by Donna Mccay

Created on: May 03, 2008

Benefits of Occupational Therapy

1. Biggest benefit of occupational therapy is to help rheumatoid arthritis sufferers with daily activities trained by an occupational therapist whether in your home, nursing home, or rehab hospital so they will be able to work and live by themselves despite their health problems and begin to live a normal life as much as possible.

2. Occupational Therapist teaches exercises that can be done in a wheelchair, chair or lying down help build muscle which increases the ability to move.

Types of exercise are:

a. arthritis water exercise class at the YMCA to get the joints moving
b. stretching exercises of legs, knees, feet, fingers, arms and toes
c. yoga
d. stretching rubber (each color represents a different strength or weight) will tone and
give strength to muscles in hands, arms, legs, feet to be able to lift and hold objects.
e. walking two to three times a day will keep joints toned and limber.
f. swimming will also keep joints toned and limber

Exercise

a. increases endorphins to relieve pain, and reduce substance P in your body. Substance P is a pain and inflammation causing chemical that accumulates in arthritic joints.
b. stimulates bone growth
c. builds muscle
d. increases mobility

3. Occupational Therapists teaches ways to cook your own meals more efficiently and quickly

4. Occupational Therapist may ask you to make kitchen environmental changes like:

a. counter tops made higher or lower
b. getting a higher or lower stool
c. using a reacher to reach things in a cupboard like cereal, pots and pans, spices etc.
d. using your walker seat to rest as you wash the dishes

5. Teaches you how to get dressed with adaptive equipment like:

a. a reacher to clasp your slacks and pull up
b. a long shoe horn to help get your shoes on
c. a sock aid scoop has a rope to help put your socks on - put sock over scoop, hold rope and put scoop on floor, insert foot in scoop, pull up on rope and foot slips into sock
d. sit down to get dressed
e. slip on shoes with elastic or Velcro laces makes it easier for you to put on
f. use non-skid footwear and do not walk or transfer in socks

5. Occupational Therapist teaches how to use bathroom facility

a. use a commode or raised toilet seat
b. shows you how to transfer on and off the toilet safely with grab bars
c. walk in shower, have a container with shampoo, soap, wash cloth nearby
d. shower or tub bench or chair while you use a hand held shower hose with massage
e. rubber mat on shower/tub to prevent falls
f. a long handled sponge to reach back, legs, and feet

6. Occupational Therapist will help you with homemaking tasks

a. Use an apron with several pockets is helpful to carry objects
b. slide objects on counter top rather than carrying them
c. sit on a high stool when doing counter top tasks
d. use a reacher to grab things on floor
e. walker bags or baskets which are hung from walkers are used to carry items such as plates, silverware, food in sealed containers, newspapers, and mail. Bicycle baskets work well.
f. Make a heavy cardboard box piece to fit over walker to carry meals and drinks
g. remove scatter rugs from floor to avoid tripping on their edges
h. Be careful of electric cords
i. move furniture so that light switches, thermostats and outlets are within reach.
j. use a utility cart on wheels to carry items from place to place. Put cart ahead of walker.

7. Occupational Therapist will help you with car transfers

a. back up to the car with your walker until back of your legs touch the car.
b. reach back for top of seat and front dash board
c. lower yourself slowly to the seat
d. lift legs one at a time into the car while turning toward the front
e. buckle your seat belt

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