Group items tagged

This article discusses the importance of clinical reasoning in a time when evidence-based practice is becoming more prevalent. It is stressed that clinical reasoning is so important because randomized clinical trials can still be incomplete and hard to generalize. Clinical reasoning is vital to incorporate with randomized clinical trials to meet the responsibilities that the patients have entrusted in their health care professionals.

Occupational therapy for stroke patients not admitted to hospital: a randomised controlled trial. By - Mphi MF Walker, MD JRF Gladman, Prof, PhD NB Lincoln, MCSP P Siemonsma, SROT T Whiteley

This purpose of this study was to discuss the different measurement tools available for evaluating the upper limb of persons with tetrapelgia and if they are accurate. Findings show that the grasp and release test is recommended for clinical trials involving persons in the chronic stages of SCI. While muscle strength testing and electrodiagnostics can be useful measures in acute clinical trials and outcomes studies, standardized measures of hand function are difficulty because they require a sitting balance and endurance tat many people with acute tetraplegia simply do not have. Overall, the study found that there is still a lot of work that needs to be done to determine the best assessment tool for upper limb function in SCI.

Beckie, T., Beckstead, J. (2010) aimed to study was to focus on the quality of life among women in a traditional cardiac rehabilitation program compared to those completing a tailored program that included motivational interviewing of behavior changes. The study included 252 participants over that age of 21 with myocardial infarction, Angina, CABG, and PCI were studied 3 days a week for 6 months. The participants were divided into two groups. The experimental group included the tailored program and motivational interviewing and the control group used a traditional cardiac rehabilitation program. The study had multiple limitations that included all women were of one ethnicity from a single institution in southeastern U.S. Lastly, studying the efficacy of a program like this is difficult and it is unaware to know if the treatments observed would persist beyond the 6 months. The tailored group showed a positive influence on the subjects QOL. Women with CHD may be better served by first identifying the important psychological and psychosocial variables that influence QOL.

In my rotation, we have treated a few stroke patients after BTX-A injections using splinting and a few other treatment methods. This article discovers the comparison of adhesive taping vs. daily manual muscle stretching and splinting after injections. A single-blind randomized control trail with 70 patients was conducted with patients experiencing wrist and finger flexor muscle spasticity post-stroke. After receiving the injections, patients were randomly divided into two groups. Group A consisted of adhesive taping. Adhesive taping is first placed on forearm and fingers and left for 10 days with daily checks. The tape provides traction on hypertonic muscles. Group B consisted of patient's receiving manual muscle stretching of injected muscles for 30 min and passive articular mobilization of wrist and fingers to maintain muscle length. Custom palmar splints with made for each patient and positioned for maximum stretching. Outcome measures used to to measure spasticity consisted of the Modified Ashworth scale, related disability with Disability Assessment Scale and finger positions at rest. At the end of the trial, it was discovered that patient in Group A, adhesive taping, had a significantly decrease in spasticity scores. Some limitations included lack of placebo group and longer follow-up data.

Assessment based outcome scores were used to determine effectiveness of continuous passive motion after a total knee replacement.

This article, published by the American Journal of Occupational Therapy is titled Effect of Life Review Writing on Depressive Symptoms in Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial. This article discusses ways in which occupational therapy practitioners can intervene to assist individuals who are experiencing symptoms of depression. It also discusses how life reviews can be beneficial in reducing depressive symptoms in the older adult population.

This RCT shows effectiveness of sensory integration in the pediatric setting. The treatment group was shown to have scored better on Goal Attainment Scales and measures of caregiver assistance in self-care and socialization following manualized occupational therapy interventions.

The purpose of this study was to to determine the feasibility and efficacy of home-based MusicGlove therapy. The findings of the study showed MusicGlove therapy was not superior to conventional tabletop exercises for the primary end point but was nevertheless feasible and led to a significantly greater increase in self-reported functional use and quality of movement of the impaired hand than conventional home exercises.

EBP: This article uses a systematic review to study the effect of exercise interventions in cancer patients. They found that there is evidence supporting exercise as an effective intervention for reducing cancer-related fatigue (across various types of cancer). Overall, studies showed moderate increases in physical function, reduction in fatigue, decreased skinfold measurements, increased natural killer cell activity, reduced sleep problems, increases in global QoL, adherence and tolerability to exercise interventions.

This study aimed to focus on the quality of life among women in a traditional cardiac rehabilitation program compared to those completing a tailored program that included motivational interviewing of behavior changes. The study included 252 participants over that age of 21 with myocardial infarction, Angina, CABG, and PCI were studied 3 days a week for 6 months. The participants were divided into two groups. The experimental group included the tailored program and motivational interviewing and the control group used a traditional cardiac rehabilitation program. The study had multiple limitations that included all women were of one ethnicity from a single institution in southeastern U.S. Lastly, studying the efficacy of a program like this is difficult and it is unaware to know if the treatments observed would persist beyond the 6 months. The tailored group showed a positive influence on the subjects QOL. Women with CHD may be better served by first identifying the important psychological and psychosocial variables that influence QOL.

This RCT looked at how individualized seating can benefit LTC residents particular concerning postural and pressure care. In my L2 we did several wheelchair evaluations in order to provide patients with the best possible seating system for optimal comfort and safety.

This study aims to discover the impacts of an occupational therapy driving intervention with returning combat veterans. A single-subject design with three phases was used and conducted by a certified driving rehabilitation specialist. The three phases included a baseline pre-test, intervention with three 1-hr training sessions, and a post-test. Participants were recruited from several VA clinical in northern Florida. Inclusion criteria for participants included service in OEF or OIF, presence of a mTBI or orthopedic injury with PTSD, participation in driving prior to medical condition, valid driver's license residence in community, score of a least 24/30 on Mini-Mental State Examination. Outcome measures included the OT-CDRS and Optec 2500 for visual abilities, Useful Field of View for visual attention and processing speed, MMSE for general cognitive abilities, Trail-Making Test Part B for shifting, foot tap test for peddle control in car and right lower extremity ROM. One subject was selected and showed improvements in outcome measures. The subject showed improvements in visual search skills post-intervention. Patient also showed improvements in his appropriateness of searching skills post-intervention. Patient was also shown to improve on his on-road communication skills and recognition of need to inform other road users of intended actions. Although there were improvements in the veterans driving abilities, the threats to internal validity pose limitations to the study. The investigators intend to use data and address limitations in the hopes of conducting a random-controlled trial with more participants.

I was very excited to talk talk about this article. During my rotation, I have found that my FE uses kinesiotape fairly often with patients, depending on condition and circumstance, obviously. I know in our MOT class/faculty, we definitely had some "doubters" in the effects kinesiotape can have. One of my patients was a lady in her 70's who had a CVA more than 10 years ago, and has since suffered from significant shoulder subluxation. She came in to therapy after trialing botox. When she came to us, she was very discouraged that botox had not helped, and also discouraged because past OT had not helped her at all, and was now dealing with significant pain from subluxation. After research and discovering this article, I discussed with my FE and we agreed that this California Tri-Pull taping method would be appropriate to try with our patient. In short- the patient found that the tape really helped her, and felt like it was the first thing that had provided her a little bit of relief in a long time. -The taping method itself actually is not too complicated, and did not take long to practice and learn before completing on a patient. In short- this article discusses the methodology for taping, as well as research that backs the effectiveness of the taping method. Overall, the study finds some mixed results in effectiveness in terms of reducing subluxation and reducing pain, but overall can be a promising adjunct to the management of the hemiplegic subluxed shoulder