Our physical and occupational therapists specialize in the evaluation, treatment and management of patients with a variety of congenital, developmental, neurological and musculoskeletal or acquired disorders.
A physical therapist provides individual treatment for inpatients and outpatients who suffer from physical disabilities resulting in decreased mobility, loss of function, decreased strength and pain. Treatment and home exercise programs are designed to facilitate maximum independence and function to individuals with acute or chronic conditions.
More about our services
Our skilled physical therapists (PTs) help patients of all ages reach their best functional outcome.
Physical therapists treat a wide range of conditions, such as:
- Total/partial joint replacements
- Neck & back pain
- Chronic pain
- Fibromyalgia
- TMJ
- Post-stroke rehabilitation
- Post-amputation rehabilitation
- Pre/post-surgical knee, shoulder, hip
- Balance deficits
- Gait deficits
- Chronic edema/Lymphedema
- Post-mastectomy or post-trauma edema
- Pregnancy pain issues
- Sports and work-related injuries
- Vertigo and vestibular rehab
- Pelvic floor dysfunction/pain
- Postural restoration techniques
Pediatric physical therapy
We provide expert pediatric physical therapy in our office, at home, at schools, parks and playgrounds – whatever works best for your child. Using a multidisciplinary team approach, we working closely with family members, other therapists, teachers, and doctors to achieve the best results for you child. Conditions commonly treated include:
- Developmental disorders
- Cerebral palsy
- Spina bifida
- Down syndrome
- Genetic disorders
- Coordination issues
- Toe walking
- Neck muscle tightness (Torticollis)
- Behavioral issues
- Post traumatic stress disorder
- ADD/ADHD
- Autism
- Hearing and visual disorders
Our occupational therapists (OTs) provide care for people of all ages with health conditions that cause pain, decreased mobility, decreased strength, loss of function or ability to perform self-care. We will develop a personalized care plan that helps you gain the strength, endurance and abilities needed to return to independent living.
Occupational therapists treat a wide range of conditions, such as:
- Hand injuries/surgeries
- Elbow, wrist and shoulder injuries/surgeries
- Degenerative disorders
- Neuromuscular disorders
- Joint diseases
- Overuse conditions and tendonitis
- Post-stroke rehabilitation
- Cognitive and memory deficits
Pediatric Occupational Therapy (OT)
Our occupational therapists provides early OT intervention for children from birth to 5 years old with developmental and sensory delays. Services are provided at home, pre-schools and at our outpatient practice. Your child may benefit from occupational therapy if they have:
- Inattention and distractibility
- Difficulty with visual tasks such as letter recognition and copying from a blackboard
- Difficulty eating, dressing and following instructions
- Awkward running / jumping and planning body movements
- Writing difficulties and other hand skill issues
- Struggles with self-control or is easily overwhelmed
- Difficulty with processing sound, touch or textures
- Behavioral issues such as biting, kicking and fighting
A referral from your pediatrician or Child Development Services is required.
Our orthopedic and sports physical therapy team helps patients of all ages recover from sports injuries. Our licensed physical therapists and PT assistants can help prevent pain or further damage, train different muscles to compensate for ones that have been damaged and, ultimately, restore your ability to work, play and live as normally as possible. Services include:
- Assessments to identify the source of pain or mobility problem
- Therapeutic plans tailored to your unique needs and utilizing a range of treatments, including:
- Manual therapy techniques such as joint mobilization to improve limited motion
- Therapeutic exercise to address specific muscle dysfunction, and increase muscle strength and endurance
- Techniques to improve neuromuscular control and muscle sequencing
- Aquatic PT which lessens pressure on muscles and joints
- Bracing/taping to support and/or hold a body part stable and motionless to prevent pain and further injury
- Orthotics, custom-designed appliances that help to prevent and correct deformities that may hinder a patient’s ease of movement, and aid in support and alignment.
