Knowledge Check 17

     When shadowing in an outpatient facility that would fall under the biological sphere. The OT worked with stroke patients along with cancer patients I remember being confused as to how the OT decided what activity they needed to do and how certain activities benefitted the client.  One activity I wondered what the purpose of was the finger ladder.  Almost all of the cancer patients came in and the OT had them do the finger ladder first, I never got a clear answer as to what that did for the client.  I now understand that it was a preparatory activity for their treatment and that the OT would use it to measure the growth or change the patient had in their affected arm.  Once that was complete the OT would have them demonstrate their exercises they were doing at home to drain the fluid from their lymph nodes.  This was how almost all of her sessions went when seeing a client that had cancer.  When the OT would see a client who suffered from a stroke the treatment was different for each person. I now know she took into consideration what the client wanted to achieve in deciding the treatment plan, but I still wonder how she decided for the patients who didn't talk after their stroke.  There was one gentleman that came in for treatment and he would not talk, so his son would accompany him and tell the OT what he used to enjoy doing so she could try and get him to interact.  It seemed like it was extremely hard to motivate a person without being able to know what they are thinking or feeling in order to make their goals directed toward them.