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This article gives a history of the evolution of prosthetics---brief and interesting. Who knew that these started with the Egytians?

I thought this was a nice video on what occupational therapy is and what areas it covers as a holistic approach.

This is an article on the stand up desk Teri mentioned in class the other day. My fiancés place of work is giving the employees the option of having one of these as well and he opted to try it out. He says he can tell a difference in back pain when he stands vs. sitting, I assume it is because he is using better posture while standing. Since it was mentioned in class and he is using it I wanted to see if I could find other benefits to using a stand up desk while at work. I found this article explaining more benefits of using the stand up desk and I found it to be a very interesting read, and wishing I would have had this option at my desk job before I started school.

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/.

How would a blind person play tennis? This article explains the sport of blind tennis and gives some information about the sport's history, which started in 1984. With certain modifications of rules and equipment, blind or otherwise visually impaired individuals can participate remarkably well. Scientists are discovering other ways that the brain "sees." The visual cortex apparently can also process auditory and tactile stimuli, and impaired individuals also do have some visual perception, using other senses to monitor their surroundings. When blind tennis players begin to succeed on court, that success carries over into other areas of their lives. The article includes conversations with instructors and students, and is inspiring to those who think they "can't."

This article gives a little history on the Shriners and their work with burn patients. With their four burn hospitals, Shriners cares for children with burn injuries from the time of acute injury through rehabilitation and individual reconstructive needs throughout their childhood.

"Hugh Herr's bionic limbs have already revolutionized life for amputees (including himself). Now he's envisioning new capabilities for everyone else."

Any Catholics out there -- the familiar papal blessing hand gesture used by popes throughout the centuries is thought to have been because of ulnar nerve damage of the first pope. Other popes followed suit and it stuck. This article is interesting in that it explains ulnar nerve damage and explains some history in the process.