"I thought to myself, that won't happen to me. I'm not at risk," she said.

What she thought would never happen did happen about two weeks later when, during choir practice at church, she suffered a stroke.

"I was standing at the organ when I started to feel like I was on a roller coaster. Then, I couldn't move my right side. There were two nurses in the choir who realized what was happening and knew I needed medical attention right away," Mrs. Shope said.

She was admitted to Clearfield Hospital for diagnosis and treatment. A few days into her stay, she regained some movement in her right side.

Several days later she was well enough to be discharged, but still wasn't able to fully use her right arm and hand. Her doctor ordered occupational therapy.

What is Occupational Therapy?

Occupational therapy helps individuals of all ages regain abilities and return to their daily living tasks, work and leisure activities following an accident, illness or surgery.

Clearfield Hospital's occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants are trained to evaluate and implement treatment plans for each person's needs.

They address strength, balance, coordination, joint protection, safety, energy conservation, work simplification and cognition to increase independence with daily activities and mobility.

These professionals also make recommendations for adaptive equipment, durable medical equipment and alterations to the home environment to increase safety and independence.

Some of the health conditions that may benefit from occupational therapy include: fractures and joint replacement, stroke, heart conditions, arthritis, work-related injuries, pulmonary disease, neurological conditions, back injuries and general debilitation.

A Treatment Plan

Karen Swalligan, certified occupational therapy assistant, implemented a treatment plan for Mrs. Shope designed to build upper arm strength, improve hand coordination and increase endurance.

"Barbara and I discussed goals. She wanted to be able to sign her name and perform her household chores without becoming fatigued. Most of all, she wanted to play the organ again," Mrs. Swalligan said.

During the occupational therapy sessions at Clearfield Hospital, Mrs. Swalligan taught Mrs. Shope exercises and weight-training techniques to build upper body strength.

To foster fine motor coordination and dexterity, Mrs. Shope practiced typing on a keyboard, played the organ, used tweezers to pick up pins, shuffled cards and performed a variety of other exercises.

Mrs. Shope also learned energy conservation concepts to help her handle her household tasks without becoming exhausted. She was given a list of exercises to do at home to aid in her recovery.

"Barbara was an excellent patient and did everything she was asked to do. I told her she's the one to thank for her recovery. We are the guides – the patient has to be willing to put in the time and effort," Mrs. Swalligan said.

Returning to Activities

After five weeks of therapy, Mrs. Shope made significant progress. So much so that she was able to play the organ at church.

"Occupational therapy is amazing. The therapists encouraged me, addressed my concerns and were patient. The first time I played the organ at church after the stroke, Karen came to see me. That meant a lot," Mrs. Shope said.