What is occupational therapy?

Occupational therapy helps people with long-term conditions to live as independently as they can. These conditions include problems like arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and COPD. The therapists use work, self-care, and recreational activities to help you.

In this therapy, you can:

• Learn the best way to do daily tasks such as dressing, cooking, and eating.
• Learn exercises to increase good posture, range of motion in your joints, and overall strength and flexibility.
• Get help assessing your daily living needs and your home and work environments.
• Learn about assistive devices. These devices include special key holders for stiff hands, computer-aided adaptive equipment, and wheelchairs.
• Learn exercises to help stretch and strengthen your joints, especially your wrists and hands.
• Learn how to protect your joints and save energy.

An occupational therapist can also fit you with splints to help your hands. And a therapist can guide family members and other caregivers on how they can best help.

Examples of the many different conditions and situations in which occupational therapy can help are:

• Mental and physical impairments a person has had since birth.
• Recovery and return to work after a work-related injury.
• Sudden serious health conditions such as a stroke, heart attack, brain injury, or amputation.
• Chronic (ongoing) conditions, such as arthritis, multiple sclerosis, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
• Learning disabilities or developmental disabilities.
• Mental health or behavioral issues such as Alzheimer's disease, post-traumatic stress, substance use disorder, and eating disorders.