Occupational Profile

1. Client name: Laura

2. Age: 32
3. Sex: Female
Briefly discuss the following:
4. Who is the client?
Laura admits she has always been half tom boy, half girly girl and still feels this way today. She
always knew she would ultimately do something career wise to help others. This knowledge is what
ultimately led her to become a teacher. Laura had debated between special education and art
education, but after talking to a school counselor about her options, she picked art as her path.
Shes learned over the years that patience and organization are important to being a good
teacher and every year it gets easier, but she still encourages herself to try new things. She loves
teaching and can see herself living the rest of her life as an art teacher. Laura has more free time
recently due to finishing her continuing education courses towards national certification.
Because she has finished her coursework and is waiting on her grade, she is able to spend more
time doing the things she likes to do, wants to do, and needs to do. Laura likes to read novels during
her leisure time, workout or practice yoga, complete tasks around the house, and work on her own
art projects.
Laura is also married and enjoys cooking dinner for her and her husband. She likes to find
recipes on the internet and cook new things that she thinks they will both enjoy. She also cares for
her two dogs with her husband. Her dogs names are Pathos and Juliet.
5. Why is the client seeking services and/or what are the clients concerns relative to engaging in
occupations and in daily life activities?
Laura is interested in occupational therapy services because she wants to participate in a group
yoga class once a week, but knows she has limited flexibility. She wants to participate in yoga
because she finds it relaxing and she feels relaxed afterwards, but Laura has noticed that she has
extreme tightness in her hamstring and lower back muscles that limits her ability to participate in
yoga fully. She wants to increase her flexibility so in the future she can go to yoga class without
feeling embarrassed or disappointed in herself.
6. In what occupations does the client feel successful and what barriers are affecting his or her
success?
Laura feels confident when painting, cooking, doing laundry, and when walking around the
classroom helping her students complete their work. However, Laura has noticed her posture is
poor, she wakes up with aches and pains in her shoulders, neck, lower back, and she has a lack of
flexibility in her lower back and hamstring muscles that affect her functional and occupational
performance.

7. What aspects of his or her environments or contexts does the client see as supporting engagement
in desired occupations and what aspects are inhibiting engagement?
One factor inhibiting Lauras participation in yoga is her lack of flexibility. She does not feel that
she can complete the positions correctly because of her inflexibility and is concerned she could hurt
herself. Laura does not ask the yoga instructor for help because the rest of the class is more advance
and she feels she would be holding the class back. Laura also admits that stretching is very
uncomfortable and she does not hold stretches long due the discomfort they create.
Another barrier is committing time to stretching to increase her flexibility. Laura admits she has
difficulty making time during the day to stretch in preparation of participation in yoga. She has free
time due to a lack of commitments outside of work, but she always finds other activities to complete
first or that she deems as more important than stretching.
Laura also mentioned that her two dogs can be a nuisance when she is trying to stretch at home.
As soon as she sits on the floor in any room to stretch, her dogs rush over and seek her attention.
They like to sit on her lap or lay directly next to her on the ground, to try to lick her face, and want
to be showered with affection.
A factor that lends itself to her participation in stretching would be the amount of space that is
offered in her house. Laura lives in a house that has an open floor plan and does not have any
clutter. She has at least three different rooms she could use to set up equipment and to practice her
yoga and stretching. On the other hand, if she does not want to separate herself from the common
area while stretching, she can use those same three rooms to put the dogs in for a brief period of
time. This way she can complete her activity with limited or no distractions.
8. What is the clients occupational history?
Laura has had a variety of professions in the past. Her past jobs include nannying, a special
education camp counselor (inclusion aid), private tutor, retail associate, secretary, and now a
teacher. She also enjoys skydiving, and has been several times, jet skiing and swimming at her
familys lake house in Michigan, riding roller coasters, camping in Michigan with her husbands
family and neighbors, as well as just being outdoors.
9. What are the clients values and interests?
Laura values include kindness to all people from all different walks of life. She is a firm believer
in the golden rule, treat others how you want to be treated. She also tries to be respectful of others
religious beliefs and to learn as much as she can about other religions. Some of her interests include
how to and do it yourself projects, volunteer opportunities within her community, making collages
in her art studio, and trying new diversified lesson plans with her students.
10. What are the clients daily life roles?
Laura is a leader and a teacher or role model while at school. She has to set a good example at
work for her coworkers as well as the students she teaches. She is also involved in the parent
teacher association (PTA) as the teacher liaison and helps organize different events and fundraising
activities for the school.
Laura is also a wife and a caretaker of her dogs. She cooks meals for her husband, shares her
hopes and dreams with him, as well as listens to his, and they vent each others frustrations at the

