Occupational therapy - like physiotherapy, speech therapy, podiatry and nutrition therapy - is one of the remedies, i.e. it is a medical service that is provided personally by professionals. But what exactly is occupational therapy?
Wikipedia answers this question like this1: "Occupational therapy (OT) is profession within healthcare. It is the use of assessment and intervention to develop, recover, or maintain the meaningful activities, or occupations, of individuals, groups, or communities. It is an allied health profession performed by occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants (OTA). OTs often work with people with mental health problems, disabilities, injuries, or impairments.2"
'The American Occupational Therapy Association defines an occupational therapist as someone who "helps people across their lifespan participate in the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of everyday activities (occupations). Common occupational therapy interventions include helping children with disabilities to participate fully in school and social situations, injury rehabilitation, and providing supports for older adults experiencing physical and cognitive changes."'3
"Typically, occupational therapists are university-educated professionals and must pass a licensing exam to practice. Occupational therapists often work closely with professionals in physical therapy, speech–language pathology, audiology, nursing, social work, psychology, medicine, and assistive technology."4
Regarding prevention, the german OT association "DVE" states, "Occupational therapists are active in 3 areas of primary prevention according to the binding prevention guideline: Prevention and reduction of specific health risks through appropriate behavioral and health-oriented exercise programs, promotion of relaxation (palliative-regenerative stress management), work-related physical stress [according to the] prevention principle: prevention and reduction of work-related stress on the musculoskeletal system."5
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1 Source of this text: "Occupational Therapy. In: Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Accessed 31 October 2021, retrieved 2 November 2021, 09:00 UTC. URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Occupational_therapy&oldid=1052905909
2 "What is Occupational Therapy". Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists | Association canadienne des ergothérapeutes. Retrieved 2017-05-24, quoted in: ibid.
3 "WFOT | Education | Entry level Educational Programmes WFOT Approved". World Federation of Occupational Therapists. Archived from the original on 2017-08-31. Retrieved 2017-05-24, quoted in: Wikipedia, ibid.
4 Wikipedia, ibid.
5 „Ergotherapie“. In: Wikipedia, Die freie Enzyklopädie. Hover-Tip: "Prävention" (prevention). Accessed 27 August 2015, 09:57 UTC. URL: https://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ergotherapie&oldid=145454366, retrieved 28 August 2015, 21:09 UTC and translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
