The relationship between occupation and health

The kind between occupation and healthDiscuss the relationship between occupation and health, and recognise factors which facilitate occupational deed.In the context of this essay occupation is taken to encompass care of self, leisure and employment (Ameri push aside occupational Therapy Association Uniform Terminology, 1994) whereby the person interacts with the environment. These areas are not mutually exclusive. It is the ordinary and familiar things that people do every day (American Occupational Therapy Association commitment on Practice Home Health Task Force Guidelines, 1995). Performance components include the necessary sk macabres for the task and the temporal and environmental writ of execution context. Occupational performance is important people identify who they are by what they do.Relation between occupation and healthOccupation is important in maintaining health but certain occupations whitethorn in truth cause ill health. Ill health may lower occupational perform ance. The relationship is further complicated by poor performance contributing to ill health which further lowers performance. An example would be someone performing poorly in paid employment and becoming depressed as an indirect settlement (perhaps because of redeployment) and performing even more poorly as a result of the depression. A goal of occupational therapy is to use appropriate occupation therapeutically to interrupt the set up of disability and to promote well being.The effect of some disease processes on performance bequeath now be explored. Certain pathological conditions willing have a typical effect on performance for instance a cerebrovascular accident, a not uncommon cause of occupational dysfunction, will affect sensation and motor skills in a fairly predictable way. The degree of impairment is variable depending on the aetiology, severity and location of the cerebral injury. The effects may be profound. Laterality is important since one status of the brain h as a major impact on language and the other motor skills. Which side of the brain is dominant for various functions depends on whether or not the individual is right handed. Occupational performance is moved(p) by sensorimotor deficit and ensuant musculosketal affects for instance significant sensorimotor deficit commonly affects the shoulder mutual with its innate dependence on good muscular tone of the rotator cuff from which the joint largely derives its stability. Disruption of cognitive function and emotional liability are factors commonly involved in severe cerebrovascular accidents to the further detriment of performance.Of the musculoskeletal group of disorders Rheumatoid arthritis is important since it is so common. In addition to affecting movement by joint deformity, sensorineural and neuromuscular effects the individual may suffer psychological effects such as depression further limiting performance (Deyo 1982). Temporal effects are important in this condition, typic ally the symptoms and performance being significantly worse in the morning and improving as the day progresses.Schizophrenia is an example of a psychiatric illness which can become chronic and disabling. The effects on occupational performance can get really complex here. Not only are there varying manifestations of the illness with exacerbations sometimes accompanied by ultimate deterioration over time but there is often effects of the medication, substance abuse and dislocated living arrangements.Chronic pain may affect occupational performance by limitation of physical components of the activity in question. Some conditions appear wicked to clear diagnosis. For instance following accidents such as whiplash or back pain following lifting during paid employment there may be long drawn out background litigation and this coupled with difficulties returning to work may have significant effects on occupational performance. Because affected individuals may be young, in paid employment and with families to look aft(prenominal) despite the fact that the physical disability may be relatively meek there may be major effects on the activities of daily living, leisure and employment.Factors facilitating performanceOccupational performance can be split into a number of components sensorimotor, cognitive integration, cognitive, psychosocial and psychological. In addition the performance cannot be taken out of context.The individuals personal characteristics will affect quality of performance. There must be a good fit between the individuals knowledge, skills and attitudes, the task must be appropriate, contributing to well-being and the environment must be tributary with regard to physical, cultural and social aspects (Hagedorn, 2001). Context is important (Dunn 1994) for instance it is easy to speak with friends but public speaking is another matter entirely performance nearly always suffering substantially and yet the basics of the task are the same.The following f actors are associated with occupational dysfunction (Hogedorn, 2001) thus their avoidance may enhance performanceDeprivation of occupationOccupation alienation (the task seeming pointless)Occupational imbalance focussing on one aspect to the ejection of othersDifficulties with relationships and subprogramicipationLack of resourcesNegative self-image expectation or fear of failurePoor ability to adapt to different rolesThe performance itself may be enough in its component parts but be poor overall since it takes too long to complete.Ottenbacher describes in Crepeau, 2003 to optimise performance requires an appreciation of the dicstinctions between luggage compartment systems, impairment, activity and participation defined by the WHO 2001. To facilitate performance various compensation mechanisms can be utilised. Training in compensatory movements can occur on board provision of adaptative equipment and environmental adaptation.An enhancing factor is the purpose and meaning of the task for the participant. This is to the extent that intervention will be more effective in achieving the sought after improvement or other goal if the individual is active in setting the goal at the onset. Goal directed action and pure pattern showed the advantage of the former for retaraining movement following stroke (Trombly, 1999).Full utilisation can be made of the inherent adaptatbility of human beharioural (both physical and psychological) mechanisms. The ability to find out and improve occupational performance is improved by practice, repitition and feedback at an appropriate rate.In providing occupational therapy care it is important to appreciate the state at which the individual is at acute and not stabilised, inpatient, outpatient, extended (Crepeau, 2003). It is important to look at the overall task and its purpose before concentration on the components of the activity. Evidence carnal is accumulating and should guide the interventional approach chosen.ConclusionO ccupational health promotes well-being from engaging individuals in relevant occupation. Improving the underlying capacities of sensorimotor skills, memory and mental outlook is only part of the whole process of facilitation of occupational performance.BibliographyBooksCrepeau E, Cohn E Schell B 2003 Willard Spackmans Occupational therapy. 10th edition. Lippincott, weilliams Wilkins LondonHagedorn R 2001 Foundations for Practice in Occupational Therapy. London. 3rd edition. Churchill Livingstone.Hansen RA Atchison 2000 Conditions in Occupational Therapy Effect on occupational performance 2nd edition Lippincott Williams Wilkins BaltimorePedretti LW Early M B Occupational therapy Prcatice skills for Physical Dysfunction fifth Edition. Mosby. MissouriArticlesAmerican Occupational Therapy Association Uniform terminology, 1994 ed 3 Am J Occup Ther 48 1047-1054, 1994American Occupational Therapy Association Position Paper occupation, Am J Occup Ther 491015-1018, 1995Deyo RA et al 1982 Physical and psychosocial function in rheumatoid arthritis. Arch intern Med 142879-82.Dunn W Brown C McGuigan A 1994 environmental science of human performance A framework for considering the effect of context. Am J Occup Ther 48(7)95-607Trombly CA Wu C (1999) Effect of rehabilitation tasks on organisation of movement after stroke. American Journal of Occupational Therapy 53 333-4.Other resourcesWorld health Organization (2001) International classification of functioning, disability and health (ICF) Geneva.