This AOTA article includes the definition of arthritis as well as OT's role in the treatment of arthritis. There is also a great tip sheet for treatment of arthritis by current need which can be downloaded for ease of use.

This on-line edition of Occupational Therapy in Oncology and Palliative Care edited by Jill Cooper does an excellent job explaining in layman terms the different aspects of cancer to include tumor classification, etiologies, symptoms, diagnosis and treatments. It then discusses the different reasons some OTs decide to work in this specialty and how the OT can better deal with the stresses they encounter in treating those with cancer. I would definitely read this in its entirety if I chose to work with cancer patients.

This is an on-line copy of the textbook Occupational Therapy for Physical Dysfunction, 6th Edition. The first edition of this textbook with authors Catherine Trombly and Anna Deane Scott, was the first textbook aimed at OT for physical disabilities. Pages 22-29 address the origins of Occupational Therapy a lot of which is being discussed in the Work Lesson. Afterwards, it discusses practice tools as being work programs, crafts and exercise, adaptive equipment, PAMs, and orthotics. It helped me to view these in this manner as a choice of possible patient treatments to feel more secure in entering field work in the near future. It also states that physical therapists establish individual motions before the OT works on movement combinations required for ADLs. The simplistic wording of this book helps me to have a greater understanding of the OT profession as a whole which is why I chose to share this site.

This peer-reviewed AJOT authored by Bracciano, McPhee, Rose details the appropriate use of physical agent modalities (PAMs) within the OT field. They discuss the facts regarding different categories of PAMs to include superficial thermal agents, deep thermal agents, electrotherapeutic agents, and mechanical devices. The authors explain the relevance of The Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics and Ethics Standards as it pertains to the use of PAMs.

"OT in the Burn Unit" is an article written by Sarina Piergrossi which outlines her first experience as an OT with a burn victim. She describes the process she underwent to insure proper treatment for this patient in the different stages of care required by burn victims. The different treatment types described include compression therapy, skin lubrication, splinting, ROM/strengthening and conditioning exercises, and then planning for discharge. Another service offered at Kessler Institute (where this therapist worked) is they allow the patients to travel out into the community with a therapist in order to assess future needs with ambulation, wheelchair mobility, etc. It was very interesting to know that this OT felt at a little anxious about receiving her first burn victim as I am feeling the same sense of anxiety regarding treating patients for the first time as we head out into our field work.

With most of the younger workers, they seem to believe themselves so entitled as part of the "Me" generation. It was very refreshing to see this 18-year-old have such tremendous and admirable goals. In relation to our subject matter, it will be interesting to follow her cancer research and hopefully see a cure during my lifetime.

I shared this as I feel the Mayo Clinic is a strong source for medical information. I have heard a lot of discussion regarding special diets for those with arthritis and it is interesting to know that there is no absolute proof regarding this.

Decided to share this because, as they say, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

This is an amazing story. It seems odd to think that people would have more of their leg removed in order to have a better prosthesis. But this woman's leg looks so amazingly real to me.

Sorry, I jumped the gun and saved this before without stating why. I thought this information was very interesting as I do plan to become modality certified. It also seemed somewhat odd that they are in class 4 and 5 hours at a time without a scheduled break.

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

This was interesting for me as I had typed many of these surgeries and knew the words, but had never seen it performed. It would probably be a good visual idea of what our patients have been through in order to better treat and sympathize with them.

A lot of times, when people do not think an issue involves them, it is harder for to sympathize with those it does affect. This video showed me how this issue could just as easily involve me or someone I love deeply. As it has been said, "there but for the grace of God, go I."

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.

This article interested me as it does make reference to sexual surrogacy. It states that most sexual therapy is verbal however some cases do require the use of a sexual surrogate therapist. As the author of this article practices in the Fair Oaks, California area, this would lead me to believe that sexual surrogates are legal at least in some states.

This video was very helpful for me to be able to see not only the hip precautions, but also the recommended movements as well as hearing the different predicaments which might lead to one being in those positions.

I love this website. It should be titled "Restrictions Made Easy." The Occupational Therapy Department at the University of Washington Medical Center has created this website to provide handouts for multiple conditions to include sternal precautions, ADLs following surgery of the abdomen, self-care after breast reconstruction, etc. This website will make it easy to accurately advise and treat our patients.

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.

My supervisor during last semester's fieldwork told me that she had seen people wait up to a year to obtain funding for devices they desperately needed to improve their quality of life. This was due mostly to red tape and hoops you must jump through to obtain these funds. I feel it is extremely important to familiarize ourselves with all of the available resources in order to expedite this process.

I decided to share this article as I was unaware that there is a specific group to help farmers continue to live and work independently. In the rural area I live in, this information will definitely be needed. Many of the physical disabilities I witnessed in nursing homes and in outpatient settings were direct results of farming injuries. As well, farmers are very self-sufficient and their self worth is based mostly on their ability to maintain their lifestyle.