Mental and physical disabilities can disrupt every aspect of daily life. Many patients turn to occupational therapy to overcome these challenges, improve their physical lifestyles, and reestablish their routines. This unique health care service is available at any age and for many health conditions. Below, learn about this type of therapy and how it can help. 

What Is Occupational Therapy?

An injury, surgery, or chronic health condition can keep a person from handling day-to-day matters and completing their daily tasks. They may not be able to attend school or work, take care of chores around the home, handle personal hygiene, or enjoy their favorite hobbies. Occupational therapy helps people explore ways to overcome these challenges so they can reestablish and participate in daily routines.

This type of therapy is offered to patients of all ages. Therapists first identify and pinpoint the cognitive, developmental, or physical health issues the patient is dealing with. They’ll then factor how the problems are interfering with their lives and use it to create a custom recovery plan.

How Can It Be Used?

Occupational therapy has been used for many health conditions. It may be offered to help a patient regain mobility following hip replacement surgery or a car accident. Therapists can also help children with birth defects, autism, and special needs. They can create programs to help cancer patients manage side effects or to help seniors struggling with the early stages of dementia. It’s often used alongside physical therapy for a total-body recovery.

Patients focus on improving fine motor skills during sessions and improving hand-eye coordination. Improvements can make it easier to write at school, type on a keyboard at work, or swing a golf club during an outing with friends. Therapists will apply these improvements to everyday tasks like bathing, getting dressed, and feeding. Patients learn how to use mobility equipment, and therapists will help them better manage mood swings and the frustration that can come with a new diagnosis. Therapists build lasting relationships with patients, and ultimately, help them regain control of their physical and emotional lives.

Patients in the Church Point, LA, area turn to The Road Home Therapy Center for physical and occupational therapy. This center has helped people of all ages since 1978 and offers a wide scope of services, including speech therapy. Visit their website to learn about their services or call to discuss your needs with a representative.