Occupational therapy in Lugano
Occupational therapy is a discipline aimed at developing and maintaining people’s ability to act. It helps improve health and quality of life while fostering social participation, enabling individuals to take part in everyday activities.
Goals and benefits
What is occupational therapy
Discover what a Swiss occupational therapist can do for you.
Also known as ergotherapy, occupational therapy is a health and rehabilitation profession that uses assessment and treatment to develop, recover, or maintain the abilities of people with cognitive, physical, or psychological disabilities.
The goal is to rehabilitate the person not only physically, but also psychologically, to support active and meaningful participation in daily activities such as self-care, work, education, and leisure.
Treatment is carried out precisely through meaningful occupations in these areas of everyday life.
Occupational therapists work with individuals of all ages who may have physical, mental, or developmental challenges. They use a variety of approaches, including practical activities and specific therapies, to help people overcome difficulties and achieve a better quality of life.
Personalized assessment and targeted intervention
Occupational therapy in Lugano
At the Polispecialistico Paradiso in Lugano, occupational therapy is characterized by an integrated approach: we don’t just treat the symptom, but consider the person as a whole. Beyond individual work, we also assess the physical and social environment in which the patient lives, suggesting – when necessary – adaptations, aids, or solutions to remove barriers and improve daily participation.
1. Initial assessment and goal setting
Personalized analysis of the three spheres of daily life (self-care, work/study, leisure) and definition of short-, medium-, and long-term goals.
2. Individualized and participatory treatment
The patient is actively involved in the therapeutic path, creating a tailored intervention that values their abilities and meets their real needs.
3. Environmental adaptation
When needed, the physical and social environments are assessed and adapted to improve independence and participation, also through aids or structural modifications.
Improving quality of life, every day
Our approach
Polispecialistico Paradiso is an associated practice of EVS – Swiss Association of Occupational Therapists. Our occupational therapy programs adopt a collaborative approach, working with families, schools, and other professionals to ensure the best possible inclusion in the person’s daily contexts.
We use standardized tests and qualitative observations to provide a complete evaluation and an effective intervention. We are committed to guiding our patients through rehabilitation and well-being pathways, with a holistic and personalized approach that celebrates and supports each person’s unique abilities.
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
Contact us and book an appointment with the specialists at Polispecialistico Paradiso. We offer occupational therapy in Lugano at our main location in Viale Giuseppe Cattori 3 and at the City Gym in Via Pasquale Lucchini 7.
The team
Our occupational therapists
Specialized center
Areas of intervention
The broad scope of occupational therapy covers several fields, including:
Neurology
Occupational therapy aims to improve impaired motor and cognitive functions, maintain abilities in individuals with trauma or progressive diseases, achieve maximum independence, and support the development of compensatory strategies for functions that cannot be recovered.
Multiple sclerosis
To develop or maintain the essential abilities for managing daily life. The occupational therapy pathway aims to preserve functions and slow down functional decline.
For people affected by multiple sclerosis, continuous evaluation of ergonomics and living environments is crucial to reduce architectural barriers and, when necessary, introduce assistive devices that support personal independence.
Geriatrics: Occupational therapy for seniors
To maintain and/or restore the autonomy of elderly individuals, taking into account the balance between physical, social, and psychological functions. In the neurological and geriatric fields, we carry out both concrete daily life activities aimed at increasing independence and cognitive stimulation activities.
A key element is the environmental assessment of the person’s home, in order to remove any existing architectural barriers.
Hand surgery
A specialized branch of occupational therapy, developed to meet the growing need to adapt to increasingly advanced surgical techniques and the demand for higher quality outcomes and functional recovery from both physicians and patients.
Hand rehabilitation focuses on the upper limb, particularly the wrist and fingers, addressing all conditions related to these areas: tendinitis, fractures, sprains, tendon injuries, neuropathies, and rheumatic diseases. We design customized orthoses for both conservative treatments and post-surgical recovery.
In addition to specific methods and techniques from rehabilitation protocols, we also use physical therapies and tools such as ultrasound therapy, TECAR therapy, dry needling, paraffin therapy, and heat or cold applications.
Read our in-depth article on hand surgery.
Rheumatology
Osteoarthritis is an aging process that affects the joints, leading to degeneration and premature wear of the articular cartilage.
It can affect all joints but most commonly appears in the fingers, knees, and hips.
Occupational therapy focuses on maintaining proper mobility of the finger joints to ensure adequate nutrient supply, strengthening the muscles around the joints to improve stability, and relieving pain through massages and anti-inflammatory applications.
Joint economy refers to the set of strategies that allow activities to be performed with the least possible effort, using the joints correctly and thus avoiding overload or improper stress on the musculoskeletal structures.
By adopting a different way of working, based on simple yet essential adjustments, pain can be reduced and, in some cases, prevented.
Pediatrics: Occupational therapy for children
Occupational therapy is essential for children and adolescents to acquire and/or improve independence in daily life activities, enhance sensory-motor skills (bilateral and bimanual coordination, balance, gross and fine motor skills, and graphomotor abilities).
It is also valuable for stimulating and developing sensory integration and social skills. This leads to the acquisition of competencies that increase participation in activities and foster the development of the ability to act.
To this end, our center in Lugano (Ticino) provides patients with a sensory integration room specifically designed for children.
Areas of intervention include:
• DCD (developmental coordination disorder);
• SLD (specific learning disorders);
• sensory processing disorders;
• ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder);
• behavioral disorders;
• autism spectrum disorders;
• CP (cerebral palsy);
• genetic syndromes.
Dry Needling
Dry Needling is a treatment for trigger points, areas that generate referred pain, performed using sterile, single-use needles. This targeted approach stimulates oxygenation of contracted muscle fibers, reduces inflammation, improves blood flow, and relieves local tension.
Dry Needling is a safe treatment method based on professional training. Specific guidelines ensure safe and effective practice: for this reason, all possible contraindications must be ruled out before treating patients with this technique.
In addition, it is always performed under proper hygienic conditions, with the treated area carefully disinfected.
What Our Patients Say
Patient Reviews
I had an extremely positive experience with the occupational therapy and physiotherapy center. The staff is highly qualified and attentive, creating a welcoming and motivating environment. My rehabilitation was customized to my specific needs, making the journey very effective.
Thanks to their holistic approach and dedication, I achieved goals I once thought impossible. I strongly recommend this center to anyone looking for professional rehabilitation support!
I can only express my highest appreciation for the Polispecialistico Paradiso Occupational Therapy Studio in Lugano. Costanza is a highly qualified professional, able to build a trusting relationship with patients, which is essential for successful therapy. Thanks to her professionalism and dedication, my son has improved both motor and cognitive skills, and I can see him becoming more confident in daily activities. I highly recommend this center to anyone seeking top-quality occupational therapy!
Looking for an occupational therapy program in Ticino?
Turn to the professionals at Polispecialistico Paradiso in Lugano. Contact us today and discover how we can help you.
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Partnerships and accreditations
We are accredited by health funds, private, social, and supplementary insurance providers, also for services such as Pilates Reformer and therapeutic massage.