UPPER PENINSULA, Mich. (WJMN) – Occupational therapy is an intervention to develop, recover, or maintain the meaningful activities, or occupations, of individuals, groups, or communities.

Lisa Curnow, an occupational therapist with Aspirus says she’s worked with different patients over the years with different goals to live life to the fullest.

“I’ve been in OT for 20 years and the main importance of my job is to talk to the patients and find out what’s important to them,” said Curnow. “If it’s picking up their grandchild after having a major fall or like I said getting back to fishing and doing something that they really enjoy doing. Occupational therapy really focuses on the person and looking at what we can do to make their life better.”

Some common occupational therapy services include:

  • Arthritis and fibromyalgia
  • Assistive technology & environmental adaptation
  • Aquatic therapy
  • Biofeedback (chronic pain, headaches)
  • Bladder & bowel incontinence
  • Cross bow evaluation
  • Cognitive & safety assessments for independent living skills
  • Hand therapy & upper extremity rehabilitation
  • Lymphedema
  • Mental health/behavioral disorders
  • Neurological conditions
  • Pediatrics/developmental delayed
  • Pre-driving evaluation
  • Stress management
  • Vision & perceptual disorders
  • Worker rehab & injury prevention
  • Ergonomic consultation
  • Work hardening
  • Ergonomic consultation & work hazard injury prevention

To learn more about occupational therapy at Aspirus, click here.