Hello Mary Alice: Let me be the 1st to say "Thanks" for writing. I understand what you mean about taking time to write and then not getting any responses. But, such is the nature of listserves!<smile>.
I think you've touched on at least ONE area that can frustrate the OT process. IF an OT is focused on improving occupation but the patient is focused on improving strength/ROM there is inconsistency. Notice that I say FOCUS because as you correctly identified, improving occupation usually results in improving the underlying impairments. But in this case, the patient stated he was doing all he could. OT is a "bizzaro" world! <smile> Ron ----- Original Message ----- From: Mary Alice Cafiero <m...@mac.com> Sent: Saturday, February 21, 2009 To: OTlist@OTnow.com <OTlist@OTnow.com> Subj: [OTlist] The Timing of OT... MAC> I think that patients often equate PT not only with walking, but also MAC> with strengthening. It seems they often feel that the majority of MAC> their problems doing things are because of weakness. If they can just MAC> get stronger, all else will fix itself. I can see this especially MAC> being true with a diagnosis like MS or other progressive neuromuscular MAC> disease. MAC> We, as OTs, can clearly see that learning to do the things you need to MAC> do for yourself has inherent value. It also ends up addressing MAC> strengthening without doing a straight exercise program. I tend to MAC> think that patients often prescribe to the "no pain, no gain" theory MAC> and feel that they have to do multiple reps of an exercise in order to MAC> address weak muscles. MAC> My two cents. I'll be curious to see if anyone responds. The majority MAC> of times that I post a response on this board, no one directly MAC> responds, and my answers just get shuffled over. Not sure of the MAC> reason for that, but it is certainly frustrating. Makes me reluctant MAC> to post because it doesn't seem to add to or lead to further discussion. MAC> Mary Alice MAC> Mary Alice Cafiero, MSOT/L, ATP MAC> m...@mac.com MAC> 972-757-3733 MAC> Fax 888-708-8683 MAC> This message, including any attachments, may include confidential, MAC> privileged and/or inside information. Any distribution or use of this MAC> communication by anyone other than the intended recipient(s) is MAC> strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. If you are not the recipient MAC> of this message, please notify the sender and permanently delete the MAC> message from your system. MAC> On Feb 21, 2009, at 1:21 AM, Ron Carson wrote: >> I had an interesting experience that I want to share. >> >> Last week, I evaluated a middle-aged man with muscular dystrophy. He >> had >> recently moved back home with his parent and was started on home >> health. >> >> The man essentially told me that there was nothing I could do for >> him. >> He said that PT was all he needed. I explained that as an OT, my job >> was >> to teach him to take care of himself as much as possible and >> desired. >> But, he still felt that PT is what he needed. >> >> I am really perplexed as to why someone might value PT instead of >> OT? I >> have some ideas, which I'll share, but I hope readers are >> willing to >> discuss this situation. >> >> Thanks, >> >> Ron >> >> -- >> Ron Carson MHS, OT >> www.OTnow.com >> >> >> >> >> -- >> Options? >> www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com >> >> Archive? >> www.mail-archive.com/otlist@otnow.com MAC> -- MAC> Options? MAC> www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com MAC> Archive? MAC> www.mail-archive.com/otlist@otnow.com -- Options? www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com Archive? www.mail-archive.com/otlist@otnow.com
