top of page

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

2.png

Occupational therapy is a discipline that aims to promote health by enabling people to perform meaningful and purposeful activities. Occupational therapists help individuals with mental, physical, developmental, emotional, and environmental barriers that limit engagement and independence with meaningful occupations in three areas: self-care, productivity, and leisure.

Self-care means you can get dressed, bathe, and look after your hygiene. Occupational therapy can raise your productivity, allowing you to go to work and school and participate in the community. You will also be able to participate in sports, tend to the garden and partake in social activities for leisure.

The ultimate goal of occupational therapy is to help clients have independent, productive, and satisfying lives by targeting any barriers in the areas mentioned above of their lives.

WHAT TO EXPECT ON YOUR FIRST VISIT

Your first visit with an occupational therapist will involve an initial assessment and interview. Your OT will ask questions about the nature of your symptoms, previous medical history, and other relevant health information. In addition, the occupational therapist may complete a physical examination to gain more insight into your physical status, a cognitive assessment to assess your cognitive function, and discuss your psychosocial and environmental barriers/supports that may impact your rehabilitation. Lastly, during your first visit, your OT will learn more about your occupations, such as your job and hobbies that bring meaning to your life and guide you through establishing your personal goals related to your rehabilitation for your recovery.

Based on this initial assessment and your personal goals, you and your occupational therapist will develop an appropriate care plan for you, which may involve recommendations to other specialists or therapists, such as physiotherapists, speech-language pathologists, psychologists, and many more.

  • Parkinson’s disease

  • Multiple sclerosis

  • Heart and liver transplantation

  • Tissue Diseases

  • Joint replacement

  • Catastrophic Injuries

  • Work injuries

  • Motor Vehicle Accidents

  • Fractures and Other Musculoskeletal Injuries

CONDITIONS TREATED

  • Acquired Brain Injury

  • Spinal Cord Injury

  • Amputation

  • Burns

  • Stroke

  • Arthritis

  • Cancer

  • Cerebral palsy

  • Muscular dystrophy

  • Failure to thrive

  • Heart disease

TECHNIQUES USED

  • Wheelchairs, Walkers, Canes, Seating Aids, Scooters An occupational therapist measures the client for mobile devices and seating and prescribes them as necessary.

  • Movement Therapy The Brunstrom approach to treating hemiplegia is based on the use of motor patterns available to the patient during recovery. 

  • The Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) approach 

  • PNF promotes the neuromuscular mechanism’s response through proprioceptors’ stimulation to treat neurological disorders.

  • Prosthesis Occupational therapy helps develop practical use, tolerance, and training of prosthetic devices, including psychological adjustment to prosthetics.

  • Mindfulness Meditation is a therapy for clients who experience increased stress due to accidents or chronic pain.

  • Education regarding sleep hygiene, falls prevention strategies and home safety, energy conservation, pacing, pain management strategies, cognitive strategies, exercise, nutrition, safe use of assistive devices, psychotherapy techniques, etc.

bottom of page