Česky
Occupational therapy belongs to the non-medical health professions and its main goal is to restore the patient's self-sufficiency. The occupational therapist will carry out a professional examination and, based on the results, draw up an individual rehabilitation plan. This focuses on training for everyday activities such as dressing, eating, drinking or shopping.
The therapy also includes supporting and restoring the functionality of upper and lower limbs that may have been damaged by injury or illness. The occupational therapist also works with cognitive function and helps select appropriate compensatory aids such as wheelchairs, bath seats, braces or splints.
People with neurological diagnoses, strokes, spinal cord injuries, Parkinson's disease or multiple sclerosis most often seek the help of an occupational therapist. Orthopaedic patients are also an important group.
"The family is an integral part of the rehabilitation process. Together we consult on what the patient's home environment looks like," explains Hoidekrová. However, she says, mistakes are often made if loved ones do not consult a specialist.
"Many times I have encountered a situation where a family has purchased a poorly chosen compensatory aid, such as a wheelchair or walker. Often these are aids that are covered by the insurance company, but they are not properly adjusted or adapted to the specific patient," she says.
The consequence is that instead of helping the patient, the aid becomes a hindrance. "We are unnecessarily missing out on the opportunity to support their self-sufficiency and functionality," concludes the occupational therapist.
What is the future of occupational therapy? How can robotics help the field and what is the focus of international research in this area? Check out the latest episode of Vision.
