what is occupational therapy ?

Dear Aditi, Occupational therapy is a paramedical treatment for people with disabilities to cope up with their disabilities and continue to live their live to near normalcy, perform daily activities and reach their treatment goals. Physical Therapy and Occupational therapy work hand in hand after a patient's post operative treatment.

Occupational therapy (OT) involves the use of evaluations and interventions (treatment) to assist a person with disabilities, impairments, injuries, to gain, recover, and or maintain activities of daily living ((Adls) that are personally meaningful to them.
An Occupational therapist may teach a patient with a stroke compensatory techniques to learn to dress himself again, i.e. dress the affected, less mobile upper extremity (arm) first to ease the "simple" task of putting on a shirt. For post injuries or strokes, simple tasks can be incredibly difficult.
This is where an OT steps in and teaches the patient easier methods for completing adls.
With a broken arm or hand, an OT involves the patient in specific exercises and joint protection measures to assist that patient in regaining the use of his arm under the direction of a physician.
An OT may work in home health, teaching patients and caregivers safer methods of performing tasks with minimal physical exertion to both the patient and the caregiver. An OT may recommend and adapt specific medical equipment ie, an elevated toilet or bath bench to allow a hip patient to safely tend to toileting and bathing without compromising a hip surgery site, allowing maximal recovery. A wheelchair ramp may be recommended by the therapist with specific measurements for that ramp to ease the patient's mobility during his or her daily routine.
An OT may work in a school setting to help children with disabilities to learn more effectively, educating teachers in teaching strategies for a child with unique impairments. In OT, the environment is modified for the child (or patient), not vice versa.
An OT may teach a mother or grandmother who has had an injury or recent disability to simply take care of or even hug her children without causing increased pain or further injury to herself. Taking care of a child is a mother's "occupation" in her role as a parent.
An occupational therapist may educate a paraplegic or quadriplegic in modified techniques to have sexual relations with his partner, an intervention that is approached gently, carefully, and ethically. Sex is an activity of daily living that is very meaningful to humans. What do you do when you cannot make love to your partner anymore? OT 's are frequently the discipline that the reticent patient approaches with this delicate subject.
Mental health OTs may work in a hospital with veterans engaging the patients in crafts such as leatherwork or copper tooling in addition to holding small groups sessions to allow the veterans to express emotions associated with their PTSD experiences.
In short, Occupational therapists seek to assist patients in returning to the activities of his or her choice, including, if indicated, recommendations for adaptations to a work environment to allow a patient to successfully resume his job or occupation. Specific wheelchairs may be designed or recommended to allow a paraplegic or quadriplegic to return either to his job or to continue his education.
The role of an OT is challenging, exhausting, holistic, and often so deliciously rewarding when the therapist discharges a patient to live the life of his choice once again .
Yes, the salary is very decent as well for all of the education. You can research the various pay scales ;)