A comparison table of lead pipe, cogwheel, decorticate, and decerebrate rigidity and its description, common diagnoses, and prevalence for occupational therapy.
A helpful guide containing a table of average grip strength versus age groups and gender for occupational therapy evaluations and outcome measures.
A useful table of body mass index (BMI) and occupational therapy considerations associated with each level in terms of activity and common limitations.
The Modified Ashworth Scale (or the original version) are the most popular and common way used by therapists and physicians to measure spasticity. This ordinal scale is a simple clinical way to measure resistance to passive stretch. However, it is limited by the measurer’s subjective experience and is considered to have poor inter-rater reliability. Instead, … Read more
Reasons for Home Assessment & Concerns Functional impairment Difficulty with activities of daily living (ADLs), IADLs Poor physical health Need for assistive devices Postsurgical conditions Low vision Schizophrenia Fear of falling History or risk of falls Barriers to Interventions Finances Renting compared to ownership of properties Availability of professionals, e.g., handymen Interventions Barrier removal resulted … Read more
General Considerations Physical access demands Universal design Cognitive requirements and familiarity (e.g., dementia) Sensory (e.g., low vision, noise level and echo for hard of hearing, sensory room) Safety (fire alarms, exit signs, stairs vs. elevators, stair chairs, AED, fire extinguishers) Are floors slippery? Is braille available or other assistive technology for sensory deficits? Are loudspeakers … Read more
SOAP Notes for Occupational Therapy S-O-A-P = Subjective Objective Assessment Plan Documentation takes practice. When writing SOAP notes (which is one way of documentation – there are others), the main tip is to be concise. Why do we do it? “If you didn’t document it, then it didn’t happen!” Documentation such as with SOAP notes … Read more
Stress can have a small to a significant impact on the patient as well as their pain. The connection between stress and pain is that patients who experience stress may perceive increased levels of pain. Therefore, reducing a patient’s level of stress can have a positive impact on the patient as well as their experience … Read more
The following apply to the standards of the CARE Tool (Section GG) that replaced the FIM for levels of assistance terminology and their definitions/percentages. See this article for the original values used in settings such as acute care. CARE 6: Independent — Person completes the activity by himself/herself with no assistance from a helper. … Read more
MRC in ICU for OT Manual muscle testing (MMT) in the ICU using the Medical Research Council (MRC) Scoring system for occupational therapy. Score Description 0 No visible contraction 1 Visible muscle contraction, but no limb movement 2 Active movement, but not against gravity 3 Active movement against gravity 4 Active movement against gravity and … Read more