Company
LOGO
Improving function through
leisure and recreation
Special Thanks
• Paul Burchuk, CTRS
– Recreation Therapist, SCI – Hampton VAMC
• Kimberly Gladson
– Recreation Therapist, DOM – Mountain Home VAMC
What is Recreation Therapy?
• What is it? (from American Therapeutic Recreation Association website)
– US Dept of Labor definition: profession of specialists who utilize activities as a form of treatment for persons who are physically, mentally, or emotionally disabled. Active treatment to improve physical, cognitive, emotional, and social functioning and to increase independence in life activities.
What is Recreation Therapy?
– Use leisure in ways to enhance health, independence, and well-being
– Traditionally delivered in rehabilitation facilities, long-term care units, assisted living facilities, home healthcare, etoh/substance use facilities, pain centers
– Can be delivered in community parks and recreation programs in larger cities
What is Recreation Therapy?
There is formal training and credentialing for RTs
CTRS – certified therapeutic recreation specialist
Bachelors degree or higher from accredited institution
480 hour internship
Will increase to 560 hours in Jan 2013
National certification examination
RT is recognized as a rehabilitation service by JCAHO and CARF
What does RT address?
• Musculoskeletal, neurological, and
neuromuscular impairments
• Sensory impairments
• Cognitive impairments
• Psychological impairments
Benefits
• Helps to prevent decline in physical, cognitive,
and psychosocial functioning
• Reduces the need for health care services
• Reduces secondary disability and associated
health care costs
• An additional means to help manage pain that
can be used alongside other management
How does it benefit a person with chronic pain?
Helps to set realistic, achievable goals
Sets up opportunities for accomplishment
Increases self-esteem
Provides pleasurable/enjoyable
experience
Increases activity level
energy level
How does it benefit a person with chronic pain?
Improves sleep
Decreases boredom
Distracts from pain – gate control theory
Provides opportunity to practice
appropriate pacing
Improves weight management
Focus on wellness behaviors, not sick
behaviors
How does it benefit a person with chronic pain?
Increases
socialization
Improves conversation skills
Improves social skills
Improves
cognitive
functioning
Memory
Attention
Decision making
Sequencing
Organization skills
How does it benefit a person with chronic pain?
Improves coping abilities
Improves mood
Decreases anxiety
Decreases stress
Increases life satisfaction
Combats kinesiophobia
Challenges assumption that avoidance is an adaptive pain coping strategy
Who is an appropriate candidate?
• Anyone with a need to work on a physical,
cognitive, emotional, or social impairment
What formal resources may be available?
– Art therapy
– Music therapy
– Animal assisted therapy
– Recreational resource awareness – Leisure education
What can you do when no formal resources are available?
• Encourage/assist patients to determine: – Values – Motivators – Leisure goals – Possible activities – Barriers – A schedule
Values and Motivators
• What do they value in life?
• Find an activity that is motivating so they
Will do it
• An activity worth approaching will help
combat fear-avoidance behaviors
Choosing an activity • PAL
• Be realistic
• Make it something they are capable of doing • Does not have to be exercise
• Be something they can do alone or with others
• Something that can be broken down into smaller steps • Try to modify something they used to like to do
• Something to do each day • Be creative
Encourage a different mindset
• Focus on what they are currently capable
of doing, not what they used to be able to
do
• Give themselves credit for efforts, not just
outcomes
• Make it a want or a choice versus a must
or a should
Leisure activities
• Arts/crafts
• Music
• Sports
• Education
• Reading
• Spectator appreciation
• Relaxation
• Helping others
What are the barriers?
• Travel • Finances • Weather • Motivation • Guilt • Limited skills• Small social network/no companion • Time
Activity Schedule
• Start low and slow
– Increase number of activities over time – Increase time spent in activity over time
• Have them plan as much as possible
• Identify the connection between activity
and mood/quality of life
Exercise
• Write down 2 activities that you enjoy
• Who would you be without these activities in your life?
• How could you modify the activity to work with: – LBP?
– Fibromyalgia?
– Right arm amputation?
• What are 2 other activities you might do if you couldn’t engage in these?
Resources
– For Veterans
• Team River Runners
–www.teamriverrunner.org
–Kayaking program
• Volunteer services at VA
–projects, crafts, volunteering –Help Hospitalized Veterans • Warrior Institute
Resources
– For veterans
• Wounded Warrior program • Horses for Heroes
–At Small Miracles stable in Kingsport • Project Healing Waters
–www.projecthealingwaters.org
– For elderly
Resources
– For anyone • YMCA
• Local park district
• Small miracles therapeutic equestrian center
–Focused on youth and veterans • Adaptiveadventures.org
• Patrice Neal Rehabilitation Center –Ft Sanders Regional Med Center –Generally for physical rehab