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 As occupational therapists, a large part of our job is creativity. We get to think of individualized plans and adaptations for our clients daily. Recently, we were assigned the task of creating an assistive device or intervention for a client using common house-hold items.      My client is a 51-year-old female diagnosed with secondary-progressive Multiple Sclerosis. She lives in a two-story home with the master suite on the second floor. Due to the progression of her disease, this client has several safety concerns. She experiences extreme fatigue and has recently had several falls.      To help my client conserve energy and reduce her fall risk, I created a shoe box organizer. The organizer was divided into several compartments and can store the client's frequently used items. Examples of items included in my model are a remote, scissors, pens/pencils, medication, snacks, water, glasses, and a notebook/sticky notes. Keeping these items organized and...

      Gullian Barre Syndrome (GBS) affects approximately 3,000 Americans annually. It is a strange condition that rapidly attacks the immune system. Although definitive causes are unknown, GBS typically occurs after a viral infection.      Andrew's story is a prime example that GBS can affect anyone. Prior to his diagnosis, Andrew was healthy, active, and a young firefighter. In 2016, he was diagnosed with a case of Strep. This may or may not have been a correct diagnosis, but shortly after, he began showing symptoms for GBS. The symptoms started as numbness and tingling. Within days, Andrew was unable to walk and was admitted into the ICU. The condition kept progressing, and he was soon unable to eat or breathe on his own.      Thankfully, Andrew's story doesn't end here. After several gruesome weeks, Andrew entered the recovery phase. The best part about GBS is the prognosis. Although it takes a lot of time and effort, most people diagnosed...

      Multiple Sclerosis, or MS for short, is a rare neurological disease. Although medical professionals do believe there is a genetic component, causes and cures are unknown. Symptoms and their onset are both highly unpredictable. They may show up as numbness, tingling, fatigue, vision changes, and more.      In order to learn more about this mysterious diagnosis, I decided to read the blog titled " My Conscious Decision ." The author of this post wrote a real and genuine description of what it's like living with such a strange disease. Her vision, strength, balance, and heat tolerance have all been impaired. However, instead of reflecting on what has gone wrong in her life, she decided to focus on all that is good. Throughout my courses in OT school, it has been mentioned time after time how impactful a client's outlook is on their recovery and prognosis. Having a positive attitude of gratitude is one of the many "controllables" in our lives. Our outlook...

      Dani Izzie's story is proof that you can live a normal life after being diagnosed with a disability. When Dani was 23, she slipped on a bathroom floor and became paralyzed from the waist down. Today, she is considered quadriplegic with incomplete paralysis. She has paralysis in her fingers, triceps, abdominals, and back muscles. After receiving her diagnosis, Dani realized she had two options: she could either give up or continue to pursue her dreams.      Dani's positive outlook led her to pursing dating apps. She met her now husband Rudy, and in April of 2020 they were blessed with twin girls. Undoubtedly, Dani and Rudy faced many challenges. But who doesn't face challenges as first time parents? Not to mention, those with twins! Just as other successful parents do, Dani and Rudy adapt and support one another.      In the CBS news article, Dani described some of the hurtful backlash she and her husband received. People made comments d...

      Parkinson's Disease is one of the most prevalent neurodegenerative diseases. It produces a wide range of symptoms (motor and non-motor). There are a few hallmark signs that clinicians use to diagnose PD. These signs include bradykinesia (slowed movement), tremors, rigidity, and postural instability. Each of these hallmark signs can greatly impact a person's ability to walk. The more symptoms someone has, the more difficulty they will have getting around.      I recently read an article from Brain & Life titled "How to Improve Gait in Parkinson's Disease." This article did an excellent job of describing many different compensatory strategies that allow those with Parkinson's to walk efficiently and safely. Researchers composed seven different categories of compensatory strategies.  Among those seven are internal and external cues. Internal cues include motivation tactics such as telling yourself "ready, set, go" before moving. Another exampl...

         As part of the Neuro Aspects course I'm currently taking for OT school, I participated in a clinical simulation with a stroke patient. I administered a cognitive screening tool know as the Saint Louis University Mental Status (SLUMS) examination. This assessment is one of many tools used to address levels of cognition. Cognition is the ability to perceive and organize information. Our memory, personality, awareness, and more are all a part of our cognition. Since cognition plays an important role in our daily lives, OT's assess and work to improve cognitive skills.     The client I worked with scored a 20 on the SLUMS examination. This score indicates the client has a mild cognitive impairment. Someone with this score would likely have issues with their short-term memory. They may not remember all of the steps to a recipe or they may forget to pay their bills. They may also have trouble remembering new names or directions for driving somewhere...

