Therapy Services

Our occupational therapists are specially trained to evaluate and treat a variety of medical conditions including:

Muscular Skeletal Conditions:

• Arthritic Conditions
• Chronic pain
• Joint pain
• Muscular pain
• Pre-and Post-Surgical Rehab

Neurological Conditions:

• Balance difficulties
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Post-Concussion Syndrome
• Stroke

Athletic / Sports-Related Injuries
Work-Related Injuries

Specialty OT Certifications

Staff are certified in specialties such as lymphedema, modalities for pain (ultrasound, electrical stimulation, iontophoresis, and low-level laser therapy), cognitive testing, and Graston Technique.

Referral to Occupational Therapy

If you have questions or are interested in receiving occupational therapy services, please contact your physician for a referral or call the therapy department at 320.634.2015.

Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) work to prevent, assess, diagnose, and treat speech, language, social communication, cognitive-communication, and swallowing disorders in children and adults.

Speech-language therapy can be beneficial to individuals who suffer from the following problems:

• Articulation and/or language delay
• Cleft Palate
• Head injury
• Hearing loss and deafness
• Learning disability
• Neurological disorders such as Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Parkinson’s Disease
• Stroke

We have experienced staff with additional certifications such as:

• LSVT LOUD
• VitalStim® swallowing treatment

Conditions we treat:

• Difficulty producing/using speech
• Difficulty understanding and using language
• Difficulty with chewing/swallowing
• Stutter
• Difficulty with memory, problem solving, and other cognitive deficits

Pediatric Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy

At Glacial Ridge Health System, our pediatric physical and occupational therapists help children develop the skills needed to perform everyday tasks. They work with children from newborns to 18 years old who are experiencing difficulties functioning in one or more areas of their lives. Physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy consists of fun, meaningful activities which motivate them and ensure their experience is successful and enjoyable. They think it’s play, we know it works.

Conditions We Treat

We care for children from birth to 18 years of age with a variety of diagnosis including, but not limited to, the following:

Physical Therapy (PT) Referral

We are committed to using the latest technology, tests and techniques to support children who have injuries, disabilities and complex conditions. Our goal is to help them achieve the highest levels of independence and function possible.

If your child or a child you know is demonstrating any of the following, a physical therapy evaluation may be appropriate:

• Has difficulty with balance
• Falls often or is clumsy
• Appears unsafe on a playground
• Has decreased strength
• Is often tired during the day
• Has difficulty opening doors or carrying books
• Sits incorrectly in a chair
• Has difficulty getting up from the floor
• Has poor posture
• Has difficulty with coordination
• Is older than 15 months and is not walking
• Is walking on his or her toes
• Bumps into things or trips often

Treatments We Provide

These treatments and services are provided through pediatric physical therapy:

• Gross Motor Skills
• Gait Training
• Strength and Endurance
• Balance and Coordination
• Adaptive Equipment

Occupational Therapy (OT) Referral

For children, therapy focuses on the “occupations” or “jobs” of childhood such as play, socialization, self-care and school performance. The occupation of play becomes a child’s work as it is essential for their development. We help children develop the skills needed for functional independence in important developmental areas.

If your child or a child you know is demonstrating any of the following, an occupational therapy evaluation may be appropriate:

• Difficulty tolerating clothing or clothing changes; socks, jeans
• Overly sensitive to sensory stimulation such as smells or noises; covers ears
• Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, difficulty getting up in the morning
• Struggles with transitions from task to task; frequent crying / tantrums with changes in routine
• Poor attention while completing tasks, easily distracted
• Poor balance; doesn’t ride a bike, doesn’t climb, falls frequently
• Isolates self from others
• Frequently runs into others, no awareness of self or others’ space
• Avoids fine motor tasks such as using crayons, Legos, fasteners on clothing
• Experiences difficulty learning new motor tasks such as jumping and climbing
• Appears floppy, weak, slumps when sitting / standing, prefers activities requiring little movement
• Cannot calm self by sucking on pacifier, looking at toys, listening to your voice
• Limited diet; refuses to try new foods, gags when trying new tastes, textures
• Appears extremely anxious, states frequent fears of benign things
• Overwhelmed on the playground, during recess, music class, gym class

Treatments We Provide

These treatments and services are provided through pediatric occupational therapy:

• Executive Functioning
• Fine Motor Skills
• Handwriting
• Reflex Integration
• Sensory Diet
• Sensory Integration
• Self-Care Skill
• Upper Extremity Function

Referral to Pediatric Therapy Services

If you have questions or are interested in receiving pediatric therapy services, please contact your child’s physician for a referral or call the therapy department at 320.634.2015.

Specialty PT Certifications

Our experienced staff are certified in specialties such as vertigo, LSVT BIG® program, manual therapy, pelvic floor therapy, modalities for pain (ultrasound, electrical stimulation, iontophoresis, traction and low-level laser therapy), and Graston Technique.

Specialty OT Certifications

Staff are certified in specialties such as lymphedema, modalities for pain (ultrasound, electrical stimulation, iontophoresis, and low-level laser therapy), cognitive testing, and Graston Technique.

Specialty ST Certifications

• LSVT LOUD
• VitalStim® swallowing treatment

Women’s Health – Pelvic Floor Conditions Treated With Physical Therapy:

• Difficulty tolerating a pelvic examination
• Low back pain during pregnancy
• Weakened core strength or discomfort following delivery
• Discomfort during or following sexual intimacy
• Loss of bowel/bladder control when coughing, laughing or sneezing
• Chronic constipation
• Frequent urination

Our Staff

Our highly skilled therapy team of physical, occupational, and speech therapists works collaboratively with doctors, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and nurses to help patients manage pain, restore function, and prevent further injury.

Extensively trained in disease processes, the latest treatment techniques, and exercise principles, our therapists work with patients to get them back to their active lifestyles.

The diverse team of clinical therapists with advanced degrees and specialty certifications provide additional benefits contributing to our patients’ recoveries.

Our Philosophy

Collaborate with the healthcare team
Our staff works closely with all members of the healthcare team to provide the best possible care to each patient. Treatment programs are based on thorough evaluations and are always individualized to meet the needs of each patient.

Involve and educate the family
We emphasize participation of the family or caregiver in each patient’s treatment program. Patients and caregivers are educated about the role of occupational therapy and/or physical therapy and are encouraged to be involved in treatment sessions whenever possible.

Provide a lifetime of care
We are dedicated to providing long-term improvement in life by decreasing pain and restoring function through physical therapy and occupational therapy whenever care is needed.