By Sam Harrison, MSOT, LOTR
April is Occupational Therapy Month! If you have never heard of occupational therapy, you might think it is to help people get a job. However, that is not what occupational therapy is about. Occupational therapy is an allied-health care profession that works with individuals of all ages to help them complete daily living tasks to the fullest despite injuries, illnesses, and disabilities.
Founded in 1917, occupational therapy is an evidence-based, science-driven profession. Occupational therapy practitioners are experts at addressing occupations, or the everyday activities that people need to do, want to do, and are expected to do. Occupations include but are not limited to activities of daily living, self-care tasks, getting dressed, brushing your teeth, sweeping the floor, driving a car, sleeping, going to work, going to school, playing, leisure participation, and socialization. The term occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) refer to occupational therapists (OTs) and occupational therapy assistants (OTAs).
Who gets occupational therapy? People of all ages that have had an injury, illness, or disability. Here are a few examples. An adult that has Multiple Sclerosis may participate in occupational therapy to work on energy conservation techniques so they can continue gardening and hiking. A child that was born with cerebral palsy may work with occupational therapy to develop their handwriting skills. An older adult that had a stroke may work with occupational therapy and learn how to use a reacher or sock aide to get dressed again. After a hand injury, someone may work with occupational therapy to develop their coordination, strength, and reduce their pain so they can tie their shoes.
OTPs address the physical, emotional, social, psychological, and environmental factors that are affecting independence and satisfaction with occupations. OTPs create personalized strategies, environmental modifications, or task modifications to help people achieve their goals, function at the highest possible level, concentrate on what they find most important, maintain or regain their independence.
You might find occupational therapy in a school, outpatient clinic, in home health, nursing homes, hospitals, or in the community. OTPs work collaboratively with doctors, nurses, speech language pathologists, physical therapy practitioners, families, clients, and other healthcare professionals to create a complete plan of care.
