Physical and Occupational Therapy is a segment of health care that provides evaluation, treatment, and prevention of a wide variety of human movement and functional problems. Physical and occupational therapists are licensed health care providers that are highly skilled in the examination and treatment of the skeletal, soft tissue and neurological conditions causing dysfunction. The goals of physical rehabilitation are to restore or achieve optimal movement and function as well as to relieve pain and to educate the patient about their dysfunction, including ways to improve their ability to perform the tasks necessary in activities of daily living.

The main objectives of physical therapy are:

• Evaluate injuries, dysfunction
• Relieve pain
• Promote the healing process
• Improve or maintain a body function
• Prevent secondary complications of an injury or disability
• Restore function, strength, mobility, and/or coordination.
• Rehabilitate each patient to the optimal degree possible.

Many conditions respond favorably to physical therapy. Among the most common conditions treated are:

• Immediate evaluation and treatment of acute injuries to the skeletal, soft tissue and neurological systems
• Degenerative conditions - those affecting joints and locomotion - such as osteoarthritis
• Fractures, dislocations
• Muscle and soft tissue injuries
• Inflammatory conditions such as bursitis, tendonitis, etc.
• Chronic diseases/dysfunction such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic low back pain, osteoporosis and fibromyalgia
• Neurological injuries/conditions
• Wounds
• Circulatory conditions/disorders

Other conditions treated with physical therapy include spinal cord injuries (paraplegia, quadriplegia), burns, ulcers, amputations, various forms of neuritis, and skin diseases such as psoriasis and scleroderma.

The physical therapists work closely with physicians, nursing services, case managers and other practitioners in providing the best possible program for each patient. Patients may directly seek consultation with a physical therapist, or they may be referred for physical therapy evaluation and treatment by a physician (MD, DO, podiatrist, chiropractor, dentist), or other source; i.e., Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner, Certified Physician’s Assistant, rehabilitation counselor, lawyer.

Occupational therapy is the application of skilled treatment in order to help individuals achieve independence in their lives. Occupational therapy gives people the skills necessary to lead satisfying lifestyles. Services include:

• Treatment programs customized to help improve abilities to facilitate activities of daily living
• Home and job environment evaluations and recommendations for adaptation needs
• Performance skills assessment and treatments
• Adaptive equipment recommendation and training to replace loss of function
• Family member and attendant instruction in safe and effective means of caring for individuals

Occupational therapists are skilled professionals whose education includes the study of human growth and development. Emphasis is placed on the social, emotional, and physiological effects of illness and injury in this regards.

At our Therapy Specialists center the occupational therapists specialize in Hand Therapy. Treatment is limited to disease and injury of the upper extremity which may include, but is not limited to:

• Fractures or dysfunction of the hand, wrist, arm, elbow and shoulder
• Rheumatoid and osteoarthritis
• Dupuytren's Disease
• Congenital deformities
• Tendon injuries
• Soft injury of hand, wrist and forearm
• Overuse (cumulative trauma) disorders such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Tennis Elbow
• Reconstruction secondary to spinal cord injuries and cerebral vascular accidents

The main objectives of Hand Therapy are:

• Evaluate strength, endurance, coordination and range of motion
• Increase functional use of the upper extremity within the limits of the patient's disability
• Decrease pain
• Provide fabricated dynamic and static splinting

The occupational therapist works closely with physicians, nursing services, rehab counselors and other practitioners to provide the best possible program for the patient. Occupational therapy treatment is administered either by referral of a physician for insurance purposes, or by direct access by the patient.

Treatment may include massage, exercise, functional activities, splinting and complementary modalities using heat, ice, sound and electricity. Adaptive equipment to increase the patient's ability to perform activities of daily living and instruction in their use may also be provided.

