Ask an Expert: Can Occupational Therapy Help Me?

in

Q: Can Occupational Therapy help me with shoulder pain and weakness even though I had surgery over 10 years ago? 

A: Absolutely! Whether or not you had therapy following your surgery, your condition has probably changed since that time. Arthritis, joint degeneration, soft tissue overuse/damage, impingement, and joint positioning are some of the causes of inflammation and joint limitations resulting with pain and weakness.

Occupational Therapists assist in recovering from injuries and regaining functional abilities. Occupational Therapy is often referred by a doctor to address these issues for improved pain management and functional mobility of your shoulder.

 

Kelly van Vliet graduated from Towson State University in Maryland with an Occupational Therapy degree. She has over 30 years of experience and specializes in treating upper body limitations related to orthopedic and neurological deficits. She provides a range of other OT evaluations and treatments including pet care capability, power mobility operation, low vision needs, continence improvement, and cognitive care. Kelly is certified in LSVT BIG® to treat clients with Parkinson’s Disease.

Ask an Expert: Can OT Help My Mom Feed Herself?

in ,

Question: My mom has dementia and seems to have forgotten how to use her silverware to feed herself. Can OT help?

Answer: Yes! Sometimes, as dementia progresses, people can have more difficulty feeding themselves. OTs can figure out what’s getting in the way of self-feeding and provide the best amount of support that helps the client maintain their skills for as long as possible.

Your OT can recommend changes in things like the type of dishes used, the kind of food offered and how it is presented, distraction level, and adjusting routines and schedules. OTs train caregivers in offering the right kind of cueing and support. OTs also take into consideration other factors outside of dementia that may be impairing self-feeding.

 

Stephanie Grunklee, MOT, graduated from Maryville University of St. Louis with a Master of Occupational Therapy degree. Stephanie is a champion of the Wound Care Program. She is passionate about geriatric rehabilitation and understands the importance of an interdisciplinary team-based approach to help patients reach their goals.

OT Solutions: Adaptive Equipment

in ,

Adaptive Equipment (AE) are pieces of equipment to compensate for a physical limitation, promote safety, and promote independence. They are used to facilitate completion of daily activities such as dressing, feeding, bathing, grooming, and functional mobility. One may also hear the term “assistive device;” these terms are often used interchangeably.

Pieces of adaptive equipment include, but are not limited to:

  • Dressing: long-handled shoehorn, sock aid, button hook and reacher
  • Bathing: long-handled sponge
  • Feeding: plate guards, cup adaptors, and built-up handles on utensils
  • Home management: ergonomic knives and adapted cutting board with side rails and prongs to stabilize foods
  • Additional pieces include: universal cuffs, doorknob extensions, and bed transfer devices.

Some patients may require the use of AE due to precautions put in place after an injury or surgery. For example, a sock aid, reacher, and long handled shoe horn are provided to individuals after a hip replacement to allow for increased independence with lower body dressing.

Pieces of AE are used in energy conservation and safety. For individuals with decreased balance, trunk stability, dizziness, or poor vision, a reacher is beneficial to eliminate the need to reach outside of their base of support to retrieve an item.  Additionally, too much bending and reaching can cause fatigue and shortness of breath. Utilizing pieces of AE can eliminate the need to bend/reach, and therefore allow for energy conservation during dressing tasks.

Adaptive equipment may also be used in conjunction with mobility devices, such as adding platform crutches and/or enlarged grips on walkers to comply with a non-weightbearing status or prevent further stress on joints.

Occupational therapists will carefully assess performance and collaborate which pieces may likely benefit an individual’s participation in their daily tasks. It may take lots of practice, patience, and trial and error as an individual learns to use a piece of adaptive equipment.

Occupational therapists will educate patients on how to use equipment with strategies and techniques based off of an individual’s needs and learning style. An occupational therapist will also collaborate with a patient’s interprofessional team, families, and/or guardians to allow for best follow through for use of the equipment.

Maggie Webber, OTD, OTR/L is an Occupational Therapist in the Senior Living setting but has experience with clients of all ages, from pediatric to geriatric. Her area of expertise are in General Occupational Therapy, Cardiac Critical Care Unit, Neurology & Neurotrauma ICU, Trauma & Trauma ICU Colorectal Surgery, Infectious Diseases, Dementia, and Parkinson’s Disease. Maggie believes in building positive, lasting relationships with her patients to help them reach their goals.

Debunking Occupational Therapy Myths

in

In celebration of Occupational Therapy Month this April, we want to debunk some common misconceptions about this vital profession.

Myth #1: Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy are Interchangeable

While both Occupational Therapists (OTs) and Physical Therapists (PTs) utilize their expertise in health science to administer therapeutic exercises and hands-on care for similar conditions, it’s crucial to recognize their distinct objectives. A commonly used analogy highlights the difference between the two disciplines: physical therapy helps you walk to the door, while occupational therapy helps you open the door. PT aims to enhance mobility, focusing on aspects such as range of motion, coordination, muscle strength, and pain management. OT helps you “open the door” by focusing on skills development and environmental adaptations for activities of daily living.

Myth #2: Occupational Therapists Only Help with Employment

While OTs can help a person use ergonomics at work to avoid injury, occupational therapy extends far beyond employment-related concerns. The field revolves around the concept of “occupations,” which encompasses a broad spectrum of activities essential to daily life. Whether it’s parenting, socializing, pursuing hobbies, or managing household tasks, OT helps individuals regain, maintain, or adapt essential skills. Occupations form the fabric of an individual’s existence and occupational therapy intervenes when disruptions occur due to injury, illness, or disability.

Myth #3: Occupational Therapy is Only for Certain Age Groups

Another misconception surrounding OT is its purported limitation to certain age demographics. In reality, OT intervention spans the entire lifespan, catering to individuals from infancy to old age. Pediatric OTs play a crucial role in fostering early development, assisting infants in bonding, exploration, and acquiring foundational skills critical for future growth. Geriatric OTs provide invaluable support to seniors grappling with age-related challenges such as vision impairment or cognitive decline, enabling them to maintain independence and quality of life.

Moreover, occupational therapy extends its reach beyond individual therapy sessions, with practitioners actively engaging in community-based initiatives targeting diverse populations and societal issues. These initiatives encompass promoting healthy behaviors, facilitating community transitions, addressing homelessness, supporting mental health, and tackling addiction, underscoring the breadth and versatility of OT’s impact across various age groups and societal contexts.

Myth #4: Occupational Therapy Only Occurs in Medical Settings

Occupational therapy services are available in a multitude of settings, including clients’ homes, community venues like community centers and shelters, hospitals, nursing homes, outpatient clinics, schools, and more. These services are adaptable and can be delivered wherever individuals engage in their daily activities, ensuring accessibility and support across different environments.

OT practitioners also serve as consultants and experts in diverse fields such as health information technology, human-centered design, community health initiatives, education (including schools and higher education), health promotion programs, driving rehabilitation, and beyond.

This month, Tx:Team celebrates the remarkable dedication and tireless efforts of our OTs and COTAs who strive to make profound and lasting differences in the lives of their patients every single day, all year round. Your unwavering commitment to enhancing the quality of life for those you serve fills us with profound gratitude. Thank you for being the driving force behind positive change and for embodying the true essence of compassionate care!

Source: American Occupational Therapy Association (aota.org)