    Assistive technology is paving the way for people with disabilities. Devices are enabling people to communicate and engage in numerous activities people never thought would be possible. A prime example comes from Mr. Vamvakousis's computer program that allows individuals to play the harp with their eyes.       Vamvakousis realized the need for technology such as this when a dear friend of his was injured in a motorcycle accident. The two musicians were supposed to play together in a concert shortly after, and Vamvakousis was determined to make that happen. He created a computer program that enables people to play 25 different instruments. The musicians focus their gaze on a musical note to play it. The program allows approximately three to four notes to play per second. He began teaching the program to schools for children with disabilities in Barcelona. Today, thousands of people have downloaded the program and are practicing their musical talents....

       According to the Alzheimer's Association, there are approximately 6.7 million Americans diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Year after year these statistics increase. Additionally, our knowledge about neurological diseases increases. In order to expand my own knowledge about this disease, I chose to listen to a TED Talk by Lisa Genova. I chose this topic because although there isn't a cure for Alzheimer's, Lisa Genova discussed multiple preventative measures. These steps can be taken at any stage in life, despite current habits or genetic predispositions.      Before describing any preventative measures, Lisa Genova gave a brief explanation of the neuroscience behind Alzheimer's. Alzheimer's develops due to an accumulation of a peptide known as Amyloid Beta. Accumulation develops into plaques and blocks our neurons from releasing neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters determine how we think, feel, and remember. Therefore, when neurotransmitters are blocke...

      Assistive devices are wonderful tools that allow people to move who would otherwise not be able to. Reasons for needing an assistive device could be recovering from a procedure, lacking muscle tone, and more. Ensuring the device properly fits the client is of most importance. A device that does not properly fit a client will cause discomfort and may lead to further injury.      When sizing a client for a cane, the client should stand tall, look straight ahead, and have their arms relaxed at either side. To adjust the height of the cane, push the button to release the lock. Make sure the lock clicks once the desired height is reached. To determine the proper height, the handle of the cane should align with the client's wrist crease, styloid process of the ulna, or the greater trochanter of the femur. All three points of contact should be about the same height. It is also important to note that the cane should be fitted for the side of the body in which...

      Have you ever wondered why some commercials stick with us more than others? For the most part, commercials have similar opportunities to succeed. They last about the same amount of time, reach similar amounts and types of people, etc. Simply put, we have neuroscience to thank for the advertisements that get stuck in our brains. Past and current trends show the commercials that stick with us the most are the ones that create the strongest responses. Whether they provoke laughter, sadness, or suspense, the commercials that elicit the strangest responses are the most memorable and effective.      One of the most memorable commercials for me is a Haribo Gummy Bear commercial . It begins with a group of well-dressed adults sitting around a conference table. When I first watched this commercial, I expected a serious conversation to take place. However, when the adults opened their mouths, children's voices came out. They talked about the fruity flavors and ...

      Transfers take place when someone moves from one surface to another. This can take place between beds, chairs, assistive devices, vehicles and more. A transfer is considered safe when both the therapist and client are free of harm.      In order to ensure a safe transfer, there are many factors to take into consideration. First and foremost, it is important to make sure the environment is clear and free of obstacles. If transferring to or from a wheelchair, make sure the brakes are locked and the castor wheels are out of the way. Footrests and armrests may also need to be removed. Additionally, if the client has any IVs, catheters, etc., make sure they are out of the client's path.      When determining the type of transfer to use, there are many aspects to consider. The client's balance, strength, cognition, endurance, and ROM are all determinants for the best type of transfer. For example, if a patient lacks strength, they may benefit...

 Paul Erway and his friends, Grant and Aaron, decided to complete a marathon in each of the 50 states. They completed all 50 by wheelchair and decided to document their experiences. Although they documented each race, I decided to focus on their races in Little Rock, AR and Boston, MA.      The Little Rock race took place on March 3rd, 2013. Paul did not participate in this race, but Aaron and Grant described it as especially challenging. This is most likely due to the fact that they were completing back-to-back marathons with very little sleep. I can only imagine how exhausting one marathon is, much less two in two days! Grant described the race as a constant uphill. He could not recall any of the downs. As someone who attended undergrad just outside of Little Rock, I am very familiar with the city's steep hills. Last week, our class participated in a wheelchair lab. During this lab, we practiced propelling ourselves up the inclines of our campus' parking garage. Th...

This is my classmate and friend Pinal. Ironically, she exemplified poor posture while studying for our Biomechanics class.  Yogis in training!  My cousin, Aniston, preparing to hit a home-run!        Since I love softball and played for many years, I thought it would be fitting to analyze my cousin's batting stance. In this photo, her pelvis is slightly tilted posteriorly. This tilt along with flexion at the hip joint causes excessive lengthening of the lower back muscles and shortening of the anterior abdominal muscles. In regards to spinal curvature, there is decreased lumbar lordosis and increased thoracic kyphosis. The scapulae are on line with the spine, and the head is rotated and anteriorly shifted in relation to the spine. The left femur is slightly internally rotated, and the right femur is slightly externally rotated.      Aniston's feet are wider than her shoulders, increasing her base of support. An increased base of support incre...

