Physical and Occupational Therapy | United Indian Health Services

What is OT/PT?

Physical and occupational therapy are often best used together, ensuring that you have the community support, physical, and cognitive ability to participate meaningfully in life.

Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy, or “OT,” is the practice of restoring engagement and participation in daily activities. Therapists support people and communities to function in ways that they find meaningful, in order to live a healthy life.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy, or “PT” is the use of exercises to improve tissue healing, restore strength, and optimize movement for improved quality of life and overall health. Therapists are movement experts and use their knowledge to improve individuals’ functional mobility for the completion of daily life tasks.

How Can I Get an Appointment?

All OT/PT services require a referral through your UIHS provider. We are currently unable to receive walk-ins or referrals from non-UIHS providers. If you think you may benefit from occupational and physical therapy services, talk to your doctor today

What to Expect from PT/OT

Physical and Ocupational therapies are highly individualized so you will create a personal rehab plan with your therapist during your visit. Therapists will often see clients 1-3 times per week for 4-6 weeks, though this varies depending on specifically what you need. We take client-centered, holistic care to heart – from your initial evaluation visit to your final discharge visit, you will be involved in goal setting and treatment planning.

Who May Benefit from PT/OT?

Practitioners work with a wide variety of clients and conditions. Some of the most common include therapy following joint replacement surgeries, injuries, strokes, amputations, and the general changes that come with aging.

See the following videos from the American Occupational Therapy Association and the American Physical Therapy Association for more examples:

FAQs

Will I see PT and OT together?

If you are seeing both disciplines, your appointments with each therapist will be separate, but can be scheduled for the same day if there is availability in the therapist’s schedule.

What should I bring with me on my first visit?

Your first visit will mostly involve evaluation to determine how we can best support you – so you only need to bring yourself. If you have adaptive equipment that you regularly use, it could be useful to demonstrate this for the therapist, and of course it is helpful to think ahead about what activities of daily living are giving you the most trouble.

How long will my visit last?

Initial evaluations often take a full hour, and treatment sessions can take anywhere from half to a full hour depending on what goals we are working toward.