Bilateral integration, the ability to utilize both sides of one's body simultaneously and particularly crossing the midline are skills that are crucial for a child to develop by the age of 5 years ...old. When children have difficulty with crossing the midline, they will be unable to perform effectively. Crossing the midline allows for the advancement of various motor and cognitive skills as pathways in the brain are developed. This paper focuses on an assistive input device used with an interactive game aiming to target those children that have difficulty with crossing the midline. Previously a device was designed to accompany the game, however many complexities were encountered. Guidance from occupational therapists was sought during the development of the interactive game and the device. Using a linear potentiometer provided an innovative approach to simulate the movement of the child solving for many of the issues experienced in the design of the assistive device. Playing of the game stimulates the required pathways to create movements that were difficult or previously uncomfortable and avoided by the child. The challenges faced in the design of the assistive design will be thoroughly investigated and the ultimate working solution shall be presented.
Objectives. The purpose of this pilot study was to investigate whether leisure activities are more effective than activities of daily living (ADL) in improving standing tolerance in an elderly ...population.
Method. A single-case study AB design was used with five participants over the age of 75, who did not have adequate standing tolerance to complete their ADL. Baseline of standing tolerance was established while the participants performed ADL. Subsequent standing trials incorporated leisure activities.
Results. Graphical analysis was used to demonstrate that for the five participants in this study, leisure activities were more effective than ADL in improving standing tolerance.
Conclusions. Leisure activities can be used as an effective treatment tool to improve standing tolerance in the elderly. Further study is suggested to enable generalization of these results.
The emotional effects of writing about stressful experiences was studied using a quasi-experimental design in which ninety-one college students, who journaled for fifteen minutes on two occasions, ...were compared to 71 participants in a comparison group. Locus of control, extroversion, and previous experience with journaling were considered as moderating variables. The results indicated greater improvements in emotional health for the treatment group, with males benefiting to a greater degree than females. These findings suggest the short-term effectiveness of brief journaling interventions across the personality dimensions considered. The relevance of these findings for occupational therapists is considered.
Objectives. The purpose of this pilot study was to investigate whether leisure activities are more effective than activities of daily living (ADL) in improving standing tolerance in an elderly ...population. Method. A single-case study AB design was used with five participants over the age of 75, who did not have adequate standing tolerance to complete their ADL. Baseline of standing tolerance was established while the participants performed ADL. Subsequent standing trials incorporated leisure activities. Results. Graphical analysis was used to demonstrate that for the five participants in this study, leisure activities were more effective than ADL in improving standing tolerance. Conclusions. Leisure activities can be used as an effective treatment tool to improve standing tolerance in the elderly. Further study is suggested to enable generalization of these results.
Coronary heart disease (CHD) constitutes a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in the elderly population. CHD is managed under physician guidance. The management is primarily ...pharmacological, aimed at alleviating patient suffering and improving the clinical outcome. This approach ignores the functional aspect of CHD. The objective of this study was to explore the relationship between the symptoms experienced by a group of frail elders due to coronary heart disease and the performance of physical activities. A group of 33 frail elders with CHD residing in the region of Western New York were interviewed over a period of 6 months using the LIFEware(r) Cardiac Assessment Form (CAF). The results indicate mild to moderate relationships between the symptoms experienced and the performance of physical activities. We suggest the use of occupational therapy intervention aimed at improving the performance of physical activities in frail elders symptomatic with CHD. The intervention could include the use of assistive devices and energy conservation techniques. An improved ability to perform physical activities will ensure a higher functional status and a better quality of daily living.
Radna terapija u psihijatriji Šimunović, Dubravka; Škrbina, Dijana
Medicus (Zagreb, Croatia : 1992),
01/2004, Letnik:
13, Številka:
1_Depresija
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Za planiranje rehabilitacijske skrbi osoba oboljelih
od psihičkih bolesti uz utvrđivanje medicinske dijagnoze
potrebno je i pobliže definiranje i odgovaranje na pitanje kako
bolest utječe na njihov ...život i pomoći im da iskoriste svoje
potencijale te se što bolje reintegriraju u svakodnevni život i
poboljšaju kvalitetu života. Upravo je to glavna uloga radnih
terapeuta.
