Healthy People 2020 defines health literacy as the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make the appropriate health decisions. The field of Occupational therapy uses a client-centered approach and an essential part of this is health literacy. As an Occupational therapist, it is a practitioner's job to make sure that clients know and understand what is going on at all times during therapy. This means explaining everything from the diagnoses to the treatment while using plain, easy to understand language. This is important in Occupational therapy because if a client does not understand what is going on, then they are not able to be an active contributor in their recovery.

The Scapulohumeral Rhythm

The scapulohumeral rhythm is the ratio of movements between the scapula and humerus, it is very important for full range of motion at the shoulder.  Full range of motion at the shoulder is 180 degrees, that is 120 degrees at the glenohumeral joint and 60 degrees at the scapulothoracic joint.  The scapulohumeral rhythm is necessary for congruency between the scapulothoracic joint and the glenohumeral joint, that is, it makes sure everything is lined up and working way it is supposed to. When these to joints are synchronized and working together, it allows for good length tension relationships, it maintians the subacromial space to avoid impingements, it prevents active insufficiency, and decreases shear forces. If there is an issue with the scapulohumeral rhythm, there will likely be a decrease in range of motion and this can negativley affect the client's ability to perform everyday tasks. 

Just keep Swimming!

For this Knowledge check, I chose to listen to the podcast about swimming lessons for kids on the autism spectrum. Autism is something that is near and dear to my heart and I love that more experiences are being adapted to fit the needs of the ASD community. Not only are they providing swimming lessons for kids with ASD, they are advocating for and teaching people about Autism Spectrum Disorders. Programs like this are very important in promoting support and acceptance for the ASD community.
One thing in particular that I learned from this podcast is that children with autism are at a particularly high risk for drowning. So not only are these swimming lessons great therapy tools for kids on the autism spectrum (specifically the sequence and sensory components), but they also teach a survival skill and help reduce the risk of drowning.

Biomechanics #2

One of the terms that is constantly used in the world of Occupational Therapy is "Range of motion". Range of motion is the amount of motion that is available at a joint. When measuring range of motion it is important to use bony landmarks and proper positioning. In order to locate these bony landmarks, practitioners perform palpation. Palpation is the examination of the surface of the body using touch. 

In Occupational therapy, it is very important to locate these bony landmarks. These bony landmarks are needed to properly align the goniometer (the tool used for measuring range of motion). Properly aligning the goniometer ensures that you are getting the most accurate measurement possible and this, in turn, improves interrater as well as intrarater reliability. If the goniometer is not properly aligned, then the measurement will not be accurate and may effect the client's treatment plan and overall outcomes. It is also important to palpate the bony landmarks to identify any irregularities, to locate any bony segments that may need to be stabilized during testing, and to ensure the clients comfort and safety during testing. 

Manual Muscle Testing (MMT) is used to test muscle performance and help identify problems or deficits in muscle performance. In Manual Muscle Testing, the client is placed in the test position, which is about mid range of motion. The test position is a position in which the muscle is placed for optimal muscle contraction. This is important because it provides the most accurate information and allows the practitioner to properly score the client according to the MMT grading scale. After a client is placed in the testing position, the practitioner will apply resistance and instruct the client to push against them. If a client is unable to reach full range of motion when no resistance is applied (only gravity), a practitioner would place them in a gravity eliminated position. This position requires clients to be placed so that any movement they perform is parallel to the ground. This removes any resistance and allows practitioners to accurately access their muscle performance.

Biomechanics of Petting my Cats!

Everyday, multiple times a day I pet my two cats, Millicent and Mortimer!  I consider my cats my babies and they love/demand attention! To pet my cats, I start by flexing my knees and hips, squatting down to get on their level. I then reach out my arm towards Morty and Millie (they are almost always together and most likely right under my feet), this involves extending my arm and then flexing my shoulder. After my arm is extended, I then pronate my arm so that my palm is facing down, to make contact with the cats. Finally, I flex and extend my wrist to create the petting motion. Flexion and Extension occur in the sagittal plane about the frontal axis of rotation, while pronation occurs in the transverse plane about the vertical axis. The osteokinematics of the elbow are flexion to extension in an open kinematic chain. The prime movers for elbow extension are the Triceps Brachii which shortens, performing a concentric contraction. The arthrokinematics of elbow extension are the radial head and proximal ulna gliding along the distal humerus posteriorly.