end of the day. As for taking care of the dogs, Laura makes sure they have water and get fed, as well
as are happy and healthy.
Laura is also a daughter and a sister. She speaks with her parents on a weekly basis, if not more
often than that. She misses them dearly as they still live in Illinois where she is originally from. She
visits when she can, but due to financial restrictions it is not as often as she would like. Laura has
one older brother and she speaks well of him. They call each other most days and exchange funny
stories or exciting events that are going on.
11. What are the clients patterns of engagement in occupations?
Laura has one bad habit that she can easily think of and admit to. She discussed how she is a
smoker and while she is trying to quit she relates how she has tried in the past, but never been one
hundred percent successful. As for her daily routine she wakes up and gets ready for work. Laura
goes to work and gets home around three forty-five every day. Once home she has to give Pathos
some medicine, rotates dishes in the dishwasher, watches one of her recorded television shows, and
eventually cooks dinner for her and her husband or helps clean up from dinner. She will occasionally
throw a load of laundry in the washer and dryer so she does not have has much to complete on the
weekend. Laura will occasionally have posters for upcoming events to complete for school as part of
her position as the teacher liaison for the PTA.
12. What are the clients priorities and desired targeted outcomes related to occupational
performance?
Laura wants to increase her general flexibility of her lower back and hamstrings so she can
ultimately participate in a group yoga class on Saturday mornings. She wants to increase her
flexibility so she can keep up with the more advanced practitioners and to improve her own health
and well-being. She feels that with increased flexibility she will have a higher level of confidence in
her own yoga skills and will be able to complete yoga positions without and adaptation or help. She
also wants to improve her posture by increasing her flexibility. Increasing her flexibility will allow her
lower back muscles to relax, her discomfort to decrease, and for her to straighten her spine more
easily.

Occupational Analysis
1. Occupation: Stretching
Categorization of occupation for the client:
1. Activities of daily living
2. Instrumental activities of daily living
3. Education
4. Work
5. Play
6. Leisure
7. Social participation

Subcategory:
Health Management and Maintenance

2. Values, beliefs, spirituality associated with participation:

Part of Lauras values pertaining to participation in stretching has to do with maintaining and
advancing her health. Laura and her husband have recently discussed starting a family and she
wants to be as healthy as possible before getting pregnant. Laura believes if she starts focusing on
improving her health now, she will have ample time to regain her flexibility as well as gain some
strength. It is also a preventative measure as she believes by stretching she can increase the amount
of exercise she is motivated to participate in in the future.
3. Contexts: (contexts specific to occupation you are observing)
Context
Supports
Physical/space demands Open floor plan
Uncluttered house
Appropriate lighting from
numerous windows during the
day or from overhead can
lights in the ceiling at night
Separate room to put the dogs
away or for Laura to go to for
amount of time it takes to
complete stretching
Ambient temperature that is
comfortable without being too
hot or too cold
Noise level should be at a
moderate or soft volume that
will allow Laura the chance to
stretch in a relaxed
environment
Social
Husband is supportive of
Lauras want to increase her
flexibility so she can
participate in yoga
Cultural
Participation in stretching is a
healthy activity
Participation in exercise is a
healthy life choice
Personal
Laura is a young woman in her
prime
Ability to regain flexibility
Membership to a gym
Temporal
Free time due to lack of
commitments outside of job
Career that allows her to have
set work hours and weekends
off
Virtual
Not Applicable

Inhibits
No area to permanently set up
yoga equipment used to stretch
Extremely hot days when the
air conditioning does not cool
the house properly

