7.

Rehab (occupational therapy)

Definition of Occupational therapy: Therapy based on engagement in meaningful activities of daily life (as self-care skills, education, work, or social interaction) especially to enable or encourage participation in such activities despite impairments or limitations in physical or mental functioning. ("Occupational therapy - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary") Occupational therapy is divided into functional and psychological therapy. ("Dealing With Amputations: Occupational Therapy") How does occupational therapy help amputees? Physical and occupational therapy should be instituted immediately following amputation, as soon as the individual is medically stable enough to perform exercises. ("Adult Amputee Rehabilitation - Disaboom") Occupational therapists will help to identify and overcome the physical, emotional and mental obstacles that face people with amputation. An occupational therapist can support a person who has had an amputation in many different ways:

helping amputees undertake daily living activities, such as basic personal hygiene, dressing, feeding, and toileting, as well as more complex tasks like writing, cooking, and driving teaching upper extremity amputees care techniques, such as how to maintain or improve strength, and how to use a myoelectric or body-powered prosthesis. enable amputees navigate through their physical environment

("Amputations | BAOT/COT", n.d.) Functional therapy focuses on helping patients complete everyday tasks independently. This type of therapy benefits amputees. Functional therapists teach amputees with prosthetics how to use the devices and how to adjust to the device. The therapist might teach the amputee how to perform specific tasks using the prosthetic. A patient that has lost a limb also learns through psychological therapy that they are able to take on tasks despite their disability. With every new task the patient learns, they gain confidence. Psychological therapy also helps patients get along with other people. The therapists come up with activities that help the patients gain confidence and build relationships with others. Amputees may have negative self-image issues that can be handled with a psychological therapy.

("Dealing With Amputations: Occupational Therapy")

References Adult Amputee Rehabilitation - Disaboom. (n.d.). Living With a Disability | Disability Information & Resources - Disaboom. Retrieved from http://www.disaboom.com/amputations-information/rehabilitation Amputations | BAOT/COT. (n.d.). Occupational therapy - helping you to live life your way | BAOT/COT. Retrieved from http://www.cot.co.uk/ot-helps-you/amputations Dealing With Amputations: Occupational Therapy. (n.d.). ThinkQuest : Library. Retrieved from http://library.thinkquest.org/06aug/00021/ot.htm Occupational therapy - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary. (n.d.). In Dictionary and Thesaurus - Merriam-Webster Online. Retrieved from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/occupational%20therapy