SPECTRUM Therapy offers Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, Sportsmedicine / Athletic Training, and Medical Fitness.
What is Physical Therapy?
Physical Therapists work with people of all ages who have physical impairments, limitations in function, disability or pain. Causes of these ailments include:
- Injury /Accident
- Surgery
- Poor Health
- Disease (congenital or acquired)
Patients undergo the following process to achieve or maintain a better quality of life:
- Examination
- Tests & Measurements (neuromusculoskeletal and functional)
- Assessment
- Explanation of the problem and why it occurred
- Prognosis
- Expectation of recovery, goals, and plan of care
- Treatment
- Education about ailments, recovery process, symptom management and prevention
- Therapeutic exercise to restore joint range of motion, strength, flexibility, balance, posture / position, cardiovascular endurance
- Functional activity training to restore ability to walk, get in and out of bed or a chair and other functional activities
- Manual therapy to restore soft tissue and joint mobility and retrain movement patterns
- "Modalities" such as electrical stimulation, ultrasound, hot or cold packs for accelerating tissue healing and managing pain
Physical Therapists have extensive educational and clinical training. Most hold a Master's Degree in Physical Therapy from an accredited college or university. All PT's must be licensed in the state in which they practice. Some get clinical specialist certification in orthopedics, neurology, geriatrics, pediatrics, cardiopulmonary, or sports physical therapy.
PT's work in hospitals, private practices, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, home health agencies, hospice, public and private schools, industrial health centers, sports facilities, colleges and universities and research institutions. SPECTRUM Therapy's PT's work in the Outpatient, Home Health, Workplace Health, and Community Wellness Divisions.
What is Occupational Therapy:
Occupational Therapists also work with people of all ages and in similar ways as physical therapists. The primary difference between the two professions is in the types of treatment provided, which vary according to setting and age of the patient.
With adults, an OT's treatment will be given to help the patient toward greater independence in the following areas:
- Function: Feeding, Dressing, Toileting, Bathing, Meal Preparation, Housekeeping, Leisure Skills, Home Maintenance
- Other: Problem Solving, Memory, Sensation, Vision, Pain and Muscle/Joint dysfunction, especially of the upper extremity.
OT's also graduate from accredited Master's level university programs and must be licensed in Virginia to practice. SPECTRUM Therapy's OT staff works in the home care and outpatient divisions.
What is Speech Therapy:
A Speech-Language Pathologist's role is with patients with
- Speech difficulties, memory and problem solving difficulties, and chewing and swallowing difficulties
Examples of ailments treated by Speech Therapy include: stroke, head injury, mouth or throat cancer, Alzheimer's disease.
SLP's are graduates from accredited Master and Doctoral level programs and are licensed in Virginia. SPECTRUM Therapy's SLP's work primarily in the home setting, but occasionally in the outpatient clinics.
What is Sportsmedicine & Athletic Training:
Athletic Training is the prevention, recognition, evaluation and treatment of injuries or conditions related to athletic or recreational sports activities.
The role of the Athletic Trainer includes:
- Emergency response to acute injuries
- Rehabilitation of athletic injuries including restoring strength, flexibility, agility, speed, endurance and power
- Use of hot and cold modalities pre and post activity
- Preventative and supportive taping techniques.
The Athletic Trainer functions in the following two environments:
- In the clinical setting under the direct supervision of a physical therapist
- In high school, university or professional sports
ATC's are also certified nationally and licensed in the State of Virginia. Most also hold an undergraduate degree in sports medicine, athletic training or other health-related field. ATC's are also certified in the State of Virginia.
SPECTRUM Therapy's Sports Medicine Staff consists of five Certified Athletic Trainers and four Physical Therapist/Certified Athletic Trainers working in our outpatient clinics. Our Athletic Trainers participate in outreach athletic training programs with local high schools, spending part of the day in the Outpatient clinics and part at a high schools. Some also work in the Workplace Health and Community Wellness Divisions.