Clinical

Should We Attend Other Conferences Besides Our Own?

As Occupational Therapy Month comes to end, I have had time to reflect on my experience attending the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Inspire 2022 conference earlier this month. I had the honor and privilege to attend the AOTA Inspire … Continue reading →

3 Questions You Should Ask Your Patients

During the initial interview with a patient, we want to ask questions to help better facilitate he conversation.  More importantly, we want to be able to understand what the patient is experiencing, so we can better help them during their … Continue reading →

Home Exercise Program (HEP) or Self-Management Program?

Patients are usually prescribed a HEP by their healthcare professional, to work on exercises at home to address their own impairments and functional limitations. These exercises are provided on a sheet indicating the number of sets and repetitions for each … Continue reading →

Alphabet Soup: Does My Therapist’s Credentials Matter?

Alphabet Soup: Does My Therapist’s Credentials Matter? Short answer, it depends. When patients are seeking care for their own injuries or functional limitations, they want to seek out the best clinician that will help guide them throughout their rehabilitation process.  … Continue reading →

What Do Patients Want in a Therapist? Answer…Compassion.

Patients will seek advice and care from a healthcare professional to address their current complaints and symptoms.  Healthcare professionals are extremely knowledgeable in their own respective fields.  However, being knowledgeable may not be enough to help guide patients during their … Continue reading →

Getting Advice from Dr. Google? You Might Need a Second Opinion.

Have you ever tried to self-diagnose yourself by simply searching for answers on the internet? Sure, we probably have all tried to figure out the reasoning behind experiencing various signs and symptoms.  Sometimes we need certainty to help us feel … Continue reading →

Should We Discharge Patients from Care?

Perhaps we need to change the structure a bit.  Instead, we should refer to each time the patient sees the healthcare professional as an “episode of care”.  This episode of care is just one point in the patient’s continuum of … Continue reading →

Should We Use Pain Scores? Let’s Change the Narrative.

Typically, a numerical pain rating scale (NPRS) is a tool to help us evaluate and assess a patient’s given symptoms. The NPRS is also helpful to gauge a patient’s response to certain interventions throughout the course of the episode of … Continue reading →

What is the best treatment we can do for our patients? Listen.

We always strive to provide the best care to our patients. We do this through many avenues, including locating the best available evidence, utilize our clinical expertise, and understand the individual’s personal expectations and values.  This is true evidence-informed practice, … Continue reading →

What Does the Evidence Say About Foam Rolling?

Foam rolling is a helpful way to improve range of motion, flexibility, and functional mobility.  Foam rollers are widely accessible in therapy gym, fitness centers, and for personal use.  Using a foam roller has many benefits to help individuals’ reach … Continue reading →