Occupational Therapy

Therapy for life's daily occupations

Occupational Therapy, or OT, is an applied science and health profession that provides skilled treatment to help individuals achieve and maintain independence in all facets of their lives. OT gives people the "skills for the job of living" necessary for independent and satisfying lives. Increasing function and independence in regards to physical limitations to enable a person to perform the activities alone, with limited help, or with the use of devices. Occupational Therapy helps our patients to take an active role in their own lives.

If a person comes to Occupational Therapy for a physical injury, we will often perform a variety of stretches, strengthening activities, and pain relieving techniques such as massage, ice, or heat. Along with these activities, specific techniques designed to help the patient overcome their specific limitations will be performed with the patient.

If someone has met their max potential with their physical recovery, and they are no longer progressing, then Occupational Therapy would be needed to help them modify/adapt the activities most important to them such acts involved in daily living (self-care) and educate them on the use of adaptive equipment if necessary.

Occupational Therapy is also commonly used in pediatric cases. Typically it is used to help kids to achieve their age-appropriate developmental milestones through fun activities that they don't realize are “therapy." For example, instead of having a child lift weights for strengthening, Occupational Therapists have them perform a variety of activities that address strengthening such as climbing, crawling, or jumping. If they have handwriting issues or fine motor delays, these could be addressed through hand strengthening with items such as theraputty, playdough, or chopsticks.