Who Benefits from Physical, Speech, and Occupational Therapy?

At FeldCare Connects, we help connect home health agencies with freelance physical, speech, and occupational therapists. Each type of therapy utilizes different tools and aids medical conditions in different ways. For example, a patient who has had a traumatic brain injury may need physical therapy to help with balance and coordination, occupational therapy to relearn how to do everyday tasks, and speech therapy to enable them to regain their ability to communicate effectively. All three therapies may be utilized in this case. 

However, not everyone needs to utilize every type of therapy. For example, someone with aphasia may see more benefit from a speech therapist, while someone recovering from a spinal injury might find physical and occupational therapies are right for them.

The patient’s medical provider will help them determine whether ST, PT, or OT – or all three – will help them during their rehabilitation journey.

That said, it’s essential to understand who has the potential to benefit from specialized therapies like those offered in occupational, speech, or physical therapy.

Who Benefits from Physical, Speech, and Occupational Therapy?

Patients with various conditions can benefit from physical, speech, or occupational therapy. Here is a brief list of rehabilitation patients that may benefit from receiving services from PTs, OTs, and SLPs: 

Elderly People

Many elderly folks benefit from specialized rehab services because those services can help them remain independent for as long as possible. For example, an occupational therapist may help an older person find the best ways to prevent falls and advise on the safest way to set up a specific living space. This can go far in helping older adults live the life they want with greater independence.  

Those Recovering from Injury

Physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy are rehabilitation services and can be used to benefit individuals recovering from an injury. Many hospitals have physical therapists on staff to help various patients during their recovery. Home health agencies may also offer PT to help homebound individuals effectively move about their homes and recover from the injury that is forcing them to remain home.

Individuals with Long Term Illness/Conditions

Many long-term conditions can benefit from the services of a therapist. For example, individuals with multiple sclerosis may find strategies for navigating their lives by consulting an occupational therapist. Speech therapy may help Alzheimer’s patients find their words and voice concerns as they continue to live with the disease.

PT, OT, and ST can improve the lives of those with long-term illnesses and conditions, with new therapies and strategies being developed continuously.

Those Recovering from Cancer

Cancer patients go through a lot physically and mentally when receiving treatment. Depending on the situation, Physical, occupational, and speech therapy can all help during that recovery time. Someone recovering from cancer may require strategies to help them carry on with daily life (OT), or they may need strength rehabilitation (PT), or they may need help verbalizing their concerns (ST).

Children

Children with long-term illnesses, neurodevelopmental conditions, or hearing difficulties may benefit from PT, OT, and ST. For example, someone who experiences childhood hearing loss may need speech therapy to help them verbalize their needs. But the condition may have affected their inner ear, and now they also need help recovering balance or finding ways to do activities that come more easily to other children. A pediatrician may recommend implementing all three therapies to help a child learn and grow, developing into a happy and fulfilled adult.

FeldCare Connects partners with home health agencies to assist them in finding freelance PT, OT, and ST clinicians who can help homebound patients during their recovery. Find out more by exploring our website or connecting with us directly here.