Super Sassy Socks

Aqua/Turquoise

Multi Colored

Light Pink

Lime Green

Now available in my Etsy shop, as well as on my Website. AVailable in Light Pink, Hot pink, Purple, Lime Green, Aqua, and orange.

Sizes available:
0-6 month
6-18 month
18-36 month
3-5 years

$5/pr, or $12/3 pr

Occupational Therapy Splints

Image from http://www.benefitsnowshop.co.uk

One cool thing Occupational Therapists get to do is make all kinds of splints for various injuries to the shoulder, elbow, hand, and fingers. They can be quite tedious to form, especially when you're starting from scratch, but the perfectionist-artistic part of me loves it. The first splint pictured is what we would make for a patient that has had some sort of radial nerve injury that results in not being able to lift the wrist and fingers.

Image from http://emedicine.com

The second splint pictured here is probably one of the most common that we have to make. I especially get a lot of these working with older adults that may have had some sort of stroke, brain injury, or spinal cord injury that results in contractures of the fingers or wrists. Luckily for me with an increasingly larger caseload per day, some companies make pre-fabricated splints like this one and we just have to add the straps and heat them up for small adjustments to avoid pressure areas.

One very basic splint an OT can also provide is for the relief of tennis elbow. This basic splint pictured below provides pressure at the attachment of the muscle to divert the force to another area to allow the painful area time to heal while not having to work so hard.

Image from http://benefitsnowshop.co.uk

More to come on the field of OT, so check back to learn about this profession, and feel free to ask anything.

April is National Occupational Therapy Month

This month is National Occupational Therapy month and is designed to raise awareness of the field of OT. I cannot tell you how many times I have to explain that "Occupational Therapy" has nothing to do with helping someone find a job. I thought I would post a general Press Release statement by the American Occupational Therapy Association as an explanation of what OT is. I'll be posting some other info about OT's throughout the month in hopes that someone will gain a better understanding of my field and what we do for our patients.

Occupational Therapy:
The Profession that Focuses on Life Skills

For millions of people, the service of occupational therapy is a lifeline. People of all ages receive it to help them participate in the activities of their daily life. Sometimes people need occupational therapy to do things we take for granted, like getting dressed, being productive at school or work, eating unassisted, even socializing.

Occupational therapy doesn't just treat medical conditions, it helps people stay engaged in the activities that give them pleasure or a sense of purpose, despite challenges.

Occupational therapists do this by helping people surmount their disabilities or medical conditions to do everyday things. The nature of the therapy depends on the individual and their environment; occupational therapists consider the whole person when developing a therapy plan. Occupational therapists collaborate with physicians and other professionals to ensure a comprehensive approach.

Children, for instance, sometimes have behavioral or developmental problems that limit their educational progress. Lawmakers believe occupational therapy is so important to the well-being of children, federal law mandates that schools must offer occupational therapy to children who need it.

Occupational therapy is "outcome-oriented," which means therapists help clients work toward achievable performance goals.

In rehabilitation clinics or hospitals, occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants help adults learn or regain skills that allow them to do meaningful things like working, driving, shopping, even preparing a meal. All types of people need this kind of help everyday, from a worker injured on the job to a grandparent recovering from surgery or a stroke.

Occupational therapy helps avoid health problems, and makes it easier to live with them.

Consider our growing senior population: Healthier people are living longer lives. Occupational therapy research proves that keeping people active and healthy as they age will not only improve their quality of life, it will lower their health care costs as well. That is why there are occupational therapy programs focusing on wellness and prevention - to help seniors stay healthier and remain active in their homes and communities. Trained therapists can make homes safer for people with reduced mobility and failing vision. Occupational therapists can also teach seniors new driving techniques that will keep them behind the wheel longer, as safe drivers.

Occupational therapy addresses one of the most important aspects of rehabilitation and recovery - the return to a normal life.

Occupational therapy has its roots, a century ago, in helping war veterans return to life at home. These days, occupational therapists work in rehabilitation hospitals and on the front lines of combat. Some occupational therapy programs help soldiers recognize and relieve stress. In addition, occupational therapy helps soldiers learn to care for themselves after an injury, including helping them use artificial limbs.

In recognition of all the ways occupational therapy contributes to society's well-being, April has been designated as Occupational Therapy Month.

To find out more about occupational therapy and how it might help you, visit the American Occupational Therapy Association's Web site, www.aota.org.