Health and Fitness : VGH Therapy Dept. marks April as OT Month

OT patient Glenna Wilt, shown with Stacey Hodges and Kelly Tilson, recommends the VGH OT Dept.

By Molly Holst

Kirkwood OTA Student

Not only does the month of April signify “April showers,” but it also recognizes National Occupational Therapy Month; however, in the occupational therapy profession, we celebrate it all year long. Occupational therapy (OT) is a treatment approach intended to help people of all ages to participate in everyday life occupations, or activities, by living their lives to its fullest with illness, injury, or disability and with as much independence as possible. OT encompasses a wide variety of treatment interventions based upon individual client needs, but you may still be wondering, “What exactly does OT treat?” OT treatment interventions may include helping a child with a disability to fully participate in school and social functions, helping a person regain skills while recovering from an injury, and providing support for an older adult facing cognitive and physical changes1; however, a major focus of OT is rehabilitation for upper extremity injuries affecting the shoulder, elbow, wrist, or hand.

Unique to occupational therapy, OT personnel provide treatment interventions that extend beyond an upper extremity injury itself. OT rehabilitation contains a holistic approach to include the client’s everyday functional needs and roles with the overall goal to return the client to participation in their daily occupations. Multiple factors are assessed prior to intervention following this client-centered approach such as cognitive and perceptual status, coordination, muscle strength, range of motion, sensation, skin conditions, and swelling. Upper extremity (UE) injuries and conditions frequently treated by OT include amputations, arthritis, burns, carpal tunnel syndrome, crush injuries, dislocations, fractures, lymphedema, muscle strains, pain, rotator cuff repair, scars, tendonitis, work-related injuries, and wounds2.

Occupational therapy personnel offer a multitude of treatment activities to help clients with UE injuries perform the “doing” aspect of everyday occupations. Many treatment sessions may consist of adaptive equipment instruction and training, client and caregiver education, compression therapy, conditioning, energy conservation, joint protection, manual techniques, orthotic selection and fitting, pain management, physical agent modalities (electrical stimulation, ultrasound), safety, scar management, splint fabrication, taping techniques, therapeutic activities and exercise, and wound care3.

In honor of OT Month, the therapy department at Virginia Gay Hospital is highlighting the topic of wrist injuries. During this time of the year, wrist injuries are particularly common diagnoses treated throughout therapy departments.

Glenna Wilt: Success story

One of many success stories is shared below from previous VGH therapy department’s former client, Glenna Wilt, featuring her wrist injury and the therapy she received.

“I had a bad fall in August and broke my wrist; I was in a cast for 3 months and therapy for 3 months," said Glenna. "After 3 weeks in a cast, the x-rays showed it had ‘shifted.’ The doctor in Cedar Rapids said if I didn’t have surgery, I probably would not have much use with that hand. I felt I had no choice. The surgeon had to re-break it, as it had started to heal. I now have a lot of metal and a cadaver bone in my wrist. The doctor in Cedar Rapids wanted me to have therapy twice a week in their facility. I said I didn’t want to go to Cedar Rapids twice a week and that Vinton had an excellent therapy unity. The doctor wasn’t happy with my request, but finally okayed it. I am so happy that I made the right decision. In fact, I needed therapy 3 times a week instead of 2. I can’t praise enough the 4 hand therapists that worked on me. I am very satisfied with the outcome! So, remember what we have right here in Vinton.”

Glenna encourages other patients with therapy needs to visit the VGH PT/OT Department.

References:

1 The American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc. http://www.aota.org/Consumers.aspx (accessed February 25, 2013).

2 Upper Extremity & Hand Therapy: Specialized Therapeutic Services for the Hand and Upper Extremity. http://www.uehandtherapy.com/services.html (accessed February 25, 2013).

3 The American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc. Fact Sheet. http://www.aota.org/Consumers/Professionals/WhatIsOT/RDP/Facts/UE.aspx?FT=.pdf (accessed February 25, 2013).