Outpatient physical rehabilitation
An outpatient rehabilitation program allows patients to stay at home during their recovery and receive therapy on their schedule. It is usually less intensive than inpatient rehabilitation.
Outpatient rehabilitation center in Port St. Lucie, Florida
Whether you need to strengthen your stability after surgery, reduce swelling associated with lymphedema or improve your speech and memory abilities, HCA Florida St. Lucie Hospital has a therapy program that suits your needs.
We offer comprehensive rehabilitation services, including physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech-language therapy. Our outpatient center has 5,000 square feet and state-of-the-art equipment to accommodate the needs of all patients.
Make an appointment
If you like to learn more about our services or make an appointment, please give our rehabilitation center a call.
If you like to learn more about our services or make an appointment, please give our rehabilitation center a call.
Rehabilitation services we offer
Using a variety of therapeutic techniques in our modern facility, our physical therapists in St. Lucie will assess your health needs to develop a personalized therapy plan. Our rehabilitation services and programs include:
Physical therapy
Physical therapy services may include modalities such as heat, cold, ultrasound, electrical stimulation and mechanical traction to decrease your pain. These methods help prepare you for therapeutic exercise, manual therapy and functional training — such as gait (walking) training, transfer training and other activities — to work on restoring your previous level of function.
Occupational therapy
Occupational therapy treatments may also include therapeutic exercise, manual therapy and functional training. However, there is also emphasis on the arm and hand as well as activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing and home management skills.
Speech therapy
Orthopedic rehabilitation program
Whether surgical or non-surgical intervention is the treatment of choice for your orthopedic injury, rehabilitation is an integral part of your recovery process. Our rehabilitation staff is just one part of our comprehensive orthopedic program, all working together to restore your function.
Our rehabilitation staff specializes in:
- Assessment and treatment of injuries of the foot, ankle, shoulder, knee, spine, hip, wrist, hand and elbow
- Evaluation and treatment of spinal injuries and educational programs on spine care
- Development of biomechanical braces and supports for the foot and custom sports braces
- Manual therapy/mobilization of the spine and extremities
- Evaluation and treatment of all musculoskeletal problems and collaboration with our sports medicine program for sports-related injuries and injury prevention techniques
If you are undergoing joint replacement surgery, the rehabilitation process may include postoperative physical and occupational therapy. This consists of strengthening exercises, education regarding specific precautions following your procedure and walking, dressing and bathing training.
Lymphedema therapy program
Lymphedema is a type of swelling that can occur as a result of a compromised lymphatic system. The lymphatic system plays an important role in the body's circulation and immune function by moving excess fluid and waste products, such as protein molecules and dead cells, from the tissues. The excess fluid is transported back to the heart to rejoin the circulatory system.
If the lymphatic system is not functioning properly, excess, protein-rich fluid builds up in the tissues and causes lymphedema. As a result of this swelling, your skin may become dry and may crack easily, making a person more susceptible to infection. There is no cure for lymphedema; however, the ultimate goal of treatment is to reduce the swelling and then maintain this reduction through a home program.
Our lymphedema clinic provides lymphedema therapy by certified lymphedema therapists. We have extensive experience in treating swelling and other symptoms of lymphedema due to a variety of medical conditions.
Lymphedema is commonly caused by:
- Breast cancer treatment, especially following a lymph node removal in the underarm
- Other types of cancer treatments
- Radiation therapy to the lymph nodes
- Venous insufficiency (problems with the return of blood through the veins of the legs)
- Traumatic injuries
- Surgery
- Infections, like cellulitis
A physician referral is required for admittance into our lymphedema program. To learn more about our program or to schedule an appointment, please call us at (772) 398-1928.
Lymphedema treatment options
To accomplish the goal of reducing swelling, our lymphedema management program consists of four distinct parts:
- Manual lymphatic drainage (specialized manual strokes to help activate the lymphatic system)
- Compression program (includes bandaging and compression garment management)
- Careful skin and nail care (to prevent injury and infection to affected area)
- Therapeutic exercises (to help move lymph fluid by contraction of muscles)
The home program may include compression garments, gentle exercise and simple lifestyle changes to control the swelling after therapy is discontinued.
Your first visit to the Lymphedema Clinic
Before beginning any treatment, a certified lymphedema therapist will evaluate you. This assessment includes:
- Review of your medical history and general health
- Measurements of the arm(s)/leg(s)
- Assessment of the condition of the skin
- Functional assessment
We will educate you on lymphedema and lymphedema therapy, including some simple lifestyle changes that can decrease your risk of developing further swelling.
Your insurance co-payments will be collected at the time of each visit. Arrangements will need to be made with our registration staff for any other payment options.
Other specialized rehabilitation programs
Our spacious, comfortable facility enhances your experiences and improves long-term outcomes. We offer specialized physical therapy and rehabilitation services in the following areas:
- Orthopedic rehabilitation to treat pain and functional decline related to bone, joint and muscular conditions
- Neurological rehabilitation for those with conditions such as Parkinson's disease, cerebrovascular accident (stroke) and other conditions of the brain and nervous system
- Dysphagia therapy by our speech-language pathologists to assess and treat swallowing problems
- Vestibular rehabilitation for the assessment and treatment of balance disorders
- Lymphedema therapy with therapists certified by the Lymphology Association of North America (LANA) and treatment of swelling related to conditions such as breast cancer, vascular (circulatory) problems, traumatic injury and surgery
Outpatient rehabilitation center admissions
To schedule an evaluation at the outpatient rehabilitation center, you must have a referral from a physician. This referral can be from your primary physician or a specialist who is caring for you. Please call (772) 398-1999 for more information and to schedule an appointment once you have a referral from your physician.
What to expect at your first outpatient therapy appointment
When preparing for your first visit, please bring the following items with you:
- A list of all medications you are taking (including over-the-counter medications like aspirin and vitamins)
- A list of any allergies you have to medications and other things
- Your health insurance card(s) and photo identification
Please arrive on time for your appointment. You will be asked to complete a questionnaire about your medical history prior to seeing the therapist for your evaluation. Your initial visit will take a little longer to allow for a full assessment. Please schedule transportation and other appointments to allow for this.
Before beginning any treatment, a therapist will evaluate you. We may request information, such as a medical history, results of previous diagnostic tests and annual physical office visit notes, from your primary physician.