Many people confuse Occupational Therapy with Physical Therapy. So what IS Occupational Therapy, or OT? Glad you asked. OT is a form of therapy that specializes in treating conditions affecting the upper extremities. This includes any injury, post-surgical disability or impairment specifically related to the upper arm, elbow, forearm, wrist, hand, or fingers. An OT performs an evaluation according to a physician order to assess the ability of performing daily activities. Once the OT helps the patient restore mobility in the clinic, they instruct a home program.
The goal of an OT is to identify difficulties the patient has in performing self-care or work related tasks, and, to improve their independence. We often take for granted simple tasks like putting on clothes, playing piano, lifting a grandchild, golfing, or even kayaking after breast cancer. When our arms or hands are painful, the easiest undertaking becomes a challenge.
There are slightly over 133,000 OT’s in the U.S. with only 7,200 in Florida. OT’s are highly educated with a Masters or Doctorate along with a sub-specialty like autism, lymphedema, stroke, hand, or gerontology among the many. You will find OT’s in the office of an orthopedic physician or a physical therapy facility.