Occupational Therapy

First, wanted to move this to the top: Curbstomp ALS!!

Now.. on to occupational therapy:

No.. it does not mean talking about the stresses of your job!! Actually, we met with a "hand therapist" in the occupational therapy department. She did considerable testing on range of motion in Glen's wrists and shoulders, pinching ability, grasp strength, etc. We were there for quite a while and left with a 4 part homework assignment. (Good thing I bring notebooks everywhere!)

Step 1: Spend 10 minutes 2x a day moving articles of varying sizes from one container to another... golf size whiffle ball, baseball, fuzzy stress ball.. whatever things of various shapes and sizes we put together.

Step 2: Stretching. Lots of stretching... especially back neck and shoulders. He has a page of exercises to do. I learned them too.. my neck feels better than it has in ages!

Step 3: "Work conservation" The idea here is to avoid working to exhaustion in any activity. Plan a run or bike ride so that it doesn't totally use up your energy. Don't stand if you can sit. Don't lift if you can push or slide. That kind of thing. This one's going to be a challenge.. totally goes against Glen's nature!

Step 4: Kathlyn (the therapist) sent us home with a catalog of "adaptive equipment"... all kinds of nifty gadgets to help with buttons, holding a fork or toothbrush, make it easier to comb his hair... all those little things the rest of us take for granted that will help Glen maintain independence. Now... Kevin & I are the gadget junkies... we're going through it "oh, that's cool! Hey, we could MAKE that!" But again... Glen would have to admit he's having an issue with something before actually asking. So Kev and I keep ours eyes open to what seem to be issues, then make or order appropriate "toys" and leave them available.

We will see Kathlyn again in about 2 weeks.