An injury, chronic condition, or recovery after surgery can affect your quality of life and ability to perform daily activities. Physical and occupational therapists at University of Miami Health can help you maximize your physical function. Our physical and occupational therapists work together to ensure you have the best results possible from your therapy.
Physical therapy (PT) helps restore movement, build strength, and improve endurance. At UHealth, our physical therapists can help you reach your goals for more independence, mobility, and pain reduction.
Occupational therapy (OT) promotes physical and mental health and well-being in people with a range of developmental, physical, and mental health disorders. If you lose the skills you need to accomplish daily tasks due to an injury, illness, or surgery, our occupational therapists can help.
Who is Eligible for Physical or Occupational Therapy?
At UHealth, we provide outpatient PT and OT, as well as acute care physical or occupational therapy during a hospital admission.
Many doctors will automatically refer you for therapy after illness or injury, but feel free to ask for a referral to address painful movement and loss of function. It’s common for patients to have PT and OT for:
- Total joint replacements
- Sports injuries and concussions
- Upper and lower extremity surgeries
- Achilles tendon repair
- ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) reconstruction (knee)
- Rotator cuff repair (shoulder)
- Hand surgeries
- Spinal conditions (both surgical and non-surgical)
- Stroke recovery
- Chronic disease management such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s or other neurological conditions
- Pelvic floor dysfunction
- Balance and vestibular issues
- Cancer rehabilitation and lymphedema management
Your therapist will conduct a thorough evaluation and will recommend a comprehensive plan of care, including specific treatments, frequency, and duration for your episode of care. Throughout your course of care, we evaluate your progress to make sure you benefit from therapy and achieve your goals.
Conditions and Treatments
Why Choose UHealth?
Expert clinicians to guide your optimal recovery. Many of our physical and occupational therapy specialists are board-certified in specialties such as orthopedics, sports rehabilitation, neurology, oncology, and cardiopulmonary physical therapy.
Convenient appointments. It’s easy to make an appointment by phone. We are available 7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call 305-689-5635. For appointments at the Lennar Center call 305-689-8888
World-class care in an academic health center. As a research and teaching institution, we treat children and adults with proven, leading-edge procedures based on clinical studies performed at the Miller School of Medicine. Our doctors, residents, nurses, and therapists work together to improve health care.
Relief and comfort for chronic pain conditions. Due to our renowned expertise, we receive referrals for patients from all over the world. Our doctors are dedicated to providing best practice pain management services and a customized treatment plan to each patient through the most comprehensive pain interventions offered in South Florida.
What do Physical Therapists do?
Our physical therapists have earned a doctoral degree in physical therapy (DPT) through a rigorous graduate program that emphasizes clinical and teaching expertise. Many of our physical therapists are also board-certified and clinical specialists in rehabilitation specialties such as:
- Cardiopulmonary
- Chronic pain
- Lymphedema
- Neurology
- Oncology
- Orthopeadics
- Pelvic floor
- Sports
- Vestibular
What do Occupational Therapists do?
Our occupational therapists have earned a master’s or doctoral degree in occupational therapy. Many also have specialized training and are certified to provide treatment such as hand therapy, splinting, cancer rehab and lymphedema, and neurological disorders.
Physical and Occupational Therapy Equipment
Our state-of-the-art equipment has been shown in research to promote optimal recovery.
LiteGait® Ambulation Retraining
LiteGait provides postural control and weight-bearing assistance for fall-free therapeutic activities. LiteGait therapy allows you to safely engage in progressively challenging functional activities early in your rehabilitation and throughout your treatment.
AlterG® Anti-Gravity Treadmill™
The AlterG treadmill uses patented technology to reduce the gravitational forces you encounter when walking. As a result, patients of all ages can shorten their orthopedic recovery times, manage neurological conditions and chronic disease, build strength and endurance, and increase athletic performance.
Blood Flow Restriction
Blood flow restriction therapy uses a device like a blood pressure cuff to restrict blood flow. It improves your recovery by safely compressing blood vessels during physical therapy. Patients who can’t lift heavy weights get the same benefits of high-intensity training while using a blood flow restriction device and doing moderate-intensity exercises.
Specialty treatments we provide
Acute Care PT and OT
Acute care hospital stays often include PT and OT to prepare patients for their next step in recovery. Our focus is on restoring patient independence through activities that promote mobility and function.
Our expert acute care physical and occupational therapists play an important role in reducing a patient’s hospital length of stay and ensuring the best outcome possible.
Spine Care and Back Pain
Patients with spinal injuries or surgeries receive manual therapy and prescribed exercise from our experienced physical therapists. Their care helps patients strengthen the muscles that stabilize and support the spine to avoid further injury.
