Occupational therapy for service members with mild traumatic brain injury.
More occupational therapists are needed to provide client-centered, evidence-based rehabilitation to the large numbers of service members who sustained mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) while deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq. The Proponency for Rehabilitation and Reintegration tasked a team of occupational and physical therapists to assemble evidence-based best practices specific to mTBI. Despite the fact that evidence-based reviews, guidelines, and research regarding occupational therapy for mTBI are sparse, the team developed the Clinical Practice Guidance: Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy for Mild Traumatic Brain Injury. Occupational therapy practice recommendations specific to client education, vision, cognition, resumption of roles, and emotional well-being are summarized for civilians and characterized as practice standards or practice options. By using evidence-informed and holistic services, occupational therapists have the potential to lead rehabilitation and reintegration efforts for service members with mTBI and advance changes in the profession itself.
Sister Kenny Research Center, 800 East 28th Street at Chicago, Minneapolis, MN 55407, USA. mary.radomski@allina.com
Mary Vining
MV
Radomski
Leslie
L
Davidson
Deborah
D
Voydetich
Mary W
MW
Erickson
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D008889:Military Personnel; D009788:Occupational Therapy / Q000379:methods; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D014481:United States; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation