5 Conditions That Can Greatly Benefit From Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy is a branch of health care that provides treatment for patients with physical, sensory, and cognitive challenges. The therapy will teach and help them to adapt so that eventually, they can be independent and functional.

Occupational therapy helps patients suffering from pain, those who had an injury, and those who have illnesses. Occupational therapists (OTs) are licensed individuals who are certified to practice treatment for these conditions.

An OT will assess your situation, identify the areas you're having challenges with, and create a plan so you'll be able to accomplish tasks on your own. They may visit your home to make suggestions on how to make your place more liveable. They can make recommendations of ramp installation, handlebars for your bathroom, or any other assistive devices to make daily life easier for you to navigate.

Here are some conditions that can greatly benefit from occupational therapy:

1. Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA)

According to NDIS Occupational Therapy in Newcastle, JRA is an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks healthy cells, causing stiffness, swelling, redness, pain, and burning sensation in the joints. The illness affects several body parts such as the knees, hands, and feet; it may also affect the eyes, liver, and spleen.

This illness occurs in children 16 years and younger. Although children with JRA outgrow the disease, the moment they suffer from it can’t be taken for granted as it’ll affect how they live.

JRA affects 300,000 American children, making it one of the most common childhood diseases.  But parents need not worry about their child's future because aside from new medicines, an occupational therapist can significantly help their child manage the pain and get through with their physical activities and pursue whatever it is they dream about doing.

2. Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) And Autism

Children with SPD and autism have trouble receiving and responding to things happening around them. Even a light touch on the skin may be perceived as a scratch, and they’re oversensitive to sounds. They also can’t control their movement, resulting in falls and injuries. Regular sounds may be overwhelming and painful to them too.

An OT will develop activities and exercises to improve their physical, sensory, social, emotional, and cognitive challenges. Some exercises for kids with SPD and autism are done in a fun obstacle course so they'll be engaged for a more extended period. OTs use weighted vests and ankle and wrist weights so the child can improve balance, keep them grounded, and slow their movements.

OTs provide a structured sensory experience, so the child doesn’t seek input that disrupts their daily life. The objective for SPD and autism is to help them maintain a calm and organized state to accomplish tasks and eventually elevate these tasks as they grow older.

3. Orthopaedic Injuries

People who suffer from accidents that injured their hands, legs, or feet may need an occupational therapist to retrain these parts to function again after suffering from trauma. A vehicular accident may have injured your hand, resulting in nerve damage, tendon tears, and ruptures. These will disable your hand from functioning as it should and would be excruciatingly painful. An OT will help you manage the pain and bring back the movement of your hands to a point it's capable of.

4. Hip And Knee Replacement

For severe arthritis that causes extreme pain and deformities on the knee, doctors recommend knee replacement. While for damaged hip joints due to injuries, doctors recommend a hip replacement. Both procedures need an OT for post-rehabilitation care. 

An OT’s role is vital to help the patient get back to resuming their everyday life in the easiest way possible. The OT will first evaluate the condition of the patient and their home set-up. After the surgery, menial tasks such as getting in and out of bed, sitting down, and getting dressed will be arduous. An OT will educate the patient on moving about safely and efficiently, minimising pain, and reducing exposure to more injuries.

5. Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

Patients who suffer from TBI may have a portion of their body like their entire left or right side be weak resulting in an incapacity to accomplish even the most basic task. An OT will aid the patient in hurdling through these tasks efficiently so they can live a productive life.

Conclusion

Patients who suffer from pain and difficulty from their illnesses shouldn’t be left to weather it out. Science and medicine have made it easier to manage pain and other challenges accompanying illnesses.

OTs are trained in their field to handle specific illnesses so patients can go back to resuming their disrupted life. There’s help available, and you just need to know whom to call to assist you.