Catherine M. Ruiz, OT-RL

Physical Rehabilitation Occupational Therapist

Ms. Catherine M. Ruiz is a Physical Rehabilitation Occupational Therapist in Seattle, WA with special training and skill in helping patients regain lost mobility after an illness, injury, or impairment. As a Physical Rehabilitation Occupational Therapist, Catherine M. Ruiz, OT-RL performs physical exercises centered on helping patients regain physical strength, mobility, flexibility, and independence while reducing or eliminating related pain. Physical Rehabilitation Occupational Therapy is a medical specialty focusing on helping patients regain physical strength and mobility lost or impaired due to illness or injury. Significant diseases and conditions treated by Physical Rehabilitation Occupational Therapists include injury or impairment after traumatic illness or injury such as stroke, brain damage, and spinal cord injury, post-surgical recovery, athletic injury, impairment from congenital birth defects, and chronic conditions like multiple sclerosis (MS). Medical tests, procedures and therapies provided by Physical Rehabilitation Occupational Therapists include diagnostic imaging, mobility and pain assessment, physical exercise planning and execution, assistive devices and technology, medical massage, and patient education.

Occupational therapists are experts at helping people lead as independent a life as possible. Occupational therapists bring an understanding of the physical and psychological implications of illness and injury and their effects on peoples' ability to perform the tasks of daily living. Occupational therapists provide interventions that can aide a person in completing ADL and IADL tasks, such as dressing, bathing, preparing meals, and driving. They also may fabricate custom orthotics to improve function, evaluate the environment for safety hazards and recommend adaptations to remove those hazards, help a person compensate for cognitive changes, and build a persons' physical endurance and strength. Occupational therapists' knowledge of adapting tasks and modifying the environment to compensate for functional limitations is used to increase the involvement of clients and to promote safety and success.