This website provides information regarding the form of Tai Chi that was taught in the program that I assisted with during my 2nd rotation. The Tai Chi for Health programs (TCH) taught by Dr. Paul Lam are recommended by the CDC, Arthritis Foundations and many organizations around the world. This specific form is to help individuals with arthritis or chronic pain and can be easily modified for individuals who are unable to complete full movements due to pain or need to remain seated during activity.

This study was designed to explore the relationships between occupational engagement and the issues of self-related variables, psychiatric symptoms, and quality of life. It was found that individuals in higher levels of occupational engagement showed fewer psychiatric symptoms and improved quality of life. It is important for occupational therapists to provide support in successful engagement in various occupations for clients who have been diagnosed with schizophrenia.

This study was designed to determine if a 6-month Tai Chi exercise program could improve physical functioning among healthy, physically inactive older individuals by measuring six domains of health-related quality of life including physical functioning,
role functioning, social functioning, bodily pain, mental health, and health perceptions. The findings included that overall, the Tai Chi experimental group showed improvement in physical functioning, compared to the control group who did not show any significant difference, ranging from daily activity such as walking to more vigorous activity such as lifting and running. I had the opportunity to assist with a 5 week Tai Chi program during my second rotation. Participants showed an increase in balance and participation in physical activity outside of the program. The veteran's also reported a decrease in pain.

http://download.springer.com/static/pdf/363/art%253A10.1207%252FS15324796ABM2302_9.pdf?originUrl=http%3A%2F%2Flink.springer.com%2Farticle%2F10.12072FS15324796ABM2302_9&token2=exp=1480949921~acl=%2Fstatic%2Fpdf%2F363%2Fart%25253A10.120725252FS15324796ABM2302_ 9.pdf%3ForiginUrl%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Flink.springer.com%252Farticle%252F10.1207252FS15324796ABM2302_9*~hmac=574d592b980c535befa3bfeb9a50d62ae9b57b5b7c63ee8aac8a308747d13307

This website provides information on Liftware. We used Liftware with several veteran's at my last rotation to help control for tremors to allow them to increase their independence with feeding. Liftware provides a selection of stabilizing and leveling handles and attachments that are designed to help people with hand tremors or limited hand and arm mobility retain dignity, confidence, and independence.

This article looks at the various roles that occupational therapists may have treating patients who have had a stroke including addressing home assessment, addressing ADL performance, visual perception, memory/cognition, and sensory/motor function. This article also differentiates the roles/treatment based on the setting the patient is seen including acute/inpatient rehab, outpatient, residential care, and returning to driving and work services.

http://www.annalsofian.org/article.asp?issn=0972-2327;year=2008;volume=11;issue=5;spage=99;epage=107;aulast=Rowland

This article focuses on the importance of diagnostic clinical reasoning in evaluating and treating patients. It does a nice job of breaking down the OT process. Diagnostic reasoning is something we use daily and is such an important aspect of providing successful treatments to our patients.

http://ajot.aota.org/Article.aspx?articleid=187711

Link to the Occupational Therapy Toolkit website. The OT Toolkit e-book can be purchased and provides 85mEBP treatment guides and 283 patient education handouts for patients with physical disabilities and older adults. Their website also has samples available. We use this tool daily at my fieldwork site!

http://www.ottoolkit.com/

This is a chart that looks at professional behaviors that should be demonstrated by occupational therapists and which principles they follow. This is a good source to refer to as we continue fieldwork, prepare for the board exam, and enter the workforce.

This article examines the supervisors' perspective of the benefits and challenges that are faced when supervising an OT student during their fieldwork. This article highlights several components that we need to consider as we enter the profession and are able to supervise students on their level I and level II fieldwork experiences.