Howdy, Stranger!
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Categories
OT Assessments
Hello everybody,
I'm doing the Advanced Course this week and I was wondering:
- which typical OT assessments do you (also) use and why?
- if you don't use any, why not?
Thank you for your answers!
Hester
Comments
Hi Hester,
It's a pleasure to meet you.
Your question is quite broad. I hope you find here what you are looking for.
I work in Montreal, Canada, so the assessments I am using might differ from yours.
I guess it depends on the clinical case you have. I will always assess (sometimes quickly) the client's function, even when it's a CRPS. In that case, however, I will not directly assess the joint involved, but I will have a look at the proximal or distal joints and the opposite limb.
In a case where there is no allodynia, I will use manual muscle testing, grip strength and circumferential measurements if relevant.
In a case where you do have allodynia, I will only assess active mobility.
For a hand case, which I see most often, I might use the Purdue Pegboard Test, The Minnesota Dexterity Test or the Functional Dexterity Test.
For a foot case, I might use the Berg Balance scale, the TUG test or the 6min walk test.
This, of course, is in addition to all the functional tests I will do (balance on one foot, walking on a straight line, writing, fastening buttons, tie you hair, and so on).
I might also use self-administered questionnaires if appropriate (DASH, fatigue severity scale, PCS, TSK, etc.).
I find it is important to use OT assessments to cover our area of expertise, to triangulate information and to promote a holistic approach. Even if the mandate was initially for somatosensory rehabilitation, you might want to target functional problems at the same time to help the client function as optimally as possible.
Hope this helps!
Sarah, erg. CSTP
Hi Hester, Sarah and all!
I think that Sarah provided an excellent overview of what we do assess in OT when patients comes to us for somatosensory rehab.
It is important to keep in mind the whole body functioning when someone is refered to you with pain, intense pain, with or without the CRPS symptoms.
It may not be a standardized assemssment, but ADL/IADL fucntionning is of great relevance to assist in how we can help improved their performance (AT, pacing, etc).
In terms of self-administered questionnaire, the PCS, TSK like Sarah mentionned, and IEQ (Injustice Experience Questionnaire) can tell you a lot about your patient, and provide food for great discussions and interventions that can help alleviate a lot of emotional pain.
Hope this helps a little!
Marie-Elaine
Hi Hester, Sarah, and Marie-Elaine,
Thank you for sharing your question and answers! To add to the many great OT assessments recommended:
In Canada, the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) is often used as both an initial interview tool and outcome measure. It is a great tool to identify the functional impacts of living with neuropathic pain, as it explores service users' participation in self-care, productivity, and leisure.
The Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) Outcome Measure can also be used with service users' living with upper limb neuropathic pain.
Both of these outcomes measures are great starting points to discuss with service users' about their occupational disruptions and to, subsequently, identify compensatory strategies to ensure continued, yet adapted, participation in meaningful occupations.
Finally, task simulations are always useful to observe how service users' may already use their own compensatory strategies to manage their pain.
Marie-An
Dear Sarah, Marie-Elaine and Marie-An,
Thank you all for your answers!
It took some time for me to react; I had to look up some of the acronyms ;-)
I agree with you, that it is our strength as OT's to see the whole picture - the holistic approach. For this reason I use the COPM a lot.
Thank you for mentioning the PCS, TSK and the IEQ - will see if I can find the translations in German.
Hester