I don't have a direct answer to that.? I guess it depends on where your level of expertise falls in this area.? I have it easy, because I work with an amazing group of PTs who teach me on each patient how they want them to walk.? That way I can help the patient receive the much needed practice in this area,but at the same time I can consult with the PT since I did not have this area taught in school.? I always attempt to complete the sit to stands and the low level functional mobility in a context of an occupation that the patient has determined important a) walking to dresser to gather clothes b) walking to the toilet to complete toileting c) walking to the dining room chair for meal time. It is then amazing when the patient can perform the functional mobility, and then carryout out the occupation!.?
Ninety nine percent of the time when I ask a patient what their goals are for rehab they state to "walk better".? I then ask them why they want to walk better.? They often look at me strangely and then state so I can get to the kitchen and cook, do the laundry, go out to eat with my friends, etc etc.? The occupational goals nearly write themselves. Chris Nahrwold MS, OTR -----Original Message----- From: Ron Carson <[email protected]> To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Sent: Sat, 17 Jan 2009 7:38 pm Subject: Re: [OTlist] Fn. Mobility ~vs~ Gait Training I like your definitions. In the two cases you mention, the patients are already ambulatory. What if they weren't and still wanted to achieve the same outcomes? ----- Original Message ----- From: [email protected] <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, January 17, 2009 To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Subj: [OTlist] Fn. Mobility ~vs~ Gait Training cac> To me functional mobility is the process of getting to point A to cac> point B regardless of compensation techniqes in the context of an cac> activity or a desired functional outcome.? Just the other day I cac> had a patient who wanted to cook and set the table for her cac> family, to achieve this desired outcome a walker tray had to cac> implemented with further practice of safe strategies.? Just the cac> other day I had a hip replacement patient who wanted to be able cac> to get to the bathroom safely without breaking her hip cac> precautions, so? raised toilet was implemented with further cac> practice of safe strategies. cac> Gait training is when a therapist observes a patient's gait and cac> objectively determines what movement functions?cause the patient cac> to walk "abnormally".? They then use therapeutic techniques to cac> faciliate a normal gait pattern.? I see this being used by PT in cac> neurological rehabilitation.? cac> Chris -- Options? www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com Archive? www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] -- Options? www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com Archive? www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]
