Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Rehabilitation Services - Lexington Near the hospital main entrance

Specialized Hand Therapy Services Get You Back To Your Life

At some time, most of us have experienced a problem using our hands. We know problems can be painful and can lead to the loss of full hand function, resulting in our inability to perform the daily activities that we've done automatically. That's why it is so important to get the best possible therapy after an accident or injury to your hand or arm.

Lexington Medical Center's Rehabilitation Services has the only certified hand therapist in Davidson, Davie and Rowan Counties. Sandra Martin is certified by the Hand Therapy Certification Commission. To achieve the designation, Martin was required to have a minimum of 4,000 hours in direct hand therapy, to pass several examinations, demonstrate advanced clinical skills and theory in upper limb rehabilitation and to have five years of clinical experience. Martin actually has more than 20 years experience in occupational therapy.

The most common hand conditions treated:

• Fractures and lacerations
• Sprains and strains of muscles
• Injuries to tendons, ligaments and nerves
• Repetitive use injuries such as carpel tunnel syndrome and arthritis
• Joint pain

Martin explains that hand therapy is quite specialized, and there is a small margin between good and fair outcomes. The key, she says, is close communication between the patient, the physician and the therapist.

About 1 in 3 adults over 65 will fall at least once this year, many sustaining serious injuries. Falls can be dangerous and can reduce the ability of seniors to lead active lifestyles. Wake Forest Baptist Health Lexington Medical Center has developed a specialized program to manage the risk of falls through the Rehabilitation Services - Lexington, directed by Monette Frye.

Customized Plan Focused On Prevention

"Our goal is to help prevent falls with evaluation and development of individualized treatment plans including exercises to improve strength, mobility and balance," Monette explains. A person's customized plan may include strengthening, gait training, balance retraining and specific exercises that can be performed at home, says Trudy Beck, one of several physical therapists who treat patients in our new rehabilitation services facility. "We can help patients identify hazards in their homes and increase awareness of them."

Seniors often have a fear of falling; that fear can lead to inactivity, which then leads to a downward spiral and decreases the quality of life. With therapy, we can reduce the fear and actually improve the patient's quality of life. The most important action seniors can take to reduce falls is to maintain physical activity. Any fitness activity helps improve balance and movement.

Personalized Falls Risk Assessment

Initially, the therapist checks a patient's balance, gait and strength and uses standardized tests to help determine their fall risk. Then, a program is developed which includes measuring the progress in reducing risk. After sessions in the rehabilitation services facility, patients are expected to continue a home exercise program

Getting dressed in the morning is routine for most of us, but if you have lymphedema, the simple task of getting dressed can be difficult. Putting on your shoes may be the reward that comes from months of specialized therapy.

Lymphedema therapy is one of many services provided by the staff of Rehabilitation Services – Lexington. In fact, we have four physical therapists who treat patients with lymphedema.

Lymphedema is a condition which causes swelling in an arm or leg. Lymphedema is caused by a blockage in the lymphatic system, which prevents lymph fluid from draining properly and as the fluid builds up, swelling increases.

While there is no cure for lymphedema, it can be managed with effective therapy. Our specialists spend a lot of time educating patients on their role in controlling the condition because it is a long-term chronic condition that can require significant changes to a patient's lifestyle.

Most often lymphedema occurs among patients who have experienced trauma to the lymphatic system. Cancer patients, patients with heart or kidney disease and those suffering from a traumatic injury are examples.

Swelling can be so severe that patients can't function. Therapists at Lexington Medical Center use a variety of treatment methods customized to meet the needs of patients. We teach the patients how they, a family member or a friend can reduce swelling with treatments at home to help manage their condition.

The occupational therapists at Wake Forest Baptist Health - Lexington Medical Center help people of all ages participate in the things they want and need to do through therapeutic use of everyday activities (occupations). Our team of highly skilled therapists uses specialized skills in assessment, planning and treatment to provide individualized care to each patient infant to adult. 

Occupational therapy services are offered at Rehabilitation Services - Lexington and Rehabilitation Services - North Davidson. Our occupational therapists hold specialty certifications including a Certified Handwriting Specialist and a Certified Hand Therapist (CHT). 

A CHT offers specialized care to patients in rehabilitation of the upper limb, which includes the hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder girdle and provides therapeutic interventions to prevent dysfunction, restore function and/or reverse the progression of pathology of the upper limb. 

Diagnoses treated by occupational therapy include: 

• Amputations 
• Arthritis and rheumatic diseases 
• CVA (stroke) 
• Crush injuries/mutilating trauma 
• Cumulative trauma disorders 
• Developmental disabilities 
• Dislocations and subluxations 
• Dupuytren's disease 
• Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) 
• Fractures 
• Infections 
• Ligamentous injury and instability 
• Neuromuscular diseases – ALS, MS, MD 
• Pain (e.g. complex regional pain syndrome, fibromyalgia)
• Rotator cuff dysfunction (pre- and post-surgical rehab)
• Sensory Processing Disorder Spinal cord and central nervous system injuries
• Tendon injuries and conditions (e.g., lacerations, transfers, tendonitis, ruptures)
• Thermal and electrical injuries
• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
• Wounds and scars 

We offer an individualized approach to occupational, physical and speech therapy for children from birth to age 21. Our staff will work with you and your referring physician to develop and provide personalized therapy plans that:

• Improve your child's functional performance by using hands-on treatments
• Educate you about managing at-home or school needs
• Provide you with links to community resources

If your child needs therapy for more than one discipline, we can schedule appointments in the same building on the same day. Our two convenient locations, Lexington and North Davidson, provide you with expert professional care close to home. Our experienced therapists go the extra mile to research and understand your child’s unique needs.

