Education

An important component of any therapy program should include the therapist sharing their experience and knowledge of techniques that will help an injury recover more quickly or help prevent injury.  This may include providing education in:

• Home Exercise Programs - to improve mobility or strength; techniques to reduce swelling or inflammation, pain; techniques to minimize scar tissue formation. 
• Ergonomics - to improve work** performance and reduce stressors to the body while work is being performed
  • Computer Workstation eTool - a series of interactive questions and checklists to guide you through assessing your computer workstation, OSHA
• Joint Protection - techniques to reduce the tension on the body's joints and prevent further injury or joint changes caused by arthritis or other illness/injury
  • Joint Protection Handout - PDF, Tips & Techniques, The Dept for Communities and Social Inclusion, Government of South Australia
• Adaptive Equipment - education in the use of gadgets and gizmos that may reduce joint stress or make tasks easier to perform.
• Energy Conservation - with injury or illness, the body may only have so much energy to expand for activity.  Energy conservation is the method of managing the body's resources to allow the patient to perform tasks with the least amount of body stress.
  • Energy Conservation Handout - PDF Tips & Techniques, Advanced for Occupational Therapy Practitioners

** WORK = any activity related to performing daily tasks (occupying time):

• self-care
  
• home management
• community management
• leisure
• employment activity.