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We l l n e s s
D E S T I N A T I O N
H E A L T H
F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 7
7
YOU DON’T HAVE
to be injured on the
job or even have a job to benefit from see-
ing an occupational therapist (OT).
Whatever your occupation, if you have
a disabling mental or physical condition,
an OT can help you improve your ability
to perform tasks at home as well as in the
workplace.
And anybody who is having problems
with daily living because of a health
crisis—it doesn’t have to be work-related—
can also benefit from time spent with an
OT.
HOW AN OT CAN HELP
An OT is a highly
trained health care professional who helps
people who have been through some type
of life-changing experience—such as a
brain injury or stroke—improve basic mo-
tor skills and find other ways to master the
tasks of daily work or home life.
For example, if you have had a stroke
and are paralyzed on one side of your
body, an OT can help you learn how to do
things one-handed or relearn how to use
the impaired side of your body.
You may also benefit from occupational
therapy if you have:
●
●
A work-related injury, such as a low-
back problem or a repetitive stress ailment.
●
●
Arthritis, cerebral palsy or another
chronic health condition.
●
●
Mental health or behavioral problems,
including Alzheimer’s disease and post-
traumatic stress disorder.
●
●
A spinal cord injury, amputation or
burn-related injury.
MAKING YOUR LIFE EASIER
An OT
can help you with all types of activities,
from using a computer to caring for daily
needs—such as dressing, cooking and eat-
ing—to finding a suitable job.
An OT can also aid you in setting up an
exercise program to increase strength and
dexterity and teach you how to use adap-
tive devices, such as wheelchairs.
The goal of an OT is to do whatever it
takes to help you improve your quality of
life so you can live it to the fullest.
Sources: American Occupational Therapy Association; U.S. Bureau of
Labor Statistics
To make an
appointment with one of
our occupational therapists,
call
270-659-5660
.
MOVING FORWARD
How an occupational therapist can improve
your quality of life