Outpatient Physical Rehabilitation

St. Mary Mercy Hospital’s Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) Department provides state-of-the-art rehabilitation services with treatment individualized to meet each patient’s special needs. Services include evaluation and treatment of orthopedic problems such as fracture, arthritis, joint replacement and spine injuries as well as neurological deficits resulting from stroke, muscle and nerve problems, and brain injury.

Physical Therapy
Services begin with comprehensive evaluation of a patient’s ability to perform their daily routine. Ongoing treatment may then include stretching and exercise, joint motion, posture, balance and mobility training. A variety of manual techniques, modalities and educational resources are also used to maximize a patient’s level of independence.

Equipment available in our clinic includes:

• Treadmills and elliptical trainers
• Total Gym® machines
• Weight machines and free weights
• Exercise & medicine balls
• Exercise bikes and upper arm bike
• Mats and more

Occupational Therapy
By teaching new skills and adapting current behavior, Occupational Therapy assists patients in reaching their highest level of self-care, self-responsibility, and quality of life. This is done through building strength, increasing coordination, improving visual and thinking skills, providing instruction on the use of adaptive equipment and modifying a patient’s surroundings to restore and enhance independence with daily routines.

Speech Therapy
Both pediatric and adult services are available. Treatment areas include swallowing, speech production, speaking and listening, reading and writing, memory, problem-solving, and attention and concentration. Specialized adult services include treatment for stuttering, voice disorders and accent while our pediatric programs focus on motor-speech development, language development, and articulation disorders as well as stuttering and voice disorders. For those with Parkinson's and or other neurological disorders, we offer the Lee Silverman Voice Therapy program.

Physiatry
Board-certified physicians, specializing in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation are available to evaluate and manage patients who have neurological problems such as stroke, muscle and nerve diseases and brain injuries. They also are expertly qualified in musculoskeletal problems including back and neck pain.

Massage Therapy
Massage therapy is the manipulation of soft tissue for therapeutic purposes and may include the following techniques: effleurage, petrissage, tapotement, compression, vibration, and friction. All have specific functions and are used for specific conditions. For example, cross-fiber friction is used in an area where scar tissue has developed. Benefits of massage therapy include:

• Increased circulation - Chronic tension produces chronic tightness in the musculature. The result is a built-up of waste and toxic byproducts of cellular activity within the muscle.
• Relaxation - Manipulation of stressed areas of the body react by releasing endorphins, calming the nervous system and allowing the muscles to relax.
• Body awareness enhancement - The reconnection of your mind with your body is an intricate part of massage therapy by directing attention to areas of the body the client cannot visually be in contact with, such as the back.