Tallahassee Orthopedic & Sports Physical Therapy offers sports medicine support to many schools around the Big Bend through Jim Watson, M.S., A.T.C.. Jim meets regularly with coaches and athletes to help coordinate the best possible care for injured players and offers them consultation and training on injury prevention. TOSPT also supports athletics in many of the public and private schools of the Big Bend area by coordinating Nationally Certified and State Licensed Athletic Trainers at each site. TOSPT works very closely with the Tallahassee Sports Council, a non-profit organization whose main goal is to maximize the economic benefits of sports for the betterment of the local community. 

TOSPT’s Sports Medicine Affiliations:  

Chiles High School
Florida High School
Leon County Middle Schools
Leon High School
Lincoln High School
Maclay High School
Madison County High School
North Florida Christian High School
North Gadsden High School
Robert F. Munroe High School
Tallahassee Community College
Taylor County High School
Wakulla County High School

For further information about the Sports Medicine program at TOSPT, please call: Jim Watson, MS/ATC,L - Sports Medicine Coordinator - 850-877-8855 or e-mail him at jwatson@tospt.com.

 

The Industrial Rehabilitation Program at Tallahassee Orthopedic & Sports Physical Therapy is designed to meet the needs of our industry, insurance companies, case management, physician and patient clientele. From the first visit to a TOSPT clinic, the focus of the therapist is to return the injured worker to full capacity and back to his original job swiftly.

By utilizing a sports medicine approach to industrial rehabilitation services, the TOSPT program can reduce the number of claims, reduce lost workdays due to injury, and expedite a return to full capacity at work for the injured worker.The sports medicine approach patterns itself on the model used by athletic associations. The injured worker (athlete) is evaluated, educated and then treated for his injury by a physical or occupational therapist as soon as possible to decrease pain and the chance of further injury. This approach accelerates the healing process both physically and mentally, putting the injured worker back to work faster. Once the injured worker has reached his full potential for recovery in rehabilitation, he is then reconditioned based on the specific requirements of his job so he can return to his prior functional work status.

The Industrial Rehabilitation Coordinator is Gary Pratt, P.T., A.T.C. who is the coach of the team. Based at the Capital Medical Blvd. clinic, he is available to all of the satellites for consultation on workers compensation cases and for specialized testing and program development at these facilities. He is also available to discuss specific workers comp cases with case managers, adjustors, employers and physicians.

TOSPT also offers employers on-site physical therapy if necessary and space is provided. On-site job assessments, injury screening and ergonomics assessments are also some of the services offered. TOSPT has agreements with several employers to do pre-employment screenings, work reconditioning when needed, and functional capacity type testing. Wellness programs can be designed by our therapists to fit the needs of the employer and the positions.

TOSPT is a member of most of the Workers' Comp network panels and has contracts with numerous managed care organizations

SERVICES:

• Exceptional, functionally oriented rehabilitation for the injured worker
• Work reconditioning
• Functional capacity testing
• Custom designed pre-employment screening
• On-site ergonomic assessments and job assessments
• On-site physical therapy
• Wellness and injury prevention educational programs
• Direct access to a rehabilitation coordinator for employers, case managers, adjustors and physicians.
• Extended hours for easy off-duty scheduling
• Evaluations scheduled within 24 hours of insurance authorization

Physical Capacity Assessments are valuable tools in helping the physician, case manager and employer come to an unbiased, objective determination regarding their client and the degree of his ability and commitment to return to his level of function prior to an accident. A key testing tool used for this assessment is a standardized Functional Capacity Evaluation developed by ErgoScience and is called the Physical Work Performance Evaluation™. The basic features of the PWPE™ include standardization, objectivity, efficiency, safety, reliability and validity to ensure that it is clinically acceptable. The ErgoScience Physical Work Performance Evaluation™ is a standardized, reliable FCE backed by published validation research conducted at the University of Alabama at Birmingham . It requires 4 hours of an ErgoScience certified clinician to administer and consists of 7 sections testing the subject’s:

• Dynamic Strength
• Position Tolerance
• Mobility
• Balance
• Coordination
• Endurance
• Fine Motor Skills

 

This test can be used to:

• determine work performance after an injury or illness
• make return-to-work recommendations
• develop levels and goals for work conditioning rehabilitation
• determine qualifications for disability compensation
• facilitate case closure
• document self-limiting behavior

Upon completion of the Physical Capacity Assessment, the client is provided a summary letter addressing the subject’s performance. It provides information on overall level of work, level of participation, performance levels for each of the 21 main tasks, job related information, and interventions for consideration. Attached to this summary letter are summary forms to provide detailed information on subject performance for each task of the evaluation.

