Looking for occupational therapy treatment ideas specifically for men? Here is a list for you!
In my treatment sessions, I strive to provide client-centered, occupation based treatments when possible, but I am going to say it - men are different than women!
They have different interests, ideas and things that are important to them and I definitely have to cater a bit to these differences.
I can honestly say that I haven't had too many men that are interested in helping decorate a therapy room for a holiday while working on dynamic balance or creating May Day baskets for their neighbors while focusing on dexterity.
That being said, I have put together a list of occupation based treatment ideas specifically geared toward men - think along the lines of working in their garage, sheds, pottering around the garden or fixing things.
As we all know, this list is not all inclusive, but as long as my patients are participating in a client-centered task, it is going to be a great session in my book!
You can use these basic activities to work on a huge variety of areas - everything from activity tolerance and balance, to executive function, a sensory diet or fine motor activities. Use your activity analysis skills to determine how the task can be modified to achieve the goals you are working on.
Occupation Based Treatment Ideas for Men
Worn Furniture: replace material, fix legs, re-stain wood, putty holes, etc
Crack out the Toolkit: any project that uses hammers, wrenches, screwdrivers, etc
Paint: anything that needs painting/re-painting - benches, birdhouses, fences, kits (ex. car, birdfeeders), etc
Gardening: get outside and plant, dig, weed, etc or use an occupation based kit with some of these supplies ready to go
Electrical Wiring (University of Utah College of Health - Division of OT): wiring kits, bring items from home or they sell simple kits at hardware stores
Car Washing (University of Utah College of Health - Division of OT): great way to get outside
Pet Care (University of Utah College of Health - Division of OT): put together an occupation based kit with everything including cat litter, dog food, watering bowls, etc
Plumbers Puzzle or Pumbers Tools: set up patterns to replicate or make designs, use teflon tape to put pieces together
Fix It: take apart and put back together flashlights, smoke detectors, remote controls, remote control cars
Small Engine: have a lawn mower that needs tinkering?, small gas motors to assemble/disassemble using a collection of tools - screwdrivers, pliers, wrenches, etc
Organize/Sort: tackle boxes, nuts and bots, etc
Build It: Use kits or scrap material/wood to create something new - birdhouses, benches, shelves, boxes, anything they need in their own living space?
Games: Wii, horseshoes, bocce ball, poker, blackjack
Creating Shopping List: working on cognition as well? Add a list building component to list out what is needed, where to get the items, who to call, etc
What ideas would you add to the list?
Comments 33
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Hi,
Do you have any ideas for ROM and muscle strengthening for a young man (18), who has a burn injury to his hand? He enjoys sports and lives on a farm.
I’m an OT student and a little stuck for ideas for this case study!
Thanks,
Lyndsay
I’m a new OT in a SNF setting, looking to expand the occupation- focus of the intentions there. While I’m all always busting gender norms, I did appreciate this article and the comments. Thanks for the ideas!
Author
I completely agree about busing gender norms and making ALL treatment sessions client centered vs gender specific, but sometimes you have to get some ideas flowing… 🙂
I used to work in a SNF with largely male psychiatric residents. I did gardening, The planning was not great secondary to poor cognition. What really benefited them was the pulling of weeds, digging and sweeping. The primary goal was for balance (falls was the big thing), secondary goals was self esteem, sense of achievement, etc. The other activity I did was woodworking. They all started sanding a bowl. This is a one or two step activity which is easy to correct should it go wrong. Those who are good get promoted to do other things. Many of them look forward to this.
I work in South Florida & hurricane prep for our Geri clients is a must. We have a bin with different types of flashlights & batteries. We disassemble all the parts and have our clients put them back together & ensure they light up. They have to problem solve their errors if the lights do not work. Very functional & multiple opportunities to grade this activity. This is a great for both genders but our male patient reallly appreciate this activity.