Laura grows bored with

stretching alone and stops
trying after a short period of
time
Cultural expectation of beauty
is so overwhelming it causes
Laura to become disinterested
in improving her health
Laura always puts others
before herself

Because of Lauras early start at

work, she is only able to
commit evening hours to
stretching
Not Applicable

4. Objects and their properties used:

The tools Laura will need to complete stretching is a yoga mat and a watch. She may also want a
pad of paper and a pen or pencil to take notes with. Laura will be given a paper guide that has a
sequence of stretches that were picked specifically to focus on stretching her hamstrings and lower
back.
5. Social demands:
Laura will need to clean up and put away her yoga mat at the end of her stretching session so it
is not in the way when she practices in the common areas of her house like the family or living
room. Laura will also have to let the dogs out of the room she sequestered them in so she could
stretch without distraction.
6. Sequence and timing:
1. Pick out a loose fitting shirt and yoga/exercise pants to change into.
2. Shoes and socks are optional, but if you want to wear both, choose gym shoes with tread for
friction.
3. Put on clothing (and shoes) appropriate to stretching on the floor.
4. Move dog bed into separate room with a door that closes.
5. Call both dogs.
6. Direct the dogs into the separate room with dog bed.
7. Close door.
8. Locate watch.
9. Pick up watch.
10. Carry watch while locating stretching guide provided to you by occupational therapist.
11. Pick up stretching guide while still holding watch.
12. Carry watch and stretching guide while locating yoga mat.
13. Pick up yoga mat while still holding watch and stretching guide.
14. Carry yoga mat, watch, and stretching guide to room where stretching will take place.
15. Set the watch aside, out of the way so it does not get damaged while stretching.
16. Set the stretching guide on the floor close enough for reference, but not in the way.
17. Lay yoga mat on floor flat.
18. Pick up stretching guide and read instructions.
19. Start with hamstring stretch #1.
20. Follow the directions in the stretching guide.
21. Continue with hamstring stretch #2.
22. Follow the directions in the stretching guide.
23. Complete hamstring stretch #3.
24. Follow the directions in the stretching guide.
25. Finish hamstring stretches with hamstring stretch #4.
26. Follow the directions in the stretching guide.
27. Rest for 30 seconds.
28. Start with lower back stretch #1.
29. Follow the directions in the stretching guide.
30. Continue with lower back stretch #2.
31. Follow the directions in the stretching guide.

32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.

Complete lower back stretch #3.

Follow the directions in the stretching guide.
Finish lower back stretches with lower back stretch #4.
Follow the directions in the stretching guide.
Rest for one minute while laying on back (supine) on yoga mat.
Stand up.
Pick up stretching guide and place with watch.
Roll and pick up yoga mat.
Pick up watch and stretching guide while still holding yoga mat.
Carry yoga mat, watch, and stretching guide back to areas where they were found.
Keep stretching guide with yoga mat for future usage.
Go to the room the dogs are in.
Open door to let dogs out.
Retrieve dog bed and return to normal position.
Change into clothes appropriate for next part or activity of the day.

7. Body functions required:

Function

How It Is Used

Judgment

Laura will
determine
what room she
feels most
comfortable
stretching in

Concept formation
Metacognition
Cognitive flexibility

Insight/awareness

None

Minimally
Challenged
X

X
X
While
stretching, if
the dogs are
bothering her,
she can herd
them into a
different room
for the
remainder of
the time it
takes her to
finish.
Laura will have
to be aware of
her own
strengths and
limitations so
she does not
try to
accomplish too

Greatly
Challenged

Concentration

Sustained attention

Selective attention

Divided attention

much at one
time and hurt
herself because
of her lack of
flexibility.
Laura will need
to remain on
task for the
amount of time
it takes her to
complete all
the stretching
exercises.
When holding
a specific
stretch, like the
modified
hurdler stretch,
Laura will need
to maintain
sustained
attention on
her legs,
specifically the
hamstrings to
make sure she
does not
overstretch
and tear a
muscle.
Laura will focus
on her
stretching and
may or may
not need to
ignore
distracting
background
noise from the
television that
her husband is
watching.
While
stretching
Laura will need
to use selective
attention to
focus on her
body position
as well as any

