• Orthopedics and Rehabilative Home
• Chiropractic Clinic
• Occupational Therapy
• Orthopedic Brace Clinic
• Orthopaedic and Spine Surgery
• Physical Medicine
• Physical Therapy
• Podiatry

Mission and Vision

Mission: To deliver state of the art, courteous, timely, professional, and quality occupational therapy care to all beneficiaries, and to be committed to enhancing that care through a genuine concern for the health, welfare, and safety of both patients and staff while maintaining the readiness of patients and staff. To increase independence in Soldiers and family members.

Vision: Promote Soldier readiness, healthy living, and optimal performance among all DoD beneficiaries using occupational therapy principles and practices while providing service that reflect best clinical practices in a timely, cost efficient manner.

Hours and Location

Patient Information

What is Occupational Therapy?

The Occupational Therapy Clinic treats more than just work-related injuries. The Clinic defines "occupation" as "any purposeful activity", so the clinic treats injuries that relate to work, leisure and basic activities of daily living.

The occupational therapist helps return patients back to purposeful activity after physical injuries or psychological difficulties by helping the soldier acquire or rebuild skills that have been lost or damaged. In the clinic at Darnall Army Medical Center, the primary job of the Occupational Therapist is to help soldiers rehabilitate from upper extremity injuries or disabilities, including injuries to the shoulder, elbow, wrist, or hand. In contrast, Physical Therapy focuses on the return to function after injuries to the neck, back, or legs.

The Occupational Therapist also serves in a physician extender role as well by providing initial screenings and evaluations to diagnose the problem and then treat and follow that patient until sufficiently healed. The occupational therapist can order a variety of radiographic evaluations, prescribe non-steroidal medication, and write one-month temporary profiles.

If a case is deemed beyond the scope of treatment provided in the OT clinic, the occupational therapist reviews the case one-on-one with another specialist, for example an Orthopedic Hand Specialist, who in turn determines the appropriate treatment course and the need for possible surgical intervention.

Common Injuries Seen in the Clinic

The injuries most commonly seen in the Occupational Therapy Clinic are repetitive motion injuries and trauma due to physical training, sports, falls, or motor vehicle accidents. A patient will be seen in occupational therapy for a loss of range-of-motion or strength in the hands, elbows, or shoulders resulting from fractures, burns or other injuries. Typical injuries seen in the Occupational Therapy Clinic include:

• Repetitive Motion Injuries Traumatic Injuries
• Nerve Compression Jamming injuries to digits
  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Tendon Lacerations (rehab)
  • Cubital Tunnel Syndrome Fractures
• Wrist Tendonitis Cysts and Tumors
• Soft Tissue Injuries Wrist instability
• DeQuervains Tenosynovitis Burns
• Arthritis or inflammation

Treatments

The occupational therapy clinic is up-to-date with the latest technology. The treatment methods include:

• Fluidotherapy Machines - dry heat
• Parafin Bath - moist heat
• Hot and cold packs
• Iontophoresis - a non-invasive application of medication
• Galvanic Electrical Stimulation - electrical current to reduce swelling
• Ultrasound - used to create a thermal effect
• Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation (TENS) - electrical interruption of the pain cycle
• Various kinds of upper extremity splinting

The clinic also has the capability of simulating most activities that a soldier needs to perform during work or at home.