Phone: (978) 249-1201
The Rehabilitation Department at Athol Memorial Hospital includes four disciplines:

Occupational Therapy
Physical Therapy
Speech/Language Pathology
Massage Therapy

All departments work through a referral system……a physician must send a written referral for therapy begin. This is a requirement for insurance coverage. A referral is acceptable from any physician other than chiropractors and dentists.

Patients are seen for an initial evaluation to determine areas of impairment, and a subsequent plan of care is then developed. This includes treatment interventions, frequency of treatments and duration of treatment for the episode of care. Education is a major aspect of care provided to all patients in the Rehab Department.

Occupational Therapy – Provides services for individuals with varying disabilities. Some of the areas the therapist may help the individual regain function are self feeding, oral hygiene, upper body strengthening, dressing/bathing skills, visual/perceptual coordination, splinting and adaptive equipment. Skilled treatment is provided that helps people return to ordinary tasks around home and at work by maximizing physical potential through lifestyle adaptations and possible use of assistive devices.

Physical Therapy - Provides services for individuals to regain functional abilities in walking, getting in/out of bed, strength, balance, gross motor skills, endurance and the improvement of safety skills. Therapy is aimed at recovery from weakness, loss of coordination, or limited endurance. Skilled treatment includes the use of exercises and physical activities to help condition muscles and restore strength and movement, as well as the use of physical agents to reduce muscle spasms, pain and edema in soft tissues. In addition to general treatments provided, specialty programs include Aquatics and Vestibular therapy.

Speech/Language Pathology – Provides services to evaluate and treat communication disorders and swallowing problems, including evaluation in collaboration with the radiologist for Modified Barium studies. Skilled treatments are provided to children, teens and adults, related to neurological impairments, or muscular impairments in oral motor functioning. Cognitive training/retraining is also provided.
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Massage Therapy - Massage therapy is a practice that dates back thousands of years. There are many types of massage therapy available but all applications involve manipulation techniques to muscles and soft tissues. People utilize massage therapy as a complimentary and alternative to traditional treatment for a variety of health-related conditions.                                                         

The benefits of massage therapy are varied, but generally it can be effective in relieving stress, improving joint and muscle mobility, improving circulation, and augmenting physical and occupational therapy treatments. These benefits can be translated into decreased anxiety, decreased pain, enhanced sleep quality, increased energy, improved concentration and reduced fatigue. There are generally no risks to massage therapy if it is used appropriately and is provided by a trained massage professional.

At Athol Memorial Hospital, the types of massage therapy offered include Swedish Massage which involves long strokes, kneading and friction on the muscles and joints to aid flexibility. Pregnancy Massage can aid in reducing stress in tight muscles and to increase circulation to decrease swelling. Hot Stone Massage utilizes heated smooth stones to provide heat along with massage to gain relaxation of muscles and promote improved joint flexibility. Deep Tissue Massage uses patterns of strokes and deep pressure on parts of the body where the muscles are tight or knotted, focusing on the layers of muscles that are deeper under the skin.

Appointments may be arranged by calling the Rehab Department at 978 249-1201. No referral by your physician is needed.