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The Evolution of Occupational Therapy: How was the profession born during World War I?
Occupational Therapy (OT) is a professional health care profession whose purpose is to help individuals, groups or communities develop, revive or maintain meaningful life activities through assessment, intervention, consultation and guidance. As an independent health profession, the occupational therapy profession is mainly composed of professionally trained occupational therapists (OT) and occupational therapy assistants (OTA). Their main task is to support clients to participate in activities more effectively in daily life.
The origin and early history of occupational therapy
Humanistic thinking using "occupation" as a therapeutic method emerged long ago. As early as 100 BC, the Greek physician Asclepiades was treating patients with mental illness in a humane way, using healing baths, massage, exercise and music. However, interest in these therapeutic modalities gradually waned during the Middle Ages and they were almost no longer used.
"Occupational therapy developed slowly but steadily over time, with initial attention focused primarily on mental health."
The rise of moral therapy and hierarchical activities
In the late 18th century, doctors like Philippe Pinel and Johann Christian Reil promoted reforms in the psychiatric hospital system in Europe, and these institutions began to incorporate work and leisure activities into treatment middle. Although interest in the United States fluctuated at the time, by the late 19th and early 20th centuries, increasing social awareness of workplace injuries, tuberculosis, and mental illness contributed to the growth of the field.
The impact of World War I
With the outbreak of World War I, the development of occupational therapy in the United States entered a new stage. At that time, the number of sick and wounded soldiers was increasing dramatically, and the need for occupational therapy was rising rapidly. American social worker Eleanor Clarke Slagle founded the National Society for the Advancement of Occupational Therapy (NSPOT) in 1917, an organization intended to recruit and train "reconstructive assistants" to assist those who lost their ability to work. wounded retired soldiers for rehabilitation.
"Slager and her colleagues have a clear vision of how meaningful activities can help patients return to normal lives."
Innovative Occupational Therapy
Under Slager's promotion, the concept of occupational therapy gradually took shape and was officially named in 1918. The determination of this name marked the birth of occupational therapy as a profession, and it was officially recognized throughout the United States in 1921. Occupational therapy is no longer just for people with mental illness, but has expanded to treat people with various physical and mental disabilities.
Postwar challenges and developments
As the field of occupational therapy stabilized after World War I, occupational therapists not only had to face the challenge of finding a professional job, but also had to reaffirm their place in the medical system. The practice norms of occupational therapy have been gradually established, covering multiple fields from mental health to physical rehabilitation, and its methodology has also been continuously deepened.
The contemporary role of occupational therapy
Today, the practice base of occupational therapy has expanded to various environments such as hospitals, schools, and communities, and the working methods have become more diverse and flexible. Faced with the challenges of daily life, occupational therapists not only help people overcome physical limitations but also help them regain psychological balance.
"The value of occupational therapists lies not only in their technical expertise, but also in their ability to understand their clients' needs and backgrounds."
Today, after experiencing the baptism of war and peace, occupational therapy has become an independent and important health care discipline. How will future occupational therapy respond to changing population needs and challenges?
