Occupational therapy restores your ability to act. We treat motor and cognitive impairments; we also strengthen your mental stability. You become autonomous in your actions again. Enjoy greater productivity, activity and quality of life at work and in your leisure time.

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OUR AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION

We treat, accompany and support patients with all diagnoses as closely as possible to everyday life. They become independent and active again at work as well as in activities with the family and in their free time.

The ZOLLIKOFEN ERGOTHERAPY PRACTICE OFFERS THE FOLLOWING AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION

The interdisciplinary networked work of the Zollikofen Occupational Therapy Practice in its various specialist areas is the basis for the patient's recovery process. Get in touch if you have any questions, we will be happy to clarify your concerns.

PEDIATRY

Graphomotor deficits and perceptual disorders often manifest themselves in a child's school problems, difficulties dressing, social problems or communication difficulties. Occupational therapy treatment starts directly here and trains fine motor skills and body awareness: we play, do gymnastics, bake and do handicrafts with the children. The child develops new skills and, as a result, new self-confidence and healthy self-assurance.

In the case of cerebral palsy (often diagnosed before the second birthday), children learn to use their paretic hand in play through occupational therapy.

In general, close cooperation with the environment is important in pediatrics: parents, teachers and other caregivers are included in the therapeutic process.

ADHD

Occupational therapy addresses existing motor and perceptual disorders. The children get to know their bodies better, experience their limits in a safe environment and steer their behaviour into appropriate channels; channels that are acceptable to society as well as to themselves.

The treatment strives for a structured and organized way of working and living, both at school and at home: The children process sensory stimuli more confidently, communicate more consciously and, thanks to improved self-confidence, work out their place in the social environment.
The treatment takes place in the practice, at school or at home. Parents and teachers are also involved.

The symptoms are somewhat different in adults; patients often suffer from blockages. For a long time, they often function inconspicuously in everyday working life, but at some point the fragile house of cards collapses: Bills are forgotten to be paid, the home sinks into disorder, the daily structure resembles chaos. People with ADHD are often very absent-minded and disorganized. Simple tasks such as housekeeping, shopping or cooking are usually major challenges. Occupational therapy supports these people where they are most in need: at home. The situation is carefully analyzed and priorities are determined together. Even simple measures such as setting up a filing system for administration can be the start of a new daily structure.

ERGOTHERAPY FOR ASD (AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER)

Often autism spectrum disorders are treated on the basis of perceptual disorders; these are disorders in the central nervous system in which the processing of the various sensory stimuli does not take place as usual. People with autism spectrum disorders are often overwhelmed by the uncontrolled influx of sensory stimuli, which in many cases explains their behavior, stereotypes and motor abnormalities. They are unable to structure their day, avoid social contact at work and in their private lives; they usually live in isolation.

Occupational therapy teaches practical life skills such as dressing, planning a small invitation or preparing a meal; concentration is increased and cognitive skills such as action planning are promoted.

NEUROLOGY

An injury or disease of the central nervous system often means restrictions in movement and cognitive abilities for those affected: They have to relearn how to take care of themselves or prepare a meal, move around or communicate as examples.

The aim of occupational therapy is for the patient to regain as much independence as possible. The therapy is individually adapted to the needs of the client and their relatives.
We offer constant and long-term cooperation. Therapy takes place in our practice and, if required, at the client's home.

We support patients with strokes, brain tumors, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and traumatic brain injury.

ERGOTHERAPY IN GERIATRY

Elderly people are confronted with challenges on a daily basis. Performing simple tasks can be difficult due to declining strength, mobility and endurance. In addition, the decline in mental capacity or the onset of dementia can put a strain on the people affected and their relatives.

We offer training in physical, cognitive, emotional and social skills and help with the selection of health-promoting activities.

We support people suffering from dementia in maintaining their independence as well as possible and in organizing their everyday lives in a meaningful way. We discuss and implement strategies together.

We carry out home assessments and support those affected in adapting their environment and selecting suitable aids: Life at home becomes safe (fall prevention).

Swallowing assessments: Advice and support for swallowing difficulties.

In all areas, we also accompany, advise and support relatives.

HAND THERAPY

After operations on the hand, we carry out wound care and stitch removal, scar mobilization and any oedema treatment. We treat restrictions in mobility and strength as a result of hand injuries with various active and passive measures; if necessary, we also provide individual splints.

Our specialized, medically trained hand therapists work with you to professionally train the functions of the hand: they rebuild the skills lost as a result of the injury and soon use the affected hand again.

Occupational therapy treats fresh and old scars, mobilizes the affected body parts in the event of fractures, flexor and extensor tendon injuries, dislocations and sprains, nerve injuries, soft tissue injuries, combination injuries and burns; occupational therapy uses desensitization to treat phantom pain in the event of amputations.

SHIELD CONSTRUCTION

We manufacture individual splints for each patient, adapted to their injury and anatomy. We build static splints for positioning after injuries to the fingers, hand and forearm. They are used for immobilization after fractures or tendon injuries as well as a positioning splint for the night. Dynamic splints are used to stretch hardened and shortened tendons or structures. We fit the splints individually and control the tension exerted on the tissue. We create an individual program for each patient for the duration of wearing their splint.

We also provide prefabricated splints; these are tried on, tested and, if necessary, modified and adjusted during therapy.

RHEUMATOLOGY

Degenerated joints with osteoarthritis or arthritis require our special attention. With joint protection instruction, an important part of occupational therapy, the patient learns and trains how to handle the affected body part gently; directly for mindful handling in their personal activities in everyday life. Thanks to the techniques learned, the stress peaks are broken.

We use cold or heat applications to relieve the pain, as well as ultrasound and laser treatment, which also stimulate self-healing. TENS or iontophoresis treatment helps with acute pain.

PAIN THERAPY

In our practice, we rely on the treatment method of Claude Spicher of the Clinique Générale in Fribourg. This method helps to reduce neuropathic pain (hypersensitivity, burning or numbness of the skin).

The method involves looking for interrupted electrical lines in the skin, i.e. small areas of skin with increased or decreased sensitivity. Based on the results, we design an exercise program to promote sensitivity, which can be completed at home.

In the case of numbness, often overlaid with hypersensitivity to touch, we test the affected area of skin and carry out desensitization. The first neutralization of pain can often be observed after just one series.

PSYCHIATRY

People with a mental illness often find it difficult to cope with everyday life. Simple tasks such as shopping, cooking, tidying up and opening letters present major challenges or can only be accomplished with great effort; they often lack the strength to organize meaningful leisure activities. Occupational therapy supports and helps the patient; he becomes active, structures and organizes his everyday life himself: he takes his life back into his own hands. Occupational therapy also works in an expression-centered way: The patient learns to accept their illness with the help of art (for example painting or pottery) and deals with the situation more consciously and mindfully.

Diagnoses include depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, schizophrenia, adjustment disorders and trauma.