The slide board can be a very useful device for a wide range of patient populations. While typically used for paraplegia or wheelchair dependent patients, I have seen them used for orthopedics with non-weightbearing precautions, generalized weakness, encephalopathy, and...
Sometimes, a slide board transfer may not be the safest option between surfaces. A patient may poor awareness of the board, have low confidence in their abilities, or a slide board may simply not be available. Another transfer you can...
PRAFO - Pressure Relief Ankle Foot Orthosis Worn on the calf and foot similar to a boot
Used for patient's who spend a significant amount of time in bed
Prevents pressure ulcers from developing on the back of the...
Hemispheric Differences Left Brain Injury
Right Brain Injury Right-sided hemiparesis/plegia
Left-sided hemiparesis/plegia Right-sided sensory loss
Left-sided sensory loss Speech & language impairments
Visual-perceptual impairments Difficulty in planning/sequencing
Impulsive behaviors Slow, cautious behavior
Poor judgment Processing delays (including verbal cues)
Poor emotional regulation Memory impairments
Memory impairments MCA Syndrome Contralateral hemiparesis
Contralateral sensory loss
Aphasia
Perceptual deficits...
Home modifications can benefit patients of all ages and health conditions. As the population of older adults continues to grow and "age in place", home modification interventions are becoming more important to prevent injury in the home. Considerations: Fall risk...
Interventions for left neglect/inattention "The Dynavision is a large, computerized light board containing 64 small red square target buttons that light up randomly one at a time. The client searches the board to locate the lighted button. Once located, the...
Habits fall within the occupational therapy framework. However, habits can be hard to change. Whether for your personal goals or for our patients, using a compensatory technique can be very helpful for shaping our habits. Almost all of us carry...
Social games Social bingo
Jeopardy
Family Feud
Scattergories
Apples to apples (be sure to take out inappropriate terms, e.g. "crazy")
Team based Pictionary
Guess Who: have each participant anonymously write 3 interesting facts about themselves, shuffle the cards,...
Upper Extremity
Callus formation: 2-3 weeks Union: 4-6 weeks
Lower Extremity
Callus formation: 2-3 weeks Union: 8-12 weeks Union has indications for weight bearing
Check for MD orders prior to mobilizing Terms: Stable: clinical union vs. Unstable
Displaced: long axis does not align
Open vs....
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic pain that usually affects an arm or a leg. Typically develops after an injury including fractures, sprains/strains, soft tissue injury (burns, cuts, or bruises), limb immobilization, surgery, or medical procedures such...