This is an article describing work hardening in occupational therapy. It is promoting a rehab center, but gives a good definition of work hardening and how OT can help people return back to work. It promotes education to prevent injuries and teaches clients how to cope with symptoms of chronic pain.

Burns can be caused by heat, hot liquids, strong chemicals, electricity and radiation. They are measured by the amount of body surface that has been burned, the burn degree, and their depth or thickness. Burns are classified in stages as first, second, third or forth degree, depending on how deeply the layers of skin (dermis and epidermis) are damaged.

This is actually a Blog that is written by a nurse. There are graphic pictures for each stage of burn.

Dysphagia symptoms, causes and treatments are discussed in this article. What I thought was interesting are the complementary and alternative therapies that are suggested for dysphagia such as certain types of herbal teas. (There is a warning to be careful with using herbs while taken certain medications.)

This would be a great article to share with a patient that has cancer or with their family member. It describes the OT's role in caring for someone with cancer and the many places where OT can be provided.

This web site offers courses for thermal and electrical modalities that are used in OT. IT is a live online course. It covers treatment and safety precautions. I would love to take this course, but the price is $599.00!! I wonder if there are facilities that will pay for or pay for half of the course for their OT employee.

A computer software concept has been developed that will enable clinicians with no experience in Computer Aided Design (CAD) to design and make custom-made 3D printed wrist splints for rheumatoid arthritis sufferers. The 3D printed splints are not only more comfortable and attractive but potentially cheaper than the current ones that are 'ugly, bulky, and can make a patients arm sweat'.

What a great idea. So many things are being done/accomplished due to 3-D printing. I can only imagine what our future holds in the area.

This is a short article that discusses rheumatoid arthritis and its affect on kidneys. It provides suggestions on how to keep your kidneys healthy and has a warning list for signs of kidney damage.

I had shoulder surgery in July, 2013 due to a very large bone spur and impingement. This web page gives detailed pictures (not graphic) of the steps involved for the same procedure I had. This visual would have been nice to see before my surgery. There is also detailed information about rotator cuff tears and shoulder dislocations.

This article details the most common type of nerve compression syndromes of the hand. It describes the anatomy, site of compression, symptoms, and treatment for each one. I think it is very useful information for our upcoming exam.

Sex is a taboo subject for some people, but as future OTA's we need learn how to be able to answer questions about sex. If as a therapist we are uncomfortable discussing sex, we aren't establishing a very good therapeutic use of self if we can not effectively communicate with the client their concerns regarding sex.

Since we need to know the cardiovascular system and it has been a while since we have had A&P, I thought this video would be a great refresher. Enjoy :)

This address should take you to the "Amputee OT" video. Please let me know if it doesn't. An OT that is also an amputee narrates and demonstrates how a prosthetic running leg is made. It is amazing how much precision and details are used to get the best fit for a running prosthesis.

This article is about a man that knew he needed a hip replacement, but dreaded the long recovery of having one. He talked with a surgeon that recommended using an anterior approach for his surgery because it required much less muscle to be cut through. As a result of using the anterior approach, he had an extremely quick recovery and was able to resume all his favorite actives.

This article made some great points about growing old and feeling old. Age is relative. Our bodies start to betray us as we age, but that is part of life. However, growing older doesn't mean we should stop living. I believe that when a person begins to put limitations on their selves is when one becomes "old".

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.

Here is a room-by-room checklist of steps you can take if someone in your family is impacted by a lasting injury, disability or age-related physical challenges. Many of these improvements will also make your home safer and more comfortable for able-bodied residents and guests alike, as well as potentially increase its value.

This article provides a checklist for making a home accessible. It begins with simple solutions for ensuring safety and also recommends contacting someone that has a Certified Aging in Place Specialization (CAPS) that can help design the home to meet visibility and universal design. I think it will be important for us to be skilled in assessing a clients home to help enable them to age in place.

Would you prioritize sleep if you knew it kept your immune system strong? That's the question the American Academy of Sleep Medicine wants you to ponder this week. Lost in the hoopla surrounding Independence day was the publication of some eye-opening (or eye-shutting) research by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine showing that the immune system responds sharply to sleep loss.

This article emphasizes the correlation between stress and sleep. No matter our age, everyone needs plenty of sleep to properly function. Sleep is a time for our bodies to "reboot". Just like stress, lack of sleep is harmful to one's overall well being. The article lists similar physiological effects that are caused from lack of sleep that our text book has listed for chronic stress. High stress levels and an inefficient amount of sleep wreak havoc on a persons immune system. It is always easier said than done, but we all could improve our health by finding ways to reduce stress and sleep more.