By Eleni – Irini Alevizou, Occupational Therapist at ANAPLASI Medical Rehabilitation Center. October 27 is World Occupational Therapy Day, providing an opportunity to highlight the importance of Occupational Therapy in supporting the health and well-being of individuals. As defined by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists, Occupational Therapy is the science that deals with the promotion of issues concerning people’s health, through their involvement in work (WFOT, 2012).
According to the American Occupational Therapy Association, “work” refers to the areas of Activities of Daily Living (such as bathing, toileting, dressing, feeding, functional mobility, personal hygiene, etc.), Recreation or Leisure, and Productivity (AOTA, 2020). “Work” is also defined as the daily activities that people do as individuals, as members of a family, and in the context of a community, but which are important, meaningful, and purposeful in their lives. Furthermore, the term “work” includes everything that people need, want, and are expected to do (WFOT, 2012).
The profession of Occupational Therapy developed in the early 20th century from the need to improve the quality of life of individuals with physical, mental, and social problems, due to the large number of war casualties at the time. At that time, it was called “Occupational Therapy” and emerged as a treatment method that focused mainly on the practical aspects of various fields, such as rehabilitation after traumatic injuries and enhancing the autonomy of individuals with motor or psychosocial problems (Quiroga & Virginia, 1995).
Today, the science of Occupational Therapy focuses on promoting the health and well-being of individuals through their engagement in meaningful “work” (Kristensen & Petersen, 2015). The main goal of Occupational Therapy is the development, restoration of skills, and improvement of the quality of life of individuals facing physical, mental, or social challenges (RCOT, 2015).
A characteristic feature of Occupational Therapy is that it seeks to adapt to the needs of modern society, always maintaining its mission, namely, to improve people’s lives and promote health and well-being in all areas of life, through work (CAOT, 2015).
In REHABILITATION, the primary goal of occupational therapy intervention is to improve patients’ ability to perform activities of daily living (feeding, dressing, personal hygiene, household activities) and transportation (wheelchair, chair, bed, toilet, car) safely and effectively.
At ANAPLASI, occupational therapists, as members of the Trans-Disciplinary Rehabilitation Team, assess patients and design individualized rehabilitation programs, prioritizing the goals and needs of the patients and their families. These programs aim to engage individuals in important tasks of daily living, prevent falls, achieve independence, and educate relatives and caregivers (AOTA, 2024).
At the same time, through international assessment scales, occupational therapy intervention is further individualized in all areas of daily life, not only in personal care and creative employment, but also in productivity, with the aim of personal, family, professional, and social reintegration.
Occupational Therapy sessions combine classical therapeutic intervention with specialized auxiliary and supportive technology, aimed at maximizing the effectiveness of therapeutic programs.
Leading the way in technology, ANAPLASI is one of the few Rehabilitation Structures worldwide that has Neuronavigated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (nTMS) available. nTMS is a non-invasive method of focal brain stimulation, using a high-intensity magnetic field and three-dimensional reconstruction of the brain from MRI. It is a well-tolerated, accurate, and effective medical procedure. It is of diagnostic importance in accurately identifying motor and speech areas in the brains of patients before they undergo neurosurgical operations. In addition, nTMS has multiple therapeutic applications, including treating hand paralysis as a result of brain damage. The application of the robotic glove to the patient’s paralyzed hand during a therapeutic session with Neuronavigated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (nTMS), with the collaboration and coordination of internationally certified physicians and specially trained occupational therapists, constitutes a leading treatment for the restoration of movement and speech in patients with Stroke or other brain damage, thus enhancing the retraining of functional use of the upper limb.
The combined sessions of the rehabilitation specialties of ANAPLASI (Speech Therapy, Neuropsychology, Clinical Psychology, Physiotherapy) aim to provide a holistic approach to patients. Such a scientifically certified approach enhances the rehabilitation of patients with neurological damage to the greatest extent, as it helps them develop, restore, or maintain the skills they need to become independent and fully participate in daily life.
At ANAPLASI, the Occupational Therapy department, in collaboration with the Psychology departments and the Social Service, carries out psychosocial rehabilitation groups to facilitate the smooth adaptation of patients, enhance their recreational activities, and improve their quality of life, within the framework of a supportive environment.
However, the care of ANAPLASI patients continues after they leave the Center. ANAPLASI occupational therapists provide a residential assessment of the patients’ homes, as well as continuing occupational therapy treatment at home.
At ANAPLASI, the most important thing is dedication to people and their health, with a real outlook towards a future full of hope and possibility.
At ANAPLASI
“We do the maximum possible, not the minimum necessary.”
“We care for our patients as we would care for our own family.”
