WHAT IS RECREATION THERAPY?

Recreation Therapy is a treatment service that assists individuals in improvement of the emotional, cognitive, physical & social aspects of their lives, while using the individuals leisure interests.

We provide an opportunity to enhance the quality of life of individuals with disabilities through participation in creative arts, sensory play, adaptive sports, social recreation & fitness. We aim not only to increase recreation participation, but also range of motion, communication, self-confidence, coping skills, leisure awareness, & health and wellness. A Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) will facilitate the session. Recreation Therapy services are for participants of all ages and abilities. Your therapist will typically try to match your activities to your interests. Some of the activities that may be part of a recreational therapy program include:

• art
• music
• sports games
• video games
• board games
• animal interactions
• dance and movement
• gardening
• storytelling
• creative writing
• drama
• cooking classes
• community and cultural outings

What types of conditions are well suited to recreational therapy?

Recreational therapy benefits people of all ages. It’s often used to help people who are:

• recovering from a stroke
• rehabilitating from an injury, illness, or surgery
• working to improve motor skills
• learning to carry out the activities of daily living independently
• being treated for cancer
• experiencing anxiety or worry in a hospital setting
• feeling isolated or depressed
• developing the ability to express their thoughts and emotions
• recovering from a substance use disorder

How can recreational therapy benefit your health?

Recreational therapy has wide-ranging positive impacts on your physical and mental health. This is especially the case when the therapy is designed around your individual interests and needs.

Let’s dive into some of the science-backed benefits of these therapies.

Improves symptoms of depression

Many therapeutic recreation programs get people up and moving and stimulating their minds with engaging, creative tasks. Research shows that recreational therapy involving physical activity may decrease symptoms of depression.

Music therapy, art therapy, drama, and dance also all have positive effects on depression symptoms. Researchers believe the improvement may be linked to endorphins. These feel-good chemicals are released in your brain during physical movement, when you express yourself creatively, and during social interactions.

Increases self-esteem

Research shows that recreational therapy may help improve a person’s self-confidence and self-esteem.

In one small 2018 study, therapists interviewed older adults in a long-term care facility, asking them to select leisure activities based on their interests. After a structured program where the adults engaged in their chosen activities every week and did simple upper body exercises, they reported improved self-esteem compared with how they felt before starting the therapy program. Study participants who hadn’t been offered the option of customized activities didn’t experience the same boost to their self-esteem.

Strengthens social connections

Illness, injury, and disability can limit your ability to interact with people. Recreational therapy provides opportunities to engage with other people in positive ways, which can counteract feelings of isolation.

In one 2011 study, people with early dementia described feeling uplifted and accepted after participating in a recreational therapy program together.

Stronger social bonds like these are associated with better health outcomes across the board.

Improves functional independence after an injury

In many cases, a serious injury can affect your ability to do routine tasks. Taking care of your home, exercising, playing with your children or grandchildren — these activities may be difficult or impossible after an injury.

Recreational therapy can make a difference in the level of functional independence after a serious injury.

In one 2012 study for example, researchers found that people who engaged in greater amounts of therapeutic recreation after a spinal cord injury recovered functional independence at a slightly higher rate than those who didn’t have the same therapy.

Recreational therapy for people with injuries is also associated with more social activity, greater involvement with sports or aquatic activities, and fewer pressure ulcers.

Increases strength and physical fitness

Recreational therapy often includes exercise, games, dance, yoga, tai chi, and other kinds of movement. A 2014 study found that this kind of recreational movement may help improve your balance, physical strength, and flexibility.

In a 2020 study, 33 preschool children with autism spectrum disorder participated in an 8-week therapeutic program that focused on basketball. At the end of the program, the students had improved speed, agility, and muscle strength, and showed improvements in their social communication skills.

There’s also some evidence that exercise therapy may be a helpful tool in substance use programs.

Boosts cognitive abilities

Research from 2011 shows that physical exercise, social engagement, and games that stimulate your brain (such as bridge, chess, and memory challenges) all improve the healthy functioning of your mind. It’s important to bear in mind that recreational therapy can’t fully restore areas of the brain that have been permanently damaged. But research from 2017 suggests that physical activity, social relationships, and activities that challenge your thinking may all help maintain the healthy functioning of your brain.

Relieves anxiety for children who are hospitalized

Being treated in a hospital is a stressful, fearful experience for a child. According to a 2013 study, recreational therapy in a pediatric hospital may help reduce those negative feelings. This can be particularly important if a child visits hospitals repeatedly due to a chronic condition.

Therapeutic play gives children opportunities to build positive relationships with hospital staff, to talk about their feelings, and to develop a sense of control and confidence at a time when they may be feeling vulnerable.

BENEFITS OF RECREATION THERAPY SERVICES

• Increased awareness of leisure activities
• Develop and maintain social skills
• Reduced depression
• Builds confidence and creativity
• Focuses on the whole person (physical, emotional, intellectual, social)
• Focuses on skills that carry over into everyday life
• Uses cost-effective treatment to work towards goals set by client and therapist
• Has a wide variety of interventions
• Promotes healthy living
• Keeps clients engaged using preferred activities