Determining effective strategies to promote adherence to home exercise/activity programs for clients who have sustained an injury to the upper quadrant
OA Version
Citation
Abstract
Home exercise/activity programs (HEP) are an essential part of occupational therapy and the subspecialty of hand therapy, where therapists aim to improve overall function resulting from injuries and conditions of the upper quadrant (UQ). HEPs are frequently prescribed to augment gains in range of motion, strength, and functional use made in the clinic as part of rehabilitation. Non-adherence is an issue, with estimates suggesting that up to 50% of clients do not follow through for many reasons. The proposed pilot study is a mixed methods design to determine effective strategies to promote adherence to a home exercise/activity program (HEP) for clients receiving outpatient occupational/hand therapy for an orthopedic injury to the upper quadrant (UQ). Careful consideration of client learning preferences and conditions impacts HEP design. The choice of a traditional HEP using written instructions with pictures/diagrams and/or therapist-narrated audiotapes and transcribed instruction with videotapes/photographs will empower clients to be active in their rehabilitation and ultimately improve their HEP adherence. Determining effective methods to improve adherence to HEPs could be helpful to occupational therapists and medical professionals in improving client outcomes. More research is needed to develop evidence-based guidelines for HEP prescription and implementation, with the essential goal of helping clients regain function and the ability to participate fully in daily activities.
Description
2025
License
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International