Author: Debbie Amini, EdD, OTR/L, CHT, FAOTA
Director of Professional Development,
The American Occupational Therapy Association, Bethesda, MD
Earn .1 AOTA CEU (1.25 NBCOT PDU/1 contact hour)
Abstract
The theory and fabrication of orthotic devices is taught in entry-level occupational therapy and assistant-level curricula. A basic orthotics course is typically designed using a normal adult hand as the model. However, special circumstances and conditions do exist for devices created for the hands of older adults that require an advanced level of knowledge on the part of both the occupational therapist and the occupational therapy assistant. Physiological changes associated with aging, as well as an array of age-related diagnostic considerations, create the need for advanced understanding of this treatment population. This article explores the special considerations of the hands of older adults to provide the occupational therapy practitioner with an understanding of the specific needs of this group.
Learning Objectives
1. Identify those characteristics of the natural aging process that affect orthotic selection and fabrication
2. Recognize changes related to aging and their unique implications for orthotic device selection
3. Identify medical diagnoses and conditions, often occurring as a result of the aging process, that require an orthosis
4. Determine which elements to include in orthotic devices created for the older adult client to ensure the best possible therapeutic benefit
Reference Information:
Amini, D. (2016) Orthotic Fabrication for the Hands of Older Adults. OT Practice, 21(5). CE-1–CE-8
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