All you Occupational Therapy students out there, how many times have you been asked what exactly does an Occupational Therapist do? Chances are you have had to answer this question many times. Occupational Therapy is a complex field and one that is not as widely understood as, for example, Physical Therapy. I found two articles that try to give insight into the Occupational Therapy field. The article, What Is Occupational Therapy Anyways?, found on The Sensory Processing Disorder Resource Center website is a great article that provides the fundamental explanation as to what Occupational Therapy is:
"It is the job of Occupational Therapy to provide intervention which will help you regain function, maintain level of functioning, or make accommodations for any deficits you may be experiencing."
The article also goes into explaining the differences between the more familiar Physical Therapy to the lesser known Occupational Therapy.
"One of the most frequent questions every Occupational Therapist gets asked when we announce our profession is, "What is Occupational Therapy?... Oh, is that like Physical Therapy?" Truthfully, there are aspects of Occupational Therapy that overlap with Physical Therapy, as our clients often have multiple issues which are best treated through a team approach.
Although we may do activities for strengthening and increasing movement, we approach therapy differently than PT.
Generally, Physical Therapists do exercises purely for exercise's sake to increase strength, range of motion, and particular body and muscle movements for the eventual outcome of increased function and mobility.
Occupational Therapy has the same goal in mind (increasing function and independence) in regards to physical disabilities and limitations, and we may use repetitive exercises, but most often we use them in the context of a "functional activity."
The second article that will help you show others what an OT does is Occupational Therapist: A Day in the Life. Just like the title states, the article takes you through a normal day of an Occupational Therapist. It is short and sweet and gives an accurate view of what one OT does in a given day.
"Your day starts at the hospital, teaching a man who suffered a spinal cord injury in a car accident how to use a wheelchair. Next, you evaluate an older woman who suffered a stroke. In talking with her, it's clear that her priority is to look good again, so you develop a set of exercises that will help her brush her hair and take care of herself, in addition to helping her recover."
So, the next time you tell someone you are an OT students and they respond back with “What is an OT?” you can refer to these articles and open there eyes to the whole world of Occupational Therapy. Chances are those people asking you, have or will have, contact with an Occupational Therapist in their life.
