Speaking of.....OT

..And I'm back!  Sincere apologies folks for not having updated the blog in a long while. There are a few great topics I have been working on to post, however before we get to that I just want to give everyone an update on what's happening in the world of Occupational Therapy. Below are some very important events taking place in the near future. Please get invo lved and help spread our profession of OT! National School Backpack Awareness Day - September 19, 2012 Join AOTA in helping others Live Life To Its Fullest by avoiding the pain and injury that can come from heavy backpacks and bags. Learn safety tips to stay protected from back pain throughout life and teach others how to properly choose, pack, lift, and carry various types of bags. Falls Prevention Awareness Day  - September 22, 2012  According to AOTA, falls are a leading cause of decreased independence, disability, and even accidental death among older adults. Occupational therapy practitioners can pla

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY FIELDWORK TOOLKIT A list of important items for all your fieldwork and professional needs.  1. Range of Motion and Degrees (MUST HAVE!)   2.  Range of Motion (Angles) 3. Manual Muscle Testing Grading 5 Normal subject completes ROM against gravity with maximal resistance 4+ Good Plus completes ROM against gravity with moderate-maximal resistance 4 Good completes ROM against gravity with moderate resistance 4- Good Minus completes ROM against gravity with minimal-moderate resistance 3+ Fair Plus completes ROM against gravity with only minimal resistance 3 Fair completes ROM against gravity without manual resistance 3- Fair Minus does not complete the range of motion against gravity, but does complete more than half of the range 2+ Poor Plus is able to initiate movement agai

You Said It! - Occupational Therapy! This is a Mini Movie created by vaithirehab1 (YouTube handle) with an intention to make the general public aware about Occupational Therapy and promote Occupational Therapy profession in India.

Or as I'd like to call it, "OT Jargon".  The first time many OT's open their first client chart, they become cross-eyed. I've come across at least 3 different ways to abbreviate the word "independent" and have written progress notes and discharge summaries ad nauseum.  There are all sorts of abbreviations and symbols never seen before. It takes a lot of time to get used to but at the end you too can became familiar with "c/o, CBR, CXR, EOM, LOS..." and many more commonly used acronyms.  Some time ago, I figured I should start making a list of all the symbols, abbreviations, and acronyms that I have come across and others that I might see in the future. Over the course of a few months and with the help of the Quick Reference Dictionary for Occupational Therapists by Karen Jacobs, EdD, OTR/L, CDE, FAOTA, I have compiled a list of useful terminology that might be beneficial to OT students, OTAs, OTRs,  and even PTs.

One of the very first lectures I attended when I started graduate school was on falls and fall prevention. Since then, we have had numerous lectures on the topic. I’m starting to think the topic might just be something to make note of as OTs.   So, here’s a little synopsis on what I’ve managed to retain from those lectures, followed by a list of appropriate Assessments (click on the name to direct you to the website). Definition of fall: “A subject’s unintentionally coming to rest on the ground or on some other lower level, not as a result of major intrinsic event, for example, stroke or syncope or over whelming hazard that would result in a fall by most young, healthy persons” (Tinetti, et. Al., 1988). 33% of community dwelling elders, age 65 or older, fall at least 1 or more times a year, and the frequency increases with age. Falling leads to loss of mobility and independence; it affects all body systems. As occupational therapists, some things to take into consideration