The use of occupational therapy is discussed in the following report entitled " Occupational therapy - When it is used":

Occupational therapy is used to treat and manage a wide range of conditions and needs. Some of these conditions include those that:

See the report at the link:

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/occupational-therapy/Pages/when-it-is-used.aspx

Occupational therapy can help improve kids' cognitive, physical, and motor skills and enhance their self-esteem and sense of accomplishment.

ccupational therapy (OT) treatment focuses on helping people with a physical, sensory, or cognitive disability be as independent as possible in all areas of their lives.

Some people may think that occupational therapy is only for adults; kids, after all, do not have occupations. But a child's main job is playing and learning, and occupational therapists can evaluate kids' skills for playing, school performance, and daily activities and compare them with what is developmentally appropriate for that age group.

According to the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), in addition to dealing with an someone's physical well-being, OT practitioners address psychological, social, and environmental factors that can affect functioning in different ways. This approach makes OT a vital part of health care for some kids.

http://kidshealth.org/parent/system/ill/occupational_therapy.html

The analysis of the inherent meaning of the data shows that Peer Teaching and Learning (PTL) has the potential to activate a wide range of positive emotions. Emotions are important facilitators of cognition, academic learning and competent identity formation. Competent and capable peers are within the cognitive and emotional zone of proximal development for fellow students’ learning, and are well suited to contribute significantly to the learning process of peers. The socio-constructivist view of learning underpins the study.

http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.3109/21679169.2014.983443

I looked at Wiki, I really do not understand this term, except maybe for "Occupational Therapy" for politicians! 

Can science practice be a form of occupational therapy, and if so, in what conditions?

Occupational therapy play a critical role in helping people of all ages to overcome the effects of disability caused by physical or psychological or emotional sickness, ageing or accident so that they can carry out everyday tasks or occupations efficiently. Occupation refers to practical and purposeful activities that could be essential day-to-day tasks including self-care, work or leisure that allow people to have a sense of independent identity. Occupational therapy considers a whole-person approach to both mental and physical health and wellbeing, enabling individuals to achieve their full potential. Occupational therapy provides practical support to enable people to facilitate recovery and overcome any barriers that prevent them from doing the activities (occupations) that matter to them. This helps to increase people's independence and satisfaction in all aspects of life.

Dear Prof. Costas, Krishnan, Mahfuz, Marcel and Yogesh:

Kindly read the enclosed link - "The History of Occupational Therapy".

This answers Prof. Costas query and also adds some valuable information.

Some excerpts:

"The history of Occupational Therapy is an interesting "story". Many people believe that Occupational Therapy is a new profession. As you will see, this is not so. It's development is woven into the fabric of human existence; as, "occupation" has been central to our survival since the beginning of time.

Many different ideas have been presented throughout history concerning; who should work, what type of work should be performed, what is considered to be "work", who should play, and when the "playing" should begin and end. Health and occupation have evolved to become intertwined, after all, when health suffers, so too does the ability to perform an "occupation" and take part in daily activities. (Click Here For A Detailed Description Of What Is Truly Meant By The Word "Occupation"... It Is More Than You Think!)

In the 1700's, during the "Age of Enlightenment", Occupational Therapy began to emerge. It was during this period that revolutionary ideas were evolving regarding the "infirmed" and mentally ill. At that time in history, the mentally ill were treated like prisoners; locked up and considered to be a danger to society.

It wasn't until two gentlemen; Phillipe Pinel (a French physician, philosopher, and scholar) and William Tuke (an English Quaker) started to challenge society's beliefs about the mentally ill, that a new understanding, philosophy and treatment would emerge.

In 1793, Phillipe Pinel began what was then called "Moral Treatment and Occupation", as an approach to treating people with mental illness. He firmly believed that moral treatment meant treating one's emotions. This Moral Treatment Movement then began to define occupation as "man's goal- directed use of time, energy, interests, and attention". Treatment for the mentally ill thus became based on purposeful daily activities. Pinel began advocating for, and using, literature, music, physical exercise, and work as a way to "heal" emotional stress, thereby improving one's ability to perform activities of daily living ("ADL's as we now call them).

Around the same time, William Tuke was also trying to challenge society's beliefs about how the mentally ill should be treated. He too was disgusted by the way patients were treated and the horrendous conditions they had to endure in the insane asylums.

