Specialized Programs

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Merit Health Wesley offers dedicated programs that address the unique needs of specific illnesses and conditions. Each person has different needs during recovery, so our rehabilitation programs include a range of therapies and assistance to ensure patients receive the care and support they need. Therapists also serve as educators to ensure patients, family members and caregivers are well informed and able to meet recovery challenges.

Speciality therapy services include:

• Aquatic therapy — therapy in a heated pool to address pain, balance and strength.
• Hand therapy — specialized therapy for injuries to the hand, forearm and elbow, performed by a certified hand therapist.
• Modified barium swallow — a moving X-ray of the oral and pharyngeal phases of the swallow to determine a patient's complications. Once identified, a therapist can establish the appropriate plan of care and diet for the patient.
• Pediatric rehab — an interdisciplinary program designed to meet the needs of children from birth to age 21. Occupational, physical and speech therapy are performed with a personalized, hands-on approach. Therapists use age-appropriate toys, activities and therapeutic play to make therapy fun, while targeting the child's specific rehabilitation needs.
• Swallowing therapy — a specialized neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) system for the treatment of the debilitating effects of oropharyngeal dysphagia.
• Work well rehab — an occupational health and safety program designed to return a patient to work while containing the employer's cost. Functional capacity evaluations are provided during this program to determine the patient's ability to perform job skills.
• Dry needling — a form of manual therapy, provided by physical therapists, in which a solid, fine filament needle is inserted into skin and muscles in order to promote healing. Some may describe dry needling as an aggressive form of massage, as it works in a similar manner as deep tissue techniques. Dry needling is used for patients with chronic pain who were unable to get relief from less aggressive forms of therapeutic intervention.
• Cupping — an alternative form of therapy in which suction is created on the skin to allow for separation of tissue adherence, while also pulling toxins to surface tissues. New blood will then travel into new layers of tissues to jumpstart the healing process. This treatment is ideal for chronic pain, decreased range of motion, scar healing and delayed onset muscle soreness recovery. Some of the most commonly researched diagnoses treated with cupping include: carpal tunnel syndrome, ITB syndrome, chronic neck/back pain and knee osteoarthritis.
• LSVT LOUD and LSVT BIG - LSVT LOUD is an effective speech treatment for people with Parkinson's disease and other neurological conditions. This program trains patients to use their voice at a more normal loudness level while speaking. While LSVT LOUD focuses on vocal loudness, research shows the treatment can also help with other qualities that improve communication, including articulation and intonation and even facial expression.
  LSVT BIG trains patients with Parkinson's disease and other neurological conditions to use their body more normally. This program effectively trains improved movements for any activity, whether small motor tasks like buttoning a shirt or large motor tasks like getting up from sofa or chair or maintaining balance while walking.

For more information, please call (601) 268-5015.