Outpatient Rehabilitation

St. Joseph’s Outpatient Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine Center is unique in that it is able to provide aquatic physical therapy. Aquatic physical therapy, provided by specially trained therapists, is a scientifically proven program shown to enhance the healing process and recovery time for many musculoskeletal and neurological disorders.

The physical properties of water—buoyancy, hydrostatic pressure and resistance —provide a therapeutic environment which aids in the progression of weight-bearing and functional land activities. Aquatic physical therapy provides a supported environment for increasing range of motion and decreasing pain, and improving sport-specific activities, gait and balance.

St. Joseph’s licensed Occupational Therapists are trained to work with patients of all ages who are experiencing upper extremity injury or impairment that limits the ability to complete daily tasks.

A variety of conditions may benefit from occupational therapy, including:

• Fractures of the hand, wrist and arm
• Stroke and brain injury
• Ligament, tendon, and nerve injury and/or repairs
• Repetitive use syndromes (carpal tunnel, tendonitis, trigger finger)
• Joint replacement
• Crush injuries and amputations
• Injuries requiring custom splint fabrication
• Decrease coordination, strength or motion
• Lymphedema

St. Joseph’s licensed and certified Speech Pathologists provide evaluation and treatment for patients experiencing problems with communication, cognition, voice and swallowing. Our speech pathologists are LSVT LOUD^® and vital stim certified and have over 20 years of experience. A multidisciplinary approach provides comprehensive treatment for those who have experienced brain injury, voice disorder, vocal cord dysfunction, carcinoma of the head or neck, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and other neurological conditions.

Speech Therapy Benefits

• Increased independence
• Improved speaking skills
• Improved coordination of speech muscles
• Enhanced understanding and processing of language
• Improved speech intelligibility
• Improved vocal quality
• Improved self-esteem
• Improved nutritional status and safer swallowing

Speech Therapy Programs and Services

• Therapeutic exercises for strengthening oral musculature
• Vital stimulation (neuromuscular electrical stimulation) for treatment of swallowing disorders
• Visipitch computerized program for evaluation and treatment of voice
• Cognitive training and treatment of memory disorders
• Training of functional memory strategies

Lymphedema can be a debilitating condition, yet few people are aware of what it is or what treatment is available in our community. Fortunately, a healing touch can be found at St. Joseph Medical Center!

What is Lymphedema?

Lymphedema is an accumulation of lymphatic fluid that causes swelling, usually in the arms and legs and occasionally in other parts of the body. The swelling develops from abnormal lymphatic flow as a result of cancer surgery, radiation treatment, infection, trauma, vein problems, obesity or hereditary causes.

The human body has a network of lymph nodes and vessels that carry and remove lymphatic fluid the same way blood vessels circulate blood to all parts of the body. Lymphatic fluid contains white blood cells, which help fight infections. Within the lymph vessels, there are valves and muscles that help move the fluid through the body. The lymph nodes serve as filters for harmful substances and help fight infection.

If lymph nodes are not functioning normally and fluid builds up, waste products are not eliminated from the body and nutrients cannot reach healthy tissues such as skin. The resulting lymphedema can lead to infections, hardening of the tissues and skin, discolorations and changes in the skin, limited function or mobility, and other serious side effects.

How Lymphedema Affects You

Lymphedema affects the body, and therefore the quality of life, in many ways:

• Swollen body part
• Heaviness of body part
• Limitation of movement
• Repeated infections
• Thickening and breakdown of skin
• Leakage of lymph through the skin
• Cosmetic problems
• High medical expenses
• Decrease in quality of life
• Decrease in overall health
• Emotional distress

Specialized Treatment

While there is no cure for lymphedema, specialized therapy can help relieve symptoms and reduce the debilitating long-term effects. The certified lymphedema therapists at St. Joseph Medical Center provide consultation, evaluation and treatment for those with edema (swelling). Treatment is completely non-invasive.

LSVT stands for Lee Silverman Voice Treatment. It is a clinically proven cutting edge technique to help patients use their body more normally. It helps restore function and voice quality that is typically lost with Parkinson’s disease or other similar neurological disorders.

LSVT LOUD^® improves facial expressions, voice volume, and quality of voice to improve communication at home and within the community.

LSVT BIG^® utilizes high intensity, high amplitude exercises that are customized to the patient’s current ability and their personal goals. LSVT BIG^® results in improvement of balance, motor control, step length, and daily activities such as dressing, hand writing, and general mobility.

LSVT BIG^® and LSVT LOUD^® can be used during all stages of Parkinson’s but has the greatest potential for improvement during the early to middle stages.

What does treatment look like:

LSVT BIG^® and LSVT LOUD^® consists of therapy sessions four consecutive days per week for four weeks, carried out by a certified Speech therapist (LOUD) and Physical therapist (BIG). Following each treatment of exercises, patients are given homework assignments to promote use of these skills in the home and community settings.