What comes to mind when you think “OT”? Is it the extension of a well-matched dual between competitors? Perhaps you think of an increase in pay for working more than 40 hours a week. Hopefully, after reading this article, you will think about Occupational Therapy; a new service being offered at Northwest Therapy. What is Occupational Therapy? It is a profession that believes a person’s health and wellness is directly correlated with their ability to perform daily activities. The concern is to help people occupy their time in ways they find meaningful and purposeful despite changes in physical health. The role of an occupational therapist is to open the doors of possibilities in order to optimize a person’s level of independence. An individual who develops weakness on one side of the body following a stroke may necessitate Occupational Therapy to learn new techniques for bathing or dressing in order to remain independent with self-care.

Following a wrist fracture, an individual may benefit from occupational therapy to regain motion and strength in order to perform their tasks at work.

Occupational therapy may be warranted for an individual with arthritis to explore adaptive equipment that will allow them to continue to prepare their own meals.

Occupation is not simply “gainful employment” as is often suggested. It is representative of all things that occupy one’s time throughout the day. And it is engagement in meaningful occupations that leads to optimal health and wellness.