Physical, Occupational, & Speech Therapy

Physical, occupational, or speech therapy can often be helpful for patients who are recovering from an illness, injury, or surgery. At St. Francis, “getting well” means getting back to doing the things you love whenever possible. Therapy services can help patients build strength, increase their functional abilities, and improve their quality of life.

Physical therapy focuses on building strength, flexibility, coordination, and balance. This therapy almost always involves exercise, which may include stretching, core exercises, weight lifting, and walking.

Occupational therapy focuses on the ability to perform daily activities of living. Occupational therapists work with patients who may need help with skills that help them remain independent, such dressing and eating, home skills such as cooking and driving, or personal management skills such as balancing a checkbook. Occupational therapists can help individuals find adaptive ways to do these daily tasks if needed.

Speech therapists work with patients whose illness has affected their speech or ability to swallow. Speech therapists analyze and diagnose the nature and extent of a patient’s speech, language, and swallowing issues and then develop a specialized treatment plan that fits each patient’s unique needs.