Physical & Occupational Therapy

Physical and occupational therapists help patients alleviate pain, improve function, and return to their activities of daily living and/or recreational activities. Together, the therapist and the patient will develop an individualized treatment plan to meet the patient’s goals.

Physical therapy (PT) may be, on its own, the recommended treatment for a variety of injuries and conditions. It’s also valuable prior to surgery (often called “prehab”) to get patients as much range of motion and strength as possible. In addition, it’s a critical part of the recovery process after a surgical procedure.

4 locations, more than 20 licensed physical and occupational therapists

Our four Physical Therapy Centers are simply unparalleled in Maine. Each location has a staff of licensed physical therapists and a dedicated hand therapist. We work with patients from throughout Spectrum Orthopaedics’ team — patients referred by physicians in our communities — and patients who contact us directly, without a referral — for orthopaedic issues, sports rehabilitation, and other concerns.

Physical therapy alone

There are many orthopaedic conditions and injuries that do not require surgical intervention. Instead, patients are referred to our PT and OT team, who will help you meet your goals. Frequently, we see patients within a day or two of their physician exam and can immediately address acute swelling, pain, and related issues. At the same time, we will initiate a home program to regain strength and motion and relieve pain.

PT’s role in surgical treatment

Studies and our extensive experience show prehab and rehab make vital contributions to a good surgical outcome. You may be given an exercise regimen to get you ready for surgery. In addition, you can be certain your surgical recovery team and PT partners will have you up and moving very soon after your procedure.

The integration of our service centers means all the specialized teams are in communication with each other and are often within close proximity. This allows the Physical Therapy Center to assist in the management of post-op pain, crutch and immobilizer use, and to schedule PT appointments promptly after surgery.

Expert hand therapists

Our hand therapists specialize in conditions of the hand, wrist, and elbow. They work closely with our surgeons to assist in giving patients the very best possible outcomes and restoration of hand function. Therapy may include exercises and/or manipulation for stretching, joint mobilization, scar management, and support or advice about home care and activity for the hand.

Hand therapists can offer you:

• Treatment for everything from simple fingertip injuries to recovery from complex reattachments of hands or fingers
• Experts in custom splinting
• Providers who make your goals their goals: We aim to get you back to the activities you love the most as quickly as possible

Our certified hand therapists have at least 4,000 hours of experience treating hand, wrist and elbow conditions. They are all trained in physical or occupational therapy, and have passed a rigorous board exam.

To learn more about hand therapy, click here.

Hands-on, specialized expertise

On average, each of our therapists has over 10 years’ experience. Our therapists take extensive continuing education to provide the most effective care for management of your condition. Our knowledge and hands-on expertise allow us to collaborate easily with a wide network of experts including massage therapists, personal trainers, and coaches. Our commitment is to help each patient and meet your recovery needs during and after treatment.