Mental Health Week – #MyStory
Storytelling is a fundamental part of life. It’s how we share information, culture, language, and ways of life. Stories connect us with our friends, families and ancestors. Sharing personal experiences and stories is not only valuable for promoting understanding — it can help us see the world from different perspectives. Our stories shape us and the way we interact with each other and the world.
Stories are an integral part of mental health. It’s through stories that we build connections, make sense of our realities, find support, and reduce stigma. Stories of humanity, healing, and new possibilities. It’s also through listening to our clients and their stories that Occupational Therapists help clients get back to the activities they love. OT Works! supports CMHA Mental Health Week (May 1-7, 2023) and this year’s theme: #MyStory.
Understanding Mental Health
Mental health is the state of our psychological and emotional well-being. It encompasses our emotions, feelings of connection, thoughts, and the ability to manage life’s highs and lows. Throughout our lives, we will all experience periods of positive and negative mental health.
Everyone has mental health
Mental health and mental illness are often used interchangeably, but it’s important to note that they are not the same. Mental health is always there and may be positive or negative. Mental illness, however, affects a person’s ability to function over a long period. Someone without a mental illness could experience poor mental health, just as a person living with a mental illness could experience excellent mental health.
The presence or absence of a mental illness is not a predictor of good mental health
Mental health is part of every one of us and in all areas of our lives. We bring it with us to our workplaces, schools, our hobbies, recreational activities, and our places of worship – everywhere we go in our communities our mental health is with us.
Everyone deserves to have the right supports and resources available to foster good mental health
Mental illnesses are caused by a complex interplay of genetic, biological, personality, and environmental factors. They are characterized by alterations in thinking, mood, or behaviour associated with significant distress and impaired functioning.
One-third of people in Canada will experience a mental illness or substance use disorder in their lifetime.
With the right support, people with mental illnesses can thrive. Just as we take care of our physical health, there are many ways we can help take care of our mental health.
Look after your mental health
Everyone can take steps to take care of their mental health.
Building and nurturing support networks
Feeling connected to others and to our community not only provides us with a sense of belonging but ensures we have people to lean on when we need to. Friends, family members, co-workers, neighbours, and romantic partners can all be great connections.
Identifying and feeling our emotions
Having good mental health doesn’t mean feeling happy all the time. It means being able to identify and experience the wide range of emotions that all humans go through and managing them in a way that is respectful to you and others around you.
Being active
Move your body in a way that feels good for you. This can include walking, dancing, running, swimming, stretching, and playing with your kids or animals. Moving your body 20 minutes per day decreases tension levels and improves anxiety, depression, dementia, cognition, and quality of life.
Trying a new hobby or sport
Inviting fun and creativity into our routines can help minimize stress and reduce anxiety and depression. Make time for the things that bring you meaning and joy! Whether it’s knitting, reading, bike riding, or baking, there are endless possibilities and activities to get involved in.
Practicing mindfulness
Mindfulness is purposely bringing one’s attention to the present moment. When our minds are cluttered, it can be difficult to notice our feelings. Practicing mindfulness and breathing exercises can help calm your mind, become more aware, and create better connections with yourself and others.
Being kind to ourselves
While we can’t stop our minds from thinking, we can change how we talk to ourselves. Take a moment and listen to your inner voice. What’s it telling you? Sometimes we don’t realize the amount of negative self-talk we engage in until we stop and listen. We could all benefit from growing our compassionate voice which might sound like how we speak to our loved ones.
Looking for help
Safely sharing your stories and struggles with a professional can also be helpful. A mental health professional can support you on your journey to becoming healthier!
Occupational Therapy, Mental Health, and Stories
Occupational Therapists (OTs) can listen to your stories in a professional, safe, non-judgmental, and respectful way.
Our OTs provide trauma-informed care and can help you get back to the activities that are meaningful to you.
Supporting clients and their mental health is exactly what OTs do!
OTs can help you find and build the right supports, identify your emotions, get active, try new fun and creative activities, practice mindfulness, and reframe the way you think and speak to yourself. Ultimately, OTs can help you get back to the life you love!
