Student Blog
What are OS/OT?

The Hand You’re Dealt ⟩
January 28, 2013, by Paula

Classes What are OS/OT?

So far this semester, it has been interesting to experience the different teaching styles of the professors in the elective courses. For the most part, this is the first time that the students have had a chance to take classes with these instructors. After being a student for pretty much your entire life, you begin to find certain techniques that work really well for you, and others which do not. I’ve always enjoyed seeing what teaching strategies our instructors bring to the table in order to harness our highest potential and attention. This could be a special challenge with the new schedule of night classes this semester.

In our first few meetings of the Hand Rehabilitation elective, our professor encouraged the class to take a few minutes to think of what occupation would be most impacted if we were to seriously injure our hands. I always have felt that this is an awesome type of exercise to develop skills of empathy. Hearing the variety of occupations my classmates came up with was really interesting and gave an insight to the potential range of importance that can be placed on an activity by the individual. The discussion made me think about the many important activities and moments in my life, past and present, which would be altered if I were to have a serious hand injury. It also made me think of the many ways that hands are used in our lives such as for self expression and in social and family roles (some uses which have been important in my life are pictured below). I had a very hard time settling on something that would make me feel like I “couldn’t” do something — I began to realize that I was set on the fact that whatever would happen, I would work through it as much as was possible and find ways to adapt my occupational involvement so that I could still fit in the aspects of my life which make me feel like myself. The discussion eventually led to a question of resiliency, temperament and feelings of an internal locus of control (don’t you love when all of your coursework relates and you can create these cool webs of knowledge? ;]). What would I do if I had an injury keeping me out of my sports of swimming and water polo? It isn’t always about adapting the environment or introducing a device to assist function. Sometimes it is more about adjusting the goals and the attitudes associated with the barriers imposed on the individual. All of this was running through my mind when I realized we were starting in on another portion of the lecture. Here’s to a semester of electives!

“The proverb warns that ‘you should not bite the hand that feeds you.’ But maybe you should if it prevents you from feeding yourself” — Thomas S. Szasz

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Adding Variety ⟩
January 28, 2013, by Amber

What are OS/OT?

With the start of a new semester and new year, I have made a goal to incorporate a greater variety of occupations into my daily life. I am not calling this a resolution, since I feel that the general attitude towards resolutions is that they are expected to be broken. I am thinking of this more as an occupational therapist implementing lifestyle redesign on herself. Last semester in my Health Promotion and Wellness Course I completed an activity called the Balance Wheel, in which you color-code your day according to the types of occupations in which you participate. I was expecting a very one-dimensional result, but to see a graphic representation was alarming: the one color representing schoolwork taking up all but a few minutes of my typical day. I realized that this lack of variety in my occupations was probably the cause of my occasionally overwhelming levels of stress. Ever since completing that activity, I have made an effort to be more aware of the way I spend my time.

With the new schedule of this semester, I am determined to get into a routine that is more diverse health-promoting. I have added exercise into my schedule nearly every day of the week. To keep my interest high, I am doing various activities like running, walking, yoga, and dance. I have even dusted off my Wii balance board to play fitness games at home. I am also making an effort to be more active socially within my demanding study schedule. For example, yesterday I went to Sunday brunch at a friend’s home. I set a time limit for how long I would stay, so I would have time to complete my studies for the upcoming week. It was nice to visit with friends and have a break in the middle of the day. I am hopeful that I will be able to maintain this new routine, increase the variety in my typical day, and decrease my stress!

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Revelations in Lifestyle Redesign ⟩
January 23, 2013, by Kendra

Classes What are OS/OT?

During my Lifestyle Redesign class this morning, we were instructed to get into dyads and practice coaching techniques. The specific one we were working on involved asking the client to identify complaints and then assist them to reframe that complaint or area of struggle in a positive light and/or identify strategies to help combat that complaint.

Many sessions went like this:

OTS: What is an area of complaint for you?
Client: I am not getting enough sleep. I only slept two hours last night.
OTS: Wow, you must have a lot of important things going on in your life!