Radni terapeuti vjeruju da postoji jaka veza između okupacija
(aktivnosti), zdravlja i blagostanja. Jakost utjecaja okupacija
na zdravlje ovisi o odnosu između osobe-okoline-okupacije i o
individualiziranoj ravnoteži u samozbrinjavanju, produktivnosti
i slobodnom vremenu.
Radni terapeut u planiranju intervencije kod osoba oboljelih
od depresije koristi se različitim tehnikama i medijima. Radnoterapijski
intervju čini okosnicu u planiranju radnoterapijske
intervencije. Kao član zdravstvenog tima radni terapeut treba
promatrati aktivnosti osoba oboljelih od depresije, vrstu i
učestalost obavljanja aktivnosti. Radnoterapijsko promatranje
služi mu kao prediktor za izbor radnoterapijskog modela, što
ujedno definira daljnji pristup u radnoterapijskoj intervenciji. U
svrhu procjenjivanja osoba oboljelih od depresije radni terapeut
koristi se raznim metodama procjenjivanja ovisno o tome
da li želi procijeniti osobu, aktivnosti ili okružje (Opsežna radnoterapijska
skala procjene, Check lista interesa, Okupacijski
upitnik). Radna terapija nije dovoljno zaživjela u našem
zdravstvenom sustavu.
Za planiranje rehabilitacijske skrbi osoba starije dobi nije dovoljno samo utvrđivanje medicinske dijagnoze već pobliže definiranje i odgovaranje na pitanje kako bolest utječe na život osobe, pomoći ...joj da iskoristi svoje potencijale, te se što bolje reintegrira u svakodnevni život odnosno poboljša kvalitetu života. Upravo je to glavna uloga radnih terapeuta.
Radni terapeuti vjeruju da postoji jaka veza između okupacija (aktivnosti), zdravlja i blagostanja. Jakost utjecaja okupacija (aktivnosti) na zdravlje ovisi o odnosu između osobe-okoline-okupacije (aktivnosti) i individualiziranoj ravnoteži u samozbrinjavanju, produktivnosti i slobodnom vremenu.
Radni terapeut u planiranju intervencije kod osoba starije dobi koristi različite tehnike i medije. Radno-terapijski intervju čini okosnicu u planiranju radno-terapijske intervencije. Radni terapeut kao član zdravstvenog tima ima za potrebu promatrati aktivnosti osoba , vrstu i učestalost obavljanja aktivnosti. Radno-terapijsko promatranje radnom terapeutu služi kao prediktor za izbor radno-terapijskog modela, što ujedno definira daljnji pristup u radno-terapijskoj intervenciji.
U svrhu procjenjivanja radni terapeut kod osoba starije dobi koristi različite metode procjenjivanja ovisno o tome da li želi procijeniti osobu, aktivnosti (okupacije) ili okružje (Opsežna radno-terapijska skala procjene, Check lista interesa, Okupacioni upitnik).
Playfulness is normally associated with children and remains poorly documented in adulthood. Studies have confirmed that playfulness is present in adulthood but do not provide any information on its ...specific nature. An enhanced comprehension of playfulness in adulthood is needed to determine its possible use in occupational therapy intervention with an adult clientele. A qualitative study led to a conceptual definition of playfulness in adulthood. Playfulness can be defined as an internal predisposition characterized by creativity, curiosity, pleasure, sense of humor, and spontaneity. This attitude extends to all life situations and modifies how adults perceive, evaluate, and approach situations. Playfulness enables adults to distance themselves from others, from situations, and from conventions to approach situations with an open mind to find original solutions to problems, to confront difficulties, and to accept failure. Therefore, it may be an important tool in occupational therapy to develop and enhance adults' ability to perform occupations.
