Group Therapy Intervention
Occupational Therapy Intervention : Tandem Walking – Group
Documentation and Activity Rationale
The patient engaged in tandem gait pattern to reduce trunk-tilt, center of mass displacement, medial-lateral feet distance, and frequency of stepping error as well as increase lateral support strengthening, trunk/core support, movement intention, and eye-foot coordination in order to improve community mobility. Walking in tandem has been proven to promote increased strength, gait stability, neural excitation for greater plasticity, and increased carryover into other functional movements. The patient walked approximately 30-40 ft CGA without the use of an ambulation device with moderate difficulty and verbal cues throughout entire task to slow down and focus on stable movements. The patient was not able to exemplify complete tandem pattern and was off by approximately 50%.
Grading Strategies
Grading Up:
- place tandem line in “Z” formation
- integrate dual-tasking
Grading Down:
- begin with wider BOS that is challenging but achievable and grade from there
Appropriate Diagnoses / Deficits
- Balance deficits
- Memory Changes
- CVA
- TBI
