The vitality and strength of the human body is one of the most important facets in life; health is displayed not only in good physical shape, but also in good psychological health. Throughout a person’s life, stress exerts considerable damage on the central system (which negatively affects their general condition), as a result of which many patients resort to ergotherapy.
When a person catches a disease, then a strong psychological load arises (nervousness, irritability, fatigue, weakness). And for the regeneration (restoration) of important skills and functions that are lost in the process of disease, ergotherapy is used.
Who is an occupational therapist?
An occupational therapist is a medical specialist who helps people with certain health problems to achieve maximum results, despite the existing disorders.
Features of the technique
This term came to modern medicine from the Latin word "ergon", which means "work, labor"; and therapy is treatment. Ergotherapy is a field of medicine that is aimed at helping a person in everyday life, developing, restoring and maintaining the skills necessary to perform actions that are important and significant for the health and well-being of a person.
The main objective of this technique is treatment by self-improvement. This area of medicine is studying methods and techniques that are aimed at restoring the motor activity of the arms and legs using healing gymnastic exercises and sports.
The goal of therapy is not only to restore lost motor activity in everyday activities, but also to adapt the patient again to a normal life, as well as provide support for achieving independence and freedom.
Occupational therapy is not an easy special gymnastics, which is aimed at the work of fine motor skills and the process of coordinating muscle activity, and other neuralgic facets. Ergotherapy includes the following scientific sections:
- psychology;
- pedagogy;
- biomechanics;
- physiotherapy.
With the help of occupational therapy, not only motor (motor), but also cognitive and emotional abilities are improved.
History of Ergotherapy
This technique has existed for more than sixty years and arose in the post-war period, when crippled soldiers, both physically and mentally, returned home from the front. These people needed a set of pedagogical, psychological and medical measures that were aimed at restoring or compensating for the normal mental and physical needs of a person who were disturbed or completely wasted during the illness or injury. As a result, this therapy arose, the workers of which helped people to return to life again, to adapt to the circumstances.
In addition, occupational therapy is fraught with a certain secret. Medical workers confirm that this treatment is intended so that a person can learn new knowledge that he has lost (he becomes uninitiated and inert, his taste for life disappears). Ergotherapy forces the patient to think more, helps him abstract and accept disability.
Interesting!
Ergotherapy appeared in Russia relatively recently, for ten years, and to the present it helps people with disabilities learn to live anew.
Work principles
Rehabilitation in the system of ergotherapy implies a whole range of measures, which is aimed at the resumption of the natural, daily life of a person with a certain and strict consideration of diseases and disorders that already exist. Only a doctor-occupational therapist is able to help the patient to learn to communicate, have fun, and take care of himself again.
The main rules of occupational therapy are as follows:
- When drawing up a treatment plan, the doctor must take into account all the individual characteristics of the patient.
- The treatment is aimed at the implementation of the necessary measures together with the medical worker, which help the person recover.
- Continuously developing medical science contributes to the emergence of new techniques and methods for performing occupational therapy.
- When carrying out treatment, the doctor is obliged to take into account and recognize the culture and customs of the patient.
Where is occupational therapy used?
This technique has found wide application in various fields of medicine, since it has been included in the program of many rehabilitation measures. In most cases, ergotherapy is used in neurology (a group of biomedical scientific disciplines that studies the nervous system both in normal and in pathology).
An occupational therapist helps a person recover from the following disorders and diseases:
- body paralysis;
- disorders of the musculoskeletal system;
- after a stroke;
- with traumatic brain injury.
Ergotherapy is also often used in the treatment of mental illness (doctors help people with psychological trauma live a normal life and take care of themselves, beyond the borders of a medical institution). The doctor makes an individual program of communication and training for each patient. To do this, use a variety of computational methods.
Features of occupational therapy for stroke and cerebral palsy
As already mentioned, this therapy is, in addition to physical and gymnastic exercises, a complex of psychological preparation, which is selected individually for each patient. To provide systematic recovery procedures, an ergotherapist takes into account not only the condition of the person, but also the environment, degree of disease, lifestyle.
Physical therapy (ergotherapy) for acute cerebrovascular accident offers a wide range of gymnastic activities that specialize in the development of fine motor skills, memory, speech, and restoration of coordination.
In rehabilitation procedures after a stroke, an occupational therapist uses not only medical, but also educational, psychological, as well as social and physical methods of applying occupational therapy. Today, a large number of recovery methods are known for acute cerebrovascular accident, the doctor selects the most favorable option for his patient, based on its features.
Occupational therapy for children with cerebral palsy implies the development of greater independence in young patients. In occupational therapy for cerebral palsy, psychological recovery methods are used, as well as a whole range of psychological support aimed at building confidence and initiative.
For this, there are both individual and group classes in a game form, as well as in the form of conversations. Occupational therapist, based on the characteristics of the psyche of the child, selects an individual approach for him.
Occupational therapy: treatment methods
During occupational therapy, two main approaches are used:
- self-service skills formation technique;
- technique for increasing patient productivity.
The first technique is applicable for patients living with:
- hemiparesis (partial paralysis of the muscles of the body);
- paraparesis (a neurological symptom that covers both limbs);
- ataxia (partial or complete loss of coordination of voluntary muscle movements);
- apraxia (violation of purposeful movements);
- hyperkinesis or dyskinesia (involuntary movements in one or the whole muscle group).
The second method is aimed at teaching the patient different ways of handling kitchen utensils, personal hygiene items. The technique is used in the training of wheelchair users, as well as people who suffer from neurological and mental disorders. Ergotherapy is a specific physical and gymnastic exercise that trains fine motor skills and coordination. A medical specialist helps solve specific difficulties and problems that stand in the way of healing. To identify them, the doctor asks to perform a simple task (write a number, a letter), observing the movements of the patient, the doctor draws conclusions about the nature of the violation and how to correct it.
Occupational Technique and Autism Assessment
An occupational therapist conducts research, studies children, observes them in order to understand whether they can fulfill the tasks that they must perform at this age. It happens that the doctor receives a home video on which you can track how the child behaves during the day, how he interacts with other people and objects. An occupational therapist can evaluate autism by the following factors:
- concentration of attention;
- endurance;
- gaming activities;
- response to the touch of other people;
- aggression or melancholy;
- Does he need personal space.
The effectiveness of occupational therapy in autism
Autistic people often have problems communicating with other people. The actions of people suffering from this disease are quite limited. The main group of patients for the use of ergotherapy is children who suffer from cerebral palsy, with injuries of the musculoskeletal system, with autism.
Occupational therapy for children can combine several different rehabilitation schemes. They help a child with autism respond better to the world around him, allows the child to become closer to their peers, correctly express feelings and emotions, and focus their attention on tasks.
How does occupational therapy help a child with autism?
Occupational therapy - physical rehabilitation and psychological training conducted by an occupational therapist have a positive effect on the socialization of children with autism.
The goal of therapy is to help the patient improve his quality of life in society. A health worker helps to strengthen, maintain and master the skills and abilities that make a person with autism more independent.
Where can I get training in occupational therapy?
Ergotherapy is taught at any medical university in the country. After receiving special education, young specialists can work in rehabilitation centers. The course of ergotherapy in Moscow, taking into account the hospital stay, will cost the patient about 15,000 rubles (inpatient treatment with a certain daily routine and nutrition). The duration of treatment directly depends on the person and his learning.