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What is occupational therapy? How OT helps you get back to the daily tasks that matter after an injury, surgery or illness
What is occupational therapy? Occupational therapy (OT) helps you get back to the everyday tasks an injury, surgery or illness has made hard, such as dressing, cooking, typing, lifting, writing and doing your job. An occupational therapist looks at how your hand, arm, strength, coordination and daily routine are working, then builds a plan around the tasks that matter most to you. Treatment mixes exercise, hands-on care, task practice, splints and practical changes to how you do things. Physical therapy focuses more on walking, balance and big movements; the two often work together.
The word “occupation” in occupational therapy does not only mean a job. It means the things that fill your day: getting dressed, making breakfast, using your phone, carrying groceries, playing your sport, caring for family and working. At Precision Care Medical & Sports Performance, occupational and hand therapy is offered at our Brooklyn office, where our occupational therapist, Valerie Khodorkovskiy, OTR/L, focuses on the hand, wrist, elbow and arm. The videos show what that work looks like.
Who occupational therapy can help
- Hand and wrist injuries: fractures, sprains and tendon problems; see wrist fracture recovery
- After surgery: on the hand, wrist, elbow or shoulder, once your surgeon clears therapy; see pre- and post-surgical rehab
- Painful hand conditions: carpal tunnel, trigger finger, arthritis and chronic wrist pain
- Neurological conditions: such as occupational therapy after stroke
- Older adults: keeping independence, safety and confidence with daily tasks
What brings each person in differs, so an evaluation comes first.
What happens at a first visit
The occupational therapist asks which tasks are hard and what you want to get back to, then measures motion, grip and pinch strength, sensation, swelling and coordination. From there, sessions may include hands-on work, graded exercise with putty, bands and weights, repeated practice of real tasks, a splint made for your hand, and changes to tools and routines at home or work. You also get a short home exercise program, because practice between visits is where much of the progress happens.
What is occupational therapy vs physical therapy?
The two overlap, and many people need both. Occupational therapy focuses on the hand, arm and daily tasks. Physical therapy focuses more on walking, balance, the back, hips and knees, and moving safely; see what to expect at physical therapy. At our offices, physical therapy is offered in Brooklyn and Staten Island, and occupational therapy in Brooklyn only. Your physician examines the cause of pain or weakness first, orders imaging or an EMG/NCV nerve test when needed, and coordinates therapy as part of your treatment.
How long occupational therapy takes
It depends on the problem and your goals. Some people need a few visits for a splint and a home program; others, after surgery or a fracture, come for several weeks to a few months. Progress is re-measured at set points, so you and your therapist can see what is changing and adjust the plan.
More videos: occupational therapy in practice
More clips from our YouTube channel @precisioncaremedical showing what occupational therapy sessions look like.
Related care at Precision Care Medical & Sports Performance
Occupational therapy near you
Looking for occupational therapy near me? Precision Care Medical & Sports Performance offers occupational and hand therapy at our Brooklyn office on Shell Rd, close to Gravesend, Brighton Beach, Bensonhurst and Bath Beach. Valerie Khodorkovskiy, OTR/L specializes in upper-extremity and fine-motor rehabilitation, and Ashley Marcus, MD, a physiatrist, sees patients in the same office.
Physical therapy is also offered at our Brooklyn and Staten Island offices. Request an appointment or call (718) 648-1234 to ask whether occupational therapy fits your needs.
Questions patients ask
What does an occupational therapist do?
An occupational therapist helps you get back to daily tasks such as dressing, cooking, typing and work, using exercise, hands-on care, task practice, splints and changes to how you do things.
What is the difference between occupational therapy and physical therapy?
Occupational therapy focuses on the hand, arm and daily tasks. Physical therapy focuses more on walking, balance and larger movements. Many people benefit from both.
Who needs occupational therapy?
People recovering from hand, wrist, elbow or shoulder injuries and surgery, people with conditions such as carpal tunnel or arthritis, and people relearning daily tasks after an illness such as a stroke.
What happens at the first occupational therapy visit?
The therapist asks about the tasks you find hard, measures motion, grip, sensation and swelling, and starts a plan with exercises you can do at home.
How long does occupational therapy take?
It varies. Some people need a few visits for a splint and home program; recovery after surgery or a fracture often takes several weeks to a few months.
Where can I find occupational therapy near me?
Precision Care Medical & Sports Performance offers occupational and hand therapy at one office:
- Brooklyn2781 Shell Rd, Suite 101, Brooklyn, NY 11223(718) 648-1234 · Get directions
Occupational therapy is offered in Brooklyn only; physical therapy is offered at the Brooklyn and Staten Island offices.
Educational only, not medical advice. These videos and this article explain common problems and treatments in general terms. They are not a diagnosis or a treatment plan for you. Results vary from person to person. See a qualified clinician about your own symptoms, and call 911 or go to an emergency room for an emergency.
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