What's Occupational Therapy?

1. What is Occupational Therapy?

A profession focused on treating and assisting patients in the performance of their activities of daily living, with the purpose of improving one’s quality of life.

2. How does Occupational Therapy differ from Physical Therapy?

Occupational Therapy focuses on assisting adaptation to an environment to meet a patient’s needs with methods and equipment to help a patient preform their desired activity. Physical therapy focuses mainly on helping patients improve their strength, flexibility and stability.

Some occupational therapists are certified in specific areas of treatment, for example SIMEDHealth has occupational hand therapy located in our Gainesville clinic.This therapy focuses on evaluating and treating all hand and upper extremity disorders and injuries.

3. Who could benefit from Occupational Therapy?

Anyone with difficulties performing their desired tasks.This can range from conditions including upper extremity joint or muscle injury, arthritis, neurological deficits, and congenital abnormalities to name a few.

4. What things can an Occupational Therapist do to assist individuals with these conditions?                                                                                             

There are a wide spectrum of tasks and treatments all kinds of settings from pediatrics to geriatrics. Examples include:

• Assisting people through their physical changes to continue working or doing desired daily functions.
• Designing treatment plans to assist with performing every day activities such as dressing, feeding, grooming, cleaning, desk station work and ergonomics, hand/finger activities as well as cooking. 

5. How can someone set up an appointment with an Occupational Therapist?

By calling 352-373-6565  one can schedule an appointment. A conversation and referral from your physician is recommended.