My name is Allison Alexander, and I am a senior occupational therapy major with a minor in psychology and a specialization in pediatrics at Misericordia University. On campus I have been a resident assistant for the past two years, have worked as an admissions ambassador, and am currently treasure for Misericordia’s Occupational Therapy International club. My desire to become an occupational therapist came about from the long standing relationship I had with my occupational therapist as a child. I was born with mild spastic ataxic cerebral palsy, arthrogryposis, amblyopia, and adducted thumbs. Because of this I underwent various surgeries, splinting, and therapy for over eight years. When I was born my doctor's believed that I would be unable to walk and preform functional activities. Through the help of my surgeons, doctors, physical, speech, and occupational therapists my life was transformed into one in which I became functionally independent. Presently, I am able to participate fully in my occupational therapy program as well as all other life activities without the need for accommodations or any form of assistive device. Although my experience with disability is less severe compared to others with my diagnoses, I believe that the experience as a whole will help to make me a more compassionate and understanding healthcare professional. After seeing firsthand the substantial influence health care practitioners can have on an individual's quality of life, I knew that there would be no career more motivating than one where each and every day I will have the opportunity to change a client's life the way mine was changed.

Essay: Serial Casting

Within the field of health science, medical devices, assistive technology, and therapeutic techniques offer the seemingly impossible to clients; they offer modified independence, increased participation, and a chance at obtaining a “normal” life. While the aforementioned benefits may not seem like much, for an individual with a disability, they are everything. While there are countless medical devices and pieces of assistive technology that allow for increased independence and improved quality of life for patients, one specific therapeutic technique stands out among the rest. This technique is referred to as serial casting, and is a technique that is frequently executed by physical therapists to compensate for spasticity and is commonly associated with cerebral palsy. Serial casting can also be effective in treating arthrogryposis, arthritis, spina bifida, as well as many other conditions. The theory behind serial casting uses a biomechanical approach to increase the length of sarcomeres through progressively casting the affected area in order to promote functional mobility and decrease the severity of contractures.

The justification for the effectiveness of this technique is demonstrated by the usage of serial casting on a wide range of diagnoses and conditions. From a purely physical perspective, serial casting allows for increased range of motion, prevention of deformity, proper joint alignment, and an increase in client comfort. The true difference for the client however is hardly elucidated within the previous explanation of the physical benefits. Following serial casting, a client who might have otherwise been wheelchair bound or had severe restrictions in mobility may be able to walk, skip, jump, or even run. When serial casting is provided for the upper extremity, a client could be able to become more independent in self-care, dressing, and may be able to more actively engage with other components of their environment. This process enables a child to play with their peers at recess, become more independent at home, and could even allow them to participate in sports. Since serial casting changes the physical alignment of the affected area and produces a physical change, a client will be able to feel more confident about themselves, their body, and their body’s capabilities. Most notably, the changes elicited by serial casting allow a client to participate in a wide variety of activities across many contexts and ultimately promotes increased participation and life satisfaction.

From personal experience, serial casting made a profound impact on my life. When it was first discovered that I had arthrogryposis, my parents were told it was likely that I would never be able to walk. In conjunction with surgery, therapy, and orthoses, serial casting allowed me to eventually gain independence in mobility, which helped me to engage with my peers as an equal, participate in sports, and currently execute the motor functions necessary for me to pursue my master’s degree in occupational therapy. I can irrefutably state that serial casting along with the services and medical devices I received had an undeniable impact on my quality of life, as it not only changed my physical function, but also my outlook on life. Through my experiences, I have found that therapeutic techniques such as serial casting are extremely important for overall functioning, however adaptive equipment and medical devices are also paramount for the promotion of independence. Combining the benefits of adaptive equipment, medical devices, and therapeutic techniques allows for optimal therapeutic outcomes and increased independence throughout the life span.