Short-term memory

Working memory

Long-term memory

Discrimination of senses: Auditory

Discrimination of senses: Tactile

Discrimination of senses: Visual

discomfort or
pain she feels.
Laura can use
her short-term
memory when
transitioning
from one
stretch to the
next.
Laura will need
to know which
sequence of
stretches she
wants to
complete
before starting
her stretching
routine.
Laura can use
her long-term
memory to
remember
what days she
practices her
stretching
routines so she
does not
overdo it and
sprain a muscle
unnecessarily.

X
Laura will use
her tactile
discrimination
to recognize
the difference
between the
floor and the
yoga mat she is
using to stretch
on.
Laura can use
her visual
discrimination
skills to locate
any items that
will get in the
way of her
stretching like
the edge of the

coffee table or
a dog toy.
Discrimination of senses: Olfactory
Discrimination of senses: Vestibularproprioception

Multisensory processing

Sensory Memory

Spatial relationships

Temporal relationships

X
Laura will use
vestibularproprioception
sense to help
position her
body correctly
in space.
Laura will be
using her visual
sense, tactile
sense, and
vestibularproprioceptive
sense at the
same time
while
stretching.
Laura will need
to use her
sensory
memory to
remember the
feel of the yoga
mat while
stretching so
she can discern
the difference
between the
mat and the
floor.
Laura will use
spatial
relationships to
determine the
distance
between
herself and any
furniture or
other objects
that she could
accidently hurt
herself on.
While
completing
each stretch,
Laura will use
temporal

Recognition

Categorization

Generalization

Awareness of reality
Logical/coherent thought
Appropriate thought content
Mental functions of sequencing
complex movement

relationships to
gauge how
much time
passes during
each stretch
within the
sequence.
Laura can use
recognition of
the yoga mat
to realize it will
provide some
padding while
sitting on the
floor to
complete her
stretches.
Laura will need
to categorize
different
stretches into
ones that focus
on her
hamstrings and
ones that focus
on different
regions of the
body.
Laura will be
able to use her
stretching skills
from home in
different
settings like
the gym, within
a group, or
even during a
yoga routine.

X
X
X
When
completing her
stretches,
Laura will have
to plan out and
execute the
different
positions she
needs to place

her limbs in
space to
accomplish
each pose
sufficiently.
Regulation and range of emotion
Appropriateness of emotion
Coping
Behavioral regulation
Body image
Self-concept
Self-esteem
Arousal

Consciousness

Orientation to self
Orientation to place
Orientation to time
Orientation to others
Energy level

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Laura needs a
low level of
arousal when
completing her
stretches. She
only needs
enough to stay
aware of the
time needed to
complete the
stretching early
in the morning
before work or
later in the
evening before
bed.
Laura needs to
remain
conscious to
complete her
stretching
routine.

X
X
X
X
Laura will need
enough energy
to complete
her stretches
either before
or after work.

Function

How It Is Used

Motivation

Laura will have

to use internal
motivation to

None

Minimally
Challenged

Greatly
Challenged
X

complete her
stretching
routine at least
three times a
week.
Impulse control
Appetite
Sleep
Detection/registration

Visual modulation
Integration of senses

Awareness at distances

X
X
X
Laura will use
her visual
detection and
registration
skills to
recognize and
gather her
yoga mat at
the beginning
of her
stretching
routine.

X
Laura will need
to integrate
her vision,
proprioceptivevestibular, and
tactile senses
to better
position her
body within
space and
reach for her
toes while
sitting on her
yoga mat on
the floor.
Laura will use
her awareness
of distances
while
stretching to
gauge the
distance
between her
and any
furniture so
she does not
bump into

Tolerance of ambient sounds

Location and distance of sounds

Moving against gravity

Taste
Smell
Body in space

Comfort with touch

Localizing pain

Thermal awareness

anything and
get hurt.
Laura will have
to tolerate any
background
noises like a
television.

