{"id":1520,"date":"2016-12-17T17:09:16","date_gmt":"2016-12-17T17:09:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ati.local\/?p=1520"},"modified":"2024-12-17T17:37:36","modified_gmt":"2024-12-17T17:37:36","slug":"ati-celebrates-occupational-therapy-month","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.atipt.com\/ati-celebrates-occupational-therapy-month\/","title":{"rendered":"ATI Celebrates Occupational Therapy Month"},"content":{"rendered":"

Contributions by District Director James O\u2019Shea, OTR\/L, MOT, CHT\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

April is Occupational Therapy Month. ATI joins the American Occupational Therapy Association [AOTA] and other rehab providers to celebrate occupational therapists and their work.<\/p>\n

Occupational therapists [OTP] and occupational therapist assistants [OTA] are an essential part in the rehabilitation process. They help patients learn how to perform the everyday \u201coccupations\u201d, or tasks, to improve their quality of life.<\/p>\n

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Get Your Free Physical Therapy Screening<\/h2>\n

Not sure where to start with physical therapy? Get a free screening and let us help you start the path to recovery today.<\/p>\n

Get My Complimentary Screening<\/a><\/p>\n

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What is Occupational Therapy?<\/h2>\n

Occupational therapy practitioners collaborate with patients. Their role is to help patients adapt to physical and\/or cognitive changes or differences.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur OTPs are multi-faceted clinicians who use holistic interventions and activities to improve a patient\u2019s ability to perform daily \u2018life\u2019 activities,\u201d says Occupational Therapist and District Director James O\u2019Shea. \u201cBy focusing on increasing upper-body strength, improving fine and gross motor skills and refining basic motor skills, OTPs help patients regain independence in their daily lives, jobs and personal interests.\u201d<\/p>\n

What does an Occupational Therapist Do?<\/h2>\n

At ATI Physical Therapy, our OTPs can evaluate upper extremity performance in a variety of daily occupations. These occupations may include home chores, work tasks, roles, sports or performing arts. Our skilled OTPs provide interventions addressing strength and\/or range of motion limitations. They also provide remediation or adaptation of occupations to increase performance.<\/p>\n

A typical progression for an occupational therapy visit is to improve performance in activities of daily living (ADL). The patient will start with activities such as bathing, dressing and feeding oneself. As the patient progresses, these activities change. They lead to improving performance in instrumental ADLs such as driving, caring for children, meal prep and work tasks.<\/p>\n

The tools that OTPs use to accomplish patient goals look similar to the tools that physical therapists use. OTPs utilize exercise equipment, home exercise programs and hands on techniques. OTPs also use custom fabricated orthosis or custom adaptive equipment. This equipment helps position, protect or mobilize the upper extremity. Each of these devices is based on the individual. Plus, each of these devices help patients adapt and alter their surroundings.<\/p>\n

How Can Occupational Therapy Help Me?<\/h2>\n

The occupational therapists at ATI focus on adapting their patients\u2019 skills and environments. Their primary goal is to assist their patients in meeting their daily needs. ATI OTPs are skilled in the specialty area of hand therapy. This means they have additional training and experience. These OTPs help those with an upper extremity injury return to daily occupations.<\/p>\n

At ATI, we know every patient is different. That is why our hand therapists can test and treat many upper extremity cases. These cases include but are not limited to:<\/p>\n