Occupational Therapy
We often hear the word involved in cases where there is a need for help in performing one’s daily activities. So, what is an occupational therapy?
According to OT Plan, “Occupational Therapy", often abbreviated as "OT", is an applied science and health profession that provides skilled treatment to help individuals achieve and maintain independence in all facets of their lives. OT gives people the "skills for the job of living necessary for independent and satisfying lives.” They also added, “The primary goal of occupational therapy is to enable people to participate in the activities of everyday life.”
People, who are involved in neurological disorders which have affected nerves that are particularly assigned to other parts of the body such as hands, joints, and other extremities, often find it difficult to perform their daily job functions which require the use of the mentioned vital body parts. In cases where brain injury has progressed to paralysis, doing even a simple task can quite be a burden.
In some cases among children, cognitive impairments and learning disabilities are increasingly observable. Some parents fail to recognize that either or both of the two mentioned are the reasons behind their child’s actions which is noted to be different from the rest of the children.
Minimal worries can be noted among those who persevere to conquer their conditions and hold on to their motivations to move on in life. However, there are those who need to have a specific type of therapy in which they will be guided on how they can manage to carry on the daily task bit by bit despite of their current condition.
This is the aim of occupational therapy, to not allow the affected individual to deteriorate just because his movement became limited due to some specific incidents or events.
According to NHS, “Occupational therapists work with people of all ages and can look at all aspects of daily life, from the home to the school or workplace.”
Kids Health also quoted in their article, “in addition to dealing with on someone's physical well-being, OT practitioners address psychological, social, and environmental factors that can affect functioning in different ways.”
This means that occupational therapy also utilizes a holistic approach in dealing with the clients which promotes a huge and better impact as all aspects of the individual is being cared for. This is true as performing one’s task involves coordination with all human aspects and not merely concentrating on one.
