Recovering from an injury or learning to live with a physical disability or limitation can be challenging. Physical therapy (PT) and occupational therapy (OT) can help patients regain strength or mobility, relearn skills, or find new ways of performing everyday tasks.
Contact Us
South Bay Location
South Bay Rehabilitation Clinic 617.638.7869
Monday-Thursday 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM, Friday 7:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Hyde Park Location
BMC Rehabilitation Services - Hyde Park 617.638.0330
Monday-Thursday 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM, Friday 7:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Winthrop Location
Winthrop Neighborhood Health Building 617.638.0300
Monday-Thursday 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM, Friday 7:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Specialty Clinics
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy (PT) is a healthcare specialty used to evaluate, diagnose, and treat physical problems or disorders of the human body. The goal of PT is for people to be able to go about their normal daily activities as they did before an injury or surgery. Physical Therapists use exercise, manual skills, and functional training to help patients return to their prior level of activity.
Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy helps patients recover from injuries, trauma, and neurological or musculoskeletal disorders to regain the skills needed to resume the highest level of function for daily living and tasks.
GenderCare Center
Orthopedic Surgery
Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Center
Pediatrics - Pain Clinic
Rheumatology
The Department of Rheumatology provides a full range of services - including joint injections, musculoskeletal ultrasound, and infusion therapies – for arthritis and systemic rheumatic autoimmune diseases, including scleroderma, lupus, inflammatory arthritis, spondyloarthritis, osteoarthritis, and gout.
Stroke and Cerebrovascular Center
Programs and Services
Rehabilitation, Orthopedics, & Imaging at South Bay
Conditions We Treat
- Abdominal Pain and Pelvic Floor Disorders
- Balance Disorders
- Bone and Joint Replacement
- Bone Fracture
- Concussion
- De Quervain's Tendonitis
- Dyspareunia
- Interstitial Cystitis (IC)
- Lymphedema
- Overactive Bladder Disorder (OAB)
- Parkinson's Disease
- Pelvic Floor Weakness
- Pelvic Organ Prolapse
- Pelvic Pain
- Spinal Fractures
- Walking Abnormalities (Gait Abnormalities)
Treatments & Services
Each patient will experience a different treatment program designed especially for them. By working with the patient and their loved ones physical and/or occupational therapists can care for patients to provide the following therapies:
- Walking and balance retraining
- Wheelchair seating and medical equipment assessment
- Mobilization Techniques
- Return to Sport Retraining
- Physical Modalities
- Range of motion, strengthening, flexibility, and stabilization exercises
- Body weight supported treadmill training
- Neuromuscular re-education
- Functional electrical stimulation
- Splinting
- Functional mobility and transfer retraining
- Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) retraining
- Contracture management
- Vestibular rehabilitation
- Fall prevention
When a patient is referred to PT or OT, their first visit will be an evaluation. This means the therapist will ask about the patient’s physical history, examine the area of the body that needs therapy, and make a recommendation for treatment. Patients will be asked to come in once a week or more frequently, depending on their care plan.
Inpatient Therapy
Physical and occupational therapists work with patients while they are in the hospital to help them regain independence and function. They can also help in making sure the patient goes to a safe setting when they are ready to leave the hospital. This could be home, but could also be to a non-hospital setting that helps with physical therapy
Physical Therapy
PTs may evaluate range of motion, strength, coordination, balance and cognition as they relate to functional mobility, including bed mobility, transfers, ambulation, wheelchair mobility and stairs.
Occupational Therapy
OTs may evaluate range of motion, strength, coordination, balance, and cognition as they relate to activities of daily living (ADLs) including bathing, dressing, toileting, and self-feeding.
Our Team
The Physical and Occupational Therapy Team
Karen Mattie, PT, DPT, MS
Senior Director, Clinical Operations
Kara Schworm, PT, DPT, CCS
Director, Rehabilitative Services
Jeffrey Merritt
Operations Manager, Rehabilitative Services
Kathryn Ferrari, MSPT
Manager, Outpatient Rehabilitative Services, Boston Medical Center Campus
Mary Kate Miller, PT, DPT, OCS
Manager, Outpatient Rehabilitative Services, Hyde Park
Julie Murray, OTR/L
Manager, Inpatient Rehabilitative Services
James Sherman, PT, DPT
Manager, Outpatient Rehabilitative Services, Winthrop Neighborhood Health
Patient Resources
Department News
Boston Medical Center Opens Rehabilitation Clinic at South Bay for Comprehensive Patient Care
Boston Medical Center has opened a clinic at South Bay in Dorchester that will allow patients to access the latest rehabilitation care, while providing convenient access to orthopedics and radiology…
Residency and Fellowship Information
Physical and Occupational Therapy Education & Training for Students
Clinical affiliations with accredited PT, PT, and OT programs:
Physical Therapy
- Boston University
- Drexel University
- Ithaca University
- MGH – IHP
- Northeastern University
- Quinnipiac
- Simmons
- Springfield College
- University of Indianapolis
- UMass – Lowell
- University of Rhode Island
Occupational Therapy
- Boston University
- MGH-IHP
- Springfield College
- Tufts
- UNH
- University of Indianapolis
Physical Therapy Assistant
- Baystate College
- University of Indianapolis