Occupational therapy is a type of rehabilitation therapy. Types and benefits of occupational therapy

Occupational therapy is one of the types of physiotherapeutic procedures. It uses human labor. The main task of occupational therapy is the rehabilitation of people who, due to some circumstances, have lost their capabilities, and their return to their normal lives.

With occupational therapy, an excellent opportunity appears to broaden one's horizons, expand one's creative potential and reveal hidden opportunities. Very often people who are passionate about something new during labor therapy continue to do this for the rest of their lives. This becomes their main hobby.

The main types of occupational therapy will be described below, as well as where and how it is used. Occupational therapy is prescribed for various neurological, orthopedic, mental diseases. The most effective treatment with labor takes place in combination with massage and physiotherapy. It is equally important to know what applies to occupational therapy. But first things first.

What are the benefits

occupational therapy is

The main benefit of occupational therapy is that a person gradually returns to everyday life. This is due to the fact that during the labor process the patient is distracted from negative thoughts, gets rid of his fears, does not think about mental and physical pain. A person, being in a society of people with similar interests, ceases to feel inferior and isolated from society.

Occupational therapy is a treatment that helps restore mental, emotional and physical health. It brings a person into tone, adapts him to society and the world around him, makes him distract from negative thoughts.

For example, to adapt after a stroke, there is a gradual transition from special tools that facilitate work to conventional ones. To fix the limbs use special locking stands. To restore motor functions, patients exercise on special stands.

In this case, the benefit of occupational therapy is that physiotherapeutic procedures help eliminate or reduce physical disabilities by strengthening muscles, increasing range of motion in joints and improving coordination.

In the process of occupational therapy, a person has the opportunity to socially adapt in society, to serve himself independently, to learn how to clean the house, cook food, and take care of pets.

The main forms of occupational therapy

There are several forms of occupational therapy:

  1. Production. With the help of such therapy, the patient is prepared for professional activities. A person learns to work on simulators, machines, that is, on those tools that are necessary for his field of activity. After rehabilitation, the patient can work according to the previous specialty or, if desired, learn something new.
  2. Restorative. This form of occupational therapy is used to maintain working ability when a person is sick for a long time. During therapy, physical performance is restored and increased, the functioning of the musculoskeletal system is normalized.
  3. Recovery. This form of therapy is intended to restore the skills that were lost in the disease, and to prevent their manifestation in the future.

All labor operations can be divided into the following groups:

  1. Occupational therapy, developing coordination of movements, training fine motor skills of the hands, increasing the sensitivity of the fingers.
  2. Occupational therapy, which helps to develop strength and endurance of the muscles of the hands.
  3. Occupational therapy in light mode includes the manufacture of toys made of foam rubber, cotton-gauze dressings.

Labor Therapy in Psychiatry

labor therapy

Occupational therapy is used for such types of mental disorders as: alcoholism, depression, hallucinogenic syndrome, mental retardation, ASD, Down syndrome.

  1. The autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome, mental retardation - in most cases, these are congenital diseases and it is not possible to completely cure them. Occupational therapy is a prerequisite for adaptation in a society of people with mental disabilities. Such people are usually distinguished by their kindness and ability to work, therefore, thanks to occupational therapy, they have the opportunity to live a full life and not in any way feel at least somewhat disadvantaged and isolated from society. Occupational therapy of the mentally ill should be carried out without fail.
  2. In the case of drug and alcohol addiction, occupational therapy helps patients forget about their ailment. If it is correct to combine therapy with labor, medications and the patient’s desire to recover from addiction, then after a while the dependence completely disappears, the person returns to normal life in society.
  3. During depressive states, in addition to medical treatment and work with a psychotherapist, it is necessary to conduct occupational therapy, when the patient can engage in the type of activity that is most interesting to him. Thus, everyone can find a niche and completely dissolve in the work. Yes, some people are happy with their profession, they are doing what they love, but there are very few of them. Most are forced to engage in one activity or another only for making money, and this does not bring proper self-satisfaction. So it turns out that a person, having worked this way for several years, suddenly becomes depressed, thinking longingly about the transience of existence. It also happens that at work everything is fine, but on the personal front there are continuous failures. The more often a person thinks about it, the worse it becomes. Often there is depression. Occupational therapy will help get rid of unnecessary thoughts, they simply will not have time. A depressed state will help to take a rest on the sea or a trip to the mountains. And it’s not even necessary to go somewhere to the resort, sometimes it’s enough just to travel out of town with a tent.
  4. Motor inhibition. So that a person does not feel inferior, a work partner should be a person who does not far exceed him in his capabilities, or a labor instructor. The method of working tests: for some time the instructor works with the patient, identifies the rhythm characteristic of the patient, the pace of movements, his work style, characteristic shortcomings, and more.

When working with patients with hallucinogenic syndrome, it is important to ensure that the patient is fully involved in the labor process, since only in this way can the occurrence of hallucinations be avoided.

