Recently I took on another challenge, writing a CEU module. When I agreed to do it, I thought no problem. This is what I teach. I already have an outline and references. I can just fill in the words. After I started writing, I realized something. When I teach, I have lots of material to cover so spend little time on any one thing. The CEU module ...

A few weeks ago, I wrote about using the Nintendo Wii and wondering how much help I should give my patients. Since that time, I've settled into helping them to either prevent frustration or teach a new motor program. That creates higher scores while enabling motor learning. The only exception is the red fish. One of the games we play involves ...

I've been using the Nintendo Wii with more of my patients. This has created a dilemma for me. I don't know how much help to give my patients. At first I didn't help them at all but that wasn't successful. Since then I have alternated between verbal cues for strategy, tactile cues to follow the strategy and manually assisting them with playing the ...

A new piece of equipment has found its way into our department, a Nintendo Wii. Up until last weekend I'd never even seen one, much less played with one. The literature is full of articles describing how to use the Wii therapeutically, particularly with the geriatric population. The evidence says it is effective. Nowhere did I read how much fun it ...

We all have things that annoy us. I have a new one at work, the assisted ergometer. It can be used for the UEs or LEs and programmed to provide either resistance or assistance to whoever is working the pedals. To me it is a glorified restorator. What annoys me so much isn't the machine but the individuals who put every patient on it every day ...

It's been a while since I've had more than a few geriatric patients on my caseload. Now that my caseload is all geriatric, I've had to readjust. It's a good thing I didn't forget the first rule of geriatric care. Elderly patients are people, too. They should be treated that way. It's been a nice change. They complain. They tell me they can't do ...

I like to start work early; the earlier the better. Usually this means I start my day alone. I grab the first patient I find out of bed and get started. Not anymore. A few days ago, I was having trouble convincing a patient to come to therapy. In frustration, I offered her a cup of fresh coffee to sip while we were working. Little did I know it ...

Last week, I found myself following in the footsteps of a therapist who truly believed in hands-on therapy. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't replicate his treatments. His patients were walking with only therapist-assist. I could barely get them to stand. Finally a tech let me in on his secret. The man was a weightlifter. He was substituting ...

It's been a while since I've had the opportunity to treat patients on our rehab unit. Usually I do evaluations. Someone else does the treatments. Today I actually did some rehab treatments. Not evaluations but 60 minutes of treatment in which I could work on whatever I wanted. What a nice change of pace. Usually my day is filled with stroke ...

I had an unusual conversation with a nurse last week. I was in the neuro ICU preparing to evaluate a patient. I always check with a patient's nurse prior to doing so to make sure the patient is medically stable. Normally the nurses are very helpful and happy to see therapy. Not this time. This nurse refused therapy for the patient because she ...