Contact Us
At OT Works!, our occupational therapists recognize the importance of listening and understanding. Our therapists are experienced in providing support for mental health issues. Our therapists at OT Works! are certified with the College of Occupational Therapists of British Columbia (COTBC) and have training in areas such as mental health, brain injury rehabilitation, home safety, and chronic pain.
If you or someone you know needs mental health support, contact us today.
Email: referrals@ot-works.com
Phone: 604.696.1066 ext. 1000.
Learn More
- CMHA Mental Health Week
- Sharing your Story Safely by the Mental Health Commission of Canada
- Wellness Together: mental health support for people in Canada and Canadians abroad. Always free and virtual, 24/7.
- Bounce Back: A free, evidence-based program designed to help adults and youth experiencing symptoms of mild to moderate depression, low mood, or stress, with or without anxiety.
OT Works! would like to thank CMHA for supplying parts of the content for this post.
March is Brain Health Awareness Month
Brain Health Awareness Month is a month to remind people to take care of their brains.
Occupational Therapists provide holistic client-centred therapy that considers the person’s physical, cognitive and emotional strengths and challenges, empowering them to live a healthy lifestyle.
We cannot talk about a healthy lifestyle without talking about our brains.
The brain is an integral part of our health, as the brain controls everything in our bodies, from physical ability to cognition to emotions. We rely on our brains for learning, moving, working, making decision, and even doing simple activities, such as watching TV!
In fact, brain injury is the number one killer and disabler of children and adults under the age of 45. In British Columbia alone, “…between 21 and 38 individuals sustain brain injury each day…” -Health Canada, 2007.
It’s important to prevent brain injuries and to do things to maintain a healthy brain for a good quality of life.
Keeping a healthy brain
Taking care of your brain can be simple and involves having healthy habits. Here are some ideas to keep a healthy brain:
- Eat nutritious food: avoid highly processed foods, and give preference to vegetables, fruits, whole grain foods, organic and protein foods. Canada’s Food Guide is a useful source of information for healthy eating.
- Exercise regularly: physical activity improves blood flow and can help you think, learn, problem-solve, and enjoy an emotional balance. Studies suggest that a simple exercise, like walking, can help increase creativity.
- Sleep well: sleeping 7-8 hours a day helps our brain reorganize and recover.
- Learn new things: when we learn new things, the brain creates new pathways, keeping it active and healthy!
- Be creative: creative activities such as reading, writing, making puzzles, playing a musical instrument, singing, and creating art and crafts are fun ways to keep the brain active.
- Reduce stress: stress can prematurely age the brain. Take steps to reduce stress in your life such as using relaxation techniques, deep breathing, positive thinking, meditation/praying, visualization, and enjoying nature.
- Stay socially connected: staying connected socially helps you stay connected mentally. Research shows that regularly interacting with others may help reduce your risk of developing dementia.
- Wear helmets: when playing sports that involve moving quickly or using a ball or a puck. Falls are the leading cause of brain injury, followed by striking or being struck by an object.
- Wear PPE at work: a hard hat and other protective equipment can prevent a brain injury at physically active jobs.
Our therapists have experience with brain injury
Our therapists have experience helping clients with brain injury to live their best lives. We continuously help WSBC, ICBC, third-party insurer, and private-pay clients with brain injury.
If you or someone you know had a concussion or a traumatic brain injury, contact us today.
Email: referrals@ot-works.com
Phone: 604.696.1066 ext. 1000.
Read more about brain health:
- Brain-healthy tips to reduce your risk of dementia by the Alzheimer Society.
- Healthy Brain by Brainstreams
- What can you do to keep your brain healthy, an animated video by Trinity Brain Health.
(Photo by EKATERINA BOLOVTSOVA: https://www.pexels.com/photo/paperclip-in-a-shape-of-a-light-bulb-and-a-rubber-eraser-in-a-shape-of-a-brain-6193936/)
Meet Amna Khan: Occupational Therapist
Welcome Amna Khan to the OT Works! team.
