thOughTs by Jess

When someone undergoes an experience that requires them to participate in therapy, in most cases they have to regain confidence. Clients have to get comfortable in their abilities to perform their ADLs. Mobility is best defined as the ability to move freely. As a possession that most take for granted, it is not understood just how disabling it may feel to have reduced mobility or it taken from you completely. In the future as an occupational therapist, it will be our job to restore this confidence in our clients and watch them grow and reach their goals. The hierarchy of mobility skills listed in our notes, is set up in the form of a pyramid. At the base of the structure, there is bed mobility and at the very top is community and driving. As your patient builds confidence, they climb up the levels of the pyramid. The order of the steps did not exactly make sense at first, but after deliberation and more review the pieces started to add up. Bed mobility, being the first step, means th...

Just like a pair of shoes or clothing, people who need assistive equipment should have the appropriate size and fit for their device. Having crutches, a cane, or walker that is too tall for a client would just be uncomfortable for them. If the height is not right, posture, balance, and stability could all be affected in a negative manner.  However, if the fit is just right, it can help people perform tasks that they could not before and be a very helpful tool. The adjustment of all the following devices are very simple. In order to correctly adjust the height of the cane, you must find the greater trochanter and make sure that the patient is holding the cane on the opposite of the affected lower extremity. Another landmark to look for is the wrist crease or the ulnar styloid with the arms down by the side. When fitting a client for axillary crutches, the crutch length should approximately be as long as the patient's forearm to the tips of the fingers on the opposite side. When st...