Occupational Therapy

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Occupational therapy (OT) is an allied health profession that involves the therapeutic use of everyday activities or occupations, to treat the physical, mental, developmental, and emotional ailments that impact a patient’s ability to perform day-to-day tasks. As such, an occupational therapist is a practitioner who uses therapeutic techniques to improve, rehabilitate, or maintain a patient’s ability to perform everyday activities. Occupational therapy differs from other healthcare professions like physical therapy or nursing in its focus on treating the whole patient, rather than treating a particular injury, ailment, or disability. For example, after surgery, a nurse might assist a patient with pain management, dressing changes, and care during recovery.