Amna completed her Masters of Occupational Therapy (MOT) at University of British Columbia. Her training included experiences in both public health and private practice. Prior to becoming an OT, Amna worked at UBC where she supported several clinical research studies in the areas of oncology, mental health, and rehabilitation. She worked as a behavioural interventionist to support children with ASD and worked as a volunteer to assist rehabilitation of residents in long-term care. Amna is passionate about providing evidence-based and client-centred care to help her clients achieve their functional goals and full potential. Her current areas of focus include: musculoskeletal/orthopaedic injuries, chronic pain, mental health (anxiety, depression), and concussion / traumatic brain injury.
Amna serves clients in the Metro Vancouver and Fraser Valley areas, including Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, Surrey, Delta, White Rock, Port Moody, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Langley, Fort Langley, Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, Abbotsford and Mission.
She works with WorkSafeBC, ICBC, and private paying clients, as well as those with extended health/disability insurance.
Amna has also taken additional courses and certifications in suicide intervention, serious illness, chronic pain and cognitive rehabilitation.
Like all our therapists at OT Works!, Amna is registered and in good standing with the College of Occupational Therapists of British Columbia (COTBC).
Get Started with an OT
If you or someone you know could benefit from working with an occupational therapist, contact us today!
Email: referrals@ot-works.com
Phone: 604.696.1066 ext. 1000.
November is Fall Prevention Month
Everyone trips or loses their balance from time to time. While most falls do not cause severe injury, a simple fall from standing can cause significant injuries. Falls are the leading cause of injury-related hospitalizations among Canadian older adults. 20-30% of older adults fall each year.
The good news is that there is much you can do as most falls are predictable and preventable. Everyone has a role in preventing falls. You can take simple steps to reduce your risk of falling.
11 Ways to Prevent a Fall
1. Improve your mobility and balance
- Include balance exercises, such as Tai Chi, Yoga, and dancing, as part of your routine
- Take your time to get up from bed and to turn, allowing your body enough time to adapt
- Talk to an Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist about mobility aids.
2. Strengthen your muscles and increase your physical activity
Exercise is good for your heart and circulation, as well as your bones, muscles, and balance. It also helps to maintain a healthy weight and mental well-being.
- If you are inactive, start by choosing an activity you like and plan for how to incorporate physical activity safely into your routine.
- Look for group activities or classes in your community or get your family or friends to be active with you.
- If you have a medical condition, discuss your plans for physical activity with a health professional before beginning an exercise program and seek a supervised program.
3. Check your vision
Regular eye exams are important to address vision problems, as poor vision can increase the risk of a fall.
- Have your eyes tested each year by an optometrist.
- Reduce glare outdoors by wearing a hat or sunglasses and eliminate glare in your home by using light shades and curtains.
- Always keep glasses handy.
4. Check your medication
Taking multiple medications is linked to falls – the greater the number of medications a person takes, the greater the risk of any adverse reaction from medication, including falls. Some drugs, such as sedatives, are more likely to increase the risk of falling.
- Ask about a medication review of all your medications. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for information and whether any of your medications will cause unsteadiness or other side effects.
- Speak to your doctor or pharmacist immediately if a medication is causing side effects, such as becoming unsteady, dizzy, confused, or drowsy, or if you have a fall.
- Avoid taking medication and alcohol together – alcohol can add to the risk of falling by affecting your alertness, judgement, physical coordination, and reaction time.
5. Reduce your fear of falling
Fear of falling or loss of confidence sometimes occurs after a fall. This can lead to a cycle of stopping activities, which in turn reduces muscle mass and strength.
- Become aware if you are afraid of falling and how it is affecting your everyday activities and mobility.
- Discuss your fear of falling with family members and health professionals to find ways to take appropriate steps toward fall prevention.
- Be prepared before a fall. If you live alone, a personal alarm or cordless telephone can give you greater confidence to stay active in and around the house.
6. Use appropriate footwear
Wearing footwear that does not fit properly or has worn soles may increase your risk for a fall.
Foot problems such as ingrown toenails, fallen arches, misshapen toes, and decreased sensation with age and/or from diabetes can also contribute to falls.