X
Laura will use
this
understanding
of sensation to
control her
posture and
balance while
completing her
stretching
sequence.

X
X
This will be
utilized and
processed
when Laura is
positioning her
body during
her stretches
because of her
use of
proprioceptive
receptors in
the body.

X
Laura will need
to discriminate
which region of
the body may
be
experiencing
pain so she can
reduce the
chances of
injury by
adapting
stretches to
better fit her
current
abilities.

Joint mobility

Joint stability/alignment

Muscle power

Muscle tone

Muscle endurance

Lauras joints
will need to
move to
different
positions for
different
stretches she
needs to
complete in
her sequence.
When holding
a stretch,
Lauras joints
will need to
remain stable
and in
alignment to
avoid injury.
Lauras muscles
will need
power to
position and
hold isometric
contractions
within space as
well as against
gravity.
Laura will need
normal muscle
tone to
complete the
movements
needed to
stretch. She
will be using
flexion,
extension,
abduction, and
adduction type
movements as
well as hold
movements for
extended
periods of
time.
Laura will be
required to
hold some of
the positions
she is

Stretch reflex

ATNR
STNR
Righting and supporting reflex
Eye-hand coordination
Bilateral coordination
Crossing midline

Fine motor control

Gross motor control

Oculomotor control
Gait patterns
Blood pressure
Heart rate
Respiratory rate
Respiratory rhythm

stretching in
for an
extended
period of time.
Because Laura
is already
exhibiting
reduced
flexibility, her
stretch reflexes
may engage
early on in her
stretches to
avoid
overstretching
a muscle or
group of
muscles.

X
X
X
X
X
When Laura
reaches
towards one
foot with both
hands she is
crossing
midline.

X
While
coordinating
her body
movements to
position herself
for different
stretches she is
using gross
motor
movements.

X
X
X
X
X
Laura will need
to continue to
breathe during

stretching and
make sure she
does not hold
her breath.
Respiratory depth
Physical endurance, aerobic capacity

X
Because Laura
will be
stretching for
an extended
period of time,
Lauras heart
will need to
endure the
activity pace to
keep oxygen
pumping
through her
veins to each
of her muscles.

Voice functions
Voice rhythm and fluency
Alternative vocalization
Digestive system
Metabolic system
Endocrine system

X
X
X
X
X
X

Function

How It Is Used

Urinary functions
Genital and reproductive function
Protective functions of the skin
Repair functions of the skin

Minimally
Challenged

None

Greatly
Challenged

X
X
X
X

8. Muscular analysis of movements required:

Muscle
Shoulder flexion
Shoulder extension
Shoulder abduction
Shoulder adduction
Shoulder internal rotation
Shoulder external rotation
Elbow flexion
Elbow extension
Wrist supination
Wrist pronation
Wrist flexion
Wrist extension

Minimally
challenged

Not used

Greatly challenged
X

X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X

X
X
X
X

Thumb flexion
Thumb abduction
Finger flexion
Finger extension
Trunk flexion
Trunk extension
Trunk rotation
Lower extremities

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

9. Performance skills required:

Skill- Motor

How It Is Used

Aligns

Laura will need

to keep her
spine aligned in
order to
complete her
stretches
without
needing
furniture or
any other piece
of equipment
to prop herself
up.
Laura will need
to maintain her
balance while
stretching to
avoid any
falling when
standing.
Laura will have
to follow her
stretching
routine and
position her
body
appropriately
and without
any
awkwardness
that causes
pain or
discomfort.
When
completing

Stabilizes

Positions

Reaches

None

Minimally
Challenged
X

Greatly
Challenged

Bends

Grips
Manipulates
Coordinates

Moves
Lifts

Walks

Transports

specific
stretches Laura
will have to
reach forward
and attempt to
grasp her toes.
When
completing
certain
stretches when
Laura has to
reach to try
and grasp her
toes, she will
have to bend
her trunk
forward.

X
X
Laura needs to
coordinate her
limbs to
position them
correctly for
each stretch
she needs to
complete.

