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Occupational Therapy Goals

Rita Said:

What is the goal of occupational therapy ?

We Answered:

That's probably a good question, but might not really have a really precise answer.

I am sure it probably started with a need for patients to perform more job specific tasks beyond what they were getting in PT. I can only assume that this related to a lot of fine motor and hand related tasks. Yet, like any other profession, as more and more demand for more areas needing to be addressed, the field probably grew out of necessity. Just like medical specialities grew, so did rehab specialities. This is why there are now even specialties within in each discipline...certified hand therapist for OTs, neuro or orthopedic clinical specialists for PTs. The field becomes too broad for just one discipline.

Addendum: Zttca should know that physical therapy and it's beginning practices long preceeded the presence of OTs. Although both flourished heavily after world war I, the practices of physical therapy dates back to the time of hippocrates, with more official organizations that sprang up prior to 1900 such as the chartered school of physiotherapy in England and the rehabilitation contstruction aides that sprang up around WWI. The reconstruction aides of WWI and their work with wounded soilders and Sister Kinney's work (although now seems archaic) with patients who had polio laid the groundwork for the use of range of motion, massage, and exercise in rehabilitation in those with physical disabilities.

While the history of OT does date back to the 1700s, their primary focus was in the mental health field and not in functional rehabilitation where the focus of OT in mental illness was to treat one's emotions. It wasn't until after the 1900s that Susan Tracy began using occupation or "activities" to increase the function of those with mental disabilities. However, it wasn't until after WWII that OTs started having more involvement with those with physical disabilities. Although OT still has a focus in the mental health field, their current emphasis in those with physical disabilities (and this is in the context to which plankton is inquiring) didn't evolve until long after PTs had laid the groundwork. Although the origins of OT really had nothing to do with PT, to think that PT didn't have any influence on the development of OT is rather erroneous.

Stacy Said:

Occupational Therapy VS Developmental Therapy for 2 yr old?

We Answered:

my nephew is 3 1/2 and has autism and has both therapist.

Occupational makes sure he can do all the things a 2 year old should be able to do.
Helping them learn to perform tasks of daily-living

Examples are

Help with independent eating
Help with independent dressing

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