Our physical therapists treat children with a variety of conditions:

• Acquired brain injury
• Autism
• Cerebral palsy
• Developmental coordination disorders
• Down syndrome
• Feeding and swallowing disorders
• Gross and fine motor skills delays
• Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
• Language disorders and delays
• Speech disorders and delays
• Sensory processing disorder
• Sports injuries
• Spina bifida
• Spinal cord injuries
• Stuttering therapy
• Toe walking
• Torticollis

Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapists help children develop their abilities to interact with the world. Problems may include difficulty paying attention or difficulty with fine motor skills such as writing or cutting.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapists help children develop mobility if they are not developing at an age-appropriate level.

Speech Therapy

Speech-language pathologists help children develop their ability to communicate when speech or language skills are not developing at an age-appropriate level.

Sports Injuries

Early and consistent therapy not only speeds recovery, but decreases an athlete’s time away from the sport.

Recovery After Surgery

Our therapists can help develop a home program that promotes healing and a return to better health.

Pelvic floor physical therapy (PT) is the treatment of the muscles, nerves, tendons and overall function of the pelvic girdle and core. A Pelvic Physical Therapist has received extra training to better identify and treat pelvic floor dysfunction. A pelvic floor physical therapist may perform external and/or internal assessment of the pelvis. Additional physical therapy treatment for pelvic floor dysfunction may include:

• Education on the pelvic floor, hip and low back muscles that may be causing pelvic pain
• Therapy to correct postural and bony alignment
• Soft tissue work to address issues in any of the three layers of pelvic floor muscles
• Biofeedback training to regain proper function of the pelvic floor muscles
• Treatments to relieve pain and strengthen weakened pelvic floor muscles (there is more to getting better than just “Do your Kegels”!)
• Education on the use of dilators or other devices for pain relief or muscle strengthening
• A home exercise program that includes strengthening and stretching to improve posture, reduce pain, and promote healing to the pelvic floor

Women experiencing pelvic floor dysfunction frequently describe:

• A “falling out” feeling
• Pain or burning in the abdomen, tailbone, or perineal area
• Pain or burning with urination in the absence of a UTI
• Difficulty having a bowel movement or constipation
• Difficulty urinating
• Difficulty holding urine, often accompanied by frequency and urgency with going to the bathroom
• Leaking of urine or feces
• Pain with intercourse
• Persistent and unresolved low back or hip pain
• Pain as a result of sexual trauma

The licensed physical therapists at Rehabilitation Services - Lexington and North Davidson provide physical therapy to people of all ages (infant through geriatric) with a variety of injuries and disorders. Upon referral from a physician the physical therapist will complete a comprehensive evaluation to establish a treatment plan specific to your needs and goals. Treatment sessions are typically 45 minutes and individualized, with the therapist treating only you.

Services offered:

General Orthopedics

• Tendonitis
• Sprains
• Strains
• Plantar fascitis
• Frozen shoulder
• S/P fracture

Sport Specific

• ACL tear
• Ankle sprain
• Repetitive injuries
• Shoulder dislocation

Post-Operative Rehab

• Rotator cuff rehab
• ACL rehab
• Meniscectomy
• Manipulation
• Laminectomy
• Spinal fusion

Joint Replacement

• Total knee
• Partial-knee
• Total hip
• Total shoulder
• Hemi-arthroplasty
• Reverse total shoulder
• Total ankle replacement

Spine Rehab

• McKenzie spine program
• Core stabilization
• Posture and back safety education

Neuro Rehab

• Strokes
• Head Injury
• Spinal Cord Injury
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Guiallan-Barre

Vestibular Rehabilitation

• Dizziness
• Vertigo
• Inner ear problems that affect balance

Other

• Parkinson’s Disease
• Work-related injuries
• Strength and cardiovascular conditioning
• Balance program/fall prevention
• Gait training
• Amputee rehab
• Lymphedema program
• Wound care
• Aquatic/pool therapy
• Manual therapy
• Thermal/laser/electrical therapeutic treatments
• Isokinetic strength testing
• Kinesiotaping (therapeutic taping)
• Pediatric physical therapy

Our speech pathology program is designed to help people of all ages, children and adults. Recognizing the profound effects communication and swallowing disorders can have on a person’s independence, social interactions, relationships and their overall health, we have developed a team of highly experienced speech pathologists. 

Our speech-language pathologists hold specialty certifications from American Speech Language Hearing Association signifying the highest qualification to care for you or your family member. 

Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) at Wake Forest Baptist Health - Lexington Medical Center provide therapy for various diagnoses and conditions including: 

• Aphasia
• Apraxia
• Articulation/speech disorders
• Alternative augmentative - communication
• Cognitive-linguistic deficits (attention/memory)
• Dysarthria/motor speech
• Traumatic brain injury and concussions
• Stuttering (pediatric)
• Swallowing difficulty/dysphagia
• Feeding problems/difficulties in children

To address communication and swallowing concerns, our skilled speech pathologists use the latest advances in treatment to achieve maximum outcomes that will allow the patient to reach his or her full potential. The following is a list of some of the specialty services we offer:

• VitalStim
• IOPI
• LSVT LOUD
• Dysphagia Evaluation and Treatment
• Modified Barium swallow studies (MBS) or Videofluoroscopic Swallowing Study (VFSS)
• Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (Endoscopy)  

Medical conditions that may benefit from speech therapy: 

• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)  
• Dementia
• Huntington's disease  
• Right hemisphere brain injury  
• Stroke  
• Traumatic brain injury  
• Parkinson’s disease  
• Dysphagia in adults/Dysphagia in children  
• Multiple sclerosis  
• Developmental speech and language delays  
• Feeding disorders/texture aversion