Research Review: Occupational Therapy for Parkinson's Disease

Occupational therapy is a science-driven, evidence-based profession that enables people of all ages to participate in daily living or live better with injury, illness, or disability. This is accomplished through designing strategies for everyday living and customizing environments to develop and maximize potential.

By taking the full picture into account—a person's psychological, physical, emotional, and social make-up—occupational therapy assists people in:

• Achieving their goals

• Functioning at the highest possible level

• Concentrating on what matters most to them

• Maintaining or rebuilding their independence

• Participating in the everyday activities that they need to do or that simply make life worth living

Occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants are experts in helping people perform the occupations they need and want to do every day.

But what’s the evidence for the effectiveness of OT intervention for people with PD?

Check out these recent research reviews to learn more:

Effectiveness of occupational therapy intervention for people with Parkinson’s disease: Systematic review. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, December 2019

Interventions Within the Scope of Occupational Therapy to Improve Activities of Daily Living, Rest, and Sleep in People with Parkinson’s Disease: A Systematic Review. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, April 2021

Occupational Therapy Interventions for Instrumental Activities of Daily Living for Adults With Parkinson’s Disease: A Systematic Review. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, April 2021