Tuke therefore developed many principles that would advocate "moral treatment" for the mentally ill. His basic premise which underlined these principles was to treat these people with "consideration and kindness" (I know, what a bizarre concept huh? Boy, have we come a long way... thank goodness!). Tuke felt occupations, religion (which helped bring in the concept of family), and purposeful activities should be prescribed in order to maximize function and minimize the symptoms of the patient's mental illness.

Tuke then became a unique and positive influence when he founded a retreat center in England based on some of the same ideas. He encouraged patients to learn and grow by engaging them in a variety of employment or "amusements" (what we now call leisure activities) that were best adapted to their level of functioning and interests..."

http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/history-of-occupational-therapy.html

Occupational therapy, work, made human ancestor - a man. Any working person understands that this work is also needed to other people. Therefore, meaningful physical work necessary for a healthy or sick person. Why so? Because occupational therapy is important for the individual as a self-assertion of the usefulness to society. Consequently, any occupational therapy is useful for mentality.

Please do see two reviews on the subject. Happy New Year and Merry Christmas!

Perhaps citizens science approaches are forms of useful occupation therapy?

It is crucial that people think that what they do to be occupied is useful for themselves and the community, or not?

Dear Marcel! An interesting development of the dominant ideas in science. There can be answered succinctly. It depends on... This can occur consciously (deliberately) or unconsciously (subconsciously). Often, unfortunately, the work of scientists evaluated after death. A classic example, Mendel's laws.

Dear Vladimir,

Did Mendel knew the future impact of his own work? I don't think so. It was just curiosity driven...., perhaps just to be occupied?

I agree with your arguments Marseille. But please, pay attention. The person gets the experience of mankind in the learning process after birth (in the family, in everyday life, at school ...). The knowledge gained is the basis for the development of natural curiosity. It probably developed as a scholar monk Mendel. Thanks to God and hard work of the monk-scholar,  Mendel scientific experiments were not in vain. But there are other examples of geniuses. Scientific discoveries of Leonardo da Vinci only in 3-4 centuries were rediscovered.

Was the game player called Mendel the genius, or the others that recognized the importance of that work?

Both factors!

Perhaps companies launch games to occupy many people to discover unusual talents or ideas? Is RG such a company?

Dear Marcel! I believe that RG allows scientists to express themselves in discussions on various topics. This opens the intelligence of each participant.

Dear Vladimir/Roland/All,

But how would you define RG exchange as activity: occupation, work, intellectual game, therapy, citizens science, etc..... or a combination of the former types of activity following Townsend & Polatajko 2007 as summarized by Roland?

Other kind of activity that improves of our knowledge. And life.

Thanks Marcel, and all! Please forgive me. I'm a little distracted by the discussion of occupational therapy. Sorry, but there is a belief that mental work is secondary to life.

Occupational therapy helps one to develop not only his or her working environment but also helping in doing good at the public sphere and daily life. We can call it  a mental therapy in this advanced world.

It's good that there are people who understand the importance of occupational therapy for the development of cognitive and physical abilities.

Young animals learn living through games considered to be training activities. Is animal play an example of occupational therapy for the development of cognitive and physical abilities?

Dear Marcel - As many of your replies here pertain to animals somehow, is it a logical deduction that your current job involves with ecology, ecosystems & animals??

Dear Marcel! The game is the key to learning and development functions of the brain after birth, and by the way, throughout the life of humans and animals. Let me formulate this aphorism: termination of play behavior means degradation of the living entity.

I have always been attracted by nature, from the beginning. It must be innate somehow, I presume

Do not argue. Self-knowledge as a part of nature continues.

Occupational therapy services are provided for habilitation, rehabilitation, and promotion of health and wellness for clients with disability- and non–disability-related needs. These services include acquisition and preservation of occupational identity for those who have or are at risk for developing an illness, injury, disease, disorder,

condition, impairment, disability, activity limitation, or participation restriction.

http://www.terapia-ocupacional.org.ar/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/3%C2%AA-Edicion-Marco-de-Trabajo-2013.pdf

Dear Prof. Krishnan - Do you understand the conversation of Marcel & Vladimir? I

Thanks!!

Best wishes, Sundar