Thank you Erika! YAY.. balloon volleyball players are coming out of the closet!
I can see where it wouldn't fit in every setting, but I have my group eight hours a day, five days a week, for six weeks. As chronic pain patients who are ALL suffering from depression it is indeed a chance to get them laughing and having fun in addition to increasing positional tolerance and getting them moving far more than they ever would at home. Almost all of my patients tell me that when they are home, all they do is sit. I am working toward getting them to carry over what they learn at the clinic to home. Every day I reinforce how much better they feel with activity. I have had some patients scoff and say they felt like they were in daycare... UNTIL they lightened up and joined in. Those turn out to be the ones that more often than not actually request the activity. Pat At 05:19 AM 1/20/2007, you wrote: >And another thing about balloon volleyball. . . I do it with the acute >psych patients where I work in a group I lead called movement and body >awareness. Patients with the most flattest of affect, patients with >the worst of depression, patients who would otherwise be sedentary, >lying in their bed are reaching, bending, moving, increasing reaction >time, using eye-hand coordination, smiling, laughing, interacting. >Now these things may not carry over too far, but at least somehow and >in some way, they were psychologically given a break from all of the >negative thoughts, behaviors, etc. Yes, I get annoyed when certain >staff members joke around and make some uneducated comment such >as, "Oh, Erika, are you here to do the balloon games?" It is my job >to educate and to explain why I do what I do. The thing that matters >most, though, is that most patients appreciate what the group had to >offer. (which isn't just balloon volleyball, by the way). Their mood >has been lifted, they do >n't feel as sluggish, they think better. So everyone's who's reading >this, don't knock the balloons until you've tried them. I was scared >to use them also in the beginning, because I thought patients might >feel infantalized (sp?) or that it would not receive a warm reception, >but it turns out to be the BEST part of the group. > >Ahhhh, now I feel better! > >Erika > >----- Original Message ----- >From: Jim Arceneaux <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Date: Saturday, January 20, 2007 1:32 am >Subject: Re: [OTlist] balloon volleyball >To: [email protected] > > > Hey Pat, > > Sorry if I made it sound like I was making humor at that > > interventions expense. I didn't mean it that way. I was just > > clarifying the fact that balloon volleyball and other contrived > > activities are no more occupational therapy than exercise. That > > does not imply that these type of activities do not have place in > > a occupational therapy plan of care. So does exercise at times, > > but the purpose of occupational therapy engagement in ballon > > volleyball, NDT, PNF, e-stim, or whatever non-occupation based > > intervention is to enhance, allow or improve participation in > > occupation. > > Pleae don't be frightened to post. It is healthy to have these > > types of discussion. I applaud you for standing up for what you > > believe. Balloon volleyball can be an excellent intervention with > > the right patients. > > > > Jimmie > > > > Pat <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > I can't find the postings now, but I know there have been times > > that > > balloon volleyball has been derided on the list. I always bit my > > tongue > > and didn't respond because I am one of those OTs that plays > > balloon > > volleyball, and balloon badminton (whether or not we use racquets > > depends > > on the size of the group). I never spoke up because I didn't want > > to come > > under attack, but I have to say I have found it to be great > > therapy for my > > back patients in the chronic pain clinic I work in. > > > > I work with a lot of worker's comp patients who have back injuries > > and > > can't stand for more than 5-10 minutes. Guess what? I get them > > involved > > in a spirited game and before they know it, they have been on > > their feet > > for 30-45 minutes without even thinking about their pain! They > > love it, > > and it is a wonderful activity for increasing standing tolerance. > > > > Punching balloons are the best. They don't pop easily and they are > > large > > and move slowly, which is good for my patients that use canes. > > > > Pat > > > > > > > > -- > > Options? > > www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com > > > > Archive? > > www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] > > > > >*********************************************************************** >*************** > > Enroll in Boston University's post-professional Master of Science > > for OTs Online. Gain the skills and credentials to propel your >career. > > www.otdegree.com/otn > > >*********************************************************************** >*************** > > > > > > > > --------------------------------- > > Never Miss an Email > > Stay connected with Yahoo! Mail on your mobile. Get started! > > -- > > Options? > > www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com > > > > Archive? > > www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] > > > > >*********************************************************************** >*************** > > Enroll in Boston University's post-professional Master of Science > > for OTs Online. Gain the skills and credentials to propel your >career. > > www.otdegree.com/otn > > >*********************************************************************** >*************** > > > >-- >Options? > www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com > >Archive? > www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] > >************************************************************************************** >Enroll in Boston University's post-professional Master of Science for OTs >Online. Gain the skills and credentials to propel your career. >www.otdegree.com/otn >************************************************************************************** -- Options? www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com Archive? www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] ************************************************************************************** Enroll in Boston University's post-professional Master of Science for OTs Online. Gain the skills and credentials to propel your career. www.otdegree.com/otn **************************************************************************************
