Explore how speech and occupational therapy at Virginian Rehabilitation & Wellness in Fairfax and Chantilly, VA, enhances communication and daily living skills.
Innovative NEUBIE Treatment for Multiple Sclerosis in the DC Area
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a progressive condition that can affect all areas of life. As physical capabilities diminish with MS, so can mental well-being. At Virginian Rehab and Wellness in Chantilly and Fairfax, VA, we help patients regain their independence and improve their quality of life by leveraging state-of-the-art technology to enhance outcomes for MS patients.
Is Neubie Right for Me?
At Virginian Rehabilitation & Wellness, we seek innovative technology to give our clients the best care possible and expedite their return to everyday activity. The Neubie (pronounced “New-Be”) is one of our newest pieces of technology that delivers direct current electrical stimulation to clients with a wide variety of symptoms and conditions to enhance therapy outcomes! We often have clients enter our clinic for the first time having never heard of the Neubie before, or unsure if the Neubie is appropriate for them. The Neubie can be used for a wide variety of conditions and symptoms, the list below discusses the issues/conditions that can benefit from the Neubie:
Holiday Gift Guide for Staying Safe and Healthy at Home
Alzheimer’s Disease and How Occupational Therapy Can Help
Occupational therapists help individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease maintain their independence and safety as it relates to their participation in activities of daily living. This is achieved through training in interventions including exercise programs, adaptive equipment, durable medical equipment, environmental adaptations/modifications, implementation of compensatory strategies, and/or task modification
Kinesiotape – The Basics
Kinesio Taping is a method that is applied to the body to help reduce pain and inflammation for various medical conditions. According to Kinesio's website, the method uses a specially designed elastic therapeutic tape known as Kinesio Tex Tape to lift the skin microscopically and aid the body's natural healing process. It is a non-restrictive method that allows for full range of motion and is appropriate for many stages of treatment plans.
Simple Fall Prevention and Recovery
Have you fallen in the past year? Have you been advised to use a cane or walker to get around safely? Do you feel unsteady walking? Are you worried about falling? Have you lost feeling in your feet? Do you steady yourself by holding onto furniture while walking at home? If you answered yes to any of these questions you may be at risk of falling. Although falls occur in an instant they can have serious and costly consequences.
Is it “Normal Aging” or Dementia?
June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness month. We wanted to take this opportunity to talk about the difference between Dementia and the effects of “Normal Aging” on our memory. If you are concerned that you or a family member is developing issues with memory, contact your physician to discuss your symptoms.
May is Arthritis Awareness Month
Did you know arthritis is the number one cause of disability in the United States? According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), arthritis impacts 60 million individuals (24% of the US population) each year! Arthritis has become widely accepted as a blanketed term for joint pain associated with general “wear and tear” or overuse over years of activity. Arthritis Awareness Month gives us an opportunity to distinguish between the different types of arthritis and how each can be best managed to minimize symptoms and maximize function for optimal quality of life:
Becoming a Stroke Rehab Specialist (CSRS)
Stroke is the leading cause of disability and affects more than 795,000 people yearly. This condition can cause significant changes in quality of life and ability to perform daily roles and responsibility. Therefore, as therapists, our role in helping individuals recover following a stroke is vital. However, not all clinicians are properly trained to provide the best care and rehabilitation for stroke. To help fill this need, the certification of Stroke Rehab Specialist (CSRS) was developed by Neurorecovery Unlimited. This certification provides a specialty education on current evidence for best practice with evaluation and treatment of the condition.
Celebrating 123 Years of Occupational Therapy
Occupational Therapy is a newer and unique addition to the healthcare rehabilitation team. Although the driving concepts behind Occupational Therapy of holistic patient centered care have always been entwined in the medical field, OT wasn’t formalized as a profession until 1920. During WWI “reconstruction aids” provided what we would now consider occupational therapy services to wounded soldiers.
Polypharmacy: That’s A LOT of Medicine
For adults with chronic illness, taking medication in a timely manner is an essential part of everyday living. As occupational therapists, we work with clients to maintain independence in their medication management, which includes everything from communicating with pharmacists, to reading prescription labels, to making a habit of taking the right medicine at the right time of day. We partner with clients, including those with low vision, limited coordination, and memory difficulties, to safely manage their medication. If you are having difficulty with medication management, talk to your occupational therapist about finding solutions to stay in charge of your health.
Addressing Deficits Related to Stroke Using the Most Current Evidence and Technologies
If you or a loved one has been affected by a stroke, there are many ways that our rehabilitation team can support your recovery. Here are some updates about our team’s approach, including how we use our neuromuscular electrical stimulation Neubie device to promote improved efficiency of your recovery. Each therapy area has a specialized focus but we all work together to focus on the whole you!
Low Vision – What We Don’t See
Occupational Therapists are skilled in rehabilitating visual systems to achieve maximum function, improving one’s quality of life and independence. For individuals with an injury impacting function of the eye, this is often accomplished through visual exercises to improve the mobility, strength, and overall function of eye muscles. For individuals living with chronic eye conditions such as cataracts, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma, OTs will assess their visual function, the set-up of their environment, and performance in their everyday tasks.
March is Brain Injury Awareness Month - #MoreThanMyBrainInjury
Did you know that the most common cause of a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is falls? The largest increase in fall related TBI deaths since 2008 occurred in people 75 years and older. After a brain injury, an individual will often need interdisciplinary care including physical (PT), occupational (OT), and speech therapy (ST). It is important to note that early PT and OT intervention is proven to reduce the risk of falls especially older adults and those with neurologic diagnoses.