Overview
Occupational therapy is treatment to help people live as independently as
possible.
Occupational therapists work with people of all ages
who, because of illness, injury, developmental delays, or psychological
problems, need assistance in learning skills to help them lead independent,
productive, and satisfying lives. Occupational therapists use work, self-care,
and recreational activities to increase independent function.
Occupational therapy can include:
- Assistance and training in performing daily
activities. Depending on your needs, these could be:
- Personal care activities. Two examples are dressing
and eating.
- Home skills. Some examples are housekeeping, gardening, and
cooking.
- Personal management skills. Two examples are balancing a checkbook
and keeping a schedule.
- Skills important in driving a car or other
motor vehicle. Occupational therapy may be involved in the vision, thinking,
and judgment skills needed for driving, as well as in finding out whether
special adaptations such as hand brakes are needed.
- Physical exercises, to increase good posture and
joint motion as well as overall strength and
flexibility.
- Instruction in protecting your joints and conserving
your energy.
- Evaluation of your daily living needs and assessment
of your home and work environments, with recommendations for changes in those
environments that will help you continue your
activities.
- Assessment and training in the use of
assistive devices. Examples are special key-holders for
people who have stiff hands, computer-aided adaptive equipment, and
wheelchairs.
- Fitting splints or braces.
- Guidance for
family members and caregivers.
Examples of the many different conditions and situations in
which occupational therapy can help include:
- Mental and physical impairments a person has
had since birth.
- Recovery and return to work after a work-related
injury.
- Sudden serious health conditions such as a stroke, heart
attack, brain injury, or amputation.
- Chronic (ongoing) conditions,
such as arthritis, multiple sclerosis, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD).
- Learning disabilities or developmental
disabilities.
- Mental health or behavioral issues such as
Alzheimer's disease, post-traumatic stress, substance abuse, and eating
disorders.
Other Places To Get Help
Organizations
| American Occupational Therapy
Association |
| 4720 Montgomery Lane, P.O. Box 31220 |
| Bethesda, MD 20824-1220 |
| Phone: | (301) 652-2682 |
| Fax: | (301) 652-7711 |
| TDD: | 1-800-377-8555 |
| Web Address: | http://www.aota.org |
| |
The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) is the
nationally recognized professional association of approximately 35,000
occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, and students of
occupational therapy. AOTA's mission is to advance the quality, availability, use,
and support of occupational therapy through standard-setting, advocacy,
education, and research on behalf of its members and the public. |
|
| KidsHealth for Parents, Children, and
Teens |
| 10140 Centurion Parkway North |
| Jacksonville, FL 32256 |
| Phone: | (904) 697-4100 |
| Fax: | (904) 697-4220 |
| Web Address: | www.kidshealth.org |
| |
This website is sponsored by the Nemours Foundation. It
has a wide range of information about children's health, from allergies and
diseases to normal growth and development (birth to adolescence). This website
offers separate areas for kids, teens, and parents, each providing
age-appropriate information that the child or parent can understand. You can
sign up to get weekly emails about your area of interest. |
|
References
Other Works Consulted
- U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics
(2008-2009). Occupational therapists. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Available online:
http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos078.htm.
Credits
| By | Healthwise Staff |
|---|
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine |
|---|
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | David A. Fleckenstein, MPT - Physical Therapy |
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| Last Revised | March 18, 2011 |
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