Saebo
Monday, July 22nd, 2013
Last modified on May 15th, 2020
BotoxContracturesElectrical StimulationEvidence-Based TreatmentSpasticity
Muscle spasticity is a negative symptom which can occur following a central nervous system disorder (Kinnear, 2012). The use of Botulinum Toxin Type A (BTX-A), commonly referred to as Botox, is used extensively in the treatment of muscle spasticity following stroke and other neurological conditions. Following BTX-A injections, physical and occupational therapy are typically provided and include stretching, casting, splinting, strengthening, and functional movement retraining (Kinnear, 2012).
Having provided the above types of occupational therapy interventions with numerous individuals who have received Botox injections to the UE, I have formulated my own opinions as to the functional benefits of Botox injections in the UE. I recently did a literature review to find out what the research reports.
Saebo
Thursday, June 6th, 2013
Last modified on April 2nd, 2019
Evidence-Based TreatmentHealthcareMedicare
As clinicians, our ability to provide therapy services to clients is influenced by federal laws and regulations, administrative laws from agencies, and sometimes case law. It becomes challenging to keep track of all the changes that occur in the laws, rules, and regulations that impact our practice. More often, we are aware of changes that negatively impact our ability to provide comprehensive and medically necessary skilled services to achieve optimum client outcomes, such as therapy caps. We are also aware of changes in regulations that impact what we document and the way we document.
Saebo
Sunday, April 28th, 2013
Last modified on February 10th, 2020
I love that Saebo products use the principles of neuroplasticity to provide concrete mass practice exercises that increase patient compliance with an affected extremity.
The SaeboMAS is the product I have used the most. The MAS supports the weight of an affected arm and allows the patient to use volitional movement for NMR. That way, the therapist does not have to provide support for the arm or follow the patient while they are relearning movement; instead, the MAS allows the patient to gain independence and perform movements on their own. I love that the SaeboMAS is essentially another set of hands for patients to get extra time working on movement. I see more consistent progress with functional arm movement using the MAS because you can use it with functional tasks such as feeding and grooming tasks.
Saebo
Thursday, April 25th, 2013
Last modified on May 15th, 2020
Evidence-Based TreatmentHealthcareMedicareSaeboReJoyce
As many of you are already aware, those billing to Medicare for therapy coverage now have to report functional outcome data for clients in the form of new non-payable G codes. The G codes are designed to capture the primary issue for which therapy is being provided for. This includes issues such as mobility, changing/maintaining body position, carrying/moving/handling objects, and self-care to name a few. G codes are accompanied by modifiers which indicate the client’s area of limitation and are designed to help track functional changes over time which subsequently results in payment information. These codes are required to not only to be included in the claim to Medicare but also in the client’s medical record with an indication of what tools and outcome measures were used to assess functional outcome. Reporting started in January for a trial 6 month period and beginning July 1/13 claims will not be accepted without the required functional data.
Saebo
Monday, April 8th, 2013
Last modified on September 27th, 2022
Evidence-Based TreatmentSaebo MyoTrac InfinitiSaeboFlex
The AOTA Centennial Vision
In celebration of April being OT month, it seems appropriate to discuss AOTA’s Centennial Vision (CV) for the profession. Many will already be familiar with the CV, but there are many that likely are not.
In 2006, The American Occupational Therapy Association established the Centennial Vision as a “strategic plan” (AOTA, 2006, p.1) for the profession as it approaches its 100th anniversary in 2017. It was established to provide strategies for occupational therapists at all levels of service, to enable the profession to remain “viable and contemporary” (Baum, 2006, p. 610) in light of changes in society, health care, and technology.
Saebo
Monday, March 11th, 2013
Last modified on April 2nd, 2019
CIMTEvidence-Based TreatmentTask-Oriented Training
For those working in upper extremity (UE) neurorehabilitation, the acronyms CIMT (constraint induced movement therapy) and mCIMT (modified constraint induced movement therapy) are now very familiar.
CIMT is an intervention approach which involves restraint of the non-involved UE for 90% of waking hours over a two week period, to include weekends, with repetitive training of the involved UE using shaping principles for 6 hours per day on the weekdays (Kunkel, Kopp, Muller, Villringer, Villringer, Taub, & Flor, 1999).
