Occupational therapy

Occupational therapy (OT) is a healthcare profession. Its goal is help clients participate in important daily activities (called occupations)^[1]. Some OT clients receive occupational therapy to help them recover or adapt to injuries or medical events (like strokes).^[2] Others have chronic pain, physical disabilities, developmental disabilities, or other chronic conditions (like multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease).^[2][3]

Occupational therapists help clients by teaching, educating, and supporting participation in daily activities. For example, an OT might teach a client new ways to do daily tasks; teach how to use assistive technology; or show stretching and strengthening exercises.^[1]

Occupational therapists are licensed, university-educated healthcare providers. They receive training about mental health as well as physical performance. They often work closely with professionals in physical therapy, speech–language pathology, audiology, nursing, nutrition, social work, psychology, medicine, and assistive technology.

The word "occupation" is often used to describe a person's job. However, in this case, it means the daily activities that a person does to occupy their time.

The Cleveland Clinic explains:^[2]

Occupational therapy helps people live as [independently] as possible. The occupation in occupational therapy doesn’t necessarily mean your ability to work or do your job — although some people do use occupational therapy to help them get back to work after an injury. Occupation is a general term providers use to mean any of the daily tasks you do.

The World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) defines occupational therapy as

a client-centred health profession concerned with promoting health and wellbeing through occupation. The primary goal of occupational therapy is to enable people to participate in the activities of everyday life. Occupational therapists achieve this outcome by working with people and communities to enhance their ability to engage in the occupations they want to, need to, or are expected to do, or by modifying the occupation or the environment to better support their occupational engagement.

Physical therapists use assessment, intervention, consultation, and coaching to develop, recover, or maintain meaningful occupations of individuals, groups, or communities.

Occupational therapy is an independent health profession sometimes categorized as an allied health profession. It consists of occupational therapists (OTs) and occupational therapy assistants (OTAs).

OTs and OTAs have different roles. OTs are licensed to complete occupational therapy evaluations. OTAs are not. However, both OTs and OTAs work with people who want to improve their ability to participate in meaningful occupations.

Common OT methods include:^[1]

• Teaching new ways to perform daily tasks
• Demonstrating how to use assistive technology
• Educating caregivers on how to help
• Showing strengthening and stretching exercises
• Creating daily routines that promote independence
• Supporting individuals across the age spectrum who are experiencing physical and cognitive changes

More specifically, an occupational therapist might:

• Help children with disabilities to participate in meaningful activities at home, school, and within the community (independent mobility is often a central concern)
• Assess ergonomics and assistive seating options to maximize a person's ability to function independently, while minimizing the risk of pressure injury
• Explore vocational activities with clients

In 1915, Slagle worked at the first occupational therapy training program, the Henry B. Favill School of Occupations, at Hull House in Chicago.

British-Canadian teacher and architect Thomas B. Kidner was appointed vocational secretary of the Canadian Military Hospitals Commission in January 1916. He was given the duty of preparing soldiers returning from World War I to return to their former vocational duties (or retraining soldiers no longer able to perform their previous duties).

He developed a program that engaged soldiers recovering from wartime injuries or tuberculosis in occupations even while they were still bedridden. Once the soldiers were sufficiently recovered they would work in a curative workshop and eventually progress to an industrial workshop before being placed in an appropriate work setting. He used occupations (daily activities) as a medium for manual training and helping injured individuals to return to productive duties such as work.^{[4][5][6][7][8]}

Occupational therapists are university-educated professionals and must pass a licensing exam to practice. Currently, entry level occupational therapists must have a master's degree while certified occupational therapy assistants require a two-year associate degree to practice in the United States. Individuals must pass a national board certification and apply for a state license in most states.