Cheryl Crow, founder of Arthritis Life, shares insights on occupational therapy, including managing pain with compression gloves and the impact of strength training on brain fog. She discusses empowering children with juvenile arthritis and emphasizes a holistic approach to occupational therapy.
Occupational therapy focuses on helping individuals with mental health conditions, physical disabilities, and everyday functional difficulties.
Occupational therapists assist children with juvenile arthritis in navigating daily challenges and educate caregivers on supporting their needs.
Occupational therapy develops individualized exercise plans to manage pain, empower patients, and address psychosocial aspects of living with a chronic condition.
Deep dives
The Benefits of Occupational Therapy for Rheumatic Diseases
Occupational therapy offers more than just improving mobility and decreasing pain; it helps individuals do the activities they want to do, including daily tasks, hobbies, and activities that bring meaning to their lives. Occupational therapists provide psychosocial support and address functional difficulties related to rheumatic diseases. Cheryl Crow, an occupational therapist and founder of Arthritis Life, shares her personal experience living with rheumatoid arthritis and her journey from patient to advocate. Her online resources, such as the Arthritis Life podcast and the Room to Thrive self-management course, aim to educate, empower, and support people with arthritis.
Understanding Occupational Therapy: From Mental Health to Joint Protection Strategies
Occupational therapy encompasses a wide range of services, focusing on helping individuals with mental health conditions, physical disabilities, and everyday functional difficulties. Occupational therapists assess individual needs and develop specific goals tailored to each person's unique situation. They provide joint protection strategies, ergonomic advice, and adaptive equipment recommendations to help patients manage pain and improve daily activities. Occupational therapy can be particularly beneficial for children with juvenile arthritis, as it helps them navigate challenges in daily life and educates parents and caregivers on how to support their child's needs.
Balancing Pain Management and Exercise: Navigating Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapists assist individuals in managing pain while promoting exercise. The decision to use braces or splints depends on the individual and their specific needs. Occupational therapy aims to strike a balance between protecting joints and maintaining strength by evaluating the whole patient, their environment, and their goals. Individualized exercise plans are developed, gradually pushing boundaries and empowering patients to understand their tolerances. Occupational therapy also focuses on the psychosocial aspects of living with a chronic condition, providing patients with tools and strategies to cope and thrive.
Filling the Gaps: The Need for Comprehensive Self-Management Programs
Through her work with Arthritis Life, Cheryl Crow identified an unmet need for comprehensive self-management programs for individuals living with rheumatic diseases. Existing patient resources often fall short in providing the necessary education and support. Arthritis Life offers resources such as podcasts, videos, and a self-paced course called Room to Thrive. These programs address the desire for more information, improved quality of life, and guidance in managing everyday challenges. Cheryl emphasizes the importance of self-management, empowering individuals to navigate their condition and find strategies for living an active and fulfilling life.
Recognizing the Value of Occupational Therapy and Collaboration with Rheumatologists
Occupational therapy plays a crucial role in addressing functional difficulties, psychosocial support, and self-management for individuals with rheumatic diseases. Rheumatologists can refer patients to occupational therapy to help them enhance their daily functioning, manage pain, and develop strategies for adapting to their condition. Collaborating with occupational therapists allows rheumatologists to provide comprehensive care and address patients' overall well-being. By recognizing the value of occupational therapy and referring patients appropriately, rheumatologists can enhance patient outcomes and ensure a holistic approach to care.
Kicking off a new series in conjunction with ARP, we’re spending time with professionals in the field of rheumatology that can, and do, much for our patients. Today, our focus centers on The Occupational Therapist. But how much do we know of our colleagues and their contributions toward our patients? What does an occupational therapist do, with our referrals in hand? We caught up with the founder of Arthritis Life and host of the Arthritis Life Podcast, Cheryl Crow, to answer that question and much more. Cheryl explains to us what happens at an OT visit, what sorts of patients should see an OT, how to manage pain from exercise as well as sharing with us her favorite life hacks and her own personal journey from patient to advocate.
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