Hi Emma, Balance is a well researched topic that I am sure you can find a multitude of research on, however it may be difficult to find information specifically relating occupational therapy and occupation to balance. Many OTs work with patients with balance impairments to address the ability to achieve a safe return to desired life activities. I am not aware of any research on this topic though. Most balance studies which review interventions try to demonstrate efficacy by detailing symptomatic resolution (i.e. decreased falls, less dizziness). So, in few words, I don't think you will find many if any evidenced based practice regarding the use of occupational therapy to reduce balance impairment. If by chance you are looking for evidence based data on common interventions for balance (i.e. liberatory movements, Cawthorne-Cooksey exercises, Brandt-Daroof exercises, training on use of hip/ankle and step strategies and the like) you will find more than you will need. These type of interventions can be performed by an adequately trained member of several disciplines and cannot be claimed wholly by any. This was an article that appeared in REhab Management by William Miller, PhD, OT: http://www.rehabpub.com/features/892003/5.asp Its hardly evidence based practice though. The good thing is that everything you do with patients doesn't have to be evidenced based! There are many tried and true interventions used by OTs that are not based in research but in clinical practice. For you balance patients: Find out what they want or need to do and determine the obstacles. If one of the obstacles is a balance impairment, find out what component of balance is the offending parameter (i.e. balance requires coordination of the visual, proprioceptive/sensory and vestibular systems). Simple clues to this within occupational tasks might be complaint of dizziness when scanning the aisles during grocery shopping, reports of feeling they will trip when walking on carpeted surfaces or in the yard or complaints of running into things on one side or the other while going to the bathroom. Interventions may be associated with the portion of the balance system which is causing the occupational dysfunction (i.e. recommendations for home modification {remove the carpet}, progressive engagement in graded activity as the increased strength/endurance associated with an increase in activity level is at least anecdotally correlated with improved kinesthesia/proprioception and likewise balance, gradated use of activities which provoke the dizziness to promote habituation, training on scanning techniques for a patient with glaucoma to reduce the hazard of tripping on objects in the periphery of his/her vision, etc.
Jimmie -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Emma Cole Sent: Thursday, April 28, 2005 10:42 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [OTlist] Falls Hi i am n my final yr as a student and was wondering does anyone know of any real evidence based information for falls??? e.g interventions OT's do? I just need a little push in the right direction. I also using CMOP. Emma emmaxx -- Unsubscribe? [EMAIL PROTECTED] Change options? www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com Archive? www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] Help? [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** NOTICE--The attached communication contains privileged and confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient, DO NOT read, copy, or disseminate this communication. Non-intended recipients are hereby placed on notice that any unauthorized disclosure, duplication, distribution, or taking of any action in reliance on the contents of these materials is expressly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please delete this information in its entirety and contact the Amedisys Privacy Hotline at 1-866-518-6684. Also, please immediately notify the sender via e-mail that you have received this communication in error. *** -- Unsubscribe? [EMAIL PROTECTED] Change options? www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com Archive? www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] Help? [EMAIL PROTECTED]