X
Laura will need
to lift and carry
her yoga mat
to the spot she
wants to
complete her
stretching in.
Laura will need
to walk to the
spot that she
wants to
complete her
stretching in.
When walking
to the spot that
Laura is going
to complete
her stretching
in, she will
need to carry
her yoga mat

with her to set

it up for use.
Calibrates
Flows
Endures

Paces

Skill- Process
Paces

Attends
Heeds

X
X
While
completing her
stretching
routine, Laura
will need to
endure the
time it takes
without
needing to rest
or stop due to
fatigue.
Lauras pace
while
completing her
stretching
sequence is a
set amount of
time for each
stretch that
she can time
with a watch or
count out in
her head.
How It Is Used

None

Because each
stretch is to be
held for a
mandated
amount of
time, Laura will
maintain a
constant pace
with the count
of the watch.

Minimally
Challenged
X

Greatly
Challenged

X
Laura needs to
complete her
stretching
routine from
start to finish
without
stopping or
discontinuing
her routine for
any reason.

Chooses

Uses

Handles

Inquires

Initiates

Laura selects
her yoga mat
for comfort
when starting
to set up for
her stretching
routine.
Laura uses her
yoga mat
appropriately
while
stretching by
placing it on
the floor and
using it as a
thin pad
between her
and the floor.
By placing her
watch out of
the way, she
can still use it,
but does not
have to worry
about
squishing it
while she is
completing her
stretches.
If Laura needs
clarification on
a stretch or the
sequence of
stretches she
needs to
complete,
Laura can
reference the
paper guide
that was given
to her.
After
completion of
one stretch,
Laura is able to
move onto the
next stretch in
the sequence
independently.

Continues

Sequences

Terminates

Searches/locates

Gathers

Laura is able to
complete each
stretch in
sequence
continually
until she has
completed the
entire
sequence.
Laura has a
specific
sequence of
stretches she
has to follow.
Laura is able to
terminate and
move on to the
next step
independently
because each
stretch will be
held for a
specific
amount of time
that she knows
ahead of time
and can time
using a watch.
Laura may
have to search
for and locate
her yoga mat
and watch
depending on
where she put
them after she
last used them.
Laura is able to
gather her
yoga mat and
watch from
different
rooms or
spaces and
move them
into the same
workspace
when using
them during

Organizes

Restores

Navigates

Notices/responds

Adjusts

her stretching
routine.
Laura organizes
her workspace
by making sure
she puts her
watch
somewhere
she can see it
and use it, but
does not have
to worry about
accidently
crushing it.
When Laura is
done with her
stretching
routine, she is
able to clean
up and put
away her yoga
mat and watch
in their
appropriate
places.
Laura is able to
navigate her
house and
hallways while
carrying her
yoga mat and
watch without
bumping into
any other
obstacles.
When moving
into a new
work space,
Laura notices
any furniture
or items that
may get in the
way and
responds
appropriately
by moving
them out of
the way.
Laura is able to
move to new

Accommodates

Benefits
Skill- Social interaction
Approaches/starts
Produces speech
Gesticulates
Speaks fluently
Turns Toward
Looks
Places self
Touches
Regulates
Questions
Replies
Discloses
Expresses emotion
Disagrees
Thanks
Transitions
Times response
Times duration
Takes turns
Matches language
Clarifies
Acknowledges and encourages
Empathizes
Heeds

and different
work spaces
depending on
the day or on
how she feels.
She has many
different
rooms to pick
from within her
house.
By isolating
herself or
secluding the
dogs into a
separate
workspace, she
is preventing
any issues that
may interrupt
her
occupational
performance.
How It Is Used

X
None
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

Minimally
Challenged

Greatly
Challenged

Accommodates
Benefits

X
X

10. Performance patterns:

Parts of this occupation has elements of which of the following: (check all that apply)

Pattern
Useful habit

Describe

Dominating habit
X

Routine

Stretching can be part of Lauras daily routine. She can use stretching as a
wake up routine to get her body moving and increase her alertness or at
night as a way to relax her body before going to bed. It could also be used
as a precursor to more strenuous exercise in the future after she has
regained some of her flexibility and needs to warm up before heading to
the gym.

