Outpatient Therapy

Physical Therapy

Restores function for individuals who have experienced neuromuscular or skeletal dysfunction. These programs:

• Improve strength, balance, muscle function, and range of motion
  
• Collaborate with any outside therapy programs from your orthopedist before and after joint replacement surgery
  
• Train for mobility, gait, stability, posture, and positioning, including methods for fall prevention
  
• Offer aquatic rehab in our warm-water therapy pool with less impact on joints, which is beneficial for arthritis
  
• Include wellness education and home exercise programs
  
• Provide specialized care in our Parkinson’s Program
  

Occupational Therapy

Restores and maintains the functionality of daily living independence and safety, including:

• Hand Therapy including splinting, fine-motor coordination, and strengthening
  
• Activities of daily living, self-care therapy, and home modifications
  
• Adaptive/Assistive equipment
  

Lymphedema Therapy

Lymphedema can be best described as chronic swelling or edema. This swelling may occur when lymph (excess fluid, proteins, and other substances) increases in body tissues. This can happen anywhere in the body but especially occurs in the legs, arms, neck, and abdomen. Lymphedema occurs when the normal drainage of fluid is disrupted by a blockage or removal of the lymph nodes, which are responsible for collecting and carrying the lymph back to the bloodstream.

Lymphedema impacts 10 million American. A Certified Lymphedema Therapist (CLT) possesses a broad knowledge of the lymphatic system and can safely work with patients to best manage individual lymphedema needs. At Friendship, our CLT’s offer comprehensive and individualized programs including:

• A specialized manual massage technique called complete decongestive therapy, which allows for the fluid to be manually pumped out of the body
  
• Individualized sizing and use of a multilayered compression garment, pump or wraps to maintain the decongested limb
  
• Education regarding an appropriate exercise program and diet recommendations to facilitate the elimination of waste from the body
  
• Maintenance of range of motion and function of the affected limb and involved joints
  
• Instruction on appropriate skin hygiene to involved areas to decrease risk of complications
  
• A home maintenance program to manage the area independently upon completion of rehab services
  

Speech/Language Pathology

Addresses difficulties with communication, swallowing, and cognitive decline.

Our therapies include:

• Improve strength, balance, muscle function, and range of motion and improving swallowing to decrease choking risk
  
• Verbal and nonverbal communication skills
  
• Dementia Level Staging
  
• VitalStim™ therapy to aid swallow function
  
• Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT) LOUD®
  

Work Injury Rehab

Supports your recovery from any occupational injuries to get you back to work.

Sports Injury Rehab

Assists you with recovery from athletic injuries to help restore mobility and strength.

Driving Evaluations

Assesses resident ability to operate motor vehicles with:

• Evaluations (including clinical and on-road assessments)
  
• Safety coordination with your physician, the DMV, and Commonwealth of Virginia to ensure compliance of new regulations (as of January 1, 2015).
  
• Education regarding an appropriate exercise program and diet recommendations to facilitate the elimination of waste from the body
  
• Maintenance of range of motion and function of the affected limb and involved joints
  
• Instruction on appropriate skin hygiene to involved areas to decrease risk of complications
  
• A home maintenance program to manage the area independently upon completion of rehab services
  

Driver Rehabilitation Program

The Driver Rehabilitation Program at Friendship Outpatient Therapy helps to assess the ability of drivers of all ages to remain safe while navigating the roads. Our solutions range from changing driving habits, modifying vehicle equipment and finding alternative transportation. Friendship licensed therapists help drivers maintain their independence while helping them continue to drive safely. A Physician's order is required to participate.

Our Driver Rehabilitation Program includes:

• Clinical assessment of visual, cognitive and motor function related to driving tasks.
  
• On-road driving assessment with a driving instructor and occupational therapist.
  
• Meeting with the driver and family to make recommendations.
  
• Specializing in senior driving rehabilitation.
  

Following these assessments, we work with drivers and their families to provide recommendations based on the results. These can include:

• Continuing or resuming driving with either no restrictions or simple modifications to driving habits or to the vehicle.
  
• Obtaining further training in the use of adaptive equipment and/or specific outpatient therapy programming.
  
• Retiring from driving and using alternative transportation options.
  

Warning signs to know when it's time for a driver evaluation:

• Recent accident(s) or ticket(s) related to poor driving.
  
• Driving erratically or routinely running over curbs.
  
• Difficulty staying in lanes or obeying traffic signs.
  
• Getting lost or not finding familiar places.
  
• Difficulty driving due to physical limitations.
  
• Restricted or suspended license through the DMV.