- Wear walking shoes for daily activities.
- Make sure your shoes are firm and supportive around the heels and the instep of your feet. They should be flexible and have enough room around your toes.
- Choose footwear that offers good stability.
7. Keep good nutrition habits
As you get older, it is particularly important to maintain strong bones and muscles.
- Eat a variety of nutritious foods
- Tell your doctor if you experience reduced appetite or unexplained weight loss.
- If you are at risk for deficiency, seek advice from a dietician or your doctor about nutrition supplements.
8. Manage your health
Annual medical assessments are an important aspect of staying independent and ensuring ongoing evaluation and treatment of conditions that contribute to falls and fall-related injury.
- Have regular check-ups with your doctor to help prevent worsening of any condition you may have and to keep you as active as possible.
- Seek medical treatment if you feel unwell.
- Talk with a healthcare professional about incontinence. Loss of bladder or bowel control, frequency (going to the toilet often), and urgency (going in a rush) all increase the risk for a fall, especially at night.
9. Do a Home Safety Checklist
Falls are often due to hazards that are easy to overlook but also easy to fix. Making changes in your home to prevent falls is beneficial both for you and your family members. Most falls resulting in significant injury occur within the home, most within the living room or bedroom.
10. Check for hazards in the community
Paying attention to our surroundings helps everyone to be safe in our communities.
- Always try to use footpaths if possible. Avoid damaged footpaths or rough ground with loose or uneven surfaces.
- Be aware of curbs, changing levels, and slopes, especially at entrances to buildings.
- Always be aware of bicycles, toys, pets, or other objects which may be in the way, especially when using a walker that blocks the view of the area in front of you.
- Allow yourself time to cross roads safely and use pedestrian crossings if available.
- If you use public transport, take your time. Keep one hand free to hold a rail and always look at the step. Ask the bus driver to wait until you are seated before taking off.
- Check the weather. Be extra careful walking on snow and ice or going outside in extreme heat.
11. Get appropriate equipment
Specialized home modifications (e.g., grab bars, walk-in showers) and assistive devices (e.g., reachers, raised toilets) play a significant role in reducing the risk of falls and helping older adults maintain their independence within their home.
- Occupational therapists can provide information about personal and environmental assessments to help make life easier and safer, as well as guidance on proper installation and use of equipment.
How OT Can Help Prevent Falls
Occupational Therapists can help you prevent falls and put into practice the 11 steps listed above. An OT can help you with advice, ideas, and equipment. OTs manage your underlying fall risk factors and optimize your home design and environment.
Contact us
If you or someone you know is at risk for falls, contact us today.
Email: referrals@ot-works.com
Phone: 604.696.1066 ext. 1000.
Learn More:
- Fall prevention (Government of BC)
- Home Safety Checklist (Government of BC)
- Home Safety – with videos (Finding Balance)
10 tips to deal with Driving Anxiety
Many people avoid driving or being a passenger in a car because of Driving Anxiety.
Driving anxiety is intense fear, phobia, or distress at the possibility of driving or being a passenger in a car. These feelings can also appear in specific situations, such as driving over a bridge, at night, during winter, or being a front-seat passenger. In many cases, people are afraid because they think that something bad can happen to them.
Strategies to help
The good news is that there are tips and strategies to help you manage your symptoms and fear of driving. Here are 10 tips to help you:
1. Recognize signs of anxiety in yourself
Signs of driving anxiety include:
- Stopping the activity (e.g., you’ve ceased driving)
- Physical reactions (e.g., sweating, headaches, chest pains, dry throat, etc.)
- Plan driving routes that are very elaborate and longer than necessary, to avoid certain roads
2. Recognize what specifically triggers your anxiety (e.g., certain intersections, loud sirens, car screeching)
3. Plan your trip in advance:
- Know what route you will take
- Anticipate what challenges might arise and be prepared to deal with them
4. Avoid black and white, or absolutist, thinking.
- Being in a car does not mean you will be in an accident
- Accept that there are always risks with driving; cut those risks by driving responsibly (be alert, know your own limitations, don’t drink and drive, etc.)
