If you were to ask me five years ago what occupational therapy was, I honestly would not be able to provide a coherent answer to that question. That remains to be the case for most people that I interact with. Sitting here today, in my final semesters of my occupational therapy program, I have a deeper understanding and knowledge to articulate the basis of this fascinating profession.
April is Occupational Therapy Month, so I would like to take this opportunity to spread the knowledge of our profession and allow people within our community to get to know the opportunities that exists within the scope of practice.
What is occupational therapy? Occupational therapy, as defined by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), enables people of all ages to participate in daily living. What does this mean? This means that we as therapists help focus on the things that you want or need to do in your life. The term “occupations” refers to general everyday life activities. This may look different for everyone, as everyone has different routines, habits, and roles.
Meaningful activities are specific to the individual, and an occupational therapist will assist the individual in accomplishing whatever that activity may be. Examples of this include taking care of your-self, taking care of your family, working, volunteering, going to school, etc. Feel free to explore on the scope of occupational therapy and the different settings occupational therapists work in by visiting the AOTA website.
While client-centered care can seem to be fun and free-spirited, a key component is to ensure that activities are both functional and meaningful. For example, imagine a client in a hand therapy clinic recovering from a flexor tendon injury, which limits their ability to make a fist and grasp objects. This client is a chef and enjoys playing baseball. A tailored intervention might include a catch-and-drop activity using a small, weighted ball. This targets intrinsic hand muscle strength to improve grasp, while aligning with the client’s personal interests and goals.
To further support the claim on the positive impact that client-based interventions have on outcomes, a 2023 study by Khanipour et al., found that occupation-based interventions could improve satisfaction, hand performance, pain, range of motion power grasp, and the ability to perform daily actives and quality of life in people with burn injuries.
A saying we have in occupational therapy is that “physical therapists help you to walk, and occupational therapists make you want to walk.” If you know an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant, wish them a happy OT month. I hope this letter expands the understanding you may have not previously had in relation to this remarkable profession.
Cedric Cetoute
Clay County resident and University of Florida student
