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Living with COPD can be very frightening, so it is important to know optimal positioning when having a dyspnea attack. Proper positioning maximizes respiration and utilizes muscles that are not normally used during typical breathing. The proper positioning techniques while sitting, lying and standing are all covered.

Food Choices will not act as a panacea for arthritis, but they can have a positive or negative effect on the condition. This article lists 10 foods that help and hurt someone with arthritis.

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 PDF gives information on the procedure of hemiarthroplasty to repair a fractured hip, as well as, great visual pictures of the body positioning during ADL's for hip precautions. I thought it would be helpful for someone like me, as an OTA student to visualize the correct preventative positioning during sitting, lying, driving, bathing, etc.

This article was an eye opener for me regarding the hazards of sitting too long and not using proper sitting techniques. I now know now why I have mushy abs and limp glutes! I sit for hours at my computer without taking a break, resting or stretching. I also do not sit in an ergonomic position while at my desk. From this article I gained a great deal of information about how sitting too long can contribute to heart disease, over-productive pancreas, colon cancer, poor circulation in legs, foggy brain, bad back, strained neck, disk damage, mushy abs and limp glutes, just to name a few. It was really surprising to learn how just from sitting too long can create havoc on your organs, muscles and your whole body. Gives you something to think about!

I should put my laptop on the bar and use it standing up once in awhile!

this is a great website and has pics of different positions for having sex in a wheelchair. I thought it was very interesting and shows stick figure graphics on ways I would never think of but can be used when educating patients. It also has hyperlinks to topics such as body image, relationships, sexual violence and harassment for those with disabilities.

Lisa, I saw that website too :). I liked that it had tabs on info for family, partners and doctors.

This is a nice little pdf on wheelchair position techniques and recommendations for making clients as comfortable as possible while in their chair.

This is an articulate lesson on evaluation, treatment planning, positioning and splinting for clients with burns on different areas of the body.

This is a link to a learning module on splinting and positioning of patients with UE burns in the acute phase.

This is a chart showing the different fowlers positions for a patient in the bed.

This is a short video with an OTR/CHT demonstrating how to wrap a finger. Uses for Coban wrap include reducing edema, support and protection for wounds (it can be applied directly, but doesn't stick to weeping tissue), light support for joint positioning, and early AROM.

Oh a short helpful video! Thank you Beth! The little trick at the end of folding the edge is a nice touch. Helpful tips!

The Top 10 Myths and Misconceptions About HIV and AIDS For nearly 30 years, HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) have been shrouded in many myths and misconceptions. In some cases, these mistaken ideas have prompted the very behaviors that cause more people to become HIV-positive.

When facing potential stressors, the way we view what we're experiencing can exacerbate our stress--or minimize it! Reframing is a time-honored, psychologist-recommended method of looking at things in ways that create less stress and promote a greater sense of peace and control. Learn more about reframing techniques for stress management.

This is a good website that provides alternative to restraints for patients with cognitive impairments, physical impairments, seating and positioning needs, and for agitation and wandering.

I just found this great site that shares how to properly set up a wheelchair. I think this can be a great resource not only for us but for our clients. It ties right in with mobility and Chapter 15!

This is a great handout for a individual who has had a hip replacement surgery concerning sexual positions.

So, here is a powerpoint that I found on ambulation aids and 80% of the stuff we don't need to know. But, it does have some helpful info on different aids that are used and some positive and negatives of the aids. I just thought I would share.

This article lays out, very clearly, the definitions and examples of restraints. They give easy-to follow directions in assessing whether or not a restraint is necessary. I felt this information will be helpful in my position as a COTA.

Updated August 20, 2014 15:22:57 Sean Fitzgerald worked hard to rebuild his life after breaking his neck in a mountain bike accident 14 years ago. For five hours after the crash, before medical help arrived, his then-partner and a passing stranger kept him alive with their breath.

If you skim through the article, please pay special attention to the last paragraph. I loved how Mr. Fitzgerald stated that being able to work and do something meaningful was important to his psyche. Assistive devices are what allowed him to continue to be productive after becoming physically disabled. As we have been taught, having something meaningful to do is key to having a positive outcome regardless of the level of disability.