5. Realistic thinking
It is important for your mind to stay focused on the task of driving and that your internal thoughts are positive and helpful for the goal of returning to driving. You can use Calming/Realistic Thinking anytime that you notice worry or doubt thoughts coming into your mind. When you recognize a worry or doubt thought, counter that thought. Here are some sample questions you can counter the thought with to help your thinking be more calm or realistic:
- Would most people agree with this thought? If not, what would most people think?
- What would I say to a friend if a friend was in a similar situation?
- What will happen if I continue to think this way?
- What is a more encouraging or useful way of thinking?
6. Learn to reduce your tension when at the wheel.
- Relax before, during, and after you drive
- When you are aware of yourself becoming tense, engage in the stress reduction management strategies that work best for you, such as playing music and breathing techniques
7. Return to driving in a graduated fashion
- Start small and slow
- Gradually increase the driving time (duration), frequency, and environmental stimulus (how busy the streets are)
8. Use affirmations to confirm that you’re doing the right thing while driving.
Reassure yourself that you are ok! Such as:
- I am driving carefully and within the speed limit. Careful driving is safe driving.
- Driving is a common, everyday activity. I am an alert driver participating in a common activity with care.
- I do not have to drive fast, I can drive in the right-hand lane if I want to travel slower than other cars.
- I have power and control over what happens to me.
9. “Safety Sack”
Prepare a bag or collection of objects that make you feel safe. This “sack” is something that you can then carry around with you when you travel in a vehicle to help you feel safe wherever you go.
10. Seek professional help
Seeing a counsellor, psychologist or Occupational Therapist might be helpful to manage your driving anxiety.
An OT can help
Together, you and your OT can identify triggers, develop calming techniques, create checklists and prompts, and develop a gradual plan to resume this important activity. Your OT can also help you practice driving – they can ride as a passenger in your car while you practice your strategies and build up confidence as a driver.
Occupational Therapists at OT Works! have experience with driving desensitization and can help you overcome your driving anxiety and get back to being a successful driver or passenger.
Contact us
If you or someone you know is looking for support with driving anxiety, contact us today.
Email: referrals@ot-works.com
Phone: 604.696.1066 ext. 1000.
How OTs can help clients with Sensory Processing Disorder
Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) affects how the brain processes sensory information. People with SPD have difficulties taking in, interpreting and responding to information from the environment. Things that may appear to be simple for neurotypical individuals, such as dealing with fluorescent lights at the grocery store or focussing on a conversation in a loud environment, may be overwhelming or intolerable for people with SPD.
In most cases, people with SPD have one or more senses that experience either too much or too little stimulation.
That’s because SPD disrupts how the brain receives, organizes, and uses the messages received through our body’s receptors. We take in sensory information through our eyes, ears, muscles, joints, skin, and inner ears, and we use those sensations – we integrate them, modulate them, analyze them and interpret them — for immediate and appropriate everyday functioning.
As Occupational Therapist and Developmental Psychologist A. Jean Ayres says: “SPD is like a neurological traffic jam in which the senses don’t work properly.”
Adults and SPD
Although more common in children, adults can also have SPD.
Adults with SPD may have difficulties at work, at home, in relationships, and their everyday life. Things like giving presentations at work or being in a crowded elevator with other people might be extremely difficult to deal with.
SPD goes undiagnosed or is misdiagnosed in many adults. It’s common that SPD individuals will have other diagnoses as well, such as depression, anxiety, and eating disorders, among others.
An Occupational Therapist (OT) can help
Occupational Therapists cannot provide a diagnosis to clients with SPD.
However, our OTs can provide adults with SPD with a Sensory Diet, which are exercises, tools, and techniques to help regulate their sensory response so they can react in an adaptive way to everyday stimulation.
Occupational Therapists at OT Works! have experience working with individuals with SPD and can help you live a fulfilling life, doing the activities that you love and that are important to you.
If you or someone you know is looking for support with SPD, contact us today.
Email: referrals@ot-works.com
Phone: 604.696.1066 ext. 1000.
