The Outpatient Rehabilitation Services department at Northwest Hospital Center is dedicated to helping patients regain the maximum level of self-sufficiency and return to their active lives as quickly as possible.  Physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech pathologists provide care that is individualized for each patient.

The Outpatient Rehabilitation team assists patients in reducing pain, promoting healing and improving communication skills and functional abilities.  Patients are educated about correct body posture, body mechanics, range of motion, strengthening exercises and other techniques that will help them to function at the highest possible level.

Outpatient therapists focus on wellness in addition to rehabilitation after illness.  Recovery after illness is facilitated by specially designed programs to build strength and endurance.

Skilled therapists use the most up-to-date manual and mechanical therapies available to restore function in their patients. Goals of therapy are to increase strength, function, communication and range of motion and to decrease pain.  Working within Northwest Hospital ensures that therapists are abreast of the latest post-operative rehabilitative approaches for hip and knee joint replacement therapies.
 
Diagnoses and rehabilitation problems served include:
� Adult Cerebral Palsy
� Aphasia
� Arthritis
� Back pain
� Carpel tunnel syndrome � and other repetitive strain injuries
� Chronic pain/acute pain
� CVA/stroke
� Dysphasia
� Fibromyalgia
� General rehab/functional restoration
� Medical problems of musicians and dancers
� Multiple sclerosis
� Neck pain
� Nerve entrapment
� Nerve entrapment/radiculopathy
� Osteoporosis
� Paralysis
� Parkinson�s disease
� Peripheral neuropathy
� Post fracture rehabilitation
� Post orthopedic surgery rehabilitation
� RSD
� Shoulder injuries
� Spasticity
� Total joint rehabilitation

Physical, occupational and speech therapies are offered through Northwest Hospital�s Outpatient Rehabilitation services.  Therapies include, but are not limited to:

Rehabilitation Therapies
� Activities of Daily Living evaluation and treatment/training (may include assistive devices)
� Manual techniques (craniosacral therapy, massage, myofascial release)
� Electrical stimulation
� Therapeutic heat/cold
� Whirlpool
� Fluidotherapy
� Iontophoresis
� TENS (Transcutaneous Electric Stimulation)
� Strengthening exercises
� BTE equipment (simulates daily living and work experiences)
� Gait and transfer training
� Splinting
� Assessment for gait assistive devices
� Hand therapy
� Ergonomics
� Traction
� Balance training
� Neuro-muscular re-education
� Vestibular rehabilitation
� Articulation
� Language
� Cognitive retraining
� Voice
� Swallowing
� Modified barium swallowing studies
� Vital stimulation