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Lateral epicondylitis, also known as tennis elbow, is one of the most commonly treated diagnoses we treat in the hand clinic I am currently placed for my level II rotation. This article aims to look at treating these patients with evidence-based practice and the occupational adaptation model. The occupational adaptation model is a process of adaptively responding to occupational challenges, through internal adaptations and preparations for adaptations to future occupational challenges. As occupational therapists, this model allows us to find ways for patients to continue mastering their occupations in their own unique way. In hand therapy evaluations, for lateral epicondylitis, a major focus is discovering many biomechanical measurements such as ROM, pain, sensation, strength and components of functioning. This article tells us that we should also be incorporating the OA model and discovering the client's occupations and challenges associated with those. This allows us to incorporate some occupation-based activities into the patients' treatment plans. Hand therapists should be finding ways to incorporate the psychosocial aspect of occupational therapy with the biomechanical aspects. The author explains that studies have shown that patients receiving combination of therapeutic exercise with ADL activities demonstrated statistically significant improvements in all measured parameters (pinch strength, total active range of motion, opposition, etc,) compared to groups only receiving therapeutic exercises. There is a challenge in hand therapy to bridge the gap between mechanical expectations with the holistic, client centered care of occupational therapy. In conclusion, therapist must work to educate other practitioners and work toward a blend of occupation-based and biomechanical-based treatments when working with lateral epicondylitis patients and other hand therapy patients.

This webpage provides great information about maximizing arm and hand function after a SCI, and provides informative pictures of appropriate adaptive equipment after SCI.

This article looked at older adults choices and what actually causes them to choose certain things when they are depressed. Using interviews to collect data, they found that some adults chose similar activities from before they were depressed and some independently adapted older interesting activities that they enjoyed. They conclude that OT"s need to understand the person as a whole to provide a client centered approach to treatment.

Adaptive Positioning Interventions for Premature Infants: Issues for Pediatric Occupational Therapy Practice. British Journal of Occupational Therapy March 1989 vol. 52 no. 3 93-96 Adaptive positioning is an important aspect of occupational therapy intervention with premature infants. This article looks at the current literature and describes the benefits of a variety of positioning strategies with these babies. This article also goes into great detail on the variety of different alert states of infants and how this affects the services provided by the occupational therapist. Occupational therapists need to be able to read and understand the different alert states of premature infants as well as be able to educate parents on what they mean. In addition to the alert state education, occupational therapists should express the importance of positioning their infant and educating them as well.

This is a fact sheet from AOTA which discusses OT's role in community mental health. This is an area in which OTs play an important role as mental health services shift from a a hospital based setting to more community based. It has been shown that OT interventions help to improve outcomes for those living in the community with serious mental illnesses. OT's can help to address the areas of education, work skills, health/wellness, and cognitive remediation and adaption. This document also discusses ways in which OT can help to address community barriers to functioning such as SES, stigma, safety, and housing options.

This study examined the concept of occupational adaptation, which is defined as overcoming a disability and achieving satisfaction in occupational functioning. Most individuals strived to identify strategies to overcome the constraints on their occupational functioning. Clients found great satisfaction in being able to maintain daily routines and engage in desired occupations.

This study was performed to identify the ability for individuals to adjust following spinal cord injury and acute rehabilitation treatment using the PAIS, the psychological adjustment to illness scale. Although this article is dated 1991- I feel that it has extreme relevance to the population. Specifically results of this study were extremely variable, some individuals were able to adjust without difficulty while others reported extreme difficulty with the major life change. I feel that this can be applicable to any traumatic injury--even outside of spinal cord in that experiences and adaption can be very individualized and should be approached as such. (Exactly why OT's approach to individuality and looking at the person as a whole is so crucial following a traumatic injury)

This article focuses on the occupational therapists role in a school setting. OT's help students to adapt to routines, and perform competently in academic tasks. It also discusses the role that OT's play in treating children with autism in the school system.

This article discusses the need for more research behind the sensory integration approach. The article discusses Jean Ayres ideas of providing the child with a just right approach along with an adaptive response when completing sensory integration during therapy. The article discusses the need the parents feel for sensory processing input. This article was interesting to read since I am currently completing lots of sensory integration therapy with my clients.

This article discusses the role of occupational therapy in bariatric care. The article discusses the difficulties people in the bariatric population deal with on a daily basis when it comes to completing ADL's that require bending and reaching. The article discusses how occupational therapists can introduce adaptive equipment in order to increase independence in activities such as showering and dressing. The article also discusses how occupational therapists can improve strength and endurance to enable patients to participate in functional activities.

Self-initiation, exploration, and free play are vital parts of growing up and learning for children. Children with physical disabilities may be deprived of normal play opportunities and hindered during this vital part of growing up. This can lead to disturbances in psychosocial health in children, also known as a second disability that decreases potential for independent behavior and performance. This interesting article describes the important role that occupational therapists have to increase independence and opportunities for children with physical disabilities. OT practitioners should consider a variety of factors when addressing needs of these children to influence play activities. These include considering the uniqueness of each child, understanding their capabilities, positively influencing parent-child and peer relationships, considering role of other caregivers, adapting toys and materials, and modifying the environment or the setting to promote success and play situations.