Ritual
X

Role

As a person living in the United States or as a part of society as a whole, it

is expected of the human population to take care of oneself as best as
they can. This includes eating nutritional food, exercising, and taking
preventative measures to promote a well-balanced and healthy lifestyle.

Intervention Plan
1. Identify 1 objective and measurable goal of the intervention:
Goal (long-term goal): Laura will complete different yoga positions with minimal
adaptations in a group yoga class once a week by December 1st, 2014.
Objective (short-term goal): Laura will complete eight different hamstring and
lower back stretches to increase her flexibility independently three times a
week by November 1st, 2014.
a. According to OTPF what type of outcome is this?
Lauras goal falls into the category of quality of life. Laura very much wants to
participate in a group yoga class without needing excessive instruction or feeling
incompetent. She sees yoga as a healthy, relaxing form of exercise that will help her
maintain and improve her overall health. She hopes to promote healthy choices in terms
of food choices and life choices, as well as decrease risk factors, illness and disease, and
injuries within her life. However, as she is not quite ready to participate in yoga because
of a lack of flexibility, she is working to increase this first. After she has increased her
flexibility, Laura will be able to collaborate with the OT on modified yoga stretches she
feels comfortable practicing before being able to participate in more the difficult yoga
stretches used in group settings. While this is a step by step process, Laura knows she
will eventually reach her long-term goal and shes willing to put in the effort to reach it.

She looks forward to the day when she feel comfortable, competent, and like part of the
group when she can finally attend the group yoga sessions she wants to.
2. Intervention approach:

Approach
Create/promote

Describe

Establish/restore

Because Laura eventually wants to participate in yoga, but currently finds

her lack of flexibility inhibiting, we collaborated and developed a
structures schedule of different stretches for her to practice. The
stretches will focus on her hamstrings and lower back muscles because
these are the muscles that bother her the most. These stretches will
hopefully help her increase her flexibility and allow them to relax and
lengthen enough that Laura will be able to participate fully in a group
yoga class with little to now discomfort or adaptations needed.

Maintain
Modify
Prevent

3. Activity selection
a. Activity selection: Identify 1 example of each for the intervention plan
Activity
Occupation

Describe
Laura will eventually participate in a group yoga class once a week.

Activity

After increasing her flexibility, the OT will sit down with Laura and
collaborate on 8 different modified yoga positions she can practice in
preparation of participating in a group yoga class with minimal adaptations
or assistance.
Laura will be provided a brief massage before participating in stretching.
This will allow her muscles the opportunity to relax or release tension
without Laura needing to actively participate.
Laura will participate in 8 different stretches, 4 different stretches for her
hamstrings and 4 stretches for her lower back three times a week.

Preparatory method

Preparatory task

b. Discuss how activity selection relates back to occupational profile and occupational
analysis (this is a meaningful activity for the client, this is what they wanted to work on
to get better on).
By focusing on Lauras limited flexibility first, we picked stretching as a
meaningful activity for her to practice. She wanted to focus on stretching to try and
increase her flexibility so she can eventually participate in and attend a group yoga class
on Saturdays. Because stretching can be uncomfortable and even painful for her, Laura
agrees the best course of action is to take it slow and use a step up approach to yoga