Learn more about SPD:
SPD and Autism Specialist Moira Pena’s website
Meet Haley Tencha: Occupational Therapist
Welcome Haley Tencha to the OT Works! team! Haley has been working with us since August 2021.
She provides community OT services for individuals by implementing daily activities at home, work and in the community to foster increased independence. Haley is eligible to work on our contracts with WorkSafe BC, ICBC and Veterans Affairs Canada. She also serves private-paying clients and those with extended health and disability insurance.
Haley has been working as an Occupational Therapist for over 12 years. She has successfully treated clients with a variety of injuries and health conditions, including orthopedic injuries, chronic pain, chronic fatigue syndrome, complex regional pain syndrome, concussion/brain injury and mental health conditions (anxiety, depression, PTSD, specific phobias). Haley has worked in both public health and private community settings.
She has obtained Certification as a Work Capacity Evaluator through Roy Matheson and Associates in 2013. She has completed hundreds of medical legal assessments across the lower mainland including Functional/Work Capacity Evaluations and Cost of Future Care Assessments. She has testified as an expert witness in the Supreme Court of British Columbia on numerous occasions.
Haley serves clients in the Metro Vancouver region, including Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Richmond, Coquitlam and Surrey.
Like all of our therapists, Haley is full registrant and in good standing with the College of Occupational Therapists of British Columbia (COTBC).
Get started with an OT
If you or someone you know could benefit from working with an occupational therapist, contact us today!
Email: referrals@ot-works.com
Phone: 604.696.1066 ext. 1000.
Sleeping well is key for better health
If you made some new year’s resolutions for 2022, consider adding sleep to your list of goals.
Committing to better sleep have long-lasting benefits on physical and mental health. Having a good night of sleep help you feeling well-rested on the next day, and can help you being more productive, feeling more focused and even being more creative.
Data from the Public Health Agency of Canada shows that Canadians are not getting enough sleep, and that lack of sleep impacts our quality of life.
The good news is that there are simple and easy things that you can do to sleep better and have more energy.
Tips to improve your sleep:
Improving sleep can help a person to manage better. Quality of sleep is directly linked to quality of life. Many of these tips will seem like common sense. It is surprising how many of us have forgotten to follow these simple ideas to have a good night of sleep. Try to start using the following tips slowly each day to improve your sleep. :
- Avoid caffeine for at least 8 hours prior to bedtime; and avoid alcohol at bedtime
- Avoid smoking – nicotine is a stimulant and can keep you awake
- Wind down for an hour before bed under low light: a warm bath or shower one hour before bed might help
- No electronics – the blue light from the screens keep you more alert
- Don’t go to bed until you feel sleepy
- Create an appropriate environment for sleeping: keep your bedroom comfy, cool, quiet and dark
- Don’t use your bed for anything but sleep or sex
- Don’t lie awake in bed. If you are awake for more than 15 minutes get up and do a boring activity until you are sleepy before returning to bed
- Don’t watch the clock. If worried about not waking to an alarm, set 2 alarms
- Get out of bed at the same time daily with an alarm (YES this even includes weekends)
- Don’t take naps during the day if possible. If you have to, limit them to 20-30 minutes max
- Exercise as you are able – if possible, at least 30 minutes of exercise – 3 times per week
- Don’t use the snooze button. You may feel like you are getting more rest, but it will not be the quality sleep you need.
If you do make changes, you will likely awake feeling better the next day. Remember: being consistent help make a habit, and that by making changes and sticking with them will have the biggest impact. Some changes may have gradual effect that will grow over time. It may take a couple of weeks to notice a difference, so keep at it!
Read more about the benefits of a good night of sleep on this CBC article, and on this episode of The Nature of Things.
Get Started with an OT
Occupational Therapists help people with their activities of daily life—including getting more rest and better sleep.
All of our therapists at OT Works! are certified with the College of Occupational Therapists of British Columbia (COTBC) and have additional training in areas such as mental health, brain injury rehabilitation, home safety and chronic pain.
We are here to help you achieving your goals to live your best life. Contact us today!
