General Program Information

What is the value of an Occupational Therapist?

Occupational therapists (OTs) work with people of all ages to overcome challenges that impact their ability to do the activities they want to do, need to do, or are expected to do in their daily lives. OTs play a vital role in the PCVRS (Partners in Canadian Veterans Rehabilitation Services) rehabilitation journey by helping you regain your independence and achieve your rehabilitation goals.

OTs can improve your health and well-being by helping you participate more fully in activities that are important to you. They will work with you to improve your life after service, helping address challenges at home, at work, or in the community; and improving your health and overall well-being.

They will help you identify activities that are meaningful to you, analyze them, and break them down into smaller tasks. This will make it easier for you to do them successfully.

What is the value of an Occupational Therapist?

OTs take a holistic view of your rehabilitation needs. They consider many factors, including physical and mental health barriers, that may impact your ability to participate in daily roles and responsibilities. They consider your:

• Physical abilities (strength, balance, coordination)
• Mental abilities (memory, coping strategies, organizational skills)
• Devices and equipment being used (mobility aids, home safety aids)
• Support systems (family, friends)
• Physical setup of the environment (home, classroom, workplace)

Depending on the challenges they identify, OTs will work with you to:

• Improve your physical, cognitive, and emotional skills
• Address barriers related to a disability, by providing education and problem solving or adapting tasks to overcome barriers
• Recommend and teach you how to use devices and equipment, like mobility aids and home safety equipment
• Recommend changes to your environment, like the physical layout of your home or workspace

Occupational Therapy treatment is focused on establishing routines and increasing participation in daily activities. It can help you reach your work or personal goals and become more independent.

How can an OT help you? 

OTs can help you in a number of ways. They can work with you to:

• develop new skills and strategies to help you address barriers that prevent your full participation in meaningful activities.
• identify local supports and groups to help expand your community engagement.
• help you rehabilitate into everyday life with changes to your environment, new equipment, and education on best practices to achieve your rehabilitation goals.
• teach you proper body mechanics and set up an ergonomic environment to prevent injuries at home, in the workplace, and your community.
• advocate for your rehabilitation needs including medical, psycho-social, and vocational needs.
• perform various assessments including in-home assessments, psycho-social assessments, cognitive abilities assessments, functional capacity evaluations, or ergonomic assessments.

Where do OTs work?

OTs commonly work in hospitals and health clinics, but they can also work in community mental health centers, physiotherapy clinics, home care, and health promotion . Occupational therapists can also work virtually, depending on the scope of treatment. They are important members of the interdisciplinary PCVRS team.

OTs define anything we do that occupies our time as an 'occupation,' so their work can touch on all aspects of our lives. That’s why working with an occupational therapist is so important! Schedule an appointment with an occupational therapist today and get back to doing all of the things you love in your daily life.

Getting the right care after an injury can make a big difference in your recovery. Physiotherapy can be an important part of your recovery plan, yet not everyone is familiar with it.

So, what is physiotherapy? Physiotherapy, also called physical therapy, is a healthcare service that takes a comprehensive approach to all aspects of physical health. It can help you:

• Recover from injury or illness
• Prevent further injury
• Manage disability or chronic conditions
• Improve overall health and fitness
• Increase your independence

Physiotherapists examine the mechanics of the body as a whole, including joint movement, strength, flexibility and overall well-being. When you work with a physiotherapist, they will conduct a comprehensive assessment to understand your individual strengths and needs. You will develop a customized treatment plan together, based on your health history, injury, lifestyle, and most importantly, your goals.

What does a physiotherapist do?

Physiotherapists use different techniques and tools to improve health and restore mobility. Some examples of physiotherapy include:

You and your physiotherapist will decide on the best techniques and tools to treat your condition and achieve your goals. Often, therapeutic exercise will be a component of a physiotherapy treatment plan. It’s been proven to play an important role in helping maintain or improve your condition between sessions with your physiotherapist.

What can a physiotherapist help with?

Physiotherapists can help you recover from a range of injuries and conditions, the most common of which include:

• Strains and sprains
• Tendonitis and tendinosis
• Arthritis
• Low back pain and sciatica
• Whiplash
• Head injuries & other neurological conditions
• Fractures
• Post-surgical rehabilitation and recovery
• Plantar fasciitis
• Occupational stress injuries
• and more!

Some physiotherapists also complete additional training and professional development in specialty areas of physiotherapy such as pelvic health physiotherapy, vestibular rehabilitation for dizziness and balance conditions, concussion care and recovery, and cancer rehabilitation.

Is virtual physiotherapy right for you?

We offer virtual physiotherapy services if you can’t make it into a clinic. Whatever the reason, remote location, bad weather, or a transportation issue, you can still access physiotherapy services with a clinician. Connect with a physiotherapist remotely using video conference technology to receive in-province care wherever you are.

Schedule your appointment with a physiotherapist today and discover the benefits of a healthier, more active life.