Biomechanics as a Frame of Reference

What is this Frame of Reference based on?

Theory

• ROM

• Endurance

• Strength

Mechanistic philosophy

body as a machine

Biomechanical FOR Purposes

• Define musculoskeletal problems

• Develop Therapeutic exercise/activity

• consider adaptive equipment to meet goals

• Objectively measure musculoskeletal progress/grade

Kinetics

How forces act on a system

Kinematics

how forces create movement

Limitations of Biomechanical FOR?

Body can be complex

• consideration isn’t given to other context (social, emotional)

Benefits of Biomechanic FOR

Foundational and allows us to understand the baseline

Applications of Biomechanical FOR

• Assessment

• Intervention

• Environmental Safety

• Adaptive equipment/compensatory techniques

Types of Assessments?

MMT, ROM (goniometry)

What do you assess for

• Strength

• Endurance

• ROM

Examples of adjunctive methods

• splinting

• therapeutic exercises

What are the different interventions?

Splinting

Therapeutic exercise

Endurance (muscular/cardiorespiratory

Work/home/school modifications

What are the approaches to intervention

• Restoration/remediation

• Compensate/adapt

• Prevention

Give a shoulder example for the Restoration/remediation approach to intervention for the shoulder

Splinting, and coming up with activities to use the shoulder

Give a shoulder example for the Compensate/adapt approach to intervention for the shoulder

Engage in other activities that do not use the shoulder

Compensate/adapt approach

What you do when ROM, strength, endurance are limited.

Can be activities using a different body part, or with assistive devices

Restoration/remediation approach

Doing tasks/exercises in order to improve ROM, strength, and endurance in order to positively influence function

Prevention approach

Know what puts us at risk of ROM, strength, and endurance problems

Give a shoulder example for the Prevention approach to intervention for the arthritis

Doing exercises that will help to avoid getting arthritis and these injuries

• stretching,

• exercising that specific body part

What are the 2 types of Therapeutic activities

Adapt and Grade

Therapeutic Activity definition

Activity that helps to make a person more able

Adapt

• Permanent

• changing an activity due to a sustained impairment

• changing the activity so it can be done

Example of adapting a therapeutic activity

• Changing how a game is played so an adult with autism is able to play

Grade

• Incremental changes to an activity to restore or remediate function

• Watch overtime and base activity on progress

• can grade up or down

Example of grading an activity

• Adding a wrist weight to an activity to make it more difficult in order to improve function

What are some questions you should ask when choosing an intervention

What is the underlying cause of the problem?

What makes the “just right” challenge?

What has purpose/meaning for the client?

Can you ensure safety during this?

Can activity be adapted/graded?

Example of Environmental safety

• Discharge planning, and ensuring that the client’s environment is safe and prepared for their return.

How can you improve environmental safety?

• Placing guard rails around the home

• Preparing the client to use steps if they have those in home

• providing a ramp in the house