RSCC Occupational Therapy Assistant Program

The Centers For Disease Control has a webpage dedicated to arthritis. It has links for things such as interventions, statistics, basic arthritis information, and additional resources.

Br J Sports Med. 2014 Jun;48(12):957-65. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2012-091513. Epub 2013 Jan 18. Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disorder for which there is no known cure. Fortunately in the last few years, a shift in strategy toward the earlier institution of disease modifying drugs and the availability of new classes of medications have greatly improved the outcomes that can be expected by most patients.

Certification for Cognitive Stimulation

I found this study on the AJOT archives, its an old study but I just found it interesting in talking about the difference they saw in soft vs hard splints for RA patients. The overall preference for patients were the soft splints.

I found this article very helpful for people with arthritis. This guide gives you tips on how to do everyday tasks with arthritis and be pain free. Many people suffer from this and it would be beneficial to them! "You can do it easier! Find practical, everyday solutions for managing your household, gardening, cooking, beauty and more."

This is an AOTA intervention list that may help us as future OTA with our clients that have arthritis.

Here is a site that makes hand and finger splints more aesthetically appealing!! They are pricey, but I feel people would wear them more! - This site has more of finger splints, but they are able to specially make finger and hand splints at a higher price. Also, you can get them in gold too. Sometimes, the insurances will pay for some of the cost!

This web site provides a list of video tips for hand therapy such as tendon and nerve gliding. The videos help me understand some of the therapy exercises Teri listed in her articulate lesson on CTDs.

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 youtube video on how to make a resting hand splint for an intrinsic plus and a functional splint. It gives step by step instructions on how to make these two splints, supplies and a visual of how to make them.

This article is about OA and RA. It explains each one and where it normally attacks. And it gives information of different hand exercises in which could be beneficial to a person with either arthritis.

This is an interesting association called Adaptive Design Association that works with PT, OT, and parents to help make your own adaptive equipment out of cardboard and other resources.  You can design specific and client centered equipment that is very cost effective.     Truly amazing!

This is a great article on Arthritis. It is from the AOTA website. It tells and explains arthritis. But best of all it gives examples of things to do to prevent and help compensate with arthritis. These types of articles are great for me because now that I am obtaining all of this knowledge in the classroom, things like this make so much sense to me now. I remember when I would read articles like these when I first entered the program and would be discouraged because I did not understand some of the key points. It is so rewarding now for an article like this to be beneficial. I really enjoy the articles on AOTA, if you have not joined you need to! Great stuff on the website to take advantage of!

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 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.

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

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.

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.

Just my style! What a great article! This article talks about the great benefits of knitting and what knitting does to keep your hands healthy by way of function. It's a great workout for your hands, fingers and forearms, but not a strenuous workout. Knitting also is a stress relief activity, can improve your mood, relieves anxiety and depression. I have not tried knitting. I have always cross-stitched. I can tell you, when I finish school, this is definitely on my bucket list, along with learning to paint!