RSCC Occupational Therapy Assistant Program

Ergonomics are important in several areas. They are not just for desk or office spaces. This page has links for ergonomic strategies for carrying a purse, using a briefcase and using a suitcase. These strategies can help reduce pain in the neck, shoulder and lower back.

This webpage is actually a CEU course by Wild Iris Medical Education. Completion of the test at the end gives the practitioner 1.5 contact hours and the cost is only $15. The information helps one identify stressors and then provides practical, easy-to-understand strategies for managing stress and remaining in the profession. It provides stress prevention ideas not only for the individual to implement, but employers as well. I also like that you can read the information for free if you choose not to take the course.

This article talks about an Occupational Therapist role in teaching a client how to manage their lyphedema through complete decongestive therapy. By doing this a client can have independence and can reduce the need of a daily caregiver.

I have not seen any stress management programs put into use during OT so this was encouraging to read. I can't imagine not using some of these techniques in the future.

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

Sleep Article

APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATION TO USE PHYSICAL AGENT MODALITIES for the State of TN

Thought this was interesting to see. These are the actual requirements of PAMs in the state of TN and the application for the certification.

This is extremely cool. A mother gets down with her son! She truly feels the feels the beat.

This is a link to an awesome website for The Fontana Center.  The Fontana Center is a center for work rehabilitation.  It is owned and run by an OTR and also hires COTAs, massage therapy, and fitness experts.  This place is very holistic.  It offers seminars and workshops on ergonomics and preventing work place injury.  It also prescreens employees for companies to make sure their candidate can handle the physical aspects of the job that they are applying for…this saves the company lots of money in the long run.  The facility offers functional capacity evaluations and work hardening programs.  It also has fitness classes including water aerobics/therapy, yoga, and even classes for seniors.  This is great for fall prevention! I love this place…I wonder how many places like this exist in the US?

Thought this might be helpful this next week in studying for the test. This topic alarms me in a way, because it is so important we are competent in this area. We need to research as much as we can about it. This article goes into detail the characteristics of dysphagia and how to approach treatment. One interesting fact in the article is that polypharmacy is related to it.

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.

I know this does not have to do with anything we covered in Phys Dys. But I just wanted to make sure that everyone is aware of the advantages of joining AOTA. I think it is important for each of us to take part in this. I have had many tell me that our "fire" will die after a few years in the field, and being members of organizations will not be as important to us as it was as students. I want to challenge all of us, including myself, to break that stigma and make a difference. It has been an honor to be in class with all of you over the past three semesters, and you all have pushed me to become a better student and person. I feel we have a strong class, and all of you are very talented. Hopefully we will all stay in contact over the years, and who knows maybe even plan some reunions at the state/national conferences. I waited to post this until our assignment was almost over so I would not take up the feed. Take a second to make this commitment if you are a memeber, and if not think about joining. Thanks!

I thought this article was very easy to read and informative at the same time. I liked the fact it was from the first Eleanor Clarke Slalge lecture. It tells about three different pieces of equipment: Tilt Table, Standing Table, and Bilateral Tilt Tables that encourage correct positions and body mechanics.

This is a article out of AJOT. It is about OT in the and how we can help people reach maximum potential in work environments. It goes through and gives examples of how this can be done. Best of all it is what we just covered today. I think it is very important we understand our role in this area. It is actually something I did not really think about until Teri explained it so well today. Also, everyone was very engaged in the the discussion and it makes it so easy to learn that way. Thanks.

Hospice Care is one type of Comfort Care

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.

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.

Great video about OT in someone with a physical disability

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.