What Is Occupational Therapy? (2025)

Occupational therapy (OT) is a type of rehabilitation therapy that focuses on helping people perform the tasks they want or need to do in their daily lives. This includes self-care, household chores, work tasks, school activities, hobbies, and social activities. OT can help people live as independently and self-sufficiently as possible.

A healthcare provider may refer you to occupational therapy following an injury, a medical event such as surgery or a stroke, or as a result of a health condition that threatens your mobility and independence. An occupational therapist is a licensed healthcare professional who can help you find safe ways to do daily tasks.

Who Needs Occupational Therapy?

Occupational therapy is beneficial for helping you continue to perform activities and provides recommendations for:

• Activities of daily living (ADLs), including bathing, dressing, eating, and toileting
• Adaptive equipment and technology
• Caregiver or family training
• Fall prevention, including home safety
• Planning and managing daily routines
• Returning to work, school, and other activities
• Techniques to assist with memory, focus, and executive function
  

You may be referred to occupational therapy due to the effects of a medical condition, accident, or injury that makes it difficult to take part in daily activities and tasks.

Occupational therapy might benefit people with:

• Delays in developmental milestones
• Trouble performing self-care, household tasks, or job-related functions due to pain, fatigue, or reduced range of motion
• Weakness, low vision,and problems with sensation, coordination, or perception
• Behavioral health problems that impact community living skills
• A need for a wheelchair or other adaptive equipment
• A need for upper extremity orthotics like braces or prosthetics

Some health conditions might benefit from occupational therapy. These include:

• Autism
• Birth injuries or anatomic or functional conditions present at birth
• Broken bones or other orthopedic injuries
• Developmental delays
• Health conditions that affect your ability to move or coordinate movement, such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, or cerebral palsy
• Postsurgical conditions
  
• Severe hand injuries or following hand surgery
• Traumatic injuries affecting the brain or spinal cord

Examples of OT Services

Occupational therapists use or recommend various activities, exercises, equipment, and home or workplace modifications. Their approach and application will vary by case or need.

Examples include:

• A person recovering from hip surgery may need recommendations on safety equipment for their home and on how to safely get around while they regain mobility and strength.
• Someone living with rheumatoid arthritis or multiple sclerosis may receive training on using adaptive kitchen tools to help them maintain their independence in the kitchen.
• An individual with traumatic brain injury may learn how to use memory aids and keep structured routines.
• A child with fine motor(small-muscle movements made with the hands, fingers, and toes, such as grasping) delays may participate in play therapy to improve hand-eye coordination and dexterity.
• A child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may participate in activities to improve their attention and self-regulation.
• An adult who has had a stroke can work to regain hand control and learn new and safer ways to perform self-care tasks.

An occupational therapist can design a treatment plan with activities to help you complete ADLs and participate in meaningful occupations.An occupational therapy treatment may include tasks and aids to improve function, such as:

• Strengthening and exercising
• Splinting and bracing
  
• Life skills training, including personal care and cooking
• Cognitive skills training, such as memory games, problem-solving activities, and creative activities like painting, writing, or learning to play an instrument
• Using adaptive equipment like mobility aids, tools for daily tasks, and bathroom safety equipment
• Using adaptive technology like screen magnifiers, adapted keyboards, screen reader software, and closed captioning

Benefits of Occupational Therapy

The benefits gained from occupational therapy will depend on a person's goals. However, in general, occupational therapy can lead to improved function, improved or maintained independence, and an improved quality of life.

Examples of benefits gained from occupational therapy might include:

• Fall prevention in older adults
• Recovery from an injury or illness
• Improved cognitive function related to memory loss or dementia
• Improved social function in children with behavioral problems
• Increased independence in people with developmental disabilities
• Successful modifications for home and work to improve function, independence, and safety
• Assisting caregivers with better tools to help them manage others in their care

Occupational therapy is safe and effective. Occupational therapy teaches you how to safely perform activities and prevent injuries.

Where Do Occupational Therapy Practitioners Work?

Occupational therapists are healthcare professionals who can help people improve their function in many aspects of life. They are vital for helping people perform essential tasks in their daily lives, including at home, at work, at school, and in leisure activities.

Occupational therapists work in a variety of professional settings, including:

• Clinics
• Home health agencies
• Hospitals
• Mental health facilities
  
• Rehabilitation centers
• Schools
• Skilled nursing facilities

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), most occupational therapists work in hospitals or occupational therapy clinics. The demand for occupational therapists is expected to grow over the next decade.

If you think occupational therapy can benefit you or your child, ask your healthcare provider for a recommendation. You can also search online for an occupational therapist or check with your insurance company or a nearby hospital system to see if they have recommendations.

How Long to Work With Occupational Therapists

The length of time you will need occupational therapy will depend on your unique health situation. Factors that contribute to the length of occupational therapy are:

• Condition complexity: The more severe or chronic your condition is, the more time you may need to achieve long-term, meaningful outcomes.
• Treatment goals: Goals set during evaluation can serve as a timeline for therapy length.
• Frequency of therapy sessions: The frequency and intensity of therapy sessions can influence the overall duration of therapy.
• Therapy response: Your response to therapy may determine treatment length. Your therapist will monitor your response and adjust the treatment plan to optimize your outcomes.
• Social support: A support network can positively impact therapy outcomes, which can translate into a shorter treatment duration. Likewise, a lack of support and multiple stressors could mean more therapy.

Occupational Therapy vs. Physical Therapy

Occupational therapy and physical therapy are both types of rehabilitative care. Their purpose is to improve the quality of life or prevent worsening related to health conditions, injury, or surgery.

Unlike occupational therapy, which focuses on day-to-day tasks, the goal of physical therapy is to improve movement (mobility) and function. A physical therapist can teach you exercises, stretches, and other physical activities to help you get moving and stay moving.

For instance, a physical therapist can work with someone who has had knee replacement surgery to strengthen their knee and improve their joint's range of motion. This will facilitate better movement and ease pain and discomfort.

On the other hand, an occupational therapist can assist this same person by ensuring they have appropriate mobility devices and know how to use them to get around safely. They can also teach them ways to modify activities and their surroundings so they can continue to care for themselves independently and safely.

The methods of occupational therapy differ from physical therapy, but the overall goal is similar. It is to improve functioning and quality of life. Some of the tasks of the therapies may also overlap, including stretches and exercises. Both types of therapy will also set goals and asses a person's progress.

Summary

Occupational therapy is a type of rehabilitative therapy that focuses on helping people with day-to-day tasks. It may be recommended following recovery from surgery, related to a chronic condition, or after an injury. An occupational therapist can help you improve your ability to function in your everyday life.

Occupational therapy differs from physical therapy in the types of rehabilitative techniques used. However, the goals of improved function and enhanced quality of life are the same.

Your condition's severity and response to therapy will determine how long you need to attend occupational therapy. Social support is also essential to achieving treatment goals, especially regarding timelines.

If you think occupational therapy can help you or your child with a health condition, following surgery, or after an injury, ask your healthcare provider for a referral. You might also be able to locate a therapist on your own via an online search or by contacting your insurance company or local hospital system.