Why Should You #ChooseOT?


April is National Occupational Therapy Month, so we thought it would be the perfect time to tell you about the #ChooseOT campaign. #ChooseOT is intended to raise awareness of occupational therapy as an alternative to pain medication and surgery for the treatment of chronic pain and injury.

Occupational therapy is the only profession that helps people to do the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of daily activities (occupations). Occupational therapy practitioners enable people of all ages to live life to its fullest by helping them promote health, and prevent—or live better with—injury, illness, or disability.

Many in the medical field still prescribe dangerous opioid medications for chronic pain, or suggest surgery for injuries that could be just as effectively treated with non-invasive therapy. The #ChooseOT campaign is meant to let people know that there are safer, noninvasive ways to treat their chronic pain or injury.

As opposed to pain medications, occupational therapy actually addresses the root cause of the pain, rather than just masking it. In a recent study, the CDC found that therapy was more effective and safer for treating chronic pain than opioid pain medications.

Occupational therapy is also better than surgery for addressing many injuries. In many cases, surgery and therapy have similar outcomes, but surgery is often more expensive, more dangerous, and more invasive than therapy.

So, this year, for occupational therapy month, help us spread the word about occupational therapy as an alternative to medicinal or surgical intervention by using the hashtag #ChooseOT with stories of how therapy has helped you.

Find out more about occupational therapy and chronic pain and the difference between occupational and physical therapy, or find your nearest Access clinic today to schedule an appointment.

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