Student Blog
What are OS/OT?

Take a day . . . ⟩
September 27, 2012, by Ricky

Life Hacks School/Life Balance What are OS/OT?

So I was faced with a dilemma yesterday. I woke up feeling under the weather — it seems the cold I had been fending off had started to get the best of me. It was my second day of fieldwork, though; still in the trying-to-make-a-good-impression-phase. What was I to do? I wasn’t full on sick, but my body was pretty beat. I got all did-up and was about to walk out the door, but then I did something that was out of character for me: I went back to bed. After going back-and-forth in my mind, I decided to take a sick day. I reasoned that it was in all parties’ interest if I just stayed away. I think what really did it, though, was how bad I’d feel if I were to get one of the little kids at my clinic sick (even though they might be the ones who introduced the bug to me). I mean, how messed up would it be if I was working really hard in session to help these little guys enjoy more independent and meaningful lives, and then go and give them a cold. Anyhow, I took sick day, and it was GREAT!

Usually, when I take a sick day, I feel like a bum for not going to work and I try to make up for it by running a bunch of errands and/or trying to catch up on school work. I don’t really rest. However, yesterday was different. I thought to myself, “enough!” I told myself that this was the real deal, and that I would treat this as if I was at a resort for nothing more than relaxation and “me-time.” I slept until my body said no more. I meditated. I did yoga (yes, guys do yoga). I limited TV-intake to just 2 Friends episodes for a lil comic relief. I ate right to support my immune system (except for those 2 Chips A’hoy that snuck by). And I still managed to get some errands and school work done, and go to bed at a decent time. Come to think of it, it may have well been the most productive sick day ever — and it was possible because I told myself not to worry, and I put myself and my health needs first. I think it’s like hitting the gym at the end of a long day — you really don’t want to, but end up going and feel better and more alert for doing so. I guess that’s how it goes with all things. You gotta pay attention to what your body’s asking for and maintain a healthy balance.

If any of you feel like your life is hopelessly out of balance, you may want to enlist the help of an OT and fill out an Occupational Questionnaire or Balance Wheel. A neat thing I’ve learned recently in my OT 504 course (Health Promotion and Wellness) is that balance will look different for each of us. What does your occupational day-to-day look like? Do you need to take a day?

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First Day of Fieldwork ⟩
September 24, 2012, by Amber

Fieldwork What are OS/OT?

Last week I began my level one fieldwork experience at Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center. Each semester, our courses are focused on a particular practice area of occupational therapy: adult physical rehabilitation, pediatrics, or mental health. To compliment this coursework, we have the opportunity to spend one day per week at a fieldwork site in that practice area. This semester I am in the adult physical rehabilitation immersion, and was lucky enough to be placed at the top rehabilitation hospital in the Western United States. Rancho Los Amigos is situated on a beautiful campus in Downey, and has a long history. In 1888, it was known as the Los Angeles County “Poor Farm.” In the 1950s, it was a respiratory center for polio patients. Today, the hospital helps patients with disabilities regain skills and learn techniques to accomplish basic activities of daily living, and return to work or school if possible.

I was placed in an outpatient unit that specializes in treating people who have sustained spinal cord injuries. My role was to observe an occupational therapist, and potentially do some hands-on interaction with the patients. The first patient of the day was a middle-aged man who had been injured in a fall at work. He used a wheelchair and had extreme weakness in his upper body. It was his third visit with the occupational therapist, and we worked on activities to strengthen his upper extremities. He really pushed himself, and it was wonderful to see the slow progress he was making. Later that day, I got to observe and use the driving rehabilitation equipment, and spend the afternoon in the stroke rehabilitation unit. I am very excited to continue my fieldwork and learning experience at Rancho Los Amigos.

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People Change! ⟩
September 20, 2012, by Ricky

Classes What are OS/OT?

You ever sit around with your girlfriends and talk about that guy who keeps letting you down, and your girls are like, “leave that dud.” But you remain hopeful and say, “he might change, though.” And they all respond in unison, “people don’t change . . . you’re being naïve to think that you can change somebody.” Well, I’ve always believed in giving people the benefit of the doubt . . . and that’s probably contributed to my decision to become an OT, I’m sure. Recently, in my class, Health Promotion and Wellness (OT 504), we’ve been talking a lot about change, and let me tell ya, OTs love them some change. As a matter of fact they’re banking on it. My training in OT (and please note that I am not done being trained) has introduced me to concepts like life-span developmental psychology, where it is argued that biological, cognitive, and psychosocial changes continue throughout the course of life. Much of our work in physical rehabilitation relies on the principle of neuroplasticity, which refers to changes in the brain and nervous system that result from changes in behavior, the environment, and neural processes. So, in conclusion, ladies, don’t be so hard on us guys . . . haha, just being silly. No but really, people change, and I am so excited to be in a program that is providing me with the tools to help support others as they change for the better. Go OT!

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Life Rolls On ⟩
September 17, 2012, by Amber

Diversity Getting Involved What are OS/OT?

This weekend I volunteered for a wonderful organization called Life Rolls On. This foundation is near and dear to the heart of my classmate Marisa, and she regularly recruits students from the occupational therapy program to volunteer their time. According to their website, Life Rolls On is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for young people affected by spinal cord injury and utilizes action sports as a platform to demonstrate the infinite possibilities beyond paralysis. More than 1.2 million people in the United States have sustained spinal cord injury and approximately 6 million Americans live with a form of paralysis. A subsidiary of the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, the organization was founded by Jesse Billauer, a professional surfer and motivational speaker who established Life Rolls On after he sustained a spinal cord injury while surfing.

The event this weekend was called They Will Surf Again and took place in La Jolla, just north of San Diego. Approximately 50 individuals of all ages (3-63) with spinal cord injuries became surfers for the day. A team of hundreds of volunteers mobilized to organize the surfers, help them into wetsuits, and take them into the water. The surfboards were adapted with short rails and the surfers lay on their stomachs. A team of volunteers took them dozens of feet offshore and pushed them into perfect waves. It was a sunny day and the conditions were beautiful, so many surfers enjoyed very long rides. It was inspirational to see their accomplishment and a joy to see their faces beaming with excitement.

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What’s Your Profile? ⟩
September 13, 2012, by Ricky

What are OS/OT?

Does it feel really uncomfortable when someone gives you a moderately wet kiss on the cheek? Are you really sensitive to light touch, like if an ant crawls up your leg? Do you get dizzy at Costco? Do you ever question how people could ever study with the TV on? If you’re like me, and answered yes to any (or all) of these, it might be really insightful to complete a Sensory Profile* with your Occupational Therapist. This assessment will help you become more familiar with your sensory preferences, meaning, how your body responds to the various stimuli in the environment. The pediatric version of this tool (Infant/Toddler Sensory Profile) is commonly used by occupational therapists working with children with Autism or other developmental disorders. Many of us have independently figured out strategies to work around/through uncomfortable stimuli, but for some, this might be quite a challenge. Pinpointing these stimuli and our responses to them can lead to optimal strategies. Chances are you may even reveal some uncomfortable stimuli that you never really considered before.

*by Winnie Dunn PhD, OTR, FAOTA | pearsonassessments.com

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