An older patient works on fine motor skills by playing a game with her occupational therapist.

Occupational therapy

Occupational therapy in Minnesota and western Wisconsin

When our bodies function as expected, we don’t notice how many different tasks we need to do just to get through the day. But when pain, injury or an illness occurs, activities like getting dressed, cooking or even bathing can become difficult. Occupational therapy is a type of rehabilitation that uses exercise, education and adaptive strategies to help you regain your ability to do activities of daily living (ADLs).

At HealthPartners, we make it simple to get the occupational therapy you need. From your first appointment, our occupational therapists will evaluate your condition and guide you to the treatments and therapy programs that will help you meet your recovery goals. We also work closely with your primary care doctor and specialists to coordinate your care and streamline your recovery.

With locations in Minnesota and western Wisconsin, there are many convenient clinics where you can schedule occupational therapy appointments. Whether you’re looking to improve your independence, your confidence or your physical comfort, our occupational therapists can help.

Who can benefit from occupational therapy

Many people will need occupational therapy at some point in their lives – whether they’re recovering from a surgery, have been diagnosed with an illness or are experiencing changes related to aging. We help people of all ages improve their coordination, endurance, cognitive function and independence.

Good candidates for occupational therapy are people who need assistance with daily tasks like dressing, bathing, driving or even maintaining a household.
An occupational therapist guides his patient through an exercise that uses clothespins and wood pegs.

Types of occupational therapy services we offer

We offer a comprehensive range of occupational therapy services, from pain management and pediatric therapy to concussion rehabilitation.

General occupational therapy

Our occupational therapists provide comprehensive evaluation, education and treatment for people with physical, cognitive, visual or psychosocial impairments that make daily living challenging.

We use a combination of therapeutic exercises, manual therapies, education and adaptive strategies to help you improve your independence with daily activities, including dressing, bathing and driving. Whether you need help returning to work, improving mobility or building confidence, occupational therapy can help.

Pediatric occupational therapy

Children need to master a wide range of skills in order to grow up to be confident, independent adults. When they need extra support with activities such as getting dressed, completing schoolwork, writing their name or staying calm in noisy spaces, pediatric occupational therapy can help.

Our OTs will assess your child’s individual needs and create a personalized treatment plan that’s tailored to them. In most cases, we’ll use a combination of therapeutic exercises, manual therapies, education and adaptive strategies to improve your child’s abilities.

Pain management

Chronic conditions such as fibromyalgia, arthritis and headaches can be painful and debilitating. Occupational therapy can be used to help manage discomfort and teach you how to perform daily activities in ways that reduce and prevent pain.

Our occupational therapists can also teach you ways to manage pain without medication. We’ll show you different pain management strategies such as mindfulness techniques, relaxation exercises, strengthening exercises, stretches and energy conservation techniques.
A close-up image of an older patient's hands as they play a game with wood blocks and pegs.

Neurological therapy

Neurological conditions, including Parkinson’s disease, movement disorders and strokes can impact your coordination, strength and cognitive function. We offer neurological therapy at many locations throughout Minesota and western Wisconsin, including Struthers Parkinson’s Center, a Parkinson’s Foundation Center of Excellence.

Occupational therapists use therapeutic exercises, education and other treatments to improve your coordination and function. We’ll work with you to set realistic goals for therapy. Then, we’ll create a personalized treatment plan to help you learn new strategies for completing tasks and reaching your goals.

Cognitive rehabilitation

A change in cognitive function can impact your independence and how you’re able to complete ADLs. We work with people who are recovering from a wide range of cognitive conditions, including Parkinson’s disease, ALS, stroke, dementia and brain injury.

Our occupational therapists will help you with strategies to improve your memory, problem-solving skills, communication, managing daily tasks and other functions that align with your goals. We also have the option of family training for home safety recommendations to maximize independence in the home.

Concussion rehabilitation

Our occupational therapists are here to help you recover after a concussion or other head injury that causes changes in memory, coordination, vision and communication. We’ll work with you to develop new approaches to activities of daily living, help manage short-term memory loss, and teach you about injury management and prevention.
A girl wears specialty red and green glasses as part of her vision therapy.

Vision therapy

If you’re blind or have a visual impairment, occupational therapy can help you modify your ADLs or create new strategies so you can confidently and independently complete the activities you need. Our occupational therapists will work with you on mobility and orientation instruction, help you learn how to use assistive devices, and teach you new approaches to accomplish ADLs and participate in activities you love.

Cancer rehabilitation

Cancer may impact your ability to do activities of daily living and move comfortably throughout your day. Our occupational therapists will help you maintain or regain strength and endurance after a cancer diagnosis. During occupational therapy, we’ll use your goals to create a personalized treatment plan that meets your needs.

Lymphedema and edema management

Sometimes, lymph fluid can build up in the body and cause uncomfortable swelling – this is called edema. Lymphedema is a chronic condition where the lymph fluid has difficulty draining.

Our occupational therapists are skilled in managing lymphedema and edema to help drain your lymphatic system, and we will teach you self-management techniques. We use a variety of techniques that include lymphatic massage, compression garments, specialized exercise routines, and education on disease prevention and self-management.

Graston technique

The Graston technique is a type of treatment that uses steel tools to relieve muscle and tendon pain, and help restore your ability to complete ADLs. Your occupational therapist will use steel instruments to break up scar tissue, release knots in your muscles and improve the mobility of your soft tissue.

Pre-driving and behind-the-wheel evaluations

Our occupational therapists can make recommendations for driving after an injury, illness or noted change in cognition. We assess the skills required for safe driving, including cognition, memory, vision, reaction time and physical abilities. Based on your performance, your occupational therapist may provide safe driving recommendations and may refer you for a behind-the-wheel driving evaluation.

Other occupational therapy services

  • Education
  • Gender-affirming care
  • Hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder therapy
  • Wheelchair evaluation
  • Work conditioning, functional capacity evaluations (FCE) and ergonomics

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)