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Download a printable copy of this fact sheet here. In contemporary society, the word ergonomics can be found in a variety of literature-everything from marketing campaigns for the latest gadget to the vast information provided in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's program guidelines for specific industries.

Ergonomics: Occupational Therapy in the Workplace (From the American OT Association: Reproducible consumer handout to further public education) Ergonomics is the science of designing a person's environment so that it facilitates the highest level of function. A person's work environment should fit his or her capabilities as a worker.Good ergonomics prevent injury and promote health, safety, and comfort for employees.

This article talks about reasons why elder patients may be at risk for falling as well as strategies and modern technology to help improve safety in hospitals and nursing homes.

Group repository for online resources related to Theory and Treatment of Physical Disabilities

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.

This is about a retirement community in MO that uses technology like motion and bed sensors to monitor residents and enhance their safety.

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.

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.

OT practitioners will work with clients with dysphagia in many places including long-term care to schools. Preparing the body for best position for swallowing and digestion, modifying textures for safety, and compensatory techniques are all things the practitioner can assist with. AOTA offers certification to practitioners for feeding, eating m and swallowing.

Sorry, did not realize Erikka had shared this already and not sure how to delete it from my name. But Erikka was the first to share, so the credit goes to her. Great article.

A nice compact list of ways to protect your joints. The list comes with examples and extra information that is helpful to the practitioner and the client. This is relevant to those with joint pain and those who want to prevent joint pain.

This is a slide presentation by AgrAbility which does a little bit of teaching about ergonomics and also shows lots of examples of adapted garden tools. I don't garden, but I found this presentation interesting because a lot of older people I know garden, and I enjoy eating their produce! Grips, handle lengths, lightweight materials and the like are described and suggested, either to purchase or make yourself. There's also information about gardening with arthritis and general safety precautions.

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 is another good video of a house that has had various modifications for WC accessibility and it also makes mention of a magnetic conduction stove and the safety benefits of them, which I found interesting.

This webpage has a simple and easy-to-read infographic that covers a lot of problem areas around the house for post-surgery ambulation for individuals with joint replacement. My father recently had a L TKA and I sent him and my mother this link so that they could make any changes around the house that were necessary for safety.

I know it may be a faux pas to post an article from a PT website, but the article offers a lot of cool advice regarding house features that are beneficial for individuals with less muscle strength and endurance (whether they be seniors or otherwise physically disabled). The article goes through all areas of the house and highlights common problem areas and how they've been adapted. OT plays a big role in home safety evals, and this site offers a lot of wisdom on the topic.

Grab Bars are one of the most popular safety items for the bathroom. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes, colors, and configurations while adding form and function to one of the most popular rooms in the home. Here are 7 Grab Bar Installation Tips that we've discovered over the years.

I know that you are probably wondering what hoarding has to do with OT, but after reading this article on the topic I can see that there is a definite need for OT practitioners. Therapy can include education on increasing home safety by reducing clutter (and tripping hazards) and removing detritus to reduce likelihood of health hazards such as mold and household pests. Since the psychology of hoarding is oftentimes complex, the OT can also work with a team of other professionals to help the client address the underlying issues causing the hoarding. Even the removal of the clutter can be part of therapeutic activity and can be used to train the client on energy conservation as well as frustration tolerance.