Group items tagged

Occupational therapy practitioners have the knowledge and expertise to modify activities and environments to allow individuals to do the things they want and need to do to maintain quality of life. The role of occupational therapy in oncology is to facilitate and enable an individual patient to achieve maximum functional performance, both physically and psychologically, in everyday living skills regardless of his or her life expectancy.

Stairs inside home are safe End of stairs is clearly marked (top and bottom) Handrails on both sides of stairs Hallways and doorways wide and obstruction free Fire extinguisher available Smoke detectors present Adequate lighting Throw rugs absent Area rugs secure and safe Adequate heat Adequate cooling Space heaters safe

The role of occupational therapy in oncology is "to facilitate and enable an individual patient to achieve maximum functional performance, both physically and psychologically, in everyday living skills regardless of his or her life expectancy" (p. 75).2

Limb loss is always devastating, both physically and emotionally. I've frequently told patients who have lost a limb or are facing the prospect of losing one, "You are going through something that no one should ever have to go through." Limb loss is, however, especially devastating whenever it happens to a child.

This article lists the billing codes for both Therapeutic Exercise and Therapeutic Activities, the difference between the two, and how they work together.

Photo credit: John A. Rogers/University Of Illinois Researchers from Northwestern University and the University of Illinois have developed a discreet, wearable device that provides around-the-clock monitoring of both heart and skin health. The skin-like patch measures a mere five centimeters square and is designed to be worn directly on the skin, for example on a user's wrist much like a band aid.

I thought this was a neat idea, based on the lessons recently on cardiopulmonary health.

Last year when Dennis (injured hang-gliding) visited our lab and when we watched the video of Charlie Croteau, I thought one of the most interesting topics they mentioned was how to travel on airlines with a wheelchair. Both men emphasized the importance of the items you need to take with you onto the plane and the space restrictions you could anticipate. I was also interested in how the wheelchair could be disassembled into a very compact space. This website is aimed toward those who may be traveling with a wheelchair and offers practical advice such as labeling your w/c parts and requesting assistance at airports.

These hands are usually about $150,000 each but she gets them for free for being a spokesperson. She is excited and getting ready to pursue a second degree...at the time this was done. Nothing is stopping her.

In class we have been discussing the wellness wheel and holistic health. This article about wheelchair tennis is inspiring and encouraging for persons living with disabilities. As practitioners, we should be aware of a variety of resources that could help our clients live full lives. "Wheelchair Revolution" relates the history of wheelchair tennis through the lives of Brad Parks and Jeff Minnebraker, both paraplegics. The two fatefully met at the Ranchos Los Amigos rehab center (remember the levels of consciousness scale by the same name?) in the 1970s. Minnebraker was a pioneer of lightweight, maneuverable w/c's, while Parks was experimenting with w/c tennis. The article also describes the game's popularity, attractive prize money, international tour, and sizable fan base. More info on wheelchair tennis can be found at http://www.usta.com/Adult-Tennis/Wheelchair-Tennis/Wheelchair/.

Amputation Specific Goals Some of the standards of care are specific to the amputation itself, and others are more concerned with the general health and well-being of the patient. The following are areas of concern specific to the amputation itself: A. Prevention of contractures is necessary at both the hip and the knee.

This article covers almost any topic you could possibly think of as related to goals for a person that has had a lower extremity amputation. They are labeled A-L, but G is what really stood out to me personally. Section G talks about emotional care and how individualized it can be. There are several suggestions as to how to address emotional care after an amputation.

I'm not sure that I agree with the title of this video, but the TEK Robotic Mobilization Device is a major improvement, in many ways, over a wheelchair. This segment gives 4 reasons why the TEK Robotic demonstrates a major shift in thinking in mobility devices. Best of all, this device shows how an individual with SCI can both sit and stand during the day, and place himself in much more natural positions for social interaction.

I tagged this page because it is important to remember that sex is not just an emotional event, but a definite physiological one as well. We need to remember this for not only our patients but in our own lives. Marriages are hard enough to maintain, but it is even harder if sex is viewed as a weapon. If both parties understand the benefits of a healthy sex life, everybody is a lot better off. Cause "if momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy," lol.

Print out our checklist to use with your patients to help them develop individual stress management strategies. Click here to print now! Stress is a commonly under-recognized, untreated dimension of recovery, rehabilitation and medical intervention. While all patients seeking medical care experience stress, for individuals with disabilities the dynamics are not the same.

The checklist Richard mentioned is a great resource! Thanks Richard. I plan on using this in the future. :)

Great article about how to help our patients with chronic conditions manage stress that impacts their daily activities.  Personal stories of stress management coping skills and how to help our clients identify their personal triggers. This article has some great questions for patients to ask themselves when identifying their personal stress management techniques.

Oncology is described as an emerging practice area in the world of OT, and currently not many OT/As are working with people with cancer and their families. There are certainly efforts to change this, but for right now many people - both within and outside the profession - are very unfamiliar with how occupational therapy can help cancer patients.

I'm sure some of us remember hearing the story on Zion Harvey this summer. This brave little boy underwent a bilateral hand transplant after losing both of his hands, and feet when we was younger. I remember hearing on the news that "he would have several hours of therapy a day" after the successful surgery. I found it encouraging that this article addressed that he had occupational therapy everyday. As future OTs/OTAs we know that occupational therapy will help him work towards his goal of playing on the monkey bars, and help him with his other ADLs. I hope we all have patients this positive in the future :)

I like the format and content of this article. The format is a chart that is easily readable and useful for both the new therapist starting out and a handy guide to give a patient. It is educational in that it reminds and teaches in a clear concise way. There are many tips for home safety and energy conservation. Enjoy!

This article is written from the perspective of a patient. She talks about how she has worn both soft and working splints for various injuries. She recommends getting your splint fitted by an occupational therapists but also mentions tips that would be helpful to consider when providing a splint to a future patient (such as keeping a log of questions or problems).

This is an interesting story about stigma -- a local Knoxville man is diagnosed with both HIV AND Parkinson's disease. He discusses how people react differently to him depending on which disease he talks about.

I wanted to know a little more on Palliative care, and "techniques" I would need for my therapeutic use of self. This infographic walks through different changes that a client might go through, both physically and mentally.

OT for the animal kingdom. Inspiring story for both clients and practitioners!