Implicit Bias

Implicit bias is automatic processing in our brain of negative stereotypes that have become embedded in our brain over time about certain groups of people without us being aware of it. There are associations that we relate with certain groups and our brains automatically make us associate things with that group. You can retrain your brain to think differently about a group but it takes time. The way we have been practicing fairness or equality may be flawed. There are things that we have been taught to think or do in certain ways, but our values can often overrule the things we have been taught. Having a bias does make us human. We are most likely all taught to be color blind when we are little and to not judge based on looks, but so many things in society make it where you can't help but think that way. You have to train your brain to process differently if you want to change or stop implicit bias.
It is so important for OT students and practitioners to learn about implicit bias because we will be treating clients of all types of religion, race, and ethnicity. When treating a client, you do not need to let your own values or beliefs get in the way of giving them the treatment they deserve. Even if we believe one thing and they believe another, then you need to make sure you let the client feel comfortable in therapy no matter what. We also should not label or automatically judge a person on the way they look or appear. Each client already suffers some way or they wouldn't need to be there. It is our job to make the therapy environment a safe and welcoming place for them. Our main goal is to help the client improve to do their daily activities independently. As we read or listened to the podcast, our presence is so powerful. If we have a negative look or attitude about a client then their results could be negative and they may not get better.
There are things we can do to examine and address our own bias. For one thing, is to take a survey and see how biased you are from your answers. I know for me personally, I did not think I was being biased until I saw the results. Another thing is to try and train you brain to process differently. Try to replace the biased association. Lastly, you can think about how you want people to treat you and you should treat them the same way. We all want to be accepted and not judged for the things we like, we wear, our race, or what we believe in. I think it is important to treat people the way you would want everyone to treat you. I think this lesson shows how much implicit bias our brains process over time. Even though we may not tend to have bias towards others, it is still there. We have to be aware of what we say and how we act to our clients to make sure we are providing the best treatment possible. 

Scapulohumeral Rhythm

Scapulohumeral rhythm is the kinematic interaction between the scapula and the humerus. In the scapulohumeral rhythm, the scapula needs to tilt back. For full range of motion, the humeral head must rotate laterally. Scapulohumeral rhythm permits good length tension relationships. It also helps with assessing muscle function and shoulder joint motion in the clinical environment. The primary movements that a practitioner looks for with the scapula is upward rotation, posterior tilt, and lateral rotation. When the practitioner notices that there is a change of the primary positioning between the scapula and the humerus,  they know that the scapulohumeral rhythm has been damaged. When this happens the scapula can become "winged". You would be able to notice this if you had a client put their hands on the wall and lean in like they were doing a push up. You would be able to see the scapula poking out. The shoulder has the greatest range of motion (ROM) in the body. It has a full 180° of motion. The scapulohumeral rhythm is very important to achieve the full 180° of motion. For every 3° of shoulder movement, there is 1° of scapulothoracic joint movement and 2° of glenohumeral joint movement. To reach full range of motion, the scapulothoracic joint must produce 60° of movement and the glenohumeral joint must have 120° of movement. If the scapulohumeral rhythm is damaged, then a client cannot achieve the full 180° of motion.   

Test Positioning

It is important to know to use bony landmarks and proper positioning when doing ROM because you have to know how to set up your goniometer. You need to know where to position the axis, stable arm, and moving arm. Measuring ROM accurately requires precision, and precision is achieved through a lot a practice. You need to make sure you know how to palpate bony landmarks to have complete accuracy when measuring. It is important apply the goniometer in the proper position and read it correctly so that you can measure progress accurately. If another therapist has to measure the client, you want the measurements to be close to the ones you did. Test positioning in manual muscle testing is equally as important if you want to get the correct measurement for your client. The test position allows the muscle to be in a position to achieve the greatest contraction. You want whatever limb that is being tested in the best possible position to achieve a great mechanical advantage. It is important that the lever is in the best position for muscle strength. It is good to test muscle strength in an antigravity position. If the muscles are too weak to function against gravity, then it needs to be tested in the horizontal plane. It is also good to test in a gravity eliminated position when the muscle is weak so the therapist can feel any level of contraction in the muscle. Test positioning is also important for providing good stabilization to all joints to avoid unnecessary compensation. Muscle compensation could cause more damage.

Biomechanics Activity Analysis: Drinking Coffee

I absolutely love coffee!! I have to have a cup every morning when I get up to start my day right! During this quarantine, I have found myself drinking a cup every afternoon as well. My starting position for grabbing my coffee, is my arm with elbow at extension by my side. It is currently in the sagittal plane and coronal axis. When I reach my right arm forward to grab my coffee, my elbow is still crossing the sagittal plane and coronal axis. It is currently in extension. Once I grab the cup of coffee, I flex my elbow to bring my coffee cup to my mouth. This movement is still in the sagittal plane and coronal axis.  Depending on how heavy the cup of coffee is, my wrist will flex and extend when I bring the cup to my mouth and when I put it back down. When my wrist flexes and extends it is also crossing the sagittal plane and coronal axis. Once I place my coffee cup back down, my end position will be the same as my starting position. My arm with my elbow at extension by my side will fall into the sagittal plane and coronal axis. The osteokinematic movement is flexion and extension in an open kinematic chain. The arthokinematic movement of elbow flexion occurs at the humeroulnar joint and the humeroradial joint. During open chain elbow flexion, the concave ulna and radial segments roll and glide anteriorly on the convex humerus. The prime movers are the biceps, brachioradialis, and brachialis muscles. They perform a concentric contraction.

Health Literacy

Health literacy is the ability to read, comprehend, obtain and use health care information in order to make appropriate decisions and follow treatment instructions. It is so important to know how to talk to your clients to make them understand everything clearly. I know for me personally, I hate it when doctors talk to me with words or information that I do not understand. As future OT practitioners, our goal should be to provide the best type of treatment for a client to improve their daily living, but it should be done in a way they can understand. We want clients to leave a treatment session feeling confident in what they did and not confused about what you were asking them to do. It is important to know everything you can about the treatment you are giving, but it is equally as important to make sure the client understands as well in a way that makes since to them.
It is so important to promote health to everyone so that people know how to live a healthy life. You can be healthy by eating right, exercising, not smoking, get all your immunization shots, going to the doctor when you feel sick and being active daily. It is important that health care workers not only practice good health habits, but promote ways to be healthy. Everyone deserves the option to be healthy, but it is our responsibility to promote how you can be healthy. When you treat clients, you need to promote health as much as possible. Some may want to know ways to be healthy so they don't injure themselves again. I believe that it is important for OT practitioners to promote health during intervention plans. You should want the client to maintain a healthy lifestyle while they receive treatment. Some ways to promote health is to give a client healthy meal plans, tell them to take a walk each day for at least thirty minutes if they are able to, refer them to doctors that will help them, ensure that they have a stable home environment, and many more things like those examples. Overall, I learned that health literacy is so important because we want understand how to treat clients in the best possible way but to make sure they know what is happening as well. It is also so so so important to promote health. Our society is the unhealthiest it has ever been and as health care providers, we need to do our part to educate our clients so that they can better themselves and have a long healthy life.