Test Positioning

It is important to use bony landmarks and proper positioning when measuring range of motion so the reliability between one therapist taking measurements and numerous therapist taking the same measurements is reliable. If the goniometer isn’t placed properly on the structure you are measuring this could decrease the validity.  Following the landmarks and correct positioning allows for more accurate repeatable results. The test position for MMT is important in the fact that you do not want to measure the start or the end of the motion. You want to measure the mid-line of a motion because this is the most optimal muscle contraction where the actin and myosin filaments overlap to form the best contraction. MMT is measured either with gravity applied or gravity eliminated.  If an individual struggle lifting their desired limb because gravity makes it hard difficult it may be best to use gravity eliminated movements. Gravity eliminated movements are possible by keeping the moving structure parallel to the ground, the client is not the one that needs to be parallel to the ground just the structure moving. When measuring knee flexion and extension with gravity eliminated the client needs to lie on their sideline with the moving structure on top, not in contact with the mat. Scores of 5-3 normally involves movements against gravity. If the individual struggles with barely moving a limb they are either on a scale of 2-0. Any score less than 3 should use gravity eliminated so you can get a true idea of muscle strength without over exerting or harming the patient.    

Analysis Of A Motion During A Daily Activity

Everyday I go to the restroom, it’s part of everyone’s daily life. I start in a standing position in front of the toilet; I squat down to place myself on to the toilet. This squat position going down involves the hips and knees going into flexion and the ankles in dorsiflexion. In osteokinematics, flexion of the knee occurs within the sagittal plane and frontal axis having a fixed distal segment which is a closed kinematic chain. The arthrokinematics movement in the knee involves the convex femur gliding posteriorly on the concave tibia. The primary movers when going down involve the quadriceps (rectus femoris, vastus intermedius, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis muscles.) The action of performing a squat is considered an eccentric contraction, because it is decelerating against the force of gravity. 

What Characteristics Are Important In OT?

Empathy is a term I had struggled with for a very long time. After my sister passed away I knew what it felt like to have people sincerely care versus just saying that they cared and knew how I felt. As an occupational therapist the main characteristic to include in therapy would be your own empathy. When individuals are at their low they need someone to pick them up and know that they sincerely care. Another important factor is by putting the client first and listening to all their needs. As an occupational therapist the main goal is to be client centered and that is only possible by focusing on them and what they want. Although having empathy and actively listening is important, we also need to advocate for OT and show them that we can help. Therapy is not possible without building a bond showing that you care about that client and their goals. Therapeutic use of self is the best way to connect with someone and try to put yourself in their shoes. Being able to care for others, listen to their concerns and promote a healthy holistic approach to life is why I chose to be an occupational therapist. 

Describe The Person Not The Disability

Disabilities, how do you describe this word? Hopefully you put the person first and not their disability, because you should know a person for who they and not the disability they have. After Dr. Keisling's lecture it proved to me that individuals were treated horribly in the past and even after the years there is still a stigma to treat those individuals unfairly. I have chosen to put the person first because a disability is a word, it doesn't describe the pain, love, communication, and enjoyment they get out of life.
Dr. Keisling's  lecture included that through legislation individuals with disabilities started getting treated more equally. As time went on the world started to see how people with disabilities were treated without care and were not given proper socialization skills. People also had been discriminated in a way that doesn't explain who they are as a person, just because an individual has a disability that doesn't mean that they are likely to cause a crime. After individuals with disabilities started to leave institutions they showed more positive vibes, efficacy, and they can acquire adaptive skills. After Kennedy's passing individuals with disabilities were offered protection and services to not be discriminated and treated equally with the Americans with Disabilities Act. 
After this lecture it made it even more obvious that I chose the correct profession. As a practitioner I will strive to treat all individuals the same even if that individual has a disability. An individual with a disability has feelings, they want to accomplish goals, and be included like any other person would. As an occupational therapist I will aim to advocate that words hurt and people should not exclude individuals with disabilities because they are important just like any other individual. I hope to make an individuals experience life changing because we all deserve the very best no matter an individuals situation. As Dr. Keisling's said, disability is part of a natural human experience. We need to love one another and as an occupational therapist I want to break hateful words and treat everyone fairly. 

OTPF

The OTPF is the occupational therapy practice framework. It is a document that provides the guides to peoples occupations and as therapist how we define those occupation ideas. The OTPF helps establish the common language among all OT practitioners. It also makes sure that all other therapist can understand the OT lingo without confusion. It is a guide to make things easy to understand no matter the circumstance or therapist. The OTPF looks at the clients health conditions and occupations that they are involved in. It then breaks all those occupations into more specific things like the clients context in those occupations and things that may hinder or improve occuaptions. It also helps with the format of an occupational therapy profile and determine the best outcomes and goals for that client. 

Knowledge Check

My role is best known as a 24 year old student who is attending graduate school. One of my many occupations is making sure I maintain a social life. One activity associated with this occupation would be going to eat with friends and driving there to do so. A task that is involved with the activity of driving is actually griping the steering wheel and using the gas and brake pedals to arrive there.

Occupations That Remain True

One occupation that has remained true over time has been the need to care for children and family members. Some adaptations are made over the lifespan of being a caregiver in the sense that each individual has different needs and personalities along with other barriers. An example would include the way my grandmother raised my mother was a little different than how my mother raised me. As a child my mother could ride her bike all the way to town (8miles) without any supervision because she knew the odds of kidnapping were slim, but as I was growing up that did not remain the same. My mother had to protect me more because kidnapping was more prevalent, so I was not allowed to go off anywhere alone. So the role of a mother has remained the same over the lifespan because they provide love, nurturing, and protection for their youth even though some adaptations and barriers change the way they carry out their occupation.