Occupational therapy

Occupational therapy helps you maximize your function in daily activities, or live better with illness, injury or disability. Therapists will work with you on body awareness, activity modification, work/home environment evaluations and adaptive equipment.

For example, if you really enjoy cooking but your back pain has taken you out of the kitchen, an occupational therapist can work with you to assess your cooking environment.

• Where are your utensils located?
• What kind of utensils are you using?
• How are you opening the oven and loading the dishwasher?
• How are you sitting on your kitchen stool?
• How are you reaching the cupboards?

They will work with you to improve your ability to perform the activities you enjoy with new approaches, exercises, training and adaptive equipment.

Health conditions that can benefit from occupational therapy include repetitive stress injuries, limitations following a stroke or heart attack, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, developmental disabilities, Alzheimers, burns, amputations, spinal cord injuries, and more.

An occupational therapist may also train you to use a wheelchair, walker, crutches or a cane and suggest ergonomic changes in your home or work environment to facilitate comfort.

Occupational therapists may also give guidance to family members and caregivers to assist with, and understand, your challenges as you work to improve your function in daily activities.