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Outcomes in hand rehabilitation using occupational therapy services
1The Ohio State University, 1583 Perry Street, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA. case-smith.1@osu.edu
Summary
Outpatient occupational therapy significantly improved functional outcomes for patients with upper-extremity injuries or surgery. Client-centered care, using measures like the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), demonstrated substantial gains in arm, shoulder, and hand function.
Area of Science:
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Occupational Therapy
- Orthopedics
Background:
- Upper-extremity injuries and surgeries often lead to functional deficits.
- Occupational therapy is a key component of rehabilitation for these conditions.
- Measuring functional outcomes is crucial for evaluating treatment effectiveness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify functional improvements in patients with upper-extremity injury or surgery undergoing outpatient occupational therapy.
- To assess the efficacy of client-centered occupational therapy interventions.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 33 patients received 6-8 weeks of outpatient occupational therapy.
- The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) guided therapy and measured outcomes.
- The Disability of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) and Short Form 36 (SF-36) questionnaires were administered pre- and post-therapy.
Main Results:
- Significant functional performance gains were observed post-therapy on both the COPM and DASH measures (p < .001).
- Effect sizes for the COPM and DASH ranged from 1.43 to 2.52, indicating large effects.
- Client goal progress showed a moderate correlation with functional measure improvements.
Conclusions:
- Client-centered occupational therapy leads to strong, positive functional gains in patients with upper-extremity conditions.
- The COPM demonstrated the highest sensitivity to patient-reported changes, followed by the DASH and SF-36.