Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsConditions That Need OTWhat Therapists DoWhere Therapists WorkTraining
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Conditions That Need OT
What Therapists Do
Where Therapists Work
Training
Occupational therapyhelps patients to do daily activities or “occupations.” Those activities include cooking, bathing, shopping, eating, getting dressed, and caring for loved ones.
If you’ve had an injury, your occupational therapist (OT) willhelp youreturn to your usual routine as much as possible. If you have a disability, they will teach you the skills you’ll need to live independently.
Occupational therapists may work with you in your home, your workplace, a facility, or in the community to help you do daily activities safely.
Sarah Lyon
You might benefit from occupational therapy if you have trouble doing important tasks at home, work, or school.Some conditions that might need occupational therapy include:
You also may need occupational therapy for injuries. For example, if your hand was severely burned, an occupational therapist could help you to learn to do activities like writing and cooking.
RecapOccupational therapy helps patients who face challenges with day-to-day activities. It can help patients with illnesses, disabilities, and injuries to become more independent.
Recap
Occupational therapy helps patients who face challenges with day-to-day activities. It can help patients with illnesses, disabilities, and injuries to become more independent.
What Occupational Therapists Do
Occupational therapists help you to regain the ability to do tasks for yourself. They’ll work with you to develop a plan based on your condition, your environment, and the activities you want to do.
Learn About You
Occupational therapy begins with listening to the patient’s needs. Your occupational therapist will ask you about your home environment, your family and friends, and important activities. They will review your medical record if available. They’ll talk with you about how your health condition impacts your day-to-day life.
Usually, the OT will interview you as part of aformal evaluationat the beginning of your first session. But your OT will be listening to your needs and finding ways to help throughout your time together.
Help You Heal
Occupational therapists can help you through the healing process, whether it’s from an injury or surgery. As your health improves, it becomes easier to return to your daily activities.
For example, if your hand is burned, your occupational therapist might teach you exercises for strength and flexibility. They can also make a specialized splint to protect your hand while it heals.
Many occupational therapists will go on to specialize in different treatment areas, which can include:
Adding a specialty involves earning a certificate through theAmerican Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), or another certificate-granting organization.
RecapYour occupational therapist will talk with you about your goals to develop a treatment plan. Treatment may include exercises for mobility or using protective devices like splints.
Your occupational therapist will talk with you about your goals to develop a treatment plan. Treatment may include exercises for mobility or using protective devices like splints.
Modify Activities
If you have a disability or a chronic disease, you may be looking for ways to perform important tasks throughout the day. Your occupational therapist can help you modify tasks to make them easier.
A basic example of activity modification would be using a wheelchair to help you get from place to place. Another example could be showing you how to safely get in and out of the car.
Therapists can specialize in different areas of activity modification, including:
Look at Your Environment
Your OT will observe you doing activities in your environment, whether that’s at home, work, a facility, or school. They may suggest changes to help make it safer and easier to get around. Examples include:
RecapOccupational therapists help you modify activities so you can handle them yourself. They evaluate your environment and help make it safer and easier to navigate.
Occupational therapists help you modify activities so you can handle them yourself. They evaluate your environment and help make it safer and easier to navigate.
Where Occupational Therapists Work
Occupational therapists work with people of all ages in all types of settings.
For example, an OT may work in the hospital with premature babies who need help with feeding and being held.
You may meet an OT working with a hospice patient in a nursing home. The therapist may ask about activities that are most important to them in their final days.
The most common work settings for occupational therapists are:
Training and Certification
Summary
Occupational therapy can help people of all ages with illnesses, injuries, and disabilities. Working in a variety of settings, occupational therapists are trained to help you manage your condition. They also recommend strategies to make tasks easier and your environment safer.
A Word From Verywell
Talk with your doctor if you feel you could benefit from occupational therapy. As a patient, you’ll have an important role in your therapy plan. You and your OT will work with your health care team to meet your goals for daily living.
3 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.World Federation of Occupational Therapists.Definitions of occupational therapy from member organizations.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.Occupational outlook handbook: Occupational therapists.de Almeida PHTQ, Pontes TB, Matheus JPC, Muniz LF, da Mota LMH.Occupational therapy in rheumatoid arthritis: What rheumatologists need to know?Revista Brasileira de Reumatologia (English Edition). 2015;55(3):272-280. doi:10.1016/j.rbre.2014.07.008
3 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.World Federation of Occupational Therapists.Definitions of occupational therapy from member organizations.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.Occupational outlook handbook: Occupational therapists.de Almeida PHTQ, Pontes TB, Matheus JPC, Muniz LF, da Mota LMH.Occupational therapy in rheumatoid arthritis: What rheumatologists need to know?Revista Brasileira de Reumatologia (English Edition). 2015;55(3):272-280. doi:10.1016/j.rbre.2014.07.008
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
World Federation of Occupational Therapists.Definitions of occupational therapy from member organizations.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.Occupational outlook handbook: Occupational therapists.de Almeida PHTQ, Pontes TB, Matheus JPC, Muniz LF, da Mota LMH.Occupational therapy in rheumatoid arthritis: What rheumatologists need to know?Revista Brasileira de Reumatologia (English Edition). 2015;55(3):272-280. doi:10.1016/j.rbre.2014.07.008
World Federation of Occupational Therapists.Definitions of occupational therapy from member organizations.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.Occupational outlook handbook: Occupational therapists.
de Almeida PHTQ, Pontes TB, Matheus JPC, Muniz LF, da Mota LMH.Occupational therapy in rheumatoid arthritis: What rheumatologists need to know?Revista Brasileira de Reumatologia (English Edition). 2015;55(3):272-280. doi:10.1016/j.rbre.2014.07.008
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