What is Occupational Therapy?
Although you may have heard of Occupational Therapy, some people are not entirely sure what it involves. We'll introduce here just what OT is, who benefits from it, and how this discipline got started. One commonly confused aspect is that occupational therapy does not refer to occupation as in a job. Occupation refers to the meaningful activities a person does throughout their life. What is meaningful to one person will be different than another, which is why OT is based on individualized treatment and care.
To learn some interesting quick facts about OT, check out the following highlights at-a-glance:
Occupation-Based Intervention is defined as: a client-centered intervention in which the occupational therapy practitioner and the client collaboratively select and design activities that have specific relevance of meaning to the client and support the client’s interests, needs, health, and participation in daily life. Occupational Therapy addresses the tasks that are most significant to a person and take a pivotal role in addressing the most basic self-care tasks: dressing, bathing, grooming & hygiene, self-feeding, etc.
Occupational therapy is based on the principle that “participation in occupation contributes to good health.” Helping individuals maximize their engagement in meaningful activities positively impacts their overall health and well-being. This is the cornerstone of occupational therapy; living life to the fullest.
Occupations take place within the individual’s environments, the activities of self-care, leisure time (hobbies/interests), time management, home management, money management, meal-preparation, and other tasks are vital in maintaining an individual's independence.
The client's natural environment is best for promotion of occupational engagement since it includes:
Familiar materials and environmental layout
Freedom of choice for hobbies and leisure activities
Most accessible and realistic family members/ caregivers present
Safe and comfortable atmosphere
Scheduling that avoids times of fatigue, hunger or stress. These elements appear to facilitate engagement
This is the cornerstone to the mission behind Tilton’s Therapy providing therapy in the natural setting; to best promote functional outcomes in clients by maximizing on their natural motivation and environment.
Did you know, occupational therapy practitioners work with people of all ages?! The OT scope of practice ranges from NICU to geriatrics and everyone in between!
OT is not physical therapy - OT helps to treat a wide variety of things, developmental, physical, rehabilitative, social, or emotional.
Various workplaces use OT: schools, hospitals, homes, skilled nursing facilities, prisons, substance abuse treatment facilities, doctor’s offices, rehab facilities, daycares, acute care, academia, and neonatal intensive care.
Occupational therapy techniques have been used for centuries - Greek physicians used OT techniques for the treatment of mental illness as early as 100 B.C.
Wounded soldiers returning from World War I and World War II relied heavily on occupational therapy to rehabilitate, which led to standardize training, instruction and certifications for OT professionals.
The American Occupational Therapy Association celebrated their 100 year anniversary in 2017.
WHO BENEFITS FROM OT?
From that fact sheet, you can gather that many different people and varied industries benefit from occupational therapy. This is a field of healthcare that can positively influence individuals of all ages. OT plays a vital role in ensuring the appropriate developmental milestones are met during childhood to best prepare for functional independence. As young adults, there are substantial demands when transitioning into higher degrees of self-reliance including vocational skills to obtain and maintain a job for gainful employment, home management skills, meal-preparation, laundry, etc. Maintaining occupational balance is important to overall wellness; therefore, OT utilizes a client's interest to facilitate engagement in therapeutic activities to increase leisure time. As we age, certain physiological systems can be negatively impacted by disease or injury; OT can facilitate rehabilitation for neuromuscular re-education, compensatory strategies to maximize independence during self-care and home management skills, and caregiver training so that our clients are getting what they need by the people who love them most. Older adults can participate in therapeutic exercises, balance activities, fall prevention techniques, energy conservation strategies and activity modifications to maintain engagement in important occupations for as long as possible.
So in short- EVERYONE can benefit from OT.
HISTORY OF OT
Occupational therapy has been around since the Greeks as early as 100BC. As a method of treating different mental illnesses with care and compassion. Using things like aromatherapy (baths), massage, conversation, exercise, and similar methods were used to help treat different mental issues. The American Occupational Therapy Association was formed in 1917, with the profession growing immensely over time with the educational guidelines forming in the 1930s. You can learn more about the AOTA and about some of the latest news in OT. Occupational therapists in the US require certification and education at a Master’s degree level. There is also the opportunity for OTs to get a doctoral degree as well.
If you are interested in learning more about how OT could help you or someone in your family, get started with Tilton’s Therapy today. Start with a question if you aren’t sure, or fill out the patient registration form to take the first step.
Learn more about our therapists and some helpful resources you can read or participate in to aid in your and your family's wellness.
Visit our pediatrics division at Tilton’s Therapy for Tots