class. After Focusing on plain stretching to try and relax her hamstrings and lower back
muscles, Laura will move on to modified yoga positions before finally attending yoga
class on a regular basis.
c. Discuss how activity selection will support achievement of client identified goals and
goal of the intervention plan.
By increasing her flexibility through stretching, it will prevent the possibility of
future injury while participating in a group yoga class. It will not only increase her
flexibility, but will prevent any limitation of her range of motion as she grows older and
will allow her to continue her yoga practice for as long as she is interested or able. As for
the goal of the intervention plan, by completing the specified stretches at least three
times a week for a month, it will hopefully increase her flexibility enough that she can
step up to modified yoga stretching. Modified yoga stretching would allow Laura the
time to ease into full yoga with the knowledge of correct positioning of her body. By
increasing her base knowledge of yoga over time, she will be able to better preform
during yoga class and feel more confident in her developing skills.
4. Describe how intervention can be graded or adapted and why.
To grade the activity down, Laura can bend her knees when stretching her hamstrings.
This would relieve some of the discomfort and allow Laura to ease her way into full extension of
the knees. To adapt any of the lower back stretches that may cause Laura discomfort when lying
on her back she can use a folded or rolled towel. The towel would be placed under her lower
back to support the natural curvature of the lumbar spine. This would decrease any discomfort
or pain she feels. When Laura has increased her flexibility to the point that she can complete her
stretches correctly without pain or discomfort, she can grade up the routine by switching to
modified yoga poses that incorporate the muscles of her lower back and hamstrings, but also
other body structures and positions or levels of difficulty.
5. Discuss any safety concerns and/or precautions.
The main safety concerns for this intervention pertain to injuries from completing the
stretches incorrectly or without proper precautions. Laura should not push her body beyond its
current capabilities hoping to achieve greater flexibility quicker. This may only cause more pain
than is necessary or cause an injury that would require time to properly heal. This would set
Laura back and postpone her progress towards her long-term goal.
6. Discuss the role of the occupational therapy practitioner during the intervention.
The occupational therapist (OT) would collaborate with Laura after the interview
process to develop a successful intervention that is both meaningful and functional. The OT will
conduct research and construct the activities, preparatory methods and tasks that need to be
completed as steps towards Lauras long-term goal. An occupational therapist will complete any
preparatory methods before Laura actively participates in her own preparatory tasks and
activities. The occupational therapist will also provide any educational and useful information to
Laura that will better help her participate in the occupations she wants to, needs to, and is

expected to do. The OT will also be there for the client to answer any questions she may have or
to relieve any concerns Laura brings up. The ultimate goal for the occupational therapist is to
see Laura grow and improve as a person, as well as achieve her goal/s.
7. Discuss what is expected of the client during the intervention.
Laura will be expected to internally motivate herself to complete her stretches three
times a week. She will need to read and follow all directions of the intervention, as well as ask
questions for clarification, about concerns, or to voice her opinions both good and bad. While
completing the intervention, she will need all necessary tools and to note any difficulties with
she may have with the stretches. With notes for the OT to review, they can collaborate together
to discover a solution to the problem that will better meet her needs. Laura will be expected to
participate to the best of her effort to try and progress as much as possible.

References
Blanchard, D. (2013). The importance of stretching [Online Image]. Retrieved September 30,
2014 from http://blog.rapidfitness.com/bid/96961/The-Importance-of-Stretching
Court, S. (2014). Childs pose [Online Image]. Retrieved September 30, 2014 from
https://www.exercise.com/article/yoga-tips-childs-pose
Exercise: both knees to chest lower back and glute stretch [Online Image]. (2014). Retrieved
September 30, 2014 from http://www.fitness.com/exercises/201/both_knees_to_chest_
lower_back_and_glute_stretch.php
Hamstring stretch II [Online Image]. (2013). Retrieved September 30, 2014 from
http://www.annarborspinecenter.com/education/strength_exercises.html
Kwan, K. (2011). Corpse pose [Online Image]. Retrieved September 30, 2014 from
http://lipstickpowdernpaint.com/2011/10/20/wheres-the-challenge-in-corpse-pose/
Lower back stretch [Online Image]. (2012) Retrieved September 30, 2014 from
http://suppaddleboard.com/blog/?p=200
Single leg hamstring stretch [Online Image]. (2011). Retrieved September 30, 2014 from
http://www.yogaworkout.com/workout/2011/11/traditional-stretches/
Standing hamstring pose [Online Image]. (2014) Retrieved September 30, 2014 from
http://www.teachpe.com/stretching/standing_hamstring.php
Sitting hamstring stretch [Online Image]. (2014). Retrieved September 30, 2014 from
http://www.teachpe.com/stretching/sitting_hamstring.php
The cat stretch [Online Image]. (2014). Retrieved September 30, 2014 from
http://ministryhealth.org/HC/Home/Fall2011/WhyPhysicalTherapy.nws