Month: January 2020

Facts to Know About Occupational Therapy for KidsFacts to Know About Occupational Therapy for Kids

kid playingOccupational therapy (OT) is associated with adults. However, it is not only useful for adults but to kids as well. OT offered to children is known as pediatric occupational therapy. That said, here are some essential facts that you should know about occupational therapy.

What Is Occupational Therapy?y

OT can be defined as a special form of treatment that focuses on helping patients improve their gross and fine motor skills. When it comes to kids, it also helps them with a range of issues such as motor planning, self-regulation, and sensory processing.

It is worth noting that there is no one-size-fits-all solution as far as OT is concerned. Each condition is often treated differently. Therefore, the therapist should ensure that they understand the kid’s strengths and weaknesses before prescribing a rehabilitation program. 

How OT Helps

Kids with specific challenges stand to benefit greatly from OT. If your kid has dyspraxia (a developmental disorder that affects coordination), for instance, it is advisable to take them for some OT sessions. The therapist will, in turn, examine their physical needs and recommend some activities to help them improve their motor skills.

If your kid is struggling with their fine motor skills, the therapist might recommend exercises needed to enhance their hand dominance, such as picking up items using tweezers. Activities such as jumping jacks, catching balls, or running on obstacle courses, on the other hand, might be used to build their gross motor skills.

OT also helps kids with challenges in sensory processing. Kids who are unable to respond to various stimuli appropriately tend to react inappropriately to things that they feel, hear, or taste. If a kid tends to have some meltdowns or is hyperactive, the therapist might recommend things such as heavy work or a ‘sensory diet’ to help kids who evade certain types of stimuli and provide kids with the right sensory input, respectively.therapy session

Final Thoughts

Your kids should be able to learn and play with ease. And if you find that they struggle with activities that are considered easy-to-do, it is high time that you enlisted the services of a pediatric occupational therapist. Parents are advised to take their kids for pediatric OT as soon as they notice that they have challenges with doing some tasks. Read the rest

Keys to Successful Physical ExercisesKeys to Successful Physical Exercises

a person jogging in the morning

People today need a constant source of health, including food, environment, and of course, a peaceful situation. Especially if you are a health enthusiast, you may be a little bit overwhelmed by how unhealthy things are pretty massive these days. From pollution to junk food, it is easier to find things that destroy your health rather than something that can improve your wellness and overall wellbeing. Hitting the gym is one of the most popular options of health that modern people seem to be crazy about. Many of these gym-goers feel the need for building their muscles by training intensively and consuming supplements.

However, if you understand and are willing to address the core issues, you will soon notice that your physical appearance is not all that matters. It does matter for some, but health should be the top priority. You will be wasting your time if you only focus on your abs and biceps without giving any attention to what your body needs. If you find it hard to balance your health, below are some tips from the expert on how to successfully exercise. Remember that workouts are supposed to be for health instead of your look.

Regular Workouts

Instead of intensive training, you should try to make things more regular. Perhaps, you find it hard to move for more than an hour. Then you cannot force your body to keep moving. The first key is to stick to regular workouts. Instead of spending hours at the gym, a 30-minute session on the treadmill a day is enough. This way, you give your body a chance to recharge and regenerate for the next session. Intensive physical training can lead to health issues, especially if you are a beginner. It includes muscle soreness and even injuries.

Eating Plans

Regular exercises will not give you the desired results if you keep eating unhealthy sources of food. Try to change your daily diet from fried to steamed foods. Things will be better if you invest in only organic products, such as vegetables, eggs, and meat. Cooking at home is also advisable as you can track what you put on it.

Better Sleep

Sleeping nine hours every night is what health experts recommend. Unfortunately, with all the busy lifestyles and schedules, getting a 9-hour sleep is considered a luxury that only a few people can get. However, if you really care about your health, try to at least sleep at night despite all the busy and tight schedules and deadlines.… Read the rest