Many of our spine and back care physical therapists are board-certified in orthopedic physical therapy and have completed a residency through our orthopedic physical therapy residency program.
Orthopedics
Patients with orthopedic injuries receive individualized care, including manual therapy and prescribed exercises. Our physical and occupational therapists help patients establish goals to maximize their recovery. We provide one-on-one support and guidance to ensure the highest-quality care.
Many of our physical therapists are board-certified in orthopedic physical therapy and have completed our orthopedic physical therapy residency program. Certified hand therapists work with patients referred by our expert hand surgery team at UHealth.
Sports Injuries
Physical therapists play an important role in helping all athletes — professional, college, and weekend warriors — recover from injuries and return to play. We provide assessments and treatments to help athletes achieve optimal performance in their chosen sport at any age group or level of competition.
Board-certified in sports physical therapy, our therapists help patients restore the physical strength and confidence they need to return to their desired activity. Therapists also identify movement patterns and muscle imbalances that may have led to injury and correct these issues to prevent injury recurrence.
Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation
Pelvic floor physical therapists specialize in treating women and men with pain, weakness, and dysfunction in their pelvic floor muscles. These muscles help control bladder and bowel functions and are involved with sexual function.
Our therapists can identify the probable cause of your pelvic floor concerns and develop a care plan to help restore lost function. With pelvic floor therapy, you will also learn exercises to strengthen the muscles that help stabilize your core and prevent back injuries.
Our physical therapists are compassionate, highly trained and skilled professionals with extensive experience working with patients who have pelvic floor conditions.
Neurology
Physical and occupational therapists in neurology identify abnormal movement patterns, coordination and balance deficits, and cognitive impairments that affect your ability to perform functional activities independently.
UHealth neurologic therapists are board-certified in neurologic rehabilitation. They also participate in the ALS and Parkinson’s disease multidisciplinary clinics at UHealth to ensure continuity of care with UHealth physicians.
We use the latest evidence-based treatments to help restore normal movement. We also help patients improve function through compensating strategies, orthotics, assistive devices, or other new treatment technologies.
Vestibular Rehabilitation
When you experience dizziness, imbalance, vertigo, or nausea, physical therapists specializing in vestibular rehabilitation can identify and treat the underlying cause of your symptoms.
Our therapists use canalith repositioning maneuvers to redistribute particles in the inner ear to restore balance. We also use visual exercises and visual reflex retraining to help relieve symptoms and restore your quality of life.
Our physical rehabilitation specialists have advanced training and certification in vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT). They use the latest evidence and treatment approaches to help you achieve the best possible outcomes.
Cancer Rehabilitation
At Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, your UHealth physical and occupational therapists are part of a multidisciplinary team. Your therapists provide educational, emotional, and motivational support to help you overcome the physical and emotional challenges of battling cancer.
You are more likely to have a successful outcome when you and your caregivers have an active, hands-on role in your recovery.
Our team of physical and occupational therapists has completed advanced training and education that provides valuable insights into the oncology patient experience.
Lymphedema
Therapists provide patient education and hands-on manual therapy that includes:
- Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD)
- Meticulous skincare
- Compression bandaging and garments
- Decongestive exercises
Physical and occupational therapists who provide lymphedema services at our clinics have advanced training and certification in CDT and MLD. They are experts in all aspects of oncology rehabilitation.
Cardiac Rehabilitation
Physical and occupational therapists with advanced training in cardiac care ensure your rehabilitation experience builds strength and stamina after heart attacks and other cardiac conditions without causing stress on your recovering heart.
These experts can interpret ECG results while closely monitoring your exercise sessions to maximize their effectiveness. In addition, several of our therapists and nurses are board-certified clinical specialists — the highest level of clinical expertise in their field.
Your therapists also guide you through lifestyle changes such as getting regular exercise, eating a healthy diet, and managing stress to help you prevent another cardiac event.
Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Pulmonary rehabilitation aims to improve your quality of life and increase your stamina as you perform everyday activities.
Our therapists guide you through exercises, inspiratory muscle training, nutritional counseling, and patient education. Pulmonary rehabilitation is critical to managing chronic respiratory disease alongside standard medical treatment.
Our pulmonary rehabilitation therapists and nurses have advanced training in lung health and healing to ensure your rehabilitation experience is as safe and effective as possible. They are board-certified clinical specialists — the highest level of clinical expertise in their field.
Schedule an Appointment
To make a physical therapy or occupational therapy appointment, call 305-689-5635. For appointments at the Lennar Center call 305-689-8888.
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