• Outpatient OTs focus on helping individuals return to their routines — work, self-care, hobbies, or community activities — by addressing functional limitations caused by physical, cognitive, or neurological conditions.

Common Conditions Treated

• Stroke and brain injury (weakness, coordination, cognition)

• Hand and upper extremity injuries (fractures, tendon repairs, carpal tunnel, arthritis)

• Orthopedic surgeries (shoulder replacements, wrist or elbow injuries)

• Chronic pain or overuse injuries

• Neurological disorders (Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis)

• Functional decline from illness, deconditioning, or debility

What They Do

Outpatient OTs use a combination of therapeutic exercises, activity-based training, and education to help clients:

• Restore range of motion, strength, and coordination

• Improve fine motor control and hand function

• Retrain activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities (IADLs) like dressing, cooking, or driving

• Address cognitive or visual-perceptual deficits that impact safety and independence

• Recommend adaptive equipment or splints

• Provide home exercise programs and ergonomic or energy conservation strategies