Imagine not being able to tie your shoes, cook a meal, pick up a child, or participate in the leisure activity that you enjoy most. These, and so many other activities are taken for granted until an injury or a loss of mental health takes them away or makes them next to impossible to accomplish.
Occupational therapy is a health profession focused on enabling people to engage in the everyday "occupations" or purposeful activities in which they participate.
These activities include everything from self-care, social participation, education, work, play, and leisure activity. An occupational therapist focuses on helping people develop skills needed to function effectively across the spectrum of normal daily living and is embodied in the slogan,
"Occupational Therapy, Skills for the Job of Living."
At Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center, occupational therapists help active duty Soldiers, reservists, retirees, and Family members develop "skills for the job of living" in five main practice areas: hand therapy, acute care, mental health, and in two new areas: treatment of traumatic brain injury and helping with the Warrior in Transition Unit.
Hands-on Hand Therapy
Since normal daily activity involves the use of one's hands, Army occupational therapists are experts in the evaluation and treatment of conditions that affect the hands and arms.
Unlike their civilian counterparts, Army occupational therapists are credentialed to diagnose and treat hand and arm conditions that can be managed without surgery. Such conditions include but are not limited to various fractures, tendon lacerations, and repetitive motion injuries such as tendonitis, wrist and finger sprains, carpal tunnel syndrome and tennis elbow.
The clinic has the most up-to-date equipment and treatment modalities and therapists who have been specifically trained in rehabilitation of the upper extremity.
Acute Care
In the acute care setting, occupational therapy focuses on rehabilitation and improving functional ability while the patient is still in the hospital. After a surgical procedure has taken place to include upper extremity surgery, hip or knee replacements or if a beneficiary is brought in after having a stroke, heart attack, or other medical emergency, an occupational therapist helps by assessing the need for adaptive equipment, working on activities of daily living, and preparing the patient for the most appropriate discharge location.
If needed, the wounded warriors may transition to the VA Active Duty Inpatient Unit, and then the Warrior Transition Unit, and if applicable, outpatient rehab or the traumatic brain injury unit.
Mental Health
People can experience occupational performance deficits that result from psychological trauma as well as physical injury.
Therefore, Army occupational therapists are also vital members of the mental health team. Occupational therapists working in mental health teach skills such as stress management, problem solving, communication, and time management that all assist in a person's occupational performance.
Additionally, OTs use specific activities to enhance a person's self-esteem, restore confidence and develop a sense of competency as well.
Similarly, therapists working in support of the Eisenhower Substance Abuse Program assist patients with their problems with addiction by helping them identify and explore new leisure pursuits to replace maladaptive habits and develop lifestyles that supports sobriety.
Warriors in Transition Battalions
Occupational Therapy has recently begun providing skilled intervention by way of life skills, work-reintegration, and leisure skills pursuit to service members who are returned to their respective bases due to illness or polytrauma.
The role of the occupational therapist in the WTB is to assist the injured service member (e.g. warrior) throughout their medical transition to reintegrate into their previous unit if their physical and mental injuries allow, to re-classify into another military occupational specialty when appropriate, or to help that Soldier transition into a civilian based occupation.
The WTB-occupational therapist works within a comprehensive multidisciplinary team that quickly and efficiently provides needed medical and psychosocial services to the injured Soldier, Sailor, Airman, and Marine.
Traumatic Brain Injury
Occupational Therapy in the Traumatic Brain Injury Clinic addresses memory deficits, decreased concentration and attention, communication difficulties, and lack of organizational skills as a result of TBI.
Compensating for these deficits is a major goal for Soldiers so that they may resume work or meaningful productive activity.
Another focus of treatment is to assist the Soldier with their work related skills to include returning to active duty or work related to the civilian sector.
The TBI occupational therapist is a member of a multidisciplinary team with the goal of promoting a maximal level of independence and participation in the community. We coordinate treatment with other providers within the DDEAMC system of care to address the total needs of the service member.
So, whether modifying the workplace to prevent injuries, getting a battle fatigued Soldier back in the fight or rehabilitating an injured Soldier, Army occupational therapists are working hard to keeping Soldiers' on the job and leading full productive lives.
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