 

      Our eyes are the windows for our brain. Along with our other senses, vision allows our mind to interpret the world around us.       It is often said that "seeing is believing." We create our own reality and believe what we create. With that being said, vision is not objective truth. Instead, it is subjective and personal.  A prime and popular example of this comes from an online debate in 2015. A photo of a dress was posted on the internet and people argued whether it was "gold and white" or "black and blue." This debate went viral fairly quickly and caused quite a bit of uproar. This debacle proved humans have individual differences in perception. Usually, these differences are slight, but in this scenario, they were seemingly large. After reading the article " The Science of Why No One Agrees on the Color of This Dress," I've come to understand that the differences in dress color come from focusing on a dark or light background. Peopl...

 Have you ever made a bet that your regretted? A soldier from the short story "Man of the South" bet his very own pinky finger. In fact, his exact words were "Come to think of it, I can't remember ever in my life having had any use for the little finger on my left hand."       Believe it or not, the pinky finger plays a large role in many daily activities. A total of nine muscles control the pinky finger, allowing it to flex, extend, adduct, and abduct.  The largest impact would come from loss of grip strength. Specifically for the solider, he would experience difficulty holding heavy artillery and equipment for long periods of time. He may also experience difficulty in getting dressed and tying/untying his shoes. Lastly, he may experience difficulty in writing, typing, and holding utensils. Nevertheless, there are many effective tools and strategies an OT could implement into the soldier's recovery program.      One example of adaptive equip...

      The shoulder joint has the greatest range of motion in the human body. It is described as a ball and socket synovial joint. Due to its wide range of mobility, this joint lacks in stability. Both the scapula and humerus work to provide motion at this joint. The rule for scapulohumeral rhythm is as follows: for every 3 degrees of shoulder motion, approximately 1 degree occurs at the scapulothoracic (ST) joint and two degrees occurs at the glenohumeral (GH) joint. Scapulohumeral rhythm is important because it decreases the amount of sheer forces at the shoulder joint, and it allows for healthy length-tension relationships. Damage to either one of these areas greatly affects range of motion at the shoulder.      Understanding scapulohumeral rhythm increases our understanding of range of motion. For example, during shoulder flexion, the GH joint contributes approximately 100-120 degrees (2/3 of a normal 0-180 range). Additionally, the ST joint contributes ...

     When conducting any form of test or measurement, it is important to establish standards and protocols. These guidelines help increase the validity and reliability of the tests. Validity determines the accuracy of your data, while reliability determines the consistency. In order to ensure accurate and consistent measurements, it is important to use the same test positioning every time tests are performed.       Test positioning applies to the position of the client and the therapist during range of motion and manual muscle testing. For example, it matters whether the client is sitting or lying down, whether their elbows are bent or flexed, whether their palms are facing up or down, etc. These considerations along with many others all influence the data collected. During testing, therapists also use bony landmarks to ensure proper positioning. Bony landmarks are used because they are normally found in the same spot from person to person. For example...

      Occupational Therapy is a growing profession. There are many aspects involved, and treatment includes a wide variety of techniques. Therefore, it is without surprise many people question what OT is and how it works. A simple definition from Cabarrus College of Health Sciences sates OT practitioners "help people of all ages participate in the things they want and need to do." Along with the question of "what is OT?", I am often asked "what's the difference between OT and PT?" Although we often work collaboratively, we do not perform the same job. Many people, including medical professionals and CEOs, do not know the difference between OT and PT. When faced with this question, I try to keep my response as simple and concise as possible. It typically looks something like this: physical therapy focuses on strength and mobility, while occupational therapy focuses on performance and engagement in activities that are meaningful to the client. OT uses a ...

 My morning routine almost always includes a cup of coffee- also known as liquid motivation. After filling the mug and stirring in vanilla almond milk creamer, I sip on the coffee as I prepare for the rest of my day. After placing my fingers around the handle of my mug, my elbow flexes and extends as I move the mug to and from my mouth. My elbow is flexed as i bring the coffee toward my mouth, and it extends as I return the mug onto the table. This motion of the elbow takes place in the sagittal plane about a frontal axis. The Osteokinematics can be described as flexion and extension in an open kinematic chain. The concave surface of the proximal ulna rolls and glides anteriorly on the convex surface of the distal humerus. The prime mover during this action is the brachioradialis which contracts concentrically during elbow flexion when the forearm is in a neutral position.