the rOad less Traveled

The KAWA Model was developed by Japanese occupational therapists in 2000 in order to socially and culturally communicate their view of occupation and wellbeing to the world. While the western perspective focuses on the individual and a client's independence, the eastern perspective focuses more on the concept that that self and environment are connected together in one inseparable ball.  The word "Kawa" is Japanese for river so this model uses a river as a metaphor to represent life. The river is seen as a journey that flows through time and space and the optimal state of well-being can be portrayed by a river with a strong, deep flow. There are also other elements in a river that depict different things in our life, such as water (flow of life), walls and floors (social and physical elements), rocks (obstacles), driftwood (traits), and spaces (therapy).  The picture above is a drawing of my river and how it pertains to my life. My walls and floors are my support system, ...

Manual Muscle Testing (MMT) helps to measure muscle strength and function as well as data collection. By positioning a patient, focusing on a specific plane of movement and building resistance, the examiner can determine the grades from 0-5, or fair+ through normal.  It is important to use bony landmarks when measuring range of motion (ROM) so that you can position the goniometer at the correct point of axis and stabilize the proximal joint to produce the most accurate results. The stationary arm of the goniometer should align with the bone that remains fixed during the joint motion while the moving arm should aligned with the mobile joint. It is also important to use proper positioning to ensure you are measuring the correct angle while also ensuring you client is safe and comfortable. A client's progress or regression can also be measured when using bony landmarks and proper positioning properly.  The "test position" for MMT is the position in which the muscle is placed...

     Each morning, I start my day drinking a cup of coffee. First, I flex my arm at the shoulder to reach for the mug in the sagittal plan and the frontal axis.  While completing these motion, I also flex at the elbow and extend at the shoulder to bring the mug to my face. Both of the actions are also done in the sagittal plane about the frontal axis. Finally, I perform ulnar deviation in the frontal plane about the sagittal axis to tilt the mug so that I can take a sip.      When performing elbow flexion, the prime movers are the brachialis, biceps brachii, and brachioradialis. They all concentrically contract. The osteokinematics of flexion of the shoulder occur in an open kinematic chain. The humerus forms a fixed concave surface, so it rolls and slides in the same direction when moving. 

Response to Prompt: What is assistive technology and why is it important in the field of occupational therapy? Technology is used everyday in today's society. We are always using our phones, laptops, tablets, and the list goes on. With the every growing advancements in technology, there are so many amazing ways it can be used to help others do things they would otherwise be unable to do.  This is where assistive technology (AT) comes into play. Any material used to improve the functioning capabilities of an individual with a disability is assistive technology. Whether it is a piece of equipment or a program/software, it can help engage someone who has difficulty speaking, writing, learning, walking and much more. There are three categories of assistive technology: low, medium, and high tech. Low tech is the most basic and easiest to use such as adaptive spoons, pencil grips or adaptive game materials. Medium tech calls for additional training or set up time and materials include ba...