Physiotherapy and occupational therapy

Physiotherapy and occupational therapy is a service that all municipalities have, which must cooperate and assist both the child and the family in several ways, both with training and therapy, prevention, facilitation, as well as the dissemination of specialist knowledge and aids. They can also give advice and guidance to parents, assistants and other personnel who look after the child, e.g. in the kindergarden.

How to get in touch?

As a parent, you can make direct contact with a physio or occupational therapist in the municipality, or ask for a referral from e.g. health centre, kindergarten/school or doctor. 

Physiotherapy

A physiotherapist has knowledge of the body, movement and function, as well as prevents and treats disease and/or ailments in the musculoskeletal system.

The physiotherapist offers several different services, e.g.:

• Examinations of the child
• Individual treatment
• Group training.
• Apply for and adapt aids.
• Collaborate with other professionals around the child.
• Guidance and/or advice to parents, nursery/school staff and to personnel in the home.

Here you can see a nice one information film about what occupational therapy is about and what an occupational therapist does.

Occupational therapy

An occupational therapist works in health promotion and prevention. The occupational therapist must help the child to facilitate participation, activity and play, as well as to function as best as possible in daily tasks.

The occupational therapist offers various services, e.g.:

• Assess and map functional level.
• Apply for and adapt aids.
• Exercise in daily activities.
• Arrangement of daycare/school.
• Guidance and/or advice to both parents, nursery/school staff and other partners around the child.
• Arrangement of home.
• Advice when changing homes and in housing planning. 

Here you can see a nice one information film about what occupational therapy is about and what an occupational therapist does.

Physio and occupational therapists often collaborate on assessment, communication and adaptation of necessary aids. The therapist can provide the services in the lists above at home, in nursery/school or at health centres.

All municipalities are obliged to have a physiotherapist and occupational therapist.

Physio and occupational therapists can contribute to both rehabilitation and habilitation - read more about that here.

Legislation

The Health and Care Services Act

Section 3-2. The municipality's responsibility for health and care services

To fulfill the responsibility according to Section 3-1 the municipality must have attached a doctor, nurse, physiotherapist, midwife, health nurse, occupational therapist and psychologist. The King in Council may, in regulations, make further provisions on requirements for the content of the services according to the provision here, including provisions on competence requirements for different types of services.