Living the Mission: Restoring Independence, One Step at a Time
Rehabilitation Services at Holton Community Hospital. September’s Living the Mission: Department Spotlight.
Rehabilitation or therapy looks different for everyone.
For one person, it may mean taking those first confident steps after a joint replacement. For another, it could mean regaining the ability to dress independently following a stroke, returning to a favorite activity after an injury, managing chronic swelling, improving pelvic health, or finding their voice again while living with Parkinson’s disease.
Whatever the goal, recovery is a journey—and the Rehabilitation Services team at Holton Community Hospital is there to help patients along the way.
As part of our September Living the Mission: Department Spotlight, we recognize the professionals who provide physical, occupational and speech therapy, along with specialized rehabilitation services that help people throughout our community regain function, independence and quality of life.
Rehabilitation Built Around the Patient
Recovering from an illness, injury, surgery or other health condition can be challenging. Rehabilitation is rarely a one-size-fits-all process.
At Holton Community Hospital, licensed therapists and therapy assistants work individually with patients to understand where they are today, where they want to be and what steps can help them get there.
Treatment may involve rebuilding strength, improving balance, restoring fine motor skills, managing pain, improving speech or swallowing, or relearning activities that are part of everyday life.
The goal isn’t simply to complete therapy. The goal is to help each patient achieve the greatest level of function and independence possible.
Physical Therapy: Getting Patients Moving Again
Physical therapy focuses on helping people recover, improve or maintain physical function and mobility.
For some patients, that means rehabilitation following a total knee, hip or shoulder replacement. Others may need help recovering from an orthopedic or sports injury, addressing back pain, improving balance and dizziness, or rebuilding gross motor skills following a stroke.
Physical therapy services at HCH include treatment for:
Orthopedic and sports injuries
Post-operative knee, hip and shoulder rehabilitation
Stroke rehabilitation for gross motor deficits
Balance and dizziness
Back pain
Pediatric gross motor developmental delays
ASTYM® soft tissue treatment
Blood flow restriction therapy
The department also offers dry needling, provided by Kara Tanking, PT, DPT. Dry needling is a skilled intervention that may be incorporated into a treatment plan to address certain neuromuscular pain and movement impairments.
It may be used for conditions involving the neck, back and shoulders, as well as some types of arm, wrist, hip and leg pain. Depending on the patient’s condition and treatment goals, dry needling may help reduce muscular tension, improve movement and support rehabilitation outcomes.
Pelvic Floor Therapy: Specialized Care Close to Home
Rehabilitation Services at Holton Community Hospital also offers pelvic floor therapy, provided by Grace Hastings.
Pelvic floor therapy is a specialized form of physical therapy designed to address conditions involving the muscles and structures that support the pelvic organs and contribute to bladder, bowel and other important functions.
Pelvic floor therapy can help individuals experiencing certain pelvic health concerns by improving muscle function, coordination and control through an individualized treatment plan.
Grace has completed Level 1 pelvic floor training through Herman & Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute and is scheduled to continue her specialized education with Level 2 training in November.
Offering pelvic floor therapy locally expands the range of specialized rehabilitation services available close to home and reflects the department’s commitment to continually developing its expertise to meet the healthcare needs of our community.
Occupational Therapy: Returning to Everyday Life
Despite its name, occupational therapy isn’t limited to helping people return to their jobs.
In occupational therapy, an “occupation” can be virtually any meaningful activity that makes up everyday life—from getting dressed and preparing a meal to writing, using your hands, participating in school or caring for yourself independently.
HCH Occupational Therapy helps people of different ages improve their ability to participate in those activities by addressing physical, cognitive and environmental factors that may affect independence and daily function.
Services include:
Hand rehabilitation
Stroke rehabilitation involving fine motor skills and personal care
Orthopedic and sports injuries involving the arm and hand
Pediatric sensory processing and developmental delays
Low-vision home assessments
Lymphedema management
For many patients, these seemingly ordinary activities represent important milestones on the road back to independence.
Lymphedema Management
Occupational Therapy also provides specialized care for people experiencing lymphedema, a condition involving swelling caused by impaired drainage within the lymphatic system.
The lymphatic system plays an important role in maintaining fluid balance and supporting the body’s immune system. When normal lymphatic drainage is disrupted, fluid can accumulate and lead to swelling, tightness and discomfort.
Lymphedema can occur following trauma or treatment affecting the lymphatic system, including breast cancer treatment, mastectomy, lymph node removal, radiation, other cancers affecting the lymphatic system, or an injury. In some cases, abnormalities affecting the lymphatic system are present from birth.
At HCH, treatment plans are individualized with the goal of maximizing function while helping patients learn strategies to manage their condition.
Speech Therapy: Communication, Cognition and Swallowing
Speech therapy involves much more than speech.
Speech-language pathologists work with children and adults experiencing challenges involving communication, cognition and swallowing.
At HCH, Speech Therapy services include:
Speech impairments and developmental delays
Cognitive assessment
Video swallow evaluation
Communication rehabilitation
These services can be particularly important following conditions such as stroke or neurological disease, when a person’s ability to communicate, think, remember or swallow safely may be affected.