- Patient education about self-management techniques
Concussion Care
A concussion is a traumatic brain injury that occurs when the brain is shaken into the skull. A concussion may happen as a result of a direct blow to the head or an indirect force, such as whiplash. Concussion signs & symptoms include:
- appears dazed, confused or clumsy
- answers questions slowly
- personality/behavior changes
- forgets events prior to and/or after injury
- loss of consciousness
- headache
- nausea
- balance problem
- double vision
- sluggishness
- feeling “foggy”
- sleep pattern changes
- cognitive changes
- light/sound sensitivity
Many times the symptoms disappear with rest. But no two concussions are the same and sometimes the symptoms last for weeks or even months. Our experienced team is here to help with:
- Stopping dizziness
- Improving balance
- Reducing headaches
- Decreasing neck/back pain
- Helping you return to sport or work
No one should return to sport or vigorous activity while signs or symptoms of a concussion are present. Experts recommend that an athlete with a suspected concussion not return to play until they have been examined by a health care professional trained in evaluating and managing concussions. Experts also recommend that athletes with a concussion not return to play on the same day as the injury.
Running Analysis
Whether you are a competitive or recreational runner, you want to have the best experience you can. Fixable patterns of muscular weakness or abnormal tension are often to blame for a variety of running related injuries. Our skilled physical therapists can help you improve running mechanics to prevent injury and become more efficient at your sport.
Our running gait analysis provides an in-depth, individualized evaluation of your running form and body movement to identify areas that may be contributing to or causing pain during or after your run. Get on our Woodway treadmill and a physical therapist will evaluate your running mechanics utilizing video imaging. Recommendations for exercises and form changes can be made specifically for you.
Whether you ride your bike occasionally or are putting in many miles every week, a proper fitting bike is important to avoid injury and to improve performance. When your bike fits properly, you optimize the work your body does while riding.
Bike fittings include evaluations of a person’s riding history, current or past injuries, a musculoskeletal examination, bike measurements and assessment of the cyclist on their bike. Adjustments can be made to your existing bicycle to achieve the best possible fit, such as seat positioning, handlebar orientation and angle, and pedal-foot alignment to enhance your form.
Appointment length is typically one hour. Follow up appointments may be necessary depending on the adjustments made or if new parts (recommended by the therapist and purchased by the cyclist) need to be fitted properly.
The MaineHealth Waldo Hospital swing bed program provides short-term rehabilitation care for patients who need to increase their strength and independence prior to returning home from a hospital stay. Patients work toward independent self-care with support from a multidisciplinary rehabilitation team. The team also helps ensure a safe and comfortable transition from hospital to home.
To be eligible for swing bed care, patients must:
- Require a “skilled” level of care
- Have a qualifying hospital stay
- Agree to participate in short-term rehabilitation
Your swing bed care team may include:
- Physicians
- Hospitalists
- Registered nurses
- Swing bed coordinators
- Social workers/discharge planners
- Pharmacists
- Dietitians
- Physical, occupational and speech therapists
- Activities coordinators
- Medicare specialists
- Behavioral health specialists
Please call 207-505-4515 for more information. We will work with you to determine eligibility and insurance coverage.
MaineHealth Waldo Hospital Physical Occupational and Speech Therapy offers specialized therapy for people living with Parkinson's disease.
LSVT BIG is an intensive physical and occupational therapy exercise program that’s proven to help improve major motor skills, including:
- Faster walking
- Bigger steps
- Better balance
- Increased trunk rotation
- Increased fine motor skills
- Increased activities of daily living
- Many people living with Parkinson’s disease have issues with recognizing the appropriate amount of effort to perform normal movements. LSVT BIG is used to minimize or slow progression of the disease.
LVST LOUD helps people living with Parkinson's disease strengthen their voice, volume and articulation through a series of therapeutic exercises. This service is provided through MaineHealth Waldo Hospital Speech Therapy.
We offer individualized aquatic physical therapy by specially-trained licensed therapists. Water lessens the pressure on muscles and joints, providing an opportunity to exercise for people who are otherwise limited.
Aquatic therapy may be especially helpful with patients who suffer from orthopedic injury, lower back pain, weight-bearing limitations, balance dysfunctions, stroke or are involved in post-surgical recovery.
Please call 207-338-4666 or 207-338-9316 for more information. A doctor’s referral is required.
Urinary incontinence retraining involves exercises and treatment that help female patients better use their pelvic floor muscles.
We provide customized therapeutic exercise programs that help cancer patients maintain their physical and mental well-being. Aquatic therapy services are also available for those unable to begin an exercise program on land. For more information, please call 207-338-9316. A physician’s referral is required.