Email: referrals@ot-works.com
Vancouver: 604.696.1066
Victoria: 250.999.8896
Photo by Ketut Subiyanto from Pexels
OT Works! Holiday Hours
OT Works! will be closed during the holidays.
We will be back to our regular hours on January 03, 2021, when we will be accepting new clients in Vancouver, Metro Vancouver, Sea-to-Sky, Sunshine Coast, Victoria and the Comox Valley.
Our Holiday Hours
| Monday, December 20, 2021 | Open, 9am-5pm |
| Tuesday, December 21, 2021 | Open, 9am-5pm |
| Wednesday, December 22, 2021 | Open, 9am-5pm |
| Thursday, December 23, 2021 | Open, 9am-5pm |
| Friday, December 24, 2021 | Open, 9am-1pm |
| Monday, December 27, 2021 | Closed |
| Tuesday, December 28, 2021 | Closed |
| Wednesday, December 29, 2021 | Closed |
| Thursday, December 30, 2021 | Closed |
| Friday, December 31, 2021 | Closed |
| Monday, January 03, 2021 | Open, 9am-5pm |
Regular business hours resume on January 03.
We wish you a very Happy Holidays and a Joyous New Year!
Get started with an OT
All of our therapists at OT Works! are certified with the College of Occupational Therapists of British Columbia (COTBC). Our approach is based on current research and evidence-based practice.
If you or someone you know could benefit from occupational therapy, contact us today!
Email: referrals@ot-works.com
Vancouver: 604.696.1066
Victoria: 250.999.8896
Sports and Leisure for a Durable Return-To-Work
Practicing dance moves can be a step in the right direction when returning to work after an injury. Sports and leisure activities build skills and endurance that are often transferrable in the workplace. Our occupational therapists sometimes incorporate sports and leisure activities into treatment plans so workers return to their jobs in a timely and safe manner. This increases workplace productivity, decreases the number of absences and can reduce worksite accidents.
How OTs Use Sports and Leisure for Return to Work
When Melissa Ferguson, OT, first meets with a client, she wants to know, “What are some of the important activities for you in your life?” She asks her clients why they enjoy those activities. She chooses to focus on what lights her clients up and gets them excited, even when an injury feels like a barrier to participating. She uses task analysis to create a step by step breakdown on how to achieve a chosen final goal.
Through a gradual progression in frequency and intensity, Melissa helps her clients discover what they can do, rather than focusing on what they can’t.
The Benefits of Sports and Leisure
Melissa’s clients build up sports and leisure routines before returning to work. As a result, her clients arrive at their jobs better prepared with skills in stress and pain management as well as community activation and ergonomics.
Exercise and hobbies can improve both physical and psychological functioning when they become regular, personalized practices for a variety of reasons. They allow us to connect with members of our community. They foster a feeling of accomplishment and confidence. Sports and leisure also:
- develop habits to build structured routines
- hone motor skills
- prevent and improve back problems, especially through low-stress aerobics like walking and swimming
- reduce chronic pain through yoga, Pilates, and strength training
- support independent living for seniors and prevent falls
- release tension caused by repetitive tasks and desk set-ups
- foster mental wellbeing
Additional Resources
Educating yourself is a great first step to returning to recreational activities. Below are resources you can turn to for more information.
- “The Benefits of Recreation.” (City of Richmond)
- “Fearless Fitness: An Exercise Guide for People with Chronic Pain.” (CurableHealth.com)
- “Effects of Recreational Physical Activity and Back Exercises on Low Back Pain and Psychological Distress: Findings from the UCLA Low Back Pain Study.” (Authors: E. Hurwitz, H. Morgenstern, and C. Chiao)
Get Started with an OT
All of our therapists at OT Works! are certified with the College of Occupational Therapists of British Columbia (COTBC) and have additional training in areas such as mental health, brain injury rehabilitation, home safety and chronic pain.
If you or someone you know could benefit from occupational therapy after a motor vehicle accident or other injuries, contact us today! We are happy to answer any questions you may have.
E-mail: info@ot-works.com
Phone: 604.696.1066 ext 1000