Occupational therapy gives excellent results for neurological diseases: it restores speech, eliminates residual effects after paresis and paralysis.

The occupational therapy program for patients being treated in a hospital should be selected individually by the attending physician. In this case, it is important to take into account the patient's professional skills, his age and preferences.

Contraindications to the use of occupational therapy in psychiatry

Like any other treatment method, occupational therapy has some contraindications. It is absolutely contraindicated in acute painful conditions, pathology of consciousness, catatonia. Occupational therapy is temporarily contraindicated with active drug treatment, severe depressive and asthenic conditions, if the patient has negativity to work.

Game therapy

This type of treatment involves involving the patient in all kinds of games, except for gambling. The organizer's task is to attract as many participants as possible to the gameplay. With the help of game therapy, the patient can overcome his stiffness, shyness and become more sociable.

Ergotherapy

patience and a little effort

The technique consists in treating the patient through mechanical labor. Occupational therapy for the elderly and the disabled, it consists in teaching embroidery, sewing, knitting and other skills. In some cases, ergotherapy can also be used in the factory production of light industry, where the patient can work daily and gradually recover his strength.

Younger patients after restorative occupational therapy at a plant or factory may remain to work there. Often this is the production of items made of wood, dishes, clothes and toys.

Ergotherapy is not less popular after a stroke, but it is slightly different from usual. This is due to the fact that after a stroke, many people have impaired coordination of movements and fine motor skills. Therefore, such patients need to be taught everything anew, and therefore such occupational therapy often resembles kindergarten lessons. Patients are taught to dress properly, fasten and unfasten buttons, lace up shoes, draw, sculpt from plasticine, and glue applications. As the patient acquires skills, the number and complexity of the functions performed increases. When practicing occupational therapy after a stroke, it is important to remember that you should not expect a quick result. This is a long and complicated process. But, as they say, patience and labor will grind everything.

Art therapy

occupational therapy for the mentally ill

This therapy consists in treating the patient through art. Patients are engaged in painting, modeling, pottery, participate in simple theatrical productions.

One of the subspecies of art therapy is cultural therapy. The patient can attend cultural events, exhibitions, read books, view reproductions and listen to music. All this contributes to a speedy recovery and the patient's return to an active life. After the end of each event, the patient shares his impressions of what interested him most in a particular type of activity.

Garden therapy

occupational therapy after a stroke

The essence of this therapy is to grow flowers, care for the garden and indoor plants. During work with the land, a person becomes more attentive, responsibility for his actions appears.

Sports therapy

occupational therapy as a means of rehabilitation

Sports physical therapy is physical exercises, including daily morning gymnastics, collective sports games and exercises, outdoor exercises, yoga, swimming. In sports occupational therapy, it is important to remember that the type of physical activity is determined by the doctor, therefore, in order to avoid any unpleasant consequences, in no case should one deviate from the established framework.

Rehabilitation therapy

what relates to occupational therapy

One of the most common methods for people who have suffered a stroke or injury is occupational therapy as a means of rehabilitation. That is, rehabilitation therapy, which helps to restore the patient's motor functions to normal.

In most cases, such therapy takes a rather long time, since the patient is taught everything anew from scratch. But patience and labor will grind everything, therefore, working harmoniously with his mentor, the patient will soon be able to restore all motor functions.

Occupational therapy load dosing

The recommended time for starting occupational therapy is the beginning of the recovery period. The dosage of loads during occupational therapy is set and regulated by the doctor. In no case can you independently reduce or increase the load. The dosage is established based on the patient’s condition, the severity of the disease and complications, as well as on what and in what quantity there are functional disorders.

To achieve positive results, labor therapy should be combined with treatment, massage, physical education. It is proved that complex treatment has a more positive effect. The occupational therapy procedure is carried out every day or every other day and lasts from half an hour to forty-five minutes. Developing a stereotype of working movements, they adhere to some rules: they bring to the patient all the necessary working movements, familiarize themselves with the technique of performing manipulations. Repeated repetition brings all movements to automatism, so the necessary labor skill is acquired.

Occupational therapy is an excellent way to prevent various pathologies. Physical exercises are perfect for people who are engaged in mental work, that is, lead a sedentary lifestyle. In any case, an individual approach is needed, because any work should bring a sense of self-satisfaction. The doctor must take into account the gender, age, professional activity of the patient, the type of disease.

Labor must bear fruit, that is, the patient must see the results of his activities. A person can find his own unique way of occupational therapy and lose himself in activity. And if one activity did not help, then you should not worry about this, you should definitely try something else.

Any type of occupational therapy should be carried out under the supervision of medical personnel, since with improper load distribution the effect of such therapy can be directly opposite. In addition, during therapy, safety precautions must be observed to avoid any surprises that could lead to unpleasant consequences.


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