Do you have a pain-inducing injury or medical condition that is limiting your everyday activities and stopping you from doing the things you enjoy? Occupational therapy can help you overcome these obstacles, increase your performance, and reduce your pain symptoms. OT can assist people of all ages and backgrounds in becoming more self-sufficient and comfortable.
The American Occupational Therapy Association defines occupational therapy as “the only profession that helps people across the lifespan to do the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of daily activities (occupations). Occupational therapy practitioners enable people of all ages to live life to its fullest by helping them promote health, and prevent—or live better with—injury, illness, or disability.”
Would you like to learn more about how occupational therapy can help you regain control of your life and improve performance? If so, contact Park Rehab in Reynoldsburg today to request an appointment.
What is occupational therapy?
One example of how an OT can improve a patient’s daily function is through adaptations. For instance, if a patient suffers a stroke, OT can help. The long-term goal of any stroke rehabilitation plan is to improve physical function. Sometimes, a patient may have to relearn basic skills, such as walking, dressing, writing, speaking, or eating.
An occupational therapist can help them make adjustments and adaptations to their routines to make their lives easier. This unique approach makes occupational therapy a vital part of health care.
At Park Rehab, our advanced methods and modalities are equipped to help you relearn, recover, and reclaim your life after a stroke. Some of the most common treatment techniques we use are explained by ChoosePT as being particularly successful in stroke rehabilitation:
- Positioning: Positioning education and techniques can help with transfers, such as sitting to standing or sitting to lying down. It reduces muscle pain, spasms, slowness, and stiffness, by assisting the patient in relearning the proper positioning of their body.
- Motor imagery and mental practice: This helps the patient regain function in their arms, hands, feet, and legs by “rehearsing” the action aloud before performing it. This helps rebuild the responses between the brain and the body.
Occupational therapy is also widespread for patients recovering from surgery, healing from injuries, or living with conditions that affect their quality of life.
For example, an occupational therapist will collaborate with you to devise special techniques to help you improve vital skills like grooming, (brushing teeth, combing hair) and eating (properly using utensils and napkins).
They can also assist with dressing, play/social skills, fine motor skills, and visual processing skills.
Some other conditions/situations where an OT’s guidance and care can be beneficial are as follows:
- Recovery after burns/scar management
- Neurological conditions
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Down’s syndrome
- Cerebral palsy
- Asperger’s syndrome
- Tendinitis
- Multiple sclerosis
- Parkinson’s disease
- Orthopedic conditions
What should I expect with occupational therapy in Reynoldsburg?
Occupational therapy may be a good alternative for you if you're having trouble showering, getting out of bed, opening doors, or getting dressed.
Park Rehab’s occupational therapy plans include:
- An individual assessment to determine conditions, pain points, abilities, and patient goals.
- Customized activities focused on the improvement of daily tasks and activities.
- A final evaluation to determine if the patient met their goals and to make changes to the plan/create another treatment plan of action if necessary.
Occupational therapy and physical therapy are complementary therapies that can be included in treatment plans to help patients of all types regain mobility, range of motion, and independence in their daily lives.
OT is about more than just treating and preventing injuries. Regardless of your condition, therapeutic intervention considers all of your functional demands and conducts activities to promote psychological well-being. We're here to make your life easier while equipping you with the skills you'll need to live independently.
Improve your quality of life with OT at Park Rehab
If you want to improve your quality of life and ability to do the things you love, schedule an appointment with Park Rehab today to learn more about the benefits of occupational therapy and how it can change your world for the better.
