Occupational Therapy has been around since the 1800’s but wasn’t put into practice until the early 1900’s. Occupational Therapy (OT) is the only profession that aids people across the lifespan to accomplish tasks and activities that they want and need, through the therapeutic use of daily activities (a.k.a. occupations). OT practitioners enable people of all ages to live life to its fullest by helping them promote health, and prevent- or live better with- injury, illness, or disability (AOTA).
Benefits of Occupational Therapy are endless. However the top points are:
- Improve range of motion
- Increase strength
- Decrease pain
- Decrease risk of injury
- Receive adaptive equipment or strategies
- Improve visual & motor skills
Aerial arts is a form of artistic sports that allow a performer or athlete to accomplish skills and tricks in a suspended apparatus. These apparatus included but not limited to: aerial silk/tissu, aerial hammock/sling, aerial hoop/lyra, web, trapeze, and frame. Combining the grace of a dancer and strength of a gymnast, Aerial training has become increasingly popular as a form of exercise and hobby. This history of aerials tend to be a bit fuzzy and it depends on who you are talking to. What we do know is that this art form stems from acrobatics which started thousands of years ago in Greece and in China. The term Acrobat comes from the combo of two Greek words; ‘acros’ meaning ‘height‘ and ‘bat‘ with the meaning ‘to walk‘ or walking (Cirque 2021). Today, we have grown acrobatic skills and what apparatus we use to new heights.
Some brief benefits of Aerials in an OT prespective:
- Improving your proprioceptive and vestibular system
- Increase strength & self-confidence
- Gain motor-planning and sequencing skills
- Accomplish the “impossible” skills & tasks
The benefits of both occupational therapy and aerial arts are bluntly obvious to the OT aerialist and wish to share these benefits to all who are curious and who are already training. What secrets can we unlock from these two worlds combining? Do you wish to know more? Follow the OT Aerialist on Instagram @OTAerialist and add yourself to the mailing list to stay up to date on the newest ideas and facts.
Resource(s):
American Occupational Therapy Association (2022) AOTA. What is Occupational Therapy? Retrieved from: https://www.aota.org/conference-events/otmonth/what-is-ot.aspx
Cirque Du Soleil (2021) A,B,Circus! Episode 5. History of Aerial Acrobatics. Retrieved from: https://youtu.be/A-hxJf1hbm8
OT Aerialist 
Leave a comment