1.

Balance pads

Balance pads are semi-firm pads an occupational therapist places

on the floor. You may ask a patient to balance on a single pad at an
angle to develop their balancing muscles. You may also make a
game of it, laying out several pads in a row for a patient to hop
across, maintaining their balance as they go.

2. Chewables

Some patients have an oral tick that encourages them to place

items or body parts into their mouth. Providing safe chewables can
be an effective way of managing this behavior. Chewables protect
the teeth while still allowing the patient to remove the urge or
energy which results in chewing.

3. Clay or putty

Occupational therapy patients may enjoy playing with clay or putty

during sessions. Because they're moldable, the substances are
effective as sources of a creative outlet for patients. Using clay or
putty may also be tactilely stimulating for patients.

4. Exercise ball

An exercise ball is a large ball, often made of inflatable rubber. As

an occupational therapist, you may use an exercise ball with your
patients in games or when creating exercise programs to develop
stabilization muscles in a patient. Sitting on an exercise ball as a
chair may also allow a patient to spend excess energy while seated.

5. Fidgets

Many occupational therapy patients have conditions that can lead

to higher-than-average levels of nervous energy. Fidgets are devices
designed to allow a user to manipulate them without requiring
extensive focus. This can help a patient maintain focus on other
tasks by providing an outlet for the excess energy that may
otherwise be distracting.

6. Gait trainer

A gait trainer is a wheeled support device a patient may use when

developing their walking skills. It helps to encourage proper posture
and provides support. This allows the patient to begin walking at a
time when they may otherwise lack the physical strength to do so
independently, and they can build strength toward the goal of
walking without the trainer.

7. Pen and pencil grips

A pen or pencil grip is a device that slides onto a writing implement,

such as a pen or pencil, to provide a broader surface to hold. Often
grips come in textured materials such as foam or rubber, which
allow for increased tactile control. This can be useful when a
patient struggles with the fine motor skills required to hold on to a
writing implement on their own.

8. Projector

A projector displays lights or images on surfaces around it. As an

occupational therapist, you may use a projector to cast light shows
on the ceiling or walls of a room for a patient. This can provide
visual stimulation and can be used for tasks such as lowering stress
for an over-stimulated patient.

9. Rocking chair

A rocking chair or gliding chair allows an individual sitting in the

chair to rock or slide back and forth. You may use a chair like this
with patients who have attention deficit concerns. By providing an
outlet for energy if they sit in the chair, you can help the patient
maintain their focus on other tasks, as their excess energy is less
distracting.

10. Sensory brush

A sensory brush is a therapeutic tool used to allow a patient to

perform stimulation activities. By rubbing the brush firmly along
their skin, the patient activates touch receptors in the affected
area. This can help raise focus levels and reduce anxiety.

11. Slant board

A slant board is a tool that you place on a flat surface to provide a

higher, slanted surface on which to place a book, paper or other
elements. Slant boards can be useful tools for patients who don't
maintain healthy posture when in a seated position. This may result
from a desire to get closer to the element they're interacting with.
By placing it on a slant board, it moves closer to the patient's face
and at a more accommodating angle to reduce the need to bend
over.

12. Stacking cups

Stacking cups, cones or other shapes are plastic tools that often
come in a variety of colors. As an occupational therapist, you may
allow a patient to play with the stacking toys on their own as a
creative outlet. You may also develop games or activities using the
cones, helping the patient develop their analytical and fine motor
skills.

13. Standing support frames

Standing support frames provide structure to assist a patient in

getting up from a seated position into a standing position. For
patients who spend extended periods of time seated, standing up
can have an impact on their circulation, digestion, respiration and
bone density. Using a sit-to-stand support frame with your patient
can improve their independence and help them develop their
strength and stability.

14. Strength testers

Strength testers are assessment tools that allow you to determine

key strengths levels for a patient. You may use the same tester over
several sessions to monitor strength development and progress.
You may also turn the strength test into a game, challenging
patients to beat their best scores, providing motivation to keep
improving.

15. Swings

Swings can provide a range of functions to an occupational

therapist and come in many forms. This includes platform swings,
bolster swings and cuddle swings. Using a swing provides motion
for a patient, and styles such as the cuddle swing, which envelops
the patient, can also provide comfort and reduce anxiety.

16. Weighted blankets and pads

Weighted blankets and pads are therapeutic tools an occupational
therapist may use to provide a calming sensation for patients.
Wearing a weighted implement can help the patient with their
attention to a task, their ability to process and respond to new
stimuli and their ability to perform basic tasks. While the blanket
provides more substantial coverage, a weighted pad can be easier
to transport or move around with a patient.

17. Weighted pencil

A weighted pencil provides a more substantial implement for a

patient's use when writing. You may choose to use a weighted
pencil as a tool when working with a patient who has difficulties
understanding the relationship between their body and space as
they move. Because the weighted pencil offers more sensation in
their hands, it can improve the patient's ability to understand its
interactions, resulting in more legible and consistent handwriting.

18. Weighted vest

A weighted vest provides similar therapeutic care for a patient as a

weighted blanket or pad. Because the patient wears the vest
directly, it can be easier for the patient to use in situations where
they may be mobile. As an occupational therapist, you may devise a
set schedule for your patients, suggesting opportunities in which
they can maximize the benefit of the vest, such as during key tasks
which require enhanced attention.

19. Wheeled walker

A wheeled walker provides strong support for an occupational

therapy patient, with wheels at the front of the walker and rubber
caps on the supports at the back of the walker. You may instruct a
patient to use the walker in front of them if they struggle to support
their own weight without assistance. You may instruct a patient to
use the walker with it positioned behind them, holding onto the side
rails instead of the front bar, for a more erect posture or for patients
who fall backward when walking.

20. Wiggle cushion

A wiggle cushion, also known as a wobble cushion or air-filled

cushion, uses an air-filled pad to provide an unstable surface where
a patient can sit. This allows your patient to keep moving while
sitting in the chair, which can provide stimulation and a method of
spending energy. This may improve the patient's ability to focus on
other tasks while sitting on the cushion.

1. Swings – Swings can be used in a variety of ways. Swings provide vestibular input
which is sensory input that tells the brain and body how they are moving in relation to
the environment. Vestibular input can be calming or alerting to the child’s body
depending on how the therapist directs the swing movement. Swings can also be
used in a variety of ways other than for swinging movement. A swing can be a
balance beam, or a surfboard, or a log. Using swings in a variety of imaginative ways
can target lots of different skills.
2. Crash pads/Bean Bags- Kids can have the opportunity to crash or get under crash
pads or get squeezed by bean bags. This can support a child’s sensory processing
skills and therefore allow them to have greater self-regulation abilities.
3. Weighted Items- Using weighted items can support a child’s sensory processing
and increase their attention, engagement, and regulation. Weighted vests and ankle
weights can be worn during a variety of activities to provide the child with additional
sensory input and therefore increase regulation. Therapists also use weighted
blankets, lap pads or stuffed animals to help a child calm their body and attend to a
task for a greater period of time.