Restoring or improving these abilities can have a significant impact on both independence and quality of life.
Specialized Rehabilitation for Parkinson’s Disease
The Rehabilitation Services team also provides LSVT BIG® and LSVT LOUD®, specialized treatment programs developed for individuals living with Parkinson’s disease.
LSVT BIG®, provided through physical and occupational therapy, focuses on improving movement and mobility for everyday activities.
LSVT LOUD®, provided through speech therapy, focuses on improving communication in daily living.
Together, these programs demonstrate how multiple rehabilitation disciplines can work toward the same goal: helping patients improve function and maintain independence.
Rehabilitation Close to Home
Rehabilitation often requires more than a single appointment. Depending on an individual’s needs, therapy may involve multiple visits over several weeks or months.
Having these services available locally can make a meaningful difference.
Our Rehabilitation Services staff works with patients and their schedules to help provide consistent care while developing the relationships that are an important part of the rehabilitation process.
Patients aren’t simply completing exercises or checking off appointments. They are working toward personal goals—and our rehabilitation professionals are there to educate, encourage, challenge and support them throughout that journey.
Did You Know? A Referral Is Not Required
Many people assume they must first receive a referral from a physician before contacting Rehabilitation Services.
A referral is not required to begin therapy services at Holton Community Hospital.
If you are experiencing pain, recovering from an injury or surgery, having difficulty with mobility or balance, or have concerns about your ability to perform everyday activities, you can contact Rehabilitation Services directly to learn more about available therapy options.
Insurance coverage and individual plan requirements may vary, so patients should verify benefits and coverage requirements with their insurance provider.
Living the Mission Through Recovery
Some of the biggest victories in healthcare can look surprisingly small.
One more step.
A steadier hand.
A word spoken more clearly.
A task completed independently.
A little less pain.
The confidence to try something again.
For the Rehabilitation Services team at Holton Community Hospital, those moments are what make rehabilitation so meaningful.
Every patient’s destination is different, but the mission remains the same: provide personalized, compassionate care that helps people work toward their goals, regain independence and return to the people and activities that matter most.
This September, we are proud to recognize our Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy professionals as our Living the Mission: Department Spotlight.
Their work reminds us that healthcare isn’t only about treating illness or injury. Sometimes, it’s about helping someone take the next step forward.
Holton Community Hospital Rehabilitation Services
Physical Therapy | Occupational Therapy | Speech Therapy | Pelvic Floor Therapy | Dry Needling | Lymphedema Management | LSVT BIG® & LSVT LOUD®
To learn more about Rehabilitation Services or to schedule an appointment, call 785-364-9649.
Personalized Care. Hometown Heart.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A referral is not required to begin therapy services at Holton Community Hospital. Patients can contact Rehabilitation Services directly to discuss their needs and learn about available therapy options. Because insurance requirements vary by plan, patients should check with their insurance provider regarding coverage, authorization or other requirements.
Holton Community Hospital offers physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy, along with specialized services including pelvic floor therapy, dry needling, lymphedema management, LSVT BIG® and LSVT LOUD®. Treatment plans are individualized based on each patient’s condition, abilities and rehabilitation goals.
Physical therapy generally focuses on movement, strength, mobility, balance and physical function. Occupational therapy focuses on helping patients perform the meaningful activities of everyday life, such as dressing, personal care, using their hands, completing household activities or returning to other daily routines. Depending on a patient’s needs, physical and occupational therapists may work together as part of the rehabilitation process.
Yes. HCH Rehabilitation Services offers pelvic floor therapy provided by Grace Hastings, who has completed Level 1 pelvic floor training through Herman & Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute and is scheduled to continue with Level 2 training in November. Pelvic floor therapy addresses conditions involving the muscles and structures that support pelvic function and may help patients experiencing certain bladder, bowel or other pelvic health concerns.
Yes. HCH offers LSVT BIG® and LSVT LOUD®, specialized rehabilitation programs developed for individuals living with Parkinson’s disease. LSVT BIG®, provided through physical and occupational therapy, focuses on movement and mobility. LSVT LOUD®, provided through speech therapy, focuses on improving communication in daily life.
Yes. Lymphedema management is available through Occupational Therapy. Treatment is individualized to help manage swelling, maximize function and teach patients strategies for managing their condition. Lymphedema may occur following cancer treatment, lymph node removal, radiation, injury or other conditions affecting the lymphatic system.
Yes. Physical and occupational therapy can help patients recover from many orthopedic and sports-related injuries, depending on the type and location of the injury. Physical Therapy also provides rehabilitation following procedures such as total knee, hip and shoulder replacement. Treatment is individualized to help patients safely work toward restoring movement, strength and function.
To learn more about Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, pelvic floor therapy, dry needling, lymphedema management or other rehabilitation services, call Holton Community Hospital Rehabilitation Services at 785-364-9649. A member of the rehabilitation team can help you determine the appropriate next step based on your needs.
