This presentation was prepared for educating the patients with stroke and their caregivers about the role of Occupational Therapy in stroke. It gives a very BRIEF over view about OT in stroke rehabilitation

1. Occupational Therapy (OT)
in
Stroke Rehabilitation
Phinoj K Abraham, MOTh.,
Clinical Neuro Occupational Therapist
NewRo, Bangalore - 27

2. Overview
• What is Occupational Therapy (OT) ?
• How OT can help a person with stroke?
• When are OT services indicated ?
• Why are OT services important?
– Illustrative Case Study

3. OT in Rehabilitation Team
• Rehabilitation is like a „Building construction
process‟
• It involves multiple experts working in different
aspects for the same building construction

4. OT in Rehabilitation Team Contd…
Building Construction
Raw Materials- The
essential part of a
construction
Building Blocks &
Units
‘Making’a Building
Rehabilitation
To make the patient
„Medically Stable‟
Muscle power, ROM, Coordination, Balance,
Walking
•Taking care of one’s self
Professionals Involved
Consulting Physician,
Neuro surgeon,
Neurologist etc…
Physical Therapist
•Making them ‘Functionally
Independent’
Occupational Therapist
(OT)
•Teaching them where to
walk and how?
Neuropsychologist
•Communication Skills
Speech & Language
Pathologist

5. What is Occupational Therapy?
• Occupational therapy is skilled treatment that helps
people become successful in their everyday
„occupations’.
ADL
Work
Leisure

6. How OT can help a person with stroke
• Often Functional independence is the goal and
can be achieved through:
• Skilled treatment in rehabilitating lost physical function
– Remediating or Compensatory method
• Adaptive equipment
• Home modifications
• Client and caregiver guidance

7. When OT services are is indicated ?
OT is indicated if there is a decline in
• upper extremity strength, sensation, endurance, hand function
• activities of daily living (ADL)
(feeding, grooming, dressing, bathing, toileting)
• functional transfers
(tub transfers, toilet transfer)
• home management abilities
(cooking, laundry, house hold activities)
• or if there is need for work simplification /modification / energy
conservation

8. Why OT services are important?
“Action speaks louder than words.”
― English Proverb

9. Story 1
• A 35 year old school teacher, with right side hemiplegia (Paralysis)
• OT Evaluation
– Physical assessment
• Muscle power & control
• Abnormal Muscle tone
 Nil
 Present
– Activities of Daily Living (ADL) / Work / Leisure
• ADL: Depedent in Eating, Brushing, bathing, toileting etc…
• Work: Teaching: Unable to write with right hand
• Leisure: Unable to engage in his time pass activity – Table tennis
– Persons Background
• He is the primary earning member of the family

10. Story 1 Contd…
• OT ‘Therapy’ Planning process
– Based on the medical status & health
• Young, no other complications, shows early signs of
recovery, duration of illness
– Based on individual specific need
• He is the primary earning member of the family
– Selection of best, maximum possible outcome.
• Remediating Therapy

11. Story 2
• A 65 year old Retired Engineer, with 2 year old right side
hemiplegia
• OT Evaluation
– Physical assessment
• Muscle power & control
 Nil
• Abnormal Muscle tone
 Present
• Right Shoulder subluxation & painful hand  Present
– Activities of Daily Living (ADL) / Work / Leisure
• ADL: Dependent in Eating, Brushing, bathing, toileting etc…
• Work: Retired Engineer.
• Leisure: Unable to engage in his time pass activity – Gardening
– Persons Background
• He is leading retirement life. He is staying with his younger son.
Both his son and his daughter in law are IT professionals.

12. Story 2 Contd…
• OT ‘Therapy’ Planning process
– Based on the medical status & health
• Elder age, with associated complications, delay in
“early signs of recovery”, long duration of illness
– Based on individual specific need
• He is leading retirement life. His caregivers are in
earning job
– Selection of best, maximum possible outcome.
• Compensatory Therapy

13. Benefits of OT services
• OT services can help a person with stroke to
– adapt to his / her living environment
– restoration of maximum possible function
– participate more fully in day – to – day activities
– Enhance recovery & outcomes
– Improved quality of life
– Prevention
• Secondary Complications

14. Questions ..?