Introduction
Recreational therapy provides a wide range of beneficial effects on both the physical and emotional health of a patient (“How can recreational therapy benefit your health?” n.d.). This is especially relevant when the therapy is tailored to their own interests and requirements. Many therapeutic leisure programs promote a person’s physical activities and also exercise their minds with fun, creative programs (“How can recreational therapy benefit your health?” n.d.). According to 2018 Trusted Source research, recreational treatment incorporating physical exercise may reduce symptoms of depression (“How can recreational therapy benefit your health?” n.d.). Moreover, there are many types of RT, such as music therapy, art therapy, theater therapy, and dance are all effective treatments for depressive symptoms. These activities affect the secretion of endorphins in the person’s body. This paper aims to promote RT and discuss the multiple beneficial effects of this therapy.
What is RT?
Recreational therapy, also known as therapeutic recreation, is a system that uses recreational activity to address the needs of people with illnesses or disabilities. The goal of recreational therapy is to improve or maintain physical, cognitive, social, emotional, and spiritual functioning so people can participate in life fully (Sears, 2022). Recreational therapy is a therapeutic service that uses activities and crafts to improve mental, emotional, and physical well-being. It can involve arts and crafts, animals, sports, games, dance and movement, drama, music, and community outings. Recreational therapists work to reduce depression, stress, and anxiety; recover basic motor functioning and reasoning abilities; build confidence, and socialize effectively.
Why RT?
Recreational therapy should not be confused with recreation workers, who organize recreational activities primarily for enjoyment. Recreational therapy has shown tremendous growth and development over the past two decades. The Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist designation has become the professional standard that exemplifies each professional’s dedication to quality standards and excellence in practice. There are over 19,000 recreational therapists in the United States today (“About recreational therapy,” n.d.). Over 17,000 of these professionals hold the advanced CTRS credential (“About recreational therapy,” n.d.). The NCTRC is the most professional organization for therapeutic recreation.
Benefits of RT
The public benefits when qualified professionals in therapeutic recreation are held to consistent standards and are properly disciplined. According to research, recreational therapy can help people enhance their self-confidence and self-esteem (“About recreational therapy,” n.d.). For example, in one modest 2018 study, therapists interviewed older persons at a long-term care facility and asked them to choose leisure activities based on their preferences (“About recreational therapy,” n.d.). After an organized program in which the individuals participated in their preferred hobbies every week and performed simple upper body exercises, they reported higher self-esteem than they did before beginning the treatment program. Illness and disability may all have an impact on a patient’s capacity to engage with others. Recreational therapy allows people to interact with others in pleasant ways, which can help to alleviate feelings of loneliness. People with early dementia expressed feeling elevated and welcomed after engaging in a recreational therapy program together in a 2011 research (“About recreational therapy,” n.d.). Stronger social relationships like this are linked to overall better health outcomes.
Recreational therapy has been demonstrated to increase cognitive function, general physical health, and socialization abilities. These advantages have been demonstrated to aid the patient’s rehabilitation and increase their quality of life. One of the most significant advantages of recreational therapy is that it focuses on activities that individuals of all ages and abilities may participate in and encourages enjoyment and play (“About recreational therapy,” n.d.). As a consequence, feelings of loneliness diminish, and friendships and supportive relationships form. Group therapeutic recreational activities can assist patients in forming bonds with others who are in the same stage of life or face comparable issues. Individual treatment focuses on activities that are pleasurable. Recreational therapy, both group and individual, aids in the improvement of emotional health. When a patient participates in recreational treatment, his or her mood nearly always improves.
Conclusion
This paper aims to promote RT and discuss its benefits for patients, as well as the prospects for people who want to become recreational therapists. RT has a variety of benefits for patients, which is why this therapy is very important. RT allows patients to gain a wide range of physical, cognitive, and emotional benefits.
References
About recreational therapy. (n.d.). Web.
How can recreational therapy benefit your health? (n.d.). Web.
Sears, B. (2022). What is recreational therapy? VeryWellHealth. Web.