RSCC Occupational Therapy Assistant Program

Video from the American Orthotics and Prosthetics Conference showing some new products. One that caught my eye was a socket interface for shoulder dis-articulation by Martin Bionics.

By Saul Morris, PhD If you have had an amputation or are going to have one, let me assure you that others have already gone through the same experience. You may be feeling physical pain, fear, apprehension, loneliness, uncertainty and sadness but I can assure you that you will make it though all of this.

This addresses the shame and the stages of grief that an amputee can expect to experience.

There are a lot of good articles listed in the sidebar on the left.

This is a really good reflection on the impact of OT specifically in amputation and from the client's perspective.

This story is about a firefighter who lost his arm fighting a fire. His arm was amputated and the he was fitted with a prosthetic. He worked with an OT and prosthetic forever! He wanted to be able to return to his dream job of fighting a fire! He worked very hard and he had his share of his ups and downs. I am not going to tell you all the ending, so please read it. It is not long at all and will take you 10 minutes at the max.

"Hang on, I'm between heights right now," Scott Rigsby jokes as he transitions from his walking legs to his cycling legs for his part of a relay at the Events DC Nation's Triathlon on Sunday. Rigsby is the first double amputee using prosthetics to complete the Ironman World Championships in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.

"Arthritis" means inflammation of the joints, and it might cause pain, swelling, and limited motion of one or many joints in the body. More than 100 different illnesses can cause arthritis. Treatment begins after diagnosis by a doctor, who might prescribe medicine to reduce inflammation, pain, swelling, and loss of motion.

Medical rehabilitation, including physical and occupational therapy, can help you do daily activities while managing a rheumatic condition. A rehabilitation program tailored to your condition and needs allows you improve your strength and flexibility and the movement of your joints and muscles - all with less pain and stiffness.

This chapter is concerned with the unique problems presented by the bilateral upper-limb amputee. Although it is generally recognized that the unilateral upper-limb amputee uses a prosthesis as an assist and the sound limb for sensory feedback and fine manipulatory activities, the bilateral amputee does not have such a choice.

This is an article about prosthetics. I thought it would tie in good with our class discussion. What I really like about the way this article is wrote, is that for OT it tells information that relates to our field. I like these articles on the AOTA website.

Carole V. Dodge, OT, CHT The Simple Tasks bent fork lapel pin. Osteoarthritis OA of the hand is one of the more frequent diagnoses seen in a hand clinic. The carpometacarpal CMC joint of the thumb and small joints of the digits are most commonly involved.

I found this article in ajot about treatment of tennis elbow

Signal Strengthening An important goal following TMR is strengthening reinnervated muscles so they generate electrical signals that can be detected by surface electrodes. Strengthening the contraction of the transferred-nerve muscles before the fitting helps the patient develop the adequate endurance needed to proceed with TMR myoelectric prosthetic training.

Information on Rheumatoid arthritis with a short video. I like the video's because I am a visual learner so the video's help bring the images to my mind and I can remember the information better.

a touching video with real people with arthritis. Makes you think, and have empathy for them. What a sad disease. Maybe one day there will be a cure!

I have known this guy since we were kids, we grew up together and went to the same church. He is an awesome guy and I just wanted to share his story with you.

Wow, that is a great story! He might be a good resource for phys dis class next year !

This site lists and gives a great diagram of the levels of UE amputation. It also describes the different types of prosthetics and what they are best used for.

Treatments for disorders of the UE. There are pictures of the devices, the indicated diagnosis, purpose, and benefits. A great resource if you work in a clinic that does splinting/orthotics. These are custom fabricated and there are benefits associated with making your client's splints-removable, adjustable, reform-able, can get wet, and can be cleaned.

This article is a good read on splinting! It discusses different kinds of splints and ways they can be used for therapy.

This page details a number of custom hand orthotic devices and what conditions they treat and their purposes.

Although not curable, RA symptoms can be alleviated by the same relaxation and breathing techniques we have already learned. Cold and warm compresses can be used to help with inflammation and pain. Mind/body therapies have been shown to be of great help to those with RA. Progressive muscle relaxation, visualization, meditation, and biofeedback are all good techniques to teach our clients when traditional medications are not enough. Also, these techniques can be used in many other areas.

This is the website that our Phys Dys book provides regarding the ROM Dance Program. It incorporates medically recommended joint exercises and gentle movement and is used with clients with arthritis as well as other physical impairments as a warm up or cool down for more involved therapy. It appears you must be certified to teach the dance.

This website from the American College of Rheumatology provides fast facts re: appropriate exercises for those who suffer from arthritis. What exercises are helpful and safe, who should exercise and which exercises are best, when to exercise and how to get started. Good info to know and share with potential clients in the future