OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28260, 24 April 1957, Page 7

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

Place In Hospital Treatment

Man’s mental and physical welfare are improved when congenial work and hobbies occupy him. Expressions like “the devil finds work for idle hands” and “working something out of your system” indicate what man has realised for ages. Applying this basic truth is the foundation of occupational therapy, says an article in the autumn issue of “Health,” the official bulletin of the . Health Department.

Helping patients—mentally ill. chronically ill, those with movement disorders and those permanently crippled—is the function of

occupational therapy, today part of prescribed hospital treatment. In mental hospitals, occupational therapy helps patients readjust, themselves and by giving them something to do provides an outlet for their emotional and physical urges. For chronically ill patients, or those incapacitated for a long time by accident, to construct or create something causes them to lose their boredom, feel happier, and .consequently recover their normal health and activity more quickly. This is sometimes called diversional therapy. / Specific Functions

Where specific physical functions such as joints or muscles need strengthening, occupational therapy is invaluable. A man recovering from a knee operation has weak muscles and a stiff joint which he is afraid to move Given some fretwork to do with a treadle-operated fretsaw, he becomes interested in the work and forgets about his knee.

In order to work the treadle, however, he must work his knee joint. He could be improved by simply prescribing special leg exercises, but the addition of a “motive” for the movement required is psychologically of prime importance and hastens the cure. Those permanently disabled benefit from occupational therapy by learning ways of adapting themselves to live with their disabilities in as normal a way as possible. Many hospitals have departments to teach patients how to carry out their normal domestic and personal duties by specially devised aids.