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A frequently asked question that I hear from individuals who have never had contact with a recreation therapist is, What is recreation therapy? The answer is, recreation therapy is a profession that uses various activities to improve the physical, cognitive, emotional, and social functioning of individuals disabled as a result of trauma or disease. In addition, it is meant to increase independence in life activities [1].
Treatment interventions are delivered in inpatient, transitional, and home- or community-based settings. The activities are structured, and they target the reduction of specific symptoms that addresses prevention, health promotion, and health risk factors.
The U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, dated April 1991, defines recreation therapy as a profession of specialists who utilize activities as a form of treatment for persons who are physically, mentally, or emotionally disabled [1].
Research indicates that recreational therapy services offer a diversity of rehabilitation benefits that addresses the needs of individuals with a range of disabling conditions. In 1991, the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) and Temple University published the Benefits...