Occupational Therapy: Helping You Live Life to the Fullest

For individuals living with disabilities, pain, injuries, or medical conditions, daily activities can often be challenging. These activities may include essential tasks of daily living (ADLs) such as eating, bathing, and dressing, as well as skills required for school and work, like writing or using tools. Occupational therapy (OT) can assist individuals in managing or overcoming these challenges, enabling them to successfully resume their daily activities.

What is OT? 

Occupational therapy, despite its name, is not solely focused on work-related activities. Instead, "occupations" refer to the everyday activities individuals, families, and communities engage in to fill their time and provide meaning and purpose to their lives. These occupations encompass tasks that people need to do, want to do, and are expected to do.

Occupational therapy is an evidence-based approach that addresses issues related to movement, coordination, cognition, and sensory processing that may impact a person’s ability to perform daily tasks. This type of therapy can benefit individuals of all ages.

Occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants evaluate an individual's physical, mental, emotional, or social challenges to create personalized strategies for success. These strategies may include developing alternative methods for completing routine tasks, modifying the individual's environment to reduce task difficulty, or providing assistive devices to make activities safer and more manageable.

Examples of occupational therapy practices

Occupational therapists use a variety of techniques and approaches to assist patients in managing activities of daily living (ADLs), instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), health management, rest and sleep, education, work, play and leisure, and social participation, including but not limited to:

• Task modification - This approach emphasizes adapting how patients perform tasks to make them more manageable, reduce strain, and enhance efficiency. Techniques for energy conservation can also help minimize fatigue during task performance.
• Adaptive and assistive technology - Occupational therapists may suggest assistive equipment and technology to simplify tasks for patients. This can include specialized eating utensils, communication devices, walkers, or wheelchairs.
• Cognitive aids - Individuals with cognitive impairments may require assistance with remembering appointments or tasks, locating items in their homes, and managing their time effectively. An occupational therapist can offer guidance on using memory aids, implementing time management techniques, and establishing routines, all of which can help address these challenges.
• Exercises - For individuals who have experienced injuries or have difficulty with strength, range of motion, manual dexterity, or balance, an occupational therapist (OT) can create a personalized exercise plan to help improve functional abilities. These exercises will be tailored to enhance the physical capabilities required for daily activities, such as preparing meals, using tools, or carrying items.

Who can occupational therapy help?

Occupational therapy (OT) may be needed for a variety of conditions, spanning from acute injuries to chronic illnesses. Examples include:

• Stroke patients - People who have suffered a stroke may experience partial paralysis, balance issues, or cognitive difficulties. These challenges can result in a decreased ability to live independently. An occupational therapist (OT) can evaluate the person's physical abilities, living environment, and daily activities to develop an appropriate treatment plan.
• Children with physical and developmental disabilities - Disabilities can restrict a child's movement and fine motor skills, leading to challenges both at home and in school. Occupational therapists collaborate with the child, their parents, and educators to identify specific needs. They can then suggest and provide training for adapted techniques and assistive devices to support the child’s development.
• Individuals with cognitive limitations - Individuals with dementia often have difficulty remembering the locations of items in their homes and managing everyday tasks. A therapist may help by labeling cabinets and drawers to reduce frustration and confusion. They can also establish routines, provide reminders, and develop strategies to support communication and improve memory.
• Orthopedic conditions/upper extremity - Orthopedic upper extremity diagnoses encompass a variety of conditions, including fractures, tendon injuries (such as tennis elbow and De Quervain's), nerve compressions (like carpal tunnel syndrome and cubital tunnel syndrome), arthritis, and post-surgical recovery from procedures such as joint replacements or tendon repairs. Occupational therapy is essential in rehabilitation, focusing on enhancing strength, increasing range of motion, and improving the functional use of the affected limb.
• Lymphedema/cancer rehabilitation - Lymphedema and cancer rehabilitation aim to manage swelling, pain, and functional limitations that arise from cancer treatments, such as surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Lymphedema can affect the arms or legs, leading to discomfort, reduced mobility, and an increased risk of infection. Occupational therapy plays a vital role in cancer rehabilitation by offering specialized interventions. These include manual lymphatic drainage, compression therapy, tailored exercise programs, skin care education, and adaptive strategies to enhance daily functioning.
• Functional Capacity Evaluations/Work Conditioning - Functional capacity evaluations (FCEs) are essential components of occupational rehabilitation. These evaluations assess an individual's ability to perform work-related tasks by measuring physical strength, mobility, and endurance. FCEs help determine whether a person is ready to return to work or if job modifications are necessary. Work conditioning is a structured program that improves strength, endurance, flexibility, and overall physical capacity to meet job demands and help the individual return to work safely.

Occupational therapy can help individuals with various conditions, including spinal injuries, cancer, brain injuries, mental health issues, vision impairments, chronic pain and fatigue, and amputations.

Why consider occupational therapy?

If injury, disease, disability, or cognitive limitations are keeping you from performing your daily activities, occupational therapy may be able to help you get back to doing the things you love. To learn more about treatment options, visit myrhc.net/rehabilitation or contact Riverside Healthcare Rehabilitation and Therapy at (815) 935-7496 or (815) 802-7090.