It seems simple, and perhaps silly, but the student that played the part of the client in this dyad remarked that she felt validated and the stress of having not slept was more bearable when she looked at it in a different light. It made her more interested and willing to hear what the OT had to say, and more receptive to identifying and making changes in her life.

Often times these simple strategies of, basically, just listening and affirming the client make a huge difference and create a positive relationship between the client and therapist. I loved it!

So what happened in my dyad you ask? Well mine went a little differently, but it was simply amazing!

OTS: What is an area of complaint for you?
Me: This new schedule is stressing me out, I feel like I’m not organized and don’t have a grasp on everything that’s expected of me.
OTS: That sounds stressful. What are some things you’re doing to deal with that stress?
Me: Well I feel better since yesterday when I bought binders and organizing materials.
OTS: Do you have a to-do list?
Me: Yes I do. In fact it’s right here, it has everything on it, and I take it everywhere I go.
OTS: So it seems that you’re doing really well dealing with the stress and you seem to already have a system that helps you manage everything.
Me: You’re right, I do!
OTS: You do! You’re doing great, just don’t forget you already know how to handle all this!

Crazy right!? I had the list on me! I wrote everything down, crossed things out, but when I was not actively doing that the stress of everything else burdened me so much I forgot I had already taken steps to get organized and stay on top of everything. Oh how blinding stress can be!

This just calls to mind how the job of an OT can vary from complex to simple but both are meaningful, important interactions that carry the potential to change the way a person views, and interacts with, life!

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Beyond Ergonomics ⟩
January 16, 2013, by Kendra

Classes What are OS/OT?

And let the semester begin!!!

So far this week I have attended Motor Control, Ergonomics, and Lifestyle Redesign and they are all fascinating courses. I am especially excited about Ergonomics, aka ‘the science of work.’

When we think about Ergonomics, we typically think of having a computer workstation designed to best fit your body so as to limit repetitive stress fractures, carpal tunnel syndrome and many other work related chronic injuries.

And while this is a perfect example of Ergonomics, its application is in everything we do, every move we make.

What especially surprised me was our professor telling us how the disks between our vertebrae begin to deteriorate by our 30s. People this is crazy! I’m nearly 30 and determined to have a life filled with adventure and the freedom to move and explore the world as I see fit. As you can see below, sometimes I just have to play on the monkey bars, and it is MUCH harder when you’re adult sized, so I want to minimize my risks as much as possible.

Another thing that blew me away was how typical movement can negatively impact our body. Let me explain. We all know to ‘lift with your knees but not with your back’ but what we don’t consider is how simple movements like bending over to plug in your phone or twisting to reach a paper or high five a friend can damage your vertebral disks. The professor explained it further, that while these movements may be harmful we do them because it’s the most efficient form of movement. So how does one find a happy medium? The best answer is always, always exercise, diet, and be kind to your body.

I’ll keep you posted as I learn more!

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Health and Wellness ⟩
January 16, 2013, by Alisa

Classes What are OS/OT?

I just came out of the Lifestyle Redesign class, and I enjoyed it! During my time as an undergraduate, I had my first exposure to Lifestyle Redesign, working as a student worker at the USC Occupational Therapy Faculty Practice, but I never truly understood what it was all about — or what happens behind closed doors. With the class that I’m taking, I’ll get a rich experience of what Lifestyle Redesign is all about. It is based on practicum, lecture, guest speakers, and observation hours. By the end of class, our instructor, Dr. Dieterle said that we’ll be able to implement similar programs such as weight management, pain management, diabetes management, et cetera. I have always been drawn to health and wellness at a young age. When I was 13, I created an incentive workout program for my family: every 30 minutes on the treadmill equals to 1 raffle ticket, and by the end of each month, we would raffle off prizes! I remember how much fun it was and how my family would line up to use the treadmill. I even committed to using it every day for a month, and I was able to improve my mile time by a minute. Those were the glory days. Now, I enjoy hikes, yoga, and Zumba. As a resident advisor I try to plan programs that involve health and wellness as well from hikes to time and stress management workshops. It is my passion to work in this field, and I hope to own my own health and wellness center some day. 😊

The greatest wealth is health — Virgil

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