The 7 Best Tools For Occupational Therapy

When illness or injury results in difficulty performing everyday tasks, Occupational Therapy is a great way to regain strength and independence. It is a holistic approach designed to improve or remediate all aspects of life. Although Occupational Therapy affects everyone differently, it can be an important and effective treatment allowing patients to live functional life by promoting health, wellness, and independence despite boundaries.

Considered to be very effective in achieving individual goals through therapeutic activities and adaptive equipment, OT works to improve the skills necessary to lead a more independent and productive life, such as:  

• Fine Motor Skills -  Involves using the small muscles of the hand and writst. Actions such as pinching, grasping, writing, drawing, dressing, using scissors, etc. 
• Gross Motor Skills – Using the large muscles of the body such as the core, arms and legs to perform tasks which involve coordination, stability, and endurance. Examples include sitting, running, climbing stairs and throwing a ball.
• Hand-eye coordination – Using our hands and eyes simultaneously for an activity that requires the hands to carry out an action that the eyes perceive. Writing, driving or playing sports, inserting a credit card into a chip reader, playing a game that involves placing shapes into a similarly shaped hole, etc are all examples of hand-eye coordination. 
• Sensory Skills – We have all been taught about the 5 senses - sight, taste, touch, auditory and smell, but did you know that there are 3 more senses that also deliver information to the brain? The lesser known senses are vestibular (or balance), proprioceptive (or movement) and Interoceptive (or internal).
• Visual Stimulation Skills – The ability engage visually to help with brain development.This includes graphic motor skills, optical efficiency, visual perception, spatial awareness, visual attention, and oculomotor skills.
• Emotional Rehabilitation - Managing post-recovery emotions that can manifest in many forms, such as frustration, desperation, anger, or depression. Improve emotional wellness, managing healthy thoughts, and emotional intelligence.
• Social Skills - The ability to interact with friends and family, self-control, empathy, work with others, communication, and respect others.
• Functioning Skills - Developing ways that can help individuals in task initiation, task completion, prioritizing, processing speed, organization, attention, impulse control, cognitive flexibility, foresight, and hindsight. 

There are several ways that occupational therapists work on these skills in order for their patients to become more independent.

The Rehab Store offers a list of the 7 top-reviewed occupational therapy tools for an effective rehabilitation therapy program. 

7 Best Reviewed Tools for Occupational Therapy

1. Aluminum Reacher with Magnetic Tip

Mobility issues, low hand strength, and arthritis can often leave a patient relying on a caregiver many of the things that they need. The Aluminum Reacher with Magnetic Tip effortlessly grasps objects in hard-to-reach places such as on the floor, behind furniture, under beds, on high shelves, and makes the user much more independent in their daily routine. This extended reacher grabber has an economical and rust-proof design that allows one to use it indoors and outdoors. The slip-resistant ergonomic contoured handle feels extremely comfortable in the user's hand, and the magnetic tip picks up lightweight metallic objects easily.

2. Plastic Handle Swivel Utensils

Ideal for those with little muscle control to allow for independent eating. This is a great tool for  those with conditions such as Parkinson's disease, arthritis, poor fine-motor skills, or those with post-stroke gripping difficulties. The stainless-steel utensils have a special swiveling design that stays level to keep food from spilling when turned at any angle. The plastic handle provides easy grasp and improves holding patterns.

Aluminum Reacher With Magnetic Tip

Plastic Handle Swivel Utensils

3. Medline Knockdown Bath Bench

Bathing and showering become safe and comfortable with this height-adjustable bath bench. Non-slip feet that keep the seat in place and its robust aluminum frame is rust-resistent, lightweight and super easy to clean. No tools are required for assembly. 

4. Premium Hip Kit

Included in this kit are seven items designed to help the patient complete daily tasks, such as bathing, dressing and other daily activities, independently. Often recommended by physical therapists, this kit is exclusively manufactured to improve the quality of life of those who have undergone anterior hip replacement, knee or back surgery. 

Medline Knockdown Bath Bench with Arms and Back

Premium Hip Kit

5. Sock Aid

Arthritic patients often find it difficult to bend  down to dress and putting on socks can be especially frustrating. The sock helper aids in pulling on a sock or stocking easily without a lot of bending. Simply slip this inside a sock or stocking, place the foot on the plastic core and pull the cord. This brings the sock effortlessly onto the foot. A great tool for those with limited mobility and dexterity. 

6. Dressing Stick

Designed for those with limited mobility the Dressing Stick makes dressing and undressing so much easier. Often recommended by occupational therapists for such daily tasks like putting on shirts, jackets, pants, shoes, or socks. The dressing stick has an attached foam handle that  moves up or down for added comfort. 

7. T-Grip Rocker Knife

Designed with top quality stainless steal and a horizontal rubber handle, it’s great for those with arthritic hands, Parkinson’s Disease patients or anyone afflicted with strength and agility issues of the hands. This knife protects the joints by helping to reduce pain in the fingers and hands that is experienced when cutting or slicing. It is also easy to clean and dishwasher safe.  

Sock Aid

Dressing Stick

T-Grip Rocker Knife

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