Lechner DE , et al. Journal of Occupational Medicine. September 1994 Volume 36, No. 9: pages 997-1004.

Massage therapy services are provided by licensed massage therapists (LMT) and are delivered in accordance to the standards of practice set forth in Florida Statutes Chapter 21L-26. Furthermore, services will be rendered in accordance to the guidelines set forth by the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) and the Florida State Massage Therapy Association (FSMTA).

Massage therapy services are provided on an appointment basis with referral by one of the following:

• Self-referral by client
• Interdepartmental referral by PT, OT, ATC staff.
• Physician referral with or without accompanying physical therapy referral.
• Massage therapy services may also be rendered under the direction of a staff PT or OT and shall be limited to services in accordance with the appropriate Standards of Practice.
• Payment for massage therapy services are due upon delivery of services unless prior arrangements have been made.
  

Mankind has recognized the therapeutic and recuperative powers of water for thousands of years. At TOSPT at Capital Medical Blvd. , that tradition is strongly maintained, thanks to the facility’s heated indoor pool (around 92° to 94°), which is the only one of its kind in Tallahassee .(The patients of our clinic at FSU may use the indoor pool at Leach Recreation Center on the campus.)

Aquatic therapy is a great adjunct to any type of therapeutic program for patients. It’s a very important part of the therapeutic services offered at TOSPT, and the reason it’s so valuable is that the physical properties of water allow patients to exercise without being impacted as greatly by forces of gravity. So they are much more comfortable in the water, particularly if they have arthritis, fibromyalgia or conditions that involve stiffness or pain.

One of the pool’s accessories is a chairlift allowing access for patients who are unable to climb in themselves, such as those who are wheelchair dependent. One of the common conditions of patients who do receive aquatic therapy at TOSPT is arthritis. Also those who may be undergoing rehab from joint surgery, such as a total knee or hip replacement or a shoulder operation, find the heated pool very helpful in the rehab process.

The age range of patients also varies. There are a few younger patients who receive aquatic therapy, but the typical age range is probably 35 to 85. The pool is used primarily for outpatient therapy and aqua fitness. If someone has joint pain from an orthopedic injury, knee replacement, hip replacement, fibromyalgia or arthritis, that person can perform quite a bit more activity in the pool than they can on land.

The pool is especially helpful for patients who have difficulty with weight bearing. For instance, if a patient has a lower extremity weight bearing walking restriction of 50%, once the patient is in chest deep water, the weight bearing is reduced by at least 50%, so he could work on walking with the help of a physical therapist.

The warm temperature of the pool is an important factor in therapy. The water helps the muscles relax and increases circulation. A major benefit is decreased stress on the joints. A person, who, on land, may be able to do only minimal repetitions of a given exercise, can do many more in the warm pool. Patients have greater endurance in the pool because it causes less stress and pain in their joints. Overall, aquatic therapy is an excellent and unique part of the rehabilitation services offered at TOSPT.

Usually patients begin using the pool as part of their therapeutic exercise functional activity program. They are already in physical therapy, and the pool serves as one of their treatment sessions. Therapists actually conduct the sessions in the pool with their patients, helping them with various activities in the water to increase strength, decrease pain, and increase general mobility. Also, people come in from the community, become fitness members and participate in group or individual aqua fitness programs.

If you, a family member, or friends have any questions regarding how TOSPT Aqua Therapy and Fitness Programs could benefit your health, please call or speak personally with one of our many licensed therapists.