Author
Great activity Kathy! You definitely can’t get more meaningful than that
How about Tying a tie in a mirror or without the mirror, Taking apart and assembling various sizes of large nuts and bolts, Pinching bubble wrap with large or small bubbles. Working with PVC joints and pipe sections with or without a design with a homemade “pipe tree” mounted on a board. Propping a mini trampoline on the mat table and throwing a low pressure basketball at it and catching it from various distances in sit. Sweeping paper dots from the hole punch with a broom and a long handled dust pan to teach adaptations for home management in sit and stand.
Author
Great ideas – Thanks for adding to the list Terry!
I am an Occupational Therapist Assistant. For the men that like to fish, I have printed pictures of realistic looking fish. I’ve added magnets in between two pieces of the fish pictures, and use a wood dowel, rope, and magnet at the end of the rope to have them fish for the fish.
Author
fun idea Claudia – thanks for sharing
What a great idea
Thanks for the great ideas! The men are definitely more tricky for me.
I was searching for things to do for New Years–I knew that the men would not be into making Chex mix, however I brought in some nuts and they LOVED cracking them (walnuts, almonds, peanuts) with and without tools. Reminded them of their childhoods.
Of course we also sipped sparkling cider and listened to country western music the whole time.
Author
Great idea Hannah! Yes, we always want to be client centered and I don’t always abide by gender roles, but in my area of the world and with this generation, sometimes it is appropriate! Cracking nuts is not something I would have thought of, but my grand father would have LOVED this, so I can definitely see the benefit. 🙂
Love that!
Great ideas! A good one for men or women is hanging clothes out on a clothes line if your facility has an outdoor area to put it, or the retractable lines can be run between 2 trees and taken down when not in use; designate a patient to go outside and refill all the birdfeeders. I am in an area where so many worked in garment factories so I have done things like get some of the “unclaimed” denim clothing items and turn them inside out and have them “inspect” all the seams.
Author
Awesome ideas – completely client centered and familiar tasks! Thanks for sharing
I have used golf/ putting green quite a bit.
Author
great addition to the list Shawn – thanks!
I am always looking for new occupation-based ideas for male patients; thanks for the great tips! Here are some tasks I use frequently – Push a “shop broom” (I have a bowling ball on a broom handle to simulate this), sort nuts/washers/bolts into bin of small drawers (can use finger palm translation), use tin snips to cut wire (I use pipe cleaners sometimes), collect tools from around therapy gym while carrying toolbox, hang tools on pegboard, push rolling cart around to collect/dispense objects in the environment, tie knots in ropes/theraband tubing, zip ties, twist cup hooks/eye hooks into lumber, apply shoe polish, dismantle/reassemble the mounts of a gun scope, cut “steak” with fork and knife (I use lump of theraputty on plate). A student also made a wooden manipulation board from an old tub transfer bench and cabinet door that allows patients to lay in supine while working on manipulation of various objects.
Author
super creative and great ideas – thanks for adding to everyone’s “OT toolbox” 🙂
Tool sets in the blow molded case make a great puzzle…dump out tools and sockets, they have to find spot and push each in… FMC, CIMT, cognitive, attention, hemi neglect, etc.
Author
thanks for adding to the list Erika!
This list is so awesome! Great ideas!!! Here are some more ideas: grilling, playing an instrument (guitar), assisting with mail delivery for the facility to each room, and, oddly enough (say what you will), hand rolling their own cigarettes.
Author
Hey, it is all about what is important to the patient so they can fully participate in life 🙂
Some of my patients have been motivated by a simulated hunting activity using a small nerf gun and cardboard/paper targets, either animals or circles.
Thanks for the list to inspire new ideas!
Author
oooooh – that sounds fun and I can see how it could be a good laugh (always a bonus in my book!). Plus, as I live in a very “hunting” community, this would be a hit with a number of my patients (men and women).
Great ideas! Thanks
Author
of course Collette!
Hi,
I have had success using fishing. Fine motor for tying on lures and stringing a fishing poll and balance training by casting at targets in unsupported standing. Also putting golf ball for balance.
michael
Author
Awesome ideas Michael – thanks for contributing to the list!
Enjoed the article. Thank you
Author
Glad it was helpful – just a list to get your occupation based, client centered hat on 🙂