Rheumatoid Arthritis and OT

Earn 1 hour of continuing education by joining OT Potential after taking this course.

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Over the past few decades, our understanding of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has evolved quite a bit. And, that means the prognosis of RA patients has improved in turn. Many of the “classic” deformities associated with RA are becoming less common. And, as we learn more and more about RA and its impacts on patients, your OT care should evolve accordingly.

In this 1-hour podcast course, we’ll begin by discussing a research review that covers the diagnosis and treatment of RA. Then, we’ll bring on our expert guest, Cheryl Crow, MOT, OTR/L. Cheryl Crow is an occupational therapist who has lived with rheumatoid arthritis for eighteen years.

In this episode, we’ll dive into RA therapy considerations that go beyond addressing joint pain. We’ll discuss approaching your therapy from a self-management lens, so you can empower those with RA to take more control over their daily lives and health. 

This is a vastly underserved population, and we hope to ignite your passion for providing improved care to the people in your community!

Primary Research Explored

When you log in, be sure to check out the OT Potential Club’s written breakdown of the following research article, then share your questions and thoughts with fellow practitioners.

Sparks, J. A. (2019). Rheumatoid arthritis. Annals of Internal Medicine, 170(1). doi:10.7326/aitc201901010.

• Rheumatoid arthritis

Secondary Research 

• Effectiveness of occupational therapy interventions for adults with rheumatoid arthritis: A systematic review
• EULAR recommendations for patient education for people with inflammatory arthritis

Learning Objectives

• Based on the research, you will be able to recognize the systemic manifestations of RA.  
• Based on the research, you will be able to identify self-management interventions that fall within the OT scope of practice.

Agenda

Intro (5 minutes)

Breakdown and analysis of journal article (10 minutes)

• Why was this paper written?
• Quick refresher: What is RA?
• How has our understanding of RA evolved over the past few decades?
• How is RA diagnosed?
• What are common extra-articular manifestations of RA?
• What are common assessments used for RA patients?
• What is the role of OT in the treatment of RA?
• What are the roles of other health professionals in the treatment of RA?
• Authors’ conclusion and recommendations
• Takeaways for OT practitioners

Discussion on practical implications for OTs (with guest Cheryl Crow) (45 minutes)

• Can you tell us about how OT and RA have been linked in your life?
• What were your general impressions of the article? (Annals of Internal Medicine)
• Do you think OTs have a role to play in caring for people with RA?
• Have you seen an occupational therapist for your RA?
• At what point in an RA patient’s journey do you think they would be most likely to be referred to an OT?
• The article mentioned 4 assessments. Were you familiar with them? Are there any others you would recommend OTs consider?
• Are there specific treatments options you would recommend OTs consider?
• What are some resources for OTs interested in learning about more specific interventions?
• Do you think there is a need for occupational therapy to have an expanded role in the management of RA?

Target Audience/Educational Level

Our target audience is occupational therapy practitioners who are looking to establish a baseline understanding of where the research stands on OT treatment for RA. The educational level is introductory.

Financial and Non-financial Disclosures

It is the policy of OT Potential to disclose any financial and non-financial interest the provider or instructor may have in a product or service mentioned during an activity. This is to ensure that the audience is made aware of any bias of the speaker.

We here at OT Potential have no financial stake in this topic. Our guest, Cheryl Crow, has no financial interest in this topic to disclose.

Speakers

Cheryl Crow, MOT, OTR/L

Cheryl Crow is an occupational therapist who’s lived with rheumatoid arthritis for eighteen years. Cheryl founded the online education company Arthritis Life, which educates, empowers and supports people with arthritis. 

Through Arthritis Life, Cheryl has produced a plethora of educational and entertaining videos showcasing arthritis life hacks, basic arthritis education and humorous takes on real life with RA. She also shares encouragement, educational tidbits, and other patient’s heartfelt stories on the Arthritis Life Podcast. Lastly, Cheryl has created a comprehensive online self-management program called the Rheumatoid Arthritis Roadmap. Read full bio.

Sarah Lyon, OTR/L

Sarah’s passion is helping fellow OT practitioners translate evidence into daily practice. Sarah earned her BA in religion from St. Olaf College, then earned her master’s degree in occupational therapy from New York University in 2011.

Since then, she’s worked in numerous facilities, including a critical access hospital, an acute trauma hospital, and a state inpatient psychiatric hospital. Sarah is the founder/owner of OT Potential. Read more about OT Potential here.

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This course was designed to meet your continuing education requirements

We designed the courses in the Club to meet the requirements for “online” and “independent/self-study” courses. To verify the requirements from your specific state (within the US), check out our post, OT Continuing Education Requirements. If you are outside of the United States and have questions, please contact us.

We are proud to be an AOTA Approved Provider and to meet the requirements for your NBCOT renewal.

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