Occupational therapy (OT) is a unique career within health care. It is the application of intervention and assessment to build, improve, or preserve the functionalities, physical abilities, social skills, or psychological functions of patients, groups, or communities where individuals or families live, work, or rest. The goal of occupational therapy is to aid humans with disabilities to perform the activities of daily living with greater ease and efficiency. The services of an OT are most often utilised in rehabilitation settings and hospitals. OT is frequently referred to as a management profession because it is a skilled professional who can manage clients and situations.
OT is called upon to diagnose and treat the most common disorders or conditions: physical conditions that affect motor skills, cognitive skills, self-managing skills, sensory processing, and emotions/budgeting. In addition, OT helps people with psychiatric conditions deal with symptoms and behaviours associated with these conditions. In some instances, OT is called upon to collaborate with health care providers to prevent health problems and injury or illness. Finally, occupational therapy in healthcare settings helps people recover from conditions limiting their ability to function normally in everyday tasks or relationships.
Kid Sense Occupational Therapy Adelaide education is offered at both the post-high school and higher level. Post-secondary institutions also offer training for those wishing to pursue OT. In addition, most vocational and community colleges offer OT as part of a program on occupational therapy. Students learn occupational therapy skills at both levels, practical practice applications of the theory learned in class and hands-on experience through supervised clinical practice.
There are many benefits to getting trained in occupational therapy. First, OT offers methods for improving the functioning of the body and mind. Occupational therapists help individuals with problems that limit their ability to get up, feed themselves, shower, get dressed, walk around, or perform daily tasks. For example, if an individual has difficulty getting up from a seated position to use the restroom, OT techniques such as training the hip muscles to bend the knees and lift the upper body can help improve this condition. Similarly, if an individual can’t dress, an occupational therapist might teach them to dress using a particular pair of clothing designed for disabled persons.
Occupational therapists work with patients who cannot perform everyday tasks but can do simple tasks for others. For example, they can help patients with the process of getting dressed, assisting them in picking out appropriate clothing, helping them tie their shoes or assisting with ironing clothing. If a person has difficulty walking from one room to another, an OT may teach him how to use a cane. In some cases, occupational therapy practitioners can even assist in the recovery or healing of patients who have suffered head trauma or severe burns. These therapists also work with children with special needs and disabilities, increasing their independence and building self-esteem.
There are many different kinds of occupational therapy, depending on the nature of the job they are trained for and the needs of their clients. The goal of all therapists is to help their patients achieve functional independence and regain or improve their quality of life. For therapy to be effective, it must be comprehensive and ongoing. Occupational therapists may incorporate physical therapy, occupational therapy and occupational medicine into their treatment plans. Physical therapy may involve using exercises and stretches to improve mobility or using devices to help patients overcome limitations such as limited range of motion or limited dexterity. Sometimes patients who have suffered strokes or other neck or back injuries may use physical therapy to help them relearn how to perform daily tasks, like using a keyboard or a pen.