Occupational therapists help people of all ages who have physical, developmental, emotional, or intellectual disabilities to participate in the things they want and need to do through therapy. OTs often treat conditions like cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, and Down syndrome. In this blog post, we will discuss 10 conditions that occupational therapists commonly treat. Keep reading for more information!
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Who Are Occupational Therapists?
Occupational therapists are trained healthcare professionals who help people of all ages live life to the fullest. They work with people who have physical, mental, or developmental disabilities. These are professionals who are passionate about helping others improve their quality of life.
Occupational therapists use a variety of techniques to help their patients. They may use therapy, education, and equipment to help their patients overcome challenges and improve their functioning. The qualifications to become an occupational therapist vary from country to country. In the United States, one must have a master’s degree in occupational therapy to practice.
More often than not, occupational therapists work in hospitals, clinics, or private practices. They help people with a variety of conditions. And it is not uncommon for them to specialize in a certain area. For example, some occupational therapists work exclusively with children while others may choose to focus on older adults.
Which Conditions Do Occupational Therapists Treat?
There are many different conditions that occupational therapists treat. Here are 10 of the most common conditions:
Arthritis
Arthritis is a condition that causes inflammation and pain in the joints. Occupational therapists can help people with arthritis by teaching them how to properly care for their joints, and by providing them with exercises that can help improve joint function. This condition is most common in older adults, but can also affect people of all ages.
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Autism spectrum disorder is a developmental disorder that affects communication and social interaction. Occupational therapists can help people with autism spectrum disorder develop the skills they need to function in daily life. For example, they may teach people with autism how to dress or how to interact with others. Because people with autism spectrum disorder often have difficulty with sensory processing, occupational therapists may also help them learn to cope with certain sensory stimuli.
Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy is a neurological disorder that affects movement and muscle tone. Occupational therapists can help people with cerebral palsy improve their motor skills and learn how to adapt to their disability. This is done through a variety of techniques, including exercises, massages, and the use of assistive devices. As these can be very tiring, it is important to have short and frequent sessions.
Dementia
Dementia is a decline in cognitive abilities due to disease or injury. Occupational therapists can help people with dementia by providing support and assistance with activities of daily living. It is a condition where people have trouble with memory, thinking, and judgment. With the help of occupational therapists, people with dementia can still live independently and participate in activities that they enjoy.
Down syndrome
This is a chromosomal condition that features a wide range of delays in physical, cognitive, and adaptive skills. Many children with Down syndrome need occupational therapy to help them develop the fine motor skills necessary for everyday tasks like eating and dressing themselves. For example, when you have down syndrome it is hard to learn how to do buttons because you have low muscle tone.
Stroke
Strokes are also a condition that occupational therapists can treat with the help of many different techniques. These conditions are often described as “brain attacks” and can sometimes be life-threatening. Many times, people who have had a stroke will experience paralysis on one side of their body as well as problems with speech and vision. Occupational therapists can help patients regain some level of functionality and independence by working on activities of daily living, such as eating and dressing, as well as cognitive and motor skills.
Multiple sclerosis
It is a condition that attacks the central nervous system. The function of the central nervous system is to send messages between the brain and the body. When somebody has multiple sclerosis, their immune system attacks the central nervous system which causes inflammation and damage to the myelin sheath. The myelin sheath is a layer that protects nerve fibers.
The therapist can help the patient adapt to their new lifestyle and help with things such as fatigue, pain, spasticity, depression, anxiety, and impaired cognition.
Parkinson’s disease
Many times occupational therapists will work with patients who have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. This degenerative disorder of the nervous system can make performing daily tasks difficult. They can help by retraining patients on how to complete activities of daily living and by providing adaptive equipment.
Carpal tunnel syndrome
This type of condition is caused by compression of the median nerve within the wrist. Occupational therapists can help by providing exercises, splints, and other treatments to relieve symptoms and improve function. For example, a therapist may teach a person how to use their hands in different ways to avoid further irritation of the median nerve.
Asperger’s syndrome
Finally, this condition is on the autism spectrum. People with Asperger’s often have difficulty with social interactions and might seem insensitive because they don’t pick up on social cues. An occupational therapist can help a person with Asperger’s learn how to interact better with others. There are several techniques that can be used, including social stories and role-playing.
So, these are some common conditions occupational therapists can treat and help people with. Remember, if you have any concerns about your health or the health of a loved one, be sure to consult with a medical professional. An occupational therapist can help you live your best life possible!
What Are The Techniques Used By Occupational Therapists?
There are many techniques used by occupational therapists to treat the above-mentioned condition, these include:
Activity analysis
This is where the therapist analyses the patient’s daily activities and pinpoints which tasks are causing difficulty or pain. They will then work with the patient to find ways to make these activities easier. For instance, they may suggest using a different type of utensil if someone with arthritis is having difficulty eating.
Adaptive equipment
This refers to any kind of equipment or device that can help make a task easier. For example, someone who has difficulty writing may benefit from using a grip or a special pen. In fact, this technique is often used in combination with others, such as task simplification (see below).
Arts and crafts
This may seem like an odd one, but many occupational therapists use arts and crafts as a way to help their patients achieve goals. For example, someone who is struggling to regain the use of their hand may be asked to knit or do some other kind of handiwork. This can help to improve fine motor skills as well as provide a sense of achievement.
Cognitive retraining
This is a type of therapy that helps patients with cognitive impairments, such as those who have had a stroke. The therapist will work on tasks that help to improve memory, attention, and problem-solving skills.
Constraint-induced therapy
This is a therapy that is often used for patients who have had a stroke. It involves constraining the use of the unaffected arm in order to force the patient to use the affected arm. This can help to improve function in the affected arm.
Environmental modification
This is where the therapist makes changes to the patient’s environment in order to make it more conducive to their needs. For example, they may recommend changes to the layout of a home for someone who is struggling with mobility issues. In fact, this can often be combined with the use of adaptive equipment (see above).
So, overall these are just a few of the techniques used by occupational therapists to help patients with different conditions. If you think that you or a loved one may benefit from occupational therapy, then don’t hesitate to get in touch with a qualified practitioner.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are several conditions occupational therapist treat. However, the most common conditions are physical conditions that affect daily living such as arthritis, stroke, and carpal tunnel. Nevertheless, conditions can also be mental health-related such as anxiety and depression.
All in all, occupational therapists help patients with a multitude of problems so they can live their lives to the fullest. You should consider seeing an occupational therapist if you are having difficulty with any activities of daily living.
Physical Therapy has always been proven to help patients recover from pain. Hence, if you’re experiencing Back pain, Shoulder pain, Knee pain, Neck pain, Elbow pain, Hip pain, or Arthritis pain, a physical therapist at MantraCare can help: Book a physiotherapy session.
