Using Splinting with Hypermobility Syndromes

Using splinting is one common strategy for managing the symptoms of Hypermobility Syndromes such as Ehlers Danlos. People with a hypermobility syndromes (HMS) often have very poor proprioception, this basically means we don’t really know where our own arms and legs are so we tend to have a lot of accidents compared to ‘normal’ people.…Continue reading Using Splinting with Hypermobility Syndromes

Accessibility. There’s more to it than you think.

Accessibility is a word that I hear all the time. Accessibility refers to the design of products, services or environments for people with impairments. It’s often though of as a fixed standard, either something is accessible or it isn’t.  When you start looking deeper though you realise that isn’t really true. How can something be yes/no…Continue reading Accessibility. There’s more to it than you think.

Wheelchair Accessories

Continuing the ‘beginners guide to wheelchair life‘ this post will answer the first question from a JBOT fan… Wheelchair Accessories to answer your wheelchair woes. “How to carry anything whilst self-propelling!” – Ellie May Petty.  This is something that most new wheelies struggle with.. balancing things on your lap (and dropping them) hanging things off…Continue reading Wheelchair Accessories

The Able Label – Adaptive Clothing

“The Able Label provides quality, stylish clothes with adapted designs and hidden extras that make self-dressing easier for those with dressing difficulties.”      The Able Label is a stylish and comfy adaptive clothing range, I’m proud to announce my affiliation with them. Their items feature a number of accessibility features. To start with, no…Continue reading The Able Label – Adaptive Clothing

Wheelchair Types

Not all wheelchairs are the same and much of the information online assumes the reader knows the basics already, the following article is a basic rundown of the types of chair available. There are lots of different types and I wont be able to cover them all so please feel free to ask if I’m…Continue reading Wheelchair Types

Models of Disability

Models of Disability

Today I had planned to attend an OT conference, this took a fair amount of planning and team work since I can’t drive and don’t often feel well enough to be far from home alone. Unfortunately since life happens everything fell apart at the last-minute. I don’t get to attend the conference so I’m using…Continue reading Models of Disability

Beginners guide to Kinesiology Tape

By popular demand, here’s a quick introduction to using kinesiology tape. I am not officially trained in any way so if you’re unsure about taping please consult your physio or similar. This guide aims to provide a few hints and tips that will get you started with taping and help you decided if its right…Continue reading Beginners guide to Kinesiology Tape

Limitless Travel role-emerging placement

As part of Occupational Therapy degrees each student must complete one thousand hours of practice. How this is divided up varies from place to place. Northampton University divides practice hours into three placements. The first is shortest and is mainly observation. The last placement is the longest and it’s expected that each student will carry…Continue reading Limitless Travel role-emerging placement

Chronic Pain – What does it actually feel like?

This is something I’ve been meaning to write about for a long time. While doing my dissertation before christmas I repeatedly read that most newly qualified healthcare professionals do not have a modern understanding of pain. I reviewed 9 articles for my dissertation, one common theme was the negative patient experience. Patients not feeling validated,…Continue reading Chronic Pain – What does it actually feel like?

Non-verbal communication

So this is a new topic for me but I think it’s probably going to help a lot of people. Communication is something we all do, usually without much thought but there are some times when communication can be a bit harder. The most obvious types of communication are talking and listening but actually, a…Continue reading Non-verbal communication