A TRAINING PROGRESSION FOR THE UPPER LIMB PROSTHETIC USER

As we all know, each patient that we see in our practices is an individual and should be approached with a client-centered philosophy. During the early phases of rehabilitation, my role as an occupational therapist on the amputee rehabilitation team is to work with the patient to determine his or her view of their interaction with their environment and their occupation. This is an all encompassing view of their life. A person’s environment includes physical, social, cultural and institutional elements. A person’s occupation is any aspect of self-care, productivity, and leisure that is part of their life. Once we have a sense of the areas of importance to this person, an occupational therapist will analyze the key components and skills required for the patient to perform in these occupations. This analysis will lead to the development of an individualized rehabilitation program.