Occupational therapists can help with so much more than just joint pain – check out twenty-six examples of how occupational therapists help people with arthritis, in honor of Occupational Therapy Month!
Thank you Shannen Coley from Instagram for sponsoring the “ABCs of OT” challenge, which inspired this post!
A is for Adaptive Equipment – Occupational therapists suggest gadgets that can help you perform everyday tasks with less pain and more independence.
B = Biopsychosocial approach: Occupational Therapists look at the FULL picture of your life, not just your joints! We can suggest modifications to your environment, your approach to social life, and your mental health, in addition to physical interventions for joint pain.
C = Coping Skills – Because occupational therapists are licensed to directly address mental health, we’re well poised to help you cope with the stress, anxiety and depression that can accompany chronically painful conditions like inflammatory arthritis. A few of my favorite tools are mindfulness, acceptance and CBT.
D = Dressing – This one’s more straightforward – occupational therapists can teach you how to get dressed with less pain and more independence!
E = Education: “Strong evidence exists for the effectiveness of various educational occupational therapy approaches to improve pain, tender joints, affect, and coping of people with RA.”” Carandang, K., Pyatak, E. A., & Vigen, C. L. P. (2016). Systematic review of educational interventions for rheumatoid arthritis. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 70, 7006290020. http://dx.doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2016.021386
F is for Fatigue Management
Fatigue is a state of physical and/or mental exhaustion that persists despite adequate sleep. Occupational therapists teach strategies like: energy conservation, activity pacing & altering routines to prevent & minimize fatigue that is associated with autoimmune and auto-inflammatory forms of arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
G is for Compression Gloves – Occupational Therapists can recommend compression gloves, which can help you manage hand swelling, pain and stiffness due to arthritis!
H is for hip replacement surgery – After a hip replacement surgery, occupational therapists help you take care of your daily tasks with less pain and more independence. They can even come into your home and help modify it to help you prevent falls.
I is for Invisible Illness Occupational therapists help you cope with living with an “invisible illness” like inflammatory arthritis.
J is for Joint Protection – Occupational therapists help you protect your joints and prevent pain during daily tasks.
K is for key grasp aid – Twisting a key requires something called “lateral pinch” or pinch grip strength. This can be difficult when you have weakness or pain from arthritis.
Occupational therapists may suggest a key grasp aid such as the Keywing to make this task easier. They may also recommend a hand strengthening home exercise program.
L is for Life Hacks – Occupational therapists teach you life hacks to reduce pain and improve your abilities in daily tasks like showering, cooking, caring for pets and more!
M is for Mental Health
6 Facts about Arthritis + Mental Health:
➡️ 66% feel anxious in last 7 days
➡️ 32% have history of depression
➡️ 92% say pain interferes w/daily activities
Occupational Therapists can help you cope with mental health effects of arthritis.
N is for Nociceptors (pain receptors)
Rheumatoid arthritis pain is sometimes caused by autoimmune inflammation. It can also be caused by “central sensitization,” or an over-response of the central nervous system (brain & spinal cord) to nociceptive input. An occupational therapist can help you form an individualized pain management plan. (Citation: “Understanding the Mechanisms of Pain in Rheumatoid Arthritis,” Kathryn Biddle and Nidhi Sofat, 2020)
O is for Organization
Occupational therapists can help you organize the JOB of being a chronic illness patient (“self-management”), which includes:
- Health Management – organize appointments, track symptoms, manage meds + more
- Symptom Management – organize tools to relieve pain, fatigue + brain fog
- Lifestyle: Exercise, nutrition & more
- Stress & mental health
- Goal setting
P is for Profession and Work Skills:
Occupational therapists recommend ways to succeed in your professional life with tools like:
- Voice dictation software (to give sore hands a rest)
- Ergonomic computer, mouse and chair
- Other work accommodations
Q is for Quality of Life:
According to the American Occupational Therapy Association, “Occupational therapy practitioners help people with arthritis live life to its fullest by maximizing their ability to participate in activities (occupations)…and enhancing quality of life.”
R is for Relationships:
Occupational Therapists look at the FULL picture of your life, not just your joints!
They can help you cope with social stressors from arthritis.
S is for Sexual Participation:
Occupational therapists can help people with arthritis:
- Discover positions that reduce pain
- Find healthy routines that can lead to sexual satisfaction
T is for Thermoplastic Splint:Occupational therapists can create custom splints using thermoplastic material which molds around your hands, to support your joints!
U is for: Ulnar Drift
Ulnar drift” is a deformity that happens with uncontrolled rheumatoid arthritis, where the knuckle joints and fingers shift towards the pinky. Occupational therapists help you find alternate ways to do daily activities to prevent or minimize this.
V is for: Valued Activities – Occupational therapists help you reconnect to valued activities and hobbies and suggest workarounds to make them less painful!
W is for: Wide grips – Occupational therapists may suggest a wide grip for pencils, forks and similar objects to make them easier to grasp!
X is for: X-Ray – Doctors order X-Rays to monitor bone damage from arthritis. An occupational therapist may review your X-ray prior to fabricating a hand splint or orthosis.
Y is for: Youth with Arthritis
- Occupational therapists help the over 300,000 youth with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis:
- Manage pain and fatigue
- Obtain accommodations at school
- Cope with the emotional aspects of invisible illness
Z is for: Ziploc bag alternatives
Closing and opening Ziploc style bags can be difficult if you have thumb pain or arthritis, and occupational therapists can help you find food storage alternatives that are less painful!
