otlife:

Next Monday I will start my community mental health practicum. We will be using the Ross Integrative Rehabilitation approach in the therapies we will be providing for a group of 6-8 adults with Cerebral Palsy.

The idea behind this approach is based on 5 neurological principles taken from treatment approaches used for both children and adults: 1) Stimuli have properties that affect CNS 2) In addition to vestibular, tactile, and other sensory stimuli, an organized sequence of inputs enhances the brain’s ability to register, organize, and respond adaptively 3) In individuals with cognitive impairments, the response/stimulation activated can be increased with activities presented in a sequential systematic way 4) An automatic habitual response can be restored with a routine of organized sequences 5) Offering individuals with a neurological impairment external sensory stimuli that they find pleasurable, will motivate them to interact more with the environment around them

As my professor explained, The Ross-5 uses the principles to essentially take a nebulous of CNS and mold it to be more focused for functioning in a task.

There are 5 stages to the Ross-5:

1) Orientation Stage 1: Uses external stimuli of the senses to stimulate signals in the reticular activating and limbic system of the CNS. This stage promotes sensory registration.

2) Movement Stage 2: Emphasizes unskilled gross and proximal movement to facilitate muscle tone, postural alignment, and proprioception. This stage involves the cerebellum, brain stem, thalamus, wide-spread cortical areas, and basal ganglia to promote sensory stimulation and integration

3) Perceptual Stage 3: Uses activities to make sensory information in a modified and meaningful adaptive response. Promotes display of sensory integration.

4) Cognitive Stage 4: Facilitates organized thought and behavior using cortical integration

5) Closing Stage 5: In OT, we always believe there should be closure in a treatment session. A patient/client session should never be abruptly ended without information on what the client can expect next, as well as a wrap up of what they have achieved so far. Stimulation is directed to the reticular formation and limbic system to preserve an emotional tone of calm alertness.

 

So that’s what I will be working with for the next 11 weeks of practicum. Keeping fingers crossed our first session goes smoothly next week!