Are you wondering what occupational therapy is and how it can help? If yes, you should check out these benefits of occupational therapy below..

Research shows that the demand for occupational therapy treatment will grow by 27 percent by 2024. Who will need this therapy and what do occupational therapists do?

Much like physical therapy, there are benefits of occupational therapy for people of all ages and backgrounds. Here's an overview of how occupational therapy can help with your wellness goals.

Why Occupational Therapy?

After an accident or injury, the time you spend helping your body restore its original movement is critical. But what most people don't consider is that you'll also need time to adjust to everyday tasks with your limited movements.

Occupational therapists help you make these adjustments so that you can go back to work or school. Occupational therapy benefits anyone looking to get back to work faster after an injury.

Benefits of Occupational Therapy

After a serious surgery or injury, most people need help with simple tasks until their bodies regain strength. Occupational therapy helps you become more independent in all phases of recovery.

Here are a few tasks an occupational therapist can help with:

• Eating without help
• Doing office work
• Bathing
• Putting on clothes
• Cleaning or doing laundry

Occupational therapists are different from physical therapists in that their goal isn't to get your movements back to 'normal.' When you go to occupational therapists, you'll discuss new movements that can help you get more done with your limited movement. 

Occupational therapists come up with new ways for you to do office work or play sports that won't result in pain or worsen your injury. 

How Do Occupational Therapists Work?

In a nutshell, occupational therapy is about strategy. Occupational therapists monitor how you currently perform everyday activities and help you find new ways to get things done.

During your first visit with an occupational therapist, they'll do an assessment to get a better understanding of your needs. Next, they come up with a plan to improve things like your fine motor skills and visual perceptual skills.

Your occupational therapist might decide it's best for you to use tools like a raised toilet seat or wheelchair in order to get more done. If you're an older adult, an occupational therapist can show you how to prevent falls.

Do You Need Occupational Therapy?

Occupational therapy is needed at every age for different reasons. For children, there might be developmental issues or birth defects that prevent their motor skills from developing as they should.

The benefits of occupational therapy for children with poor motor skills, for example, is learning how to complete everyday tasks at school like writing with a pencil. Later in life, injury, illness, or disability could be the reason you need to see an occupational therapist.