Annie MSOT, OTR

Hello everyone!

Well- it seems I may be starting one day per week with a hippotherapy clinic.  Does anyone do this?  I volunteered a few years ago while I was an OT student at this stable- and it was fantastic! 

For those of you who are unfamiliar with hippotherapy- it (I’m pretty sure “hippo” means horse in Greek) uses horses as a mode of treatment for children with autism, CP, or any sensory integration issues.

 It’s amazing to watch because parents will bring their kids into the stables from ages 1-21 years old with a spectrum of sensory issues due to whatever their diagnosis may be.  The therapist will put the child on the horse for a half an hour (while walking next to the horse holding the child). You can put the child on facing forward, backward, on their belly, or back, etc. whatever position they are comfortable.

Then- like magic- because of the intense sensory input the child receives from the horses gait- they can focus on what you are trying to do with them- whether it be retrieving items while they are on the horse for reaching exercises- or playing red light green light to work on their communication/cognitive skills, etc.

I have regretfully turned away some calls to this clinic because I do not work with this population in this outpatient orthopedic setting.  

I am anxious to begin. I am scheduled to start working in April- because every therapist who goes into this aspect of horses- is required to take a hippotherapy certification course.  This course is only being offered in April at this time- so I just have to get registered for it. 

I am also really psyched because I LOVE horses. 

Any comments from those of you who work with this population would be greatly appreciated.  Any questions are of course welcome and I will always answer to the best of my ability

 Cheers!

Hello!

My sincere apologies to everyone who has written to me this past year.  I had not been aware I received so many responses! 

Thank you!

To answer some questions: a

As far as good reading materials- especially those of you involved with orthopedics such as hand, wrist, shoulder, elbow injuries:  I highly recommend “Travell & Simons “Myofacial Pain and Dyfunction: The Trigger Point Manaul- Volume I – upper hapf of the Body”.  This is like a bible to me in OT in regards to treatment and symptoms of every UE muscle!

Splinting: I completely agree with all of you out there looking for good splinting course and the typical scary moments when you are actually making the splint!  I took a course with Robert Schneider – the name of the course is “An Introduction ot Hand Therapy”- he is an EXCELLENT presenter and teacher…I highly recommend this course for all OTs lookint o brush up on hand rehab and splinting.  He also provides some hand spint patterns in the back of his course book- it’s fantastic!

I am all by myself as an OT with 6 other PTs- so as far as splinting goes…it’s all me.  I have become very good friends with the books I received in school:  “intro to splinting” by Brenda Coppard and Helene Lohman as well as “Splint the hand and upper extremity” by Marylnn Jacobs and Noelle Austin.  These two books have gotten me through all the splints I have made.  In just about 2 years I have probably made 15-20 splints.  I feel much more comfortable with making them than I did when I first started.  The dynamic ones especially were scary at first.  For those- I referenced the second book I listed.

Thank you to all who have responded- and again, I apologize for taking so long to get back to some of you.  I will be away for the next week- but please post any comments or questions- and when I return- I will answer as best I can.

I wish the best of luck to all of you who are just beginning school or just getting your first jobs as OTs.  It’s really a wonderful profession. 

If you have any questions about courses you should take…please ask me!  I can tell you which ones are definitely worth it and at the same time…entertaining! (really great speakers)

Cheers! 

Hello everyone!

I hope you are having a happy and healthy start to 2009! 

 I have been an OT for just about 2 years now.  I remain adamant with attending as many continuing education courses as I can- all on the shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand.  Even since I graduated in 2007 – there are so many new techniques to treating the upper extremity.  I am seeing immediate results with all my clients – when I use all the new and latest treatment techniques.

 I have taken courses with Lou Bigliani, Christopher Ahmad, Sandy Burkart, Kevin Wilks, John O’Halloran, and many other well known physicians and therapists. 

I welcome any questions or comments from others.

Cheers!