Credit: Advance. Vol. 16, No. 6. February 28, 2005

EXECUTIVE FITNESS PROGRAM

TOSPT’s Executive Fitness provides fitness and wellness programs that bridge the gap between skilled physical therapy rehabilitation and independent community fitness. These programs are designed to meet the needs of all types of individuals. These individuals include: former physical therapy patients, those with arthritis, pre and post partum females, elite athletes, overweight populations, and those who simply desire a little more professional attention.

Executive Fitness also recognizes the needs of the athlete ranging from recreational to elite who need or desire performance enhancements that can be satisfied through personal training. All programs encourage independence under the guidelines of Certified Personal Trainers and other fitness specialists in a skilled physical therapy atmosphere. ( Executive Fitness application)

Executive Fitness Candidates:

• Former physical therapy patients
• Professionals
• Corporate affiliates
• Athletes – recreational and elite
• Those desiring to improve their health and well-being

Executive Fitness Services include:

• Post rehabilitation and maintenance programs
• Exercise prescriptions
• Complete fitness evaluations
• Strength training program
• Aerobic conditioning
• Aquatic fitness classes (indoor, full size therapeutic pool, 90°F, main facility only)

Executive Fitness Policies:

Hours of operation

6:00 am – 7:00 pm Monday – Thursday
6:00 am – 6:00 pm Friday
8:00 am – 1:00 pm Saturday

Attire

General workout clothing consisting of:
Shorts T-Shirts Sweats
Tights Warm – Ups Leotards
Soft-soled shoes Athletic Shoes

General Rules

• Membership available to individuals eligible under the Executive Fitness Candidate section
• TOSPT has a responsibility to our patients so current TOSPT patients have first use of all equipment needed as determined by their Physical Therapist
• Profanity prohibited
• Alcohol, tobacco and illegal substances prohibited
• Lockers provided for daily use only. Member will provide lock. No valuables to be kept in lockers at any time
• Food and drink prohibited
• Towels provided by member
• Physicians consent required ( Executive Fitness application)

Membership Fees

• Per month $65.00, tax inclusive
• Per year $480.00, tax inclusive

PERSONAL FITNESS TRAINING PROGRAM

Thank you for your interest in our Personal Fitness Training program. You can expect individualized, focused and creative personal fitness training tailored to your personal fitness goals and needs from one of our certified professionals. Choosing a TOSPT fitness trainer carries the advantage of having their access to our licensed Physical Therapists for consultation concerning your specific needs.

OPTIONAL FITNESS EVALUATION

A fitness evaluation is available to you at your discretion. It would include:

• Readings for resting heart rate and blood pressure
• Measurements of height, weight and percent body fat
• Testing to determine your level of muscular strength and endurance as well as cardio-vascular endurance

The results of this evaluation will enable your trainer to develop a program specifically designed to address your particular weaknesses, to ensure that you achieve your fitness goals. The fee for this service is $75.00 and it will take 45 minutes to complete.

PAYMENT

Payment for Personal Fitness Training sessions is due at the commencement of your session(s) and can be given to your trainer by cash or check made payable to TOSPT. Payment can also be made by VISA, MC or AMX, at TOSPT or by calling 877-8855. The fees are: ½ hour $25.00 ¾ hour $35.00 1 hour $45.00

TOSPT also offers a special plan of Personal Fitness Training sessions in a block format. A block of 10 sessions is to be used within 6 months after purchase; 5 sessions to be used within 3 months after purchase.

10 sessions	5 sessions
½ hour $225.00	½ hour $118.75
¾ hour $315.00	¾ hour $166.25
1 hour $405.00	1 hour $213.75

Partner Training in groups of two is available for $60.00 per 1 hour session. These sessions may be purchased in blocks of 4 at $240.00 ($120.00 per partner) and are to be used within 2 months of date of purchase.

SCHEDULING OF SESSIONS

Personal Fitness Training sessions must be scheduled with your trainer at least one week in advance (preferably). If you must cancel or reschedule your session, you must contact your trainer 24 hours prior to the scheduled appointment time. If you do not contact your trainer prior to 24 hours of the scheduled time, or do not show up for your appointment, you will be charged for the full scheduled session.