Occupational Therapy is a relatively new field since the First World War or the beginning of the 20th century. Many still do not know what type of therapy service it is or provides. I am an occupational therapy practitioner, and find that although more are known about what this field entails as time goes on, many still do not understand its function. Since it is a fairly broad field, this also contributes to the general confusion and lack of clarity regarding what type of therapy it is.
In general, Occupational Therapy addresses the function and Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) of a patient or person and a healthy balance of this is achieved through appropriate work, play, rest and recreation. This can be further broken down into four main broad spectrum areas of the population served. Adults, Pediatrics, Elderly and Mental Health. There are almost endless subgroups of therapy that address each area. Some pertain to and apply to all major areas and some are exclusive and specific to one area. For example, ADLs are addressed in the areas of adults, children and mental health, however the needs in each area vary and change. A balance of work, play, rest and recreation applies to all, but again this is variable depending on the area/population served.
For example, the needs of adults in their ADLs differ from those of a child. The obvious reason is that children are developing and adults (although still developing through life stages) are different in their developmental needs. This is further complicated by the condition or conditions being treated. A premature baby with cerebral palsy certainly receives a different treatment plan than an adult with, say, carpal tunnel syndrome. This brings us to the many specialties within the Occupational Therapy category. Hand therapy would be an area that includes carpal tunnel syndrome. Occupational therapists can specialize in an endless multitude of areas, too many to go into detail here.
Before continuing, I would like to give a brief history of the development of Occupational Therapy as a profession and its basic philosophy. The goal of occupational therapy is to help patients reach their full potential and function in life in the general areas listed above, in a nutshell, ADLs. The very name ‘Occupational Therapy’ implies the act of taking care of oneself. The theory and philosophy of Occupational Therapy is the process of restoring or achieving one’s functional capacity through acts of occupation. The basic premise of OT is that a balance of work, rest, play, and recreation builds, maintains, and improves ADLs and optimal quality of life.
Historically, the theory/philosophy of Occupational Therapy was developed during World War I to help disabled veterans return to work, and continues to develop. The word “disabled” itself can imply many conditions, not excluding mental health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder. Occupational therapists have found that a very critical aspect of recovery from any disability is through meaningful occupation. The term ‘occupation’ used in this sense means many things. Making crafts is a form of ‘occupational’ therapy. Preparing a meal or dressing is another. Most of us take these things for granted, but people with disabilities often need to relearn how to do these things that most of us don’t think twice about.
Many confuse Occupational Therapy with Physiotherapy, and there is an overlap; however, they are two very distinct and separate fields. An occupational therapist works to improve physical and cognitive function by addressing ADLs and a physical therapist focuses on restoring function to the injured body through physical exercises. Both forms of therapy are similar in many ways, but in the process they address different areas. Both PT and OT are very important fields and they work well together and complement each other.