2026-02-02 – Weekly Occupational Therapy News : WWI craft calming nerves

Last week in the occupational therapy community, members engaged in thoughtful discussions around enhancing caregiver coaching in pediatrics with new CEU options, and the benefits of using actigraphy for ADL tracking at home. There was also a lively exchange on the creation of a standardized dexterity kit for non-surgical wrist rehabilitation, and historical insights on crafts used during WWI to calm nerves. Additionally, there were conversations about making continuing education more accessible and employer-funded, along with practical advice on effective therapeutic resets.


This Week’s Hot Topics

Best CEUs for caregiver coaching in peds
Members are sharing recommendations for continuing education units that enhance caregiver coaching skills in pediatric settings. This is crucial as it directly impacts family-centered care.
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Comparing actigraphy for home ADL tracking
There’s a discussion on how actigraphy can be utilized for tracking activities of daily living at home, offering a new dimension to patient monitoring.
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Standardized home dexterity kit for non-surgical wrists
A thread exploring the potential of a standardized kit to improve dexterity in patients with non-surgical wrist issues, aiming to streamline home rehabilitation.
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WWI craft that steadied nerves
An intriguing look back at how crafts from World War I were used to alleviate anxiety, and how these practices might inform current therapeutic strategies.
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Make CE portable and employer-paid
This topic discusses strategies to make continuing education more portable and financially supported by employers, which could greatly benefit career mobility.
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Simple resets that actually help
Members exchange tips on simple, effective resets during therapy sessions that lead to noticeable improvements in client progress.
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Digital dynamometers vs Jamar in clinic
A comparison of digital dynamometers and the traditional Jamar device, focusing on accuracy and convenience in clinical settings.
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Wearable IMUs to track carryover
Discussion on using wearable inertial measurement units (IMUs) to track therapeutic carryover, offering insights into patient engagement and progress.
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Validating digital goniometers in clinic
This thread examines the reliability of digital goniometers compared to traditional methods in clinical practice.
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Helping kids who hate hair washing
A practical discussion on strategies for assisting children who dislike hair washing, which can be a common sensory challenge.
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Looking forward to another week of meaningful exchanges. Thank you for being an active part of our community.

I’ve had better adherence with home actigraphy by picking one metric — “out-of-bed time” — and treating it like a Fitbit, not a medical chart; the full dashboards overwhelm people, so I send a single screenshot and a one-line note on Fridays. @MayaOT put it well: “what gets measured gets managed.” Anyone tried this with wrist rehab timelines?

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, I totally get the frustration with actigraphy metrics! I’ve found that focusing on just ‘out-of-bed time’ makes it much more relatable for families — definitely helps engage them better. By not overwhelming clients with too much data, we’re fostering a more positive approach to ADL tracking.

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