How OT’s Use Activity Analysis to Support Your Daily Life
When illness, injury, disability, pain, or fatigue start to interfere with daily life, even the simplest tasks like getting dressed, cooking a meal, or reaching for something on a shelf can feel overwhelming. Occupational Therapists understand how deeply these changes can affect your sense of independence, identity, and well-being. That’s why we use a powerful tool called activity analysis to help you adapt, modify, and reclaim the activities that matter most to you.
Activity analysis is the process occupational therapists use to break down everyday tasks into small, manageable parts. We look at everything involved in a task, ranging from the physical movements and cognitive demands to the environment and tools you use. It’s like zooming in on the “behind the scenes” of how you function in daily life so we can understand exactly where the challenges are and how to support you to thrive.
For example, making a cup of tea may seem simple. But when we analyze it, we see dozens of steps: reaching for a kettle, filling it with water, lifting and pouring, monitoring temperature, grasping small items, and managing timing and safety. If any part of that process is painful, fatiguing, or unsafe, your therapist will identify the specific challenge and explore ways to adapt the task or your environment.
Why Does This Matter?
When your body or mind isn’t functioning the way it used to, you don’t need to give up the activities you love. You and your OT just need to figure out a new way to do them. That’s where activity analysis shines. By understanding how a task is performed and what makes it hard for you right now, we can:
Modify the task itself (e.g., changing how you carry out an activity to reduce strain or fatigue)
Adapt the environment (e.g., rearranging your kitchen so commonly used items are within easy reach)
Use assistive tools or equipment (e.g., jar openers, reachers, or ergonomic tools)
Support new habits or routines (e.g., energy conservation techniques for managing chronic fatigue or pain)
A Personalized, Empowering Approach
At Katherine Jackson Occupational Therapy, PLLC, we don’t just prescribe solutions—we partner with you. We take the time to learn about your goals, routines, and what’s meaningful to you. Whether you’re recovering from surgery, living with a chronic condition, or adjusting after a major life change, we help you find practical ways to keep doing what matters.
Maybe you’re a gardener struggling with wrist pain, or a fitness enthusiast navigating fatigue after cancer treatment. Through skilled activity analysis, we can explore posture, movement, pacing, or equipment to help you return to your roles with more comfort, confidence, and control.
Real Life. Real Solutions.
Occupational therapy is about more than exercises and strategies, OTs strive to help people engage fully in life again. Activity analysis is just one of the many tools we use to make that possible.
If you’re finding that daily activities have become harder, slower, or more painful than they used to be, you’re not alone and there is help. Together, we can adapt, modify, and restore the rhythm of your everyday life.
Need support adjusting to changes in your daily life? If you live near Evanston, IL, reach to learn how occupational therapy can help you move forward with confidence.
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