Occupational therapy is the process of evaluating, treating and training patients who have lost their ability to live independently and work to varying degrees due to physical, mental or developmental dysfunction or disability, by applying purposeful and selected occupational activities, and is a rehabilitation treatment method. The goal is to maximize the patient’s ability to regain or improve independent living and working capacity so that he or she can lead a meaningful life as a member of the family and society. This therapy is of great value to the rehabilitation of patients with functional impairment, helping them to recover their functional impairment, change abnormal movement patterns, improve their ability to live independently, and shorten the process of their return to their families and society.
Occupational therapy and physical therapy for cerebral palsy will overlap, both will involve motor techniques such as sitting up, crawling, walking, balancing, and reflexes, but PT focuses more on the development of gross motor techniques, mainly involving large muscle groups such as those in the legs and trunk position, and OT focuses on the development of fine motor techniques, mainly involving muscle groups in the hands, arms, and face, with attention to sensory input such as sight, hearing, and touch in the training.
The objectives of OT for cerebral palsy are: first, to increase the range of joint movements, master practical movements, and promote the development of motor functions (mainly to promote the development of upper limb functions); second, to improve and promote the development of perceptual and cognitive functions; third, to improve the ability of daily living activities; and fourth, to improve the mental-psychological state and promote the development of emotion and sociality.
At the same time, we should follow the following principles when developing Ot training program.
1, to adjust the training content according to the requirements of the child at any time;
2, to design assignments for the child’s deficiencies;
3.Encourage every progress of the child;
4, detailed explanation and demonstration;
5, regular follow-up and observation;
6. Give full play to the role of parents;
7. Clarify the training goals for each type of cerebral palsy child
Focus of OT treatment
1. Maintain normal posture
2.Promote the development of upper limb function
3.Promote the development of sensory-perceptual-motor function
4.Promote daily life movements
5.Promote emotional stability and social adaptability
Focus of occupational therapy for different subtypes.
Spastic type: focus on relaxing stiff muscles, avoiding spastic body movements, and preventing deformities
Haptic: focus on learning to grasp with hands, stabilizing involuntary movements, and correcting abnormal body positions
Ataxia: focus on improving balance in kneeling, standing and walking positions, stabilizing standing and walking, and controlling the shaking of hands.