What is Occupational Therapy? A Brief Introduction
Over 126,000 occupational therapists currently work in the United States.
Despite that impressive figure, though, many people in the general population still know little to nothing about the role! Unlike things like physiotherapy or nursing, it remains shrouded in mystery.
Which is bad news for anyone who could benefit from this holistic form of medical support!
We thought we’d attempt to remedy the situation. So, without further ado, what is occupational therapy and how does it help? Keep reading to find out.
What Is Occupational Therapy?
Contrary to what the name might suggest, occupational therapists have nothing to do with employment or helping people get a job! They’re actually health professionals who help patients recover from injuries/illnesses and return to daily life. The “occupation” in their title refers to any task that could occupy someone’s time.
Sometimes known simply as “OT”, occupational therapy’s about overcoming health challenges so you can participate in the areas of life that mean most to you. For example, if you love cooking, your OT might work with you to help you cook dinner for friends and family again. In practice, this could involve everything from installing modern technology in your home to more hands-on support.
Indeed, the actual OT intervention(s) someone receives varies depending on their particular needs. As a result, the day-to-day realities of OT can be different for everyone. What doesn’t change is the outcome:
Newfound skills, strategies, and confidence to perform activities that have become difficult following a disability, injury, or illness.
How and Who Do Occupational Therapists Help?
In short, anyone and everyone! It doesn’t matter whether you’re young or old, struggling to cope with life in a wheelchair, or recovering from a stroke. Anybody with a physical, mental, or behavioral issue of one sort or another could, in theory, benefit from seeing an OT (more on how coming up).
On the subject of benefits, there are many other advantages of occupational therapy worth discussing. First and foremost is that it helps people increase independence! They’re no longer reliant on others and can take care of themselves again, handling life’s basic tasks without needing assistance from others.
A key reason for this newfound independence is that patients gain strength and endurance from working with an OT as well. The result? Life’s basic tasks (such as bathing and getting dressed) that could prove too hard at the beginning of therapy become much easier over time.
Now You Know All About Occupational Therapy
There’s no shortage of occupational therapists working in hospitals, clinics, and private practices in America these days. Unfortunately, not many people know much about the discipline, what is occupational therapy, or who it helps!
With any luck, the insights in this article have cleared things up. Keep them in mind and you should be one step closer to understanding the invaluable role these healthcare professionals perform. Want to learn more about this topic and others like it?
Browse the Health and Fitness section of our website now.
