The goals of occupational therapy (OT) revolve around improving the quality of life of individuals by enhancing their abilities in various activities of daily living.
The purpose of this type of therapy is to develop, recover, and maintain functional skills.
This article outlines the goals of occupational therapy and how they help clients.
Promoting Independence
One of the primary goals of OT is to promote independence which refers to an individual’s ability to perform daily activities without relying on anyone else for assistance.
By promoting independence, this therapy allows individuals to take meaningful actions that support their lives.
Even the simplest tasks like buttoning a shirt, brushing teeth, and combing hair can become daunting if an individual lacks the necessary skills.
Occupational therapists use various techniques like skills training, adaptive equipment, and environmental modifications to help their clients regain control over their lives.
Increasing Range of Motion and Strength
Occupational therapy also aims to increase the range of motion and strength of their clients. This aspect is particularly important for individuals dealing with chronic conditions or recovering from an injury.
Occupational therapists help in the recovery of these individuals by facilitating activities that promote the recovery of motor function.
These activities may include mobility exercises that help to restore range of motion, strength training, and other techniques that target restoring injured or damaged body parts.
Improving Fine Motor Skills
Fine motor skills are essential for performing everyday activities like holding a pen or pencil, writing, manipulating small objects, and tying shoelaces.
Occupational therapists work with clients to improve their fine motor skills, leading to the development of sensory-motor integration and hand-eye coordination.
This aspect is critical for children since it is easier to correct problems during the early stages of development.
By improving an individual’s motor skills, occupational therapy helps clients to become more independent and proficient in their daily activities.
Facilitating Sensory Integration
OT also facilitates sensory integration, which is particularly important in children. Sensory integration is the brain’s ability to use the five senses to coordinate with the environment.
It refers to the process of taking in sensory information and making meaningful responses.
Children with sensory processing disorders can benefit from therapeutic activities, which incorporate sensory techniques, to increase their participation in daily routines.
Enhancing Cognitive Skills
Cognitive skills impact an individual’s ability to think, reason, and remember, which are critical to carrying out daily activities. The goals of OT are aimed at enhancing cognitive skills, such as attention, memory, and problem-solving abilities.
Such interventions could be in the form of games specifically designed to target cognitive skills enhancement, which is beneficial for children with ADHD, who often display symptoms such as lack of focus and poor memory retention.
Promoting Emotional Wellbeing
It also has goals that target improving emotional well-being. Depression and anxiety can have a severe impact on physical and mental health, and they can make it difficult to participate in activities of daily living.
The therapy focuses on activities that help clients cope with stress and promote relaxation. In addition, therapists may use yoga, biofeedback, or relaxation techniques to help manage symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Conclusion
An occupational therapist has various goals that are beneficial to individuals of all ages, and they are vital for the promotion of independent living, regardless of ability or disability.
For individuals seeking Autism treatment in RI or ABA clinics in RI, OT can be a valuable supplementary service.
The primary objective is to increase independence and improve quality of life by promoting a sense of purpose and self-worth through meaningful activities.
