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Occupational
Therapy Introduction
Occupational therapy is a health
profession that focuses on helping
individuals with mental or physical
illness/disabilities to achieve the
highest level of functioning and
wellness possible in their daily
lives. In other words occupational
therapy is skilled treatment that
helps individuals with disabilities,
achieve independence in all facets of
their lives. This includes performance
of all daily normal activities in
work, play, leisure etc.
Occupational therapists (OT's) work
with those who have physically,
mentally, developmentally, or
emotionally disabling conditions. They
help patients identify imbalances they
may have in their lives and design
activities to deal with them. This
type of therapy is patient specific,
involving recreational, creative or
educational activities. The patient's
specific interests, his background,
his previous experiences also form an
integral part of treatment.
OT's area of work includes giving
customized treatment programs for
specific disabilities, evaluating home
and work environments and giving
recommendations for necessary
adaptation, recommending adaptive
equipment for permanent/temporary loss
of function, such as wheel chairs,
splints, aids for eating and dressing
needed for the patient and training
them in its use, assessing and
recording the patients progress
periodically and also giving guidance
to family members and care givers how
to care for the patient.
Occupational therapists use various
methods in the treatment of their
patients to assist them in maximizing
their potential in the categories of
occupational performance areas and
occupational performance components.
The term occupational performance area
refers to all activities of daily
living, such as grooming, dressing,
food preparation and eating,
communication, and mobility; work
activities, including home management,
care of others, educational
activities, and vocational activities;
and play or leisure activities. The
term occupational performance
component refers to the functional
abilities required to perform the
tasks of daily living. These abilities
include sensory motor, cognitive, and
psychological components.
A wide variety of people can
benefit from occupational therapy,
including those with
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work-related injuries including
lower back problems or repetitive
stress injuries
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limitations following a stroke
or heart attack
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arthritis, multiple sclerosis,
or other serious chronic
conditions
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birth injuries, learning
problems, or developmental
disabilities
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mental health or behavioral
problems including Alzheimer's,
schizophrenia, and post-traumatic
stress
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problems with substance use or
eating disorders
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burns, spinal cord injuries, or
amputations
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broken bones or other injuries
from falls, sports injuries, or
accidents
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vision or cognitive problems
that threaten their ability to
drive
Eligibility : Entry to the
occupational therapy course is after
10+2 with PCM (physics, chemistry and
mathematics). Click
here for more information
Job Prospects and Career Options
: Therapists are in high demand in
the conventional medical and fitness
arenas. OT's work with the patients of
various disorders who have orthopedic,
neurological and
psychological/psychiatric
conditions. Click
here for more information
Remuneration : Junior
occupational therapists may initially
draw salaries ranging between Rs
8,500. Click
here for more information
Institutes : Click
here for a comprehensive list of
Institutes in India
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