A Brief History of Occupational Therapy

Occupational Therapy is believed to have started for a long time in 100 BC. It was used to treat patients with mental or emotional disorders. For the first time, a Greek physician named Asclepiades used therapeutic massages, exercises, baths and music to heal stress and calm their minds. Later, another Greek philosopher, Clesus, used similar therapies such as conversation, travel and music on his patients.

Phillippe Pinel and Johann Christina Rell adopted this method and enhanced the hospital system, late in the 18th century. During this period of time, they quitted metal chains and involved some relaxing activities and meticulous work in their procedure of treating such patients.

Occupational therapy emerged as a profession in 1917 in the United States of America where the National Society for Promotion of Occupation Therapy known as AOTA was established. It was officially named as Occupational Therapy in 1920. In 1975, to enhance the abilities of disabled children for their active participation in regular school activities, many public schools offered employment to thousands of occupational therapists.

Till 2007, registered occupational therapists were required to have a Bachelor of Science degree in occupational therapy. But since 2007 the prerequisite was to have a master’s degree or a professional doctoral degree.