Occupational Therapy

Our Occupational Therapist, Lisa Wixon, helps people improve their ability to perform tasks in their daily living and working environments. Lisa works with individuals who have conditions that are mentally, physically, developmentally, or emotionally disabling. She helps clients not only to improve their basic motor functions and reasoning abilities, but also to compensate for permanent loss of function. Her goal is to help clients lead independent, productive, and satisfying lives.                  

Left,  Bridget Heier, COTA/L, (Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant), and right, Lisa Wixon, MS, OTR/L, Occupational Therapist,

Occupational therpists provides assistance with:

• Regaining the use of an injured hand due to carpal tunnel syndrome, wrist/hand fractures, tendon lacerations, arthritis
• Adaptive Equipment Instruction Measuring and fitting splinting and adaptive equipment
• Upper Extremity Strengthening (shoulders, elbows, wrists, and hands) to maintain independence
• Energy Conservation Techniques
• Learning personal care, such as bathing or dressing Re-educating stroke patients to compensate for losses
• Evaluating and tailoring the patient's wheelchair to accommodate the patient's abilities, environment, comfort, and safety needs
• Improving function through cognitive/perceptual activity
• Preventing deformities, reducing disability, and alleviating pain from illness or injury
• Executing visual rehab techniques
• Providing ergonomic assessments for patients and businesses, including evaluating patient and employee workstations for optimal posture and body position and evaluating related hobbies.

Lisa has been trained in the Claudia Allen Assessment Tool, which allows her to complete evaluations, and assessments that improve the quality of life of patients and residents with impaired cognitive abilities because of injury, stroke, disease or the aging process.

She has also been trained in CarFit, designed to make sure drivers "fit" their car and are using the proper posture while driving.  How well you and your vehicle work together for such things as clear line of sight, easy access to gas and brake pedals and proper body positioning can be as important to your safety as a car's mechanical checkup.  A free CarFit session is scheduled each year. Call (605) 326-5161, extension to find out when the next one will be offered.

Lisa Wixon, MS, OTR/L is our full-time licensed Occupational Therapist. She graduated in 1996 from the University of South Dakota in Vermillion.

Bridget received her degree from Lake Area Technical Institute in Watertown. Shepassed her national certification for Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant in May, 2010.  In addition ot serving patients in Viborg, Bridget is the main therapist providing occupational therapy services for the Centerville School District..

For more information, or to schedule an appointment, call (605) 326-5161, extension 3009.