RSCC Occupational Therapy Assistant Program

I thought this article went good with the topics we have been covering. All of the articles I found previous to this one were very long to read. I like this one because it is short and covers OT in UE Rehab. It discusses all of the areas that we address in this rehabilitation. It would be a good article for a client to read that is not to wordy. I also like the list of needs met by interventions in the article.

The role of PAMS in therapy is vast. Here is a description of the most commonly used PAMS and the areas that they treat. Included are the things we discussed in lecture, but PAMS are used to treat other issues like urinary incontinence. The general clinical roles of electrical stimulation, therapeutic ultrasound, shortwave diathermy, and one we have not studied in class, light therapy. Light therapy is indicated for pain management, increase ROM, decrease joint stiffness, and increase circulation to the treated area. PAMS are used to increase the effects of therapy.

Physical agent modalities traditionally include therapeutic ultrasound, electrical stimulation, shortwave diathermy (electromagnetic energy) and light therapy. This article breaks down how each one helps our patients.

Occupational Therapy play a very important role with patients dealing with a cancer diagnosis. OT can help with energy conservation issues, pain, weakness, psychosocial, and physical impairments. Quality of life and independence are key. OT can be of service to people newly diagnosed, in cancer treatment, or in hospice. What I needed reminding of was that OT can help those that have survived, especially the psychosocial aspect.

This article discusses the specific areas and goals that occupational therapists may address with cancer patients. I thought the writer did a great job explaining what occupational therapy is and why the field is so important. This would be a good resource for later on if I ever go on to interview for a job in oncology, would be a nice review of how impactful OT can be.

This is a very interesting and informative article on the pre-prosthetic treatment OT gives a client. The client will be assessed by OT for things like ROM, scar management, pain, phantom pain and sensation, and desensitization. Client interview helps the practitioner choose a correct prosthetic. Always consider the psychosocial aspect. There are different things to consider if the amputation is unilateral or bilateral. The OT will help prepare the limb to wear the prosthetic. Mirror therapy can be used as a treatment option for phantom pain. The OT will help in ADL training, stump care, prosthetic care, and psychosocial care.

I found these flash cards to help when trying to learn some of the different PAM's. Some of the flash cards doesn't pertain to our learning but I still found them very helpful for myself.

According to AOTA, almost 1 in 5 people over the age of 65 have survived cancer. Lymphedema, a secondary problem caused by cancer, is often not addressed by physicians. However, occupational therapy can address this issue and improve quality of life for these individuals. Just another very important way that occupational therapy can make a difference.

The growing number of people with cancer has increased the need to services such as lymphedema therapy, hospice, and palliative care. OT can help in so many ways. Who needs help "living life to the fullest" each and every day more than someone with such a grim prognosis?

This article talks about how cancer care and oncology is an emerging practice for OT. We help clients get control of their lives back by helping them gain or maintain function in their daily lives. Their lives aren't just about existence (fighting cancer) but about living.

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 is very good website about Rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It is very easy to follow the description about the disease, symptoms and treatments. From the website I found out that cigarettes participants in more risk to develop RA. The website provides knowledge about alternative methods of treating RA such as (hot packs/cold packs, etc). Different types of exercise like swimming, biking, walking, yoga, tai chi can improving mobility. Author of the website writes about natural supplements such as Fish oil that may slow down deformities associated with disease.

This website about treatment Osteoarthritis with Glucosamine. Glucosamine is a natural sugar produce by the body and found in some food. It produce in supplemental tablets or injections. For many years dogs and horses have been treated with Glucosamine, and doctors in Europe prescribe this medication for individuals with arthritis, but it is not popular in United States. This medication reports functional improvement and pain relief. It does not have a serious side effects.

This is a fact sheet provided by AOTA that describes the role of occupational therapy in palliative care. It describes how "depending on the stage of the disease process or terminal illness, clients may receive palliative care for months or even years". The information provided also lists OT interventions related to palliative care in the areas of ADLs, IADLs, rest and sleep, play, leisure and social participation, and interpersonal.

Everything you need to know about supplements and what they do for you. Learn about more than 100 medications for arthritis and related diseases. Get the practical information you need to live better with arthritis delivered straight to your inbox! When you have arthritis, even the simplest everyday activities can be difficult and painful.

A cumulative trauma disorder, also known as CTD, is defined as the excessive wear and tear on tendons, muscles and sensitive nerve tissue caused by continuous use over an extended period of time. CTDs can develop from improper work positioning, repetition or force. Millions of Americans work in front of computers every day.

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.)

Must watch awesome prosthetic, may have to copy and paste link

This is a video on Home Modifications and how OT comes into play in this process. It is a great video and really awesome concept of explaining OT and how important it is to people as they age and need their home modified. It really uses the terminology that we have been learning over the past semesters and I will be using this link again in the future.

This article is from the AOTA. It describes the role of OT in helping those with breast cancer. The "survivorship" phase is when a person is trying to re-enter their life's role as care taker, bread winner, house keeper, etc. This lists information some types of interventions one might receive in different types of settings.

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.

This is an online Q&A about PAMs. May come in handy for tests and general knowledge.

Wow! This is amazing and kinda scary at the same time. It gives a lot to consider about the future and progress that is being made, but at the same time makes me wonder how far is too far with what parts we replace and what keeps us alive. I have no doubt that one day they will have developed a replacement for every organ and part of the human body. While that is exciting and gives a lot of hope to many, the thought that a non-human can be created to be human freaks me out. See what you think of this video, it is pretty cool.

This video helps to understand what happens in the marrow and cells of someone going through a stem cell transplant. My dad went through this over the summer and he was healthy enough and his cancer cells were low enough that they could use his own stem cells for the transplant. It is amazing that the immune system can drop to undetectable during this process and a person not develop infection, but that was the case for my dad. He was only hospitalized and given 1 bag of plasma and 1 blood transfusion during his recovery and never had any infection. New treatments for cancer are being found all the time, but this disease seems to affect the majority of families.