax tense and constricted muscles, soothes aching joints and allows a wider range of motion in affected areas.

Your child deserves the latest treatments available, delivered in a supportive and compassionate environment. At Houston Methodist, our licensed physical, occupational and speech-language therapists provide specialized therapy using advanced equipment and effective techniques to rehabilitate children of all ages, from infants through adolescents.

 

Pediatric Physical Therapy 

Pediatric physical therapy can improve gait, mobility, gross motor function and developmental skills. We offer the following pediatric physical therapy treatment options:

• Coordination activities
• Strengthening exercises
• Balance training
• Aquatic therapy
• Sensory integration
• Equipment and assistive-device instructions

 

Pediatric Occupational Therapy

Pediatric occupational therapy focuses on the treatment of upper-extremity conditions that affect a child’s fine motor abilities. We offer treatment options to improve motor skills, including:

• Feeding skills
• Handwriting
• Cognition
• Daily living activities
• Self-help skills

 

Pediatric Speech-Language Therapy

Pediatric speech-language therapy improves or corrects a child’s language and speech defects. It can also improve swallowing as well as cognition. Our specialists provide treatment focusing on:

• Enhancing articulation
• Expressive communication
• Receptive communication
• Fluency
• Auditory and linguistic processing
• Oral motor skills
• Pragmatic and social skills

Evaluation and treatment, if indicated, with one of our specialized therapists with no referral required. Direct access appointments allow you to seek and receive evaluation and treatment from a physical therapist without the need to see another provider first.

Direct Access appointments are self-pay, and do not go through your insurance. A one-hour treatment session is $190 (fees for additional treatments apply).

Physical therapy is not a substitute for a medical diagnosis by a physician, and services might not be covered by a patient’s health plan or insurer.