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This may be a short article, but it is packed with good information. It answers the question "what can OT do for the cardiac patient?". A good reference for clients and a good reference for practitioners.

According to the Mayo Clinic, there are 4 tools we can use to either cope with stress or reduce the stress. The 4 tools include Avoid, Alter, Accept, and Adapt. Each tool is explained and ways to use each tool are included. Stress can be good and bad. Knowing yourself and your environment and what causes your stress will help you deal with it. The tools are easy to follow and are a good reminder that in many situations we are in control.

These tools can be applied to all aspects of life and are easy to implement or have a client implement.

This video gives a good demonstration of just a few ways to massage a scar. I had never heard of scar care before our hand lab with Carrie, and didn't know that OT had anything to do with it. Not all of us will get to be CHT, but we will all have patients with scars. Good information to tuck away for later.

Video showing how to massage a scar to soften it.

So I thought this would be beneficial for everyone because we were just discussing "burns" in lecture. This massaging technique would be good for a patient who has a localized burned, but could be used for a patient who has a massive portioned burned. I like how she explains what she is doing, and how it helps the healing process. This technique could be used for any type of scar tissue, so it is very universal in therapy.

this was a good instructional video for taking a clients blood pressure. I found it interesting that the stethoscope actually has an off position that you need to be aware of, I did not realize that.

This is a really good video on how to take blood pressure. If you need to brush up on it, I would advice viewing this. It is a good one to reference back to if you don't take blood pressure often and need a review.

A really good site alot about different types burns also first aid treatment do's and don't's, some pics of 2 nd, 3 rd and radiation burns, everything from meds to coping strateges. Prevention By: Mayo Clinic staff To reduce your risk of common household burns: This would be a good check list that maybe we as OT might want to use for a future reference.

This is a very detailed article addressing edema reduction. I found it helpful because it did not just state ways to reduce edema but it always described the etymology of it as well. I found it helpful to read the etymology and get a good understanding of it because it helped me to better understand why these named techniques helped, instead of just taking someones word for it. Its not too long but contains very good information!

At my last fieldwork placement I got to watch a couple of driving assessments. Driving brings a person much freedom. Taking away the privilege can be devastating to some. This article gives some good tips on to talk with a loved one about their ability or non-ability to drive. I think the tips would apply to those of us who find ourselves working in situations where we would have to talk with client's about this subject.

This is a tough issue. I used to worry about my grandmother so much. She started having little fender benders. It is good for us to be aware as COTA's how significant driving or not driving can be to our clients.

The conversation regarding when someone should no longer drive could be quite hard. I found this website that gives advise on how to have this conversation. It discusses how to plan for it, how to bring it up, how to handle objections and the environment in which it should take place. It also talks about how to help the individual with the transition (finding other means of transportation, etc).

What is mental health or emotional health? Mental or emotional health refers to your overall psychological well-being. It includes the way you feel about yourself, the quality of your relationships, and your ability to manage your feelings and deal with difficulties.

very good examples for possible test question! Just general knowledge of assistive tech. and good def.

This is a great resource that is short and concise to help therapist incorporate their patients in the transfer process.  Safe transfers is about good positioning but it is also about have clear communication with the patient.  I like the sample phrases within this article aimed  at having better communication with the patient.  Communication that the patient can understand is crucial to the transfer process.

This is an awesome video narrated by an OT student who is a paraplegia.  Nicole gives a look into the adaptive equipment she uses to get around in her daily occupations.  This video shows car adaptations, standing machine, wheelchair cushions, and how she travels via airplane and taxi.  Nicole gives a good explanation of these devices.

That was an absolutely great video Kellie!

This was a good article to read about active aging. Active aging is continuing to participate socially, with families and friends, spiritual, economic affairs, etc. Being active as we age can help extend our life expectancy and quality of life. This article was a good reminder to me to stay active in my community, with my family, church family and friends as I age so as not to isolate myself as I grow older.

I love this lady! She is an OTA who has a lower extremity amputation and allows the viewer to see the real life struggles in a first person point of view. She gives good advice for safe showering/bathing and points out different ways for different people. Lastly, this video will help home health OTA's to know what an amputee may need to make life easier (stand up shower vs. bathtub).

This is so funny! Love the cat! Good, practical info too.

Although not curable, RA symptoms can be alleviated by the same relaxation and breathing techniques we have already learned. Cold and warm compresses can be used to help with inflammation and pain. Mind/body therapies have been shown to be of great help to those with RA. Progressive muscle relaxation, visualization, meditation, and biofeedback are all good techniques to teach our clients when traditional medications are not enough. Also, these techniques can be used in many other areas.

This website from the American College of Rheumatology provides fast facts re: appropriate exercises for those who suffer from arthritis. What exercises are helpful and safe, who should exercise and which exercises are best, when to exercise and how to get started. Good info to know and share with potential clients in the future

This is an article about prosthetics. I thought it would tie in good with our class discussion. What I really like about the way this article is wrote, is that for OT it tells information that relates to our field. I like these articles on the AOTA website.

I thought this article went good with the topics we have been covering. All of the articles I found previous to this one were very long to read. I like this one because it is short and covers OT in UE Rehab. It discusses all of the areas that we address in this rehabilitation. It would be a good article for a client to read that is not to wordy. I also like the list of needs met by interventions in the article.

Although we discussed work space ergonomics, I came across this tip sheet for carrying a purse/backpack. These tips are not only useful for us as students, but are also good strategies to recommend to our future clients.

This is the pamphlet from Hamilton General Hospital that is given to their burn patients. It covers everything we discussed in class with Teri in easy to understand language and provides visual aids of the different levels of burns. It also talks about the role of OT, exercises, diet and nutrition, coping and recovery, ADLs, caring for the skin, and what the patient is to do once they return home. Good info!

The nature of care-giving can place great physical stress on you as the caregiver. Practicing proper body mechanics will decrease the stress and strain and help to safely manage the mobility of the care-receiver. The primary rule is to maintain the normal lumbar curve at all times.

Thanks for sharing, I used this website in my Pearltrees about PD, it has very helpful info.