During National Occupational Therapy Month, one department provides services to those that need to function to continue to live as independently as possible.

21st Century Rehabilitation Occupational Therapist with Greene County Medical Center Tyler Ommen says they typically treat carpal tunnel, tendonitis, tennis and golfer’s elbow, osteoarthritis, along with post injuries such as elbow fractures and bicep tears. Ommen also has training to help individuals who have Parkinson’s Disease with the Lee Silverman Voice Training (LSVT) BIG Program. 

“So what we focus on in that program is basically we call it ‘amplitude base training.’ So we work on getting larger movements for these people because when you have this condition (Parkinson’s) you can’t tell that you’re not moving big, or that you’re moving small, and that you’re moving slow. Your motor, your sensory, your communication is kind of off.”

Ommen points out their goal is to have patients regain their sense of dressing, bathing and grooming themselves, even having to live with an injury. To hear more from Ommen, listen to today’s Community State Bank in Paton Let’s Talk Greene County program.