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Some unique, simple, and high tech options that look extremely real.

WHO IS A CANDIDATE FOR ANTERIOR HIP REPLACEMENT? Many people suffering with arthritis, hip pain, stiffness and limited hip movement can now choose minimally invasive surgery when hip replacement is the chosen treatment of the patient and their doctor. One of the least invasive surgical options is Anterior Hip Replacement. No muscle detachment, no hip precautions. The only place that does this approach in Knoxville is UT hospital.

The Job Accommodation Network put this information together because the number of workers over 65 is going to increase dramatically as the baby boomers age. The benefits for hiring an older worker are listed as well as the laws protecting workers. This is a nice resource for those older workers to know what rights they have and what accommodations are even available. Some accommodations cover ADLs, weakness or fatigue, hearing limitations, vision limitations, psychological issues, to name a few. I thought it was really helpful that a few situations were presented with possible solutions. Also, for the consumer, is a link to products for accommodation options.

This may be old news to some individuals but these are some pretty cool feature for individuals with certain, as Jennifer Isham would say, diffabilities. As OTA it is our job to keep our client connected and active in the activities they love. What better way to accomplish this than by teaching them these neat feature on their telephone which make the phones accessible. Communication through the telephone is necessary and with the majority of phones being smart phones they also needs to be implemented as an assistive device to help individuals throughout the day. Not only are the accessibility features very useful but other features on the smart phone can serve as a useful tool for some cognitive deficits such as short term memory loss. For example, the phone can remind them of appointments or to take medications. The Android system, whether you own an LG G3, Galaxy S4 or Nexus 5, has a number of accessibility options built in for those hard of hearing, suffering from a vision impairment or any other number of other conditions that might make the standard operation of your Android difficult.

This is an easy-to-understand webpage that describes the parts of a LE prosthesis. The material is more descriptive and more current, in my opinion, than what appears in our textbook. It also includes sections on prosthesis fitting and care of the residual limb. This resource would be good to recommend to a patient prior to or shortly after amputation. It also has professional version of the same material.

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.

This is a very interesting and informative article on the pre-prosthetic treatment OT gives a client. The client will be assessed by OT for things like ROM, scar management, pain, phantom pain and sensation, and desensitization. Client interview helps the practitioner choose a correct prosthetic. Always consider the psychosocial aspect. There are different things to consider if the amputation is unilateral or bilateral. The OT will help prepare the limb to wear the prosthetic. Mirror therapy can be used as a treatment option for phantom pain. The OT will help in ADL training, stump care, prosthetic care, and psychosocial care.

A company specializing in communication devices. The website gives you an option to choose your disability (ALS, TBI, Autism, etc) and recommends products that are associated with it. Also information on trouble shooting with products and questions related to training and using your device.

I love this sight because it explains children's occupations, and the need for children to receive OT in plain terms that all can comprehend. If you click on the word occupational therapists in the definition, it further defines OT. Thank you Kids Health for promotion occupational therapy! This sight has all kinds of answers for families with questions about illness, OT, age related concerns etc. It has everything from puberty issues by gender to what is a coma. You even have the option to listen to their examples and explanations instead of just reading them.

As we all are getting older and our parts are showing wear and tear, there is hope!

This one has a lot more relaxation techniques. I like some of their options better. If your hectic lifestyle has got you down, WebMD's experts say relaxation techniques can bring you back into balance -- some in 5 minutes or less. Here's what to try.

NASA and a few engineers are giving new meaning to "accessories'. There are other attachments besides hook terminal attachments.

This tool is to provide anyone that is blind an easy way to read brail out loud. I like this because it seems very easy to grasp, and you are able to roll it. Also, there is an optional bluetooth piece you can get with it to allows you to listen without disturbing anyone around you. You can use it to go at your own pace instead of scanning big chunks of words and having to listen to it however fast/slow the device allows.

This app looks like it may be able to replace some pricier or cumbersome options for low vision..

There has been a technology boom in wearable fitness trackers lately and I was curious to see if there was anything available to individuals who use a wheelchair as their main mode of transportation, whether due to LE amputations, spinal injury, etc. I came across this company who has created a fitness tracker specially designed for those who use a wheelchair. It not only maps incline, speed, heart rate and distance, but also aggregates data used for terrain mapping. This info can be used to give options for routes based on ease of maneuverability and safety.

I found this website is very interesting because it is describes sex options for people with different types of disabilities. I never thought about that back pain can be very challenging when it comes to sex. Communication between couples is very important, they can make decisions what sexual activities are the best for them.

Information in this article includes edema control, wound/scar management, range of motion, splinting, strengthening, and soft-tissue mobilization. There is also information on desensitization and sensory reeducation following hand injury; such as using towels and immersion in various substances. Additionally, modalities are discussed such as fluidotherapy (heat), cryotherapy (cold), continuous passive motion (increases circulation, decreases edema) along with other modalities. Good information about treatment options for hand therapy.

I really like this resource. If you are doing level II fieldwork at an outpatient hand therapy setting you must print this and use it! I wish I had it when I was at KOC first semester. Great resource.

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.

This guys work looks fascinating. Shared as it is important to know all available options.

We talked about thermostatic splints today in class. Thermostatic splints are lighter, can be removed for cleaning, and can easily be molded to the client's body. This page shows the different types of thermostatic splints that are available, and what the cost would be. The splints are not cheap, but if the client will need the splint for a long period of time it could be a cost effective option.