Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy helps people participate in everyday activities ("occupations"), this includes productive, leisure, and self-care activities.
Occupational therapy helps people participate in everyday activities ("occupations"), this includes productive, leisure, and self-care activities. We look at individuals as a whole, including physical, emotional, and environmental factors that affect their ability to do meaningful and purposeful tasks. OT sessions will work on skill building and incorporating strategies to get back to those activities.
While there can be overlap between an OT and PT, they complement each other's practice well. To simplify it, PT focuses more on the physical body, often incorporating movement assessments and hands-on treatment approaches. OT focuses more on lifestyle factors and how the physical body is impacting the ability to participate in daily activities, and what can be done to continue to participate in those activities while going through changes/adjustments/rehabilitation/recovery (often overseen by physio). OT will consider the physical body, but we will also ask about routines, habits, environment, lifestyle demands, support systems, and emotional wellbeing.
In the context of women's health, we often work alongside pelvic health physiotherapist. OT will look at how those symptoms are impacting day-to-day life, and we will talk about self-care, childcare, intimacy, sleep, routines, and how to rebuild positive habits, manage fatigue and stress, and make environmental adaptations to help clients feel capable and supported while navigating body and lifestyle changes.
A popular, simplified analogy we use:
PTs are the mechanics; they help fix the engine to get the body working properly again.
OTs are the driving instructors who help you drive the car and get back to doing the things you need/want to do with that body.
1:1 clinical Pilates can look very similar when delivered by an OT vs a PT; we received the same therapeutic Pilates training and can both use Pilates as a functional treatment modality with our clients. Similar to the differences listed above, PT may choose to incorporate additional physical assessment/treatment modalities that they have in their physio toolkits, whereas OT Pilates utilizes a lens of functional assessments, and functional treatment goals (i.e., improving activities of daily living through targeted exercise, or preventative strengthening to support lifestyle goals such as preventing injury or being able to safely lift/play with children/grandchildren).
The initial session consists of information gathering; it's a collaborative conversation where the OT gets to know clients by asking questions about different areas of their life and how their condition may be impacting their ability to function and participate in the daily activities that they need to or want to be doing. From there, we establish important values and discuss functional goals that are realistic for their lifestyle. Follow-up sessions are where we will implement functional tools (stress management, pain education, sleep hygiene, routine building/management, activity and emotion monitoring, and communication tools, to name a few examples), follow up on goal progress (accountability), and adjust our approach if needed. There is no set number of sessions; it is very catered to the individual and their needs.
Women’s health occupational therapists support women through the many transitions in life, including pre-conception and family planning, pregnancy, postpartum recovery, and navigating perimenopause/menopause, so they can continue to live meaningful and comfortable lives. Women’s health OT’s provide support through education, functional strategies, and practical tools that help to build confidence and capability in everyday life. This might look like helping someone navigate exercise in a safe environment (Pilates) as they adjust to their changing body, adapting daily routines to support hormonal changes, or working together to build sustainable habits that promote long-term wellbeing. Occupational Therapists are all about prevention and functional plans that support busy lifestyles.
A Women's Health Occupational Therapy Initial Assessment (60 mins) is mandatory for new OT clients
As a therapeutic Pilates instructor, we use the OT lens to movement in a way that feels purposeful, empowering, and catered to each individual. Pilates is suited for everybody; whether you are new to exercise, or a high-performance athlete; newly pregnant or postpartum, or looking to prevent injury or dysfunction with changes to the aging body, such as balance and muscle/bone density. As well as anyone recovering from injury or looking to improve strength, balance or overall wellness, in any stage of life. Occupational Therapists are passionate about functional movement and helping people discover how Pilates can support their everyday lives.
An Initial Occupational Therapy Pilates Session (60 mins) is mandatory for new OT clients.
Occupational Therapy in Calgary