Does a career as an occupational therapy assistant require physical strength?

Question

I was a veterinary technician and injured my neck and shoulder. No more wrestling with dog for me. I am interested in becoming an occupational therapy assistant but the program is had to get into and I'd have to retake a few classes that I've already completed. From what I've seen the majority of the work is on hands and shoulders? Which I can handle. I cannot however lift a person or use a lot of physical strength in any way on my shoulder. Also pays ale lists the average salary as $26/hr is that accurate for massachusetts? Thanks for any help.

Answer 1

The job of an OTA may be physically (and/or emotionally) taxing. Even though there are areas that an OTA may work that includes not doing too many patient transfers (such as the patient ambulating from the bed to the commode/"toilet"), jobs for OTAs tend to require a great amount of strength and stamina.



There are some OTAs who work in a psychiatric facility, however, the OTA may still need to evaluate the patient's ability to perform daily living skills, which can include Patient transferring from point A to point B, and hopefully done so safely.



Some OTAs may work in an outpatient practice, such as with hand therapy (after prior work experience), however, tasks such as doing range of motion (ROM) on patients, for instance, can be strenuous, especially for someone with injury to the neck and/or shoulder. Also, some people in the field may be concerned about liability issues of students with previous injuries. (My cousin had gone to school for OTA :)

Answer 2

Just so you know, there are not a lot of places that hire OTA's, they usually just hire PTAs, PTs, or OTs. I'm a physical therapist assistant and that requires a lot of physical strength, but I'm not sure about OTAs but I think the best thing you can do is shadow a OT or OTA and ask them and see what they do on a daily basis

Answer 3

You would need to be able to assist with patient transfers as needed, so you would need to have adequate capacity to do that. If you still can not use your arm or shoulder, then it sounds like you need some rehab yourself.

Answer 4

No you really. You are taught to do it correctly. Many OT do not transfer patients anyway.



I am a PT

Answer 5

This job requires working on the whole body. There is no way you would be fit enough for it.