Occupational Therapy Works

Positive results abound! This past week has been both satisfying and gratifying. My patients are indeed moving better, thinking better, feeling better and participating more fully in their lives.

The first case is a 6 year old girl who was referred to occupational therapy for what is termed, “tactile defensiveness.” When someone experiences this sensory processing disorder, s/he has a limited tolerance for things rubbing against their skin and sometimes things in their mouth. Each case is different. In this case this young girl has been unable to tolerate clothing around her neckline, waist, groin, and feet. Straps of bike helmets bother her so much that as much as she loves to ride her bike, she chooses a less irritating activity. Getting dressed and arriving at school on time has been traumatic for both this child and her mother. Desperate and exasperated, the mother called several weeks ago for an immediate appointment. Treatment began including both the development of a sensory diet and behavior management. Each week the dressing got a bit easier but the last frontier was her feet. Seamless socks and carefully chosen sneakers, put on only once her sensory system was primed, allowed the breakthrough. I received a breathless, excited, telephone message from this little girl thrilled to have her socks and new sneakers on her feet. This week we will have a race down the hall both clad in our sneakers and socks.

  

On a completely different front, a woman came to my office, again about 3 weeks ago, with complaints of daily headaches.  The doctor felt sure it was not coming from her cervical spine and sent her a headache specialist. Before seeing this specialist, we did an assessment and found severe tightness of the muscles around her neck and upper back, an asymmetry in her posture, and generalized weakness. We began with soft tissue mobilization and neck exercises.  After two such treatments she reported that she hadn’t had a headache in three days although she did have more neck pain. She also reports improved awareness of her posture and neck position. Medication that she has been using over the last six months was not needed. The appointment with the headache specialists was cancelled.  

Three treatments have eliminated the need for expensive testing and money for pharmacological solutions. Back and neck health move to the forefront. A woman, who came with certain hesitancy, now leaves with a smile.  

Therapy works.  It is a partnership between the therapist and the individual.  It calls for hope and draws on resiliency. The result is the ability to step back into life more fully and with less effort.