OT Frame of Reference Comparison Paper

Assignment

1.  Read Chapter 6, pages 41-41: Frank: Right Cerebrovascular Accident, Left Hemiplegia, Left Neglect. You will find this chapter in the Halloran, P, & Lowenstein, N. (2000). Case studies through the healthcare continuum: a workbook for the occupational therapy student. Thorofare: NJ.

Don’t worry about understanding the range of motion results or any other test results in the occupational therapy evaluation section; just focus on Frank’s overall abilities and deficits.

Here are some of the abbreviations used in the case and what they mean:

CVA – cerebrovascular accident, which is another term for a stroke

UE – upper extremity – from the shoulder down (distal) to the fingers

LE – lower extremity – from the hip down (distal) to the toes

AROM – active range of motion – motion that Frank has at any joint when he moves

PROM – passive range of motion – motion that Frank has at his joints when someone else, like the therapist, moves his arm. Frank has less motion that he can initiate on his own than when the therapist moves his arm due to muscle weakness on the right side.

WNL – within normal limits – if range of motion is OK or just very slightly limited, then it is said to be within normal limits

ADL – activities of daily living

2. Read about the Rehabilitation (p 69) and the Cognitive Rehabilitation (p 75-76) frames of reference in Chapter 7 of Sladyk, K. & Ryan, S.E. (2005). Ryan’s Occupational therapy assistant: principles, practice issues, and techniques (fourth edition). Thorofare, NJ.

In a paper that is two pages, following the prescribed format, you will provide the following information:

a.  Define and describe a theory, a frame of reference and model.

b.  Why are assumptions made or defined when explaining frames of reference?

c.  Identify and describe the Rehabilitation Frame of Reference.

d.  Identify and describe the Cognitive Rehabilitation Frame of Reference.

e.  What are the similarities between your two frames of reference?

f.  How do your two frames of reference differ from each other?

g.  Describe why the Rehabilitation and the Cognitive Rehabilitation Frames of
Reference are appropriate frameworks on which to base your treatment approach to     working with Frank in occupational therapy.

h.  Why is it important that OT practitioners base their approach to client treatment on a frame of reference?