Episode 061 -- Video Games and OT

A few weeks ago, I stopped by a Microsoft store to talk with the folks about the Xbox Adaptive Controller. It's an accessory that makes it possible for folks with disabilities to play the same video games as everyone else. Most people first encountered it during the Superbowl ad Microsoft ran.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YISTzpLXCY[/embed]

I shared some thoughts about it in a Facebook live video, and Occupational Therapist and US Army Veteran Erik Johnson reached out to me about some of the work he's been doing with this device.

[embed]https://www.facebook.com/StrokeCast/videos/470339296837043/[/embed]

 

In this episode, Erik Johnson joins us to talk about the adaptive controller, the OT field, his story, and how gaming is changing the future of OT.

Bio

Erik Johnson enlisted in the Army in 1996.  As a young Private, while stationed in Germany, he was involved in a car accident where he sustained second and third degree burns to over 20% of his body, most of which were on his arms and hands.  He decided to become an Occupational Therapist because of the influence from the OT that treated his burns.

After his time in the Army, Major Johnson has taken on several projects that directly impact veterans with a focus on successful re-entry to civilian life after discharge from the military.  He is currently volunteers as the Chief Medical Officer for Operation Supply Drop, an organization that serves Veterans by building strong communities through gaming and team building.  His work on the therapeutic benefits of video games have been widely recognized in both the Medical and Video Game communities.  Erik also is one of the founders for IDEGO, a company that is developing treatment opportunities while using Virtual Reality with a focus on behavioral health disorders.  The company uses Deferred Individualized Gradated Immersion Therapy (D.I.G.I.T) to achieve success.  Most recently, Erik teamed up with another non-profit organization where he has been recently named their Chief Medical Officer.  Working with Warfighter Engaged, their mission is to improve the lives of severely injured and disabled warfighters with custom adapted video game controllers, recreational items and other solutions to provide greater independence.

For more details, visit:  http://www.erikunleashed.com/https/drivegooglecom/openid11p8q1q-6qtxw53txknfutqsl7fm9pzo

Mirror Therapy

We talked a little about Mirror Therapy in the episode. Here is something I wrote about it a few weeks after leaving the hospital in 2017. I really need to get back to it again.

This is my mirror box. It was $60 on Amazon which is way over priced. There can't be more than $5 in materials in it. It would be easy to make. Of course if I could make it I wouldn't need it.

The issues I have using my arm and leg are literally all in my head. That's where the damage exists. The brain can be pretty dumb at times and easy to trick. That's how the mirror box works.

I put my left hand in the box behind the mirror and put my right hand in front of the mirror. Then I look at the mirror and my brain thinks the reflection of my right arm is actually my left. When I move my fingers or wrist on the right, while I try to move them on the left, the brain thinks I'm actually moving them on the left. And then I get some actual, new movement.

The brain learns to move my left hand because it thinks it's already moving my left hand. Classic fake it till you make it stuff.

While the price is annoying, if I get my fingers back faster, I can't really complain.

A Teachable Moment

Last year I interviewed Anne Dailey and Mark French about their stroke documentary, A Teachable Moment.

The big news is that A Teachable Moment is now available for streaming in your own home via AMAZON Prime. If you are a Prime customer, check it out and share with your friends and family.

Congratulations to Anne, Mark, and the entire A Teachable Moment family for this big step.

 

 

Hack of the Week

When you arrange things in your kitchen, or remodel you kitchen, make sure everything is at an appropriate height for you. That will depend on how tall you are, how stable you are while standing, whether or not you are in a wheel chair, etc.

Make sure controls are on the front of the stove to minimize reaching. And don't forget the cabinets. Remember, reaching down can sometimes be as difficult as reaching up. So make sure any new design reflects your actual capabilities.

Links

Erik's Website	http://ErikUnleashed.com
Erik on Twitter	http://twitter.com/OTUnleashed
Erik on Instagram	https://www.instagram.com/otunleashed/
Operation Supply Drop	https://weareosd.org/
Warfighter Engaged	https://warfighterengaged.org/
US Play Coalition	https://usplaycoalition.org/
AOTA	https://www.aota.org/
Mightier Phone App	https://mightier.com/
A Teachable Moment	https://www.ateachablemoment.film/
Anne Dailey on Strokecast	http://strokecast.com/Anne
Mark French on Strokecast	http://strokecast.com/Mark
A Teachable Moment on Amazon	https://www.amazon.com/Teachable-Moment-FACC-Neal-Barnard/dp/B07PQDH3PW/ref=sr_1_1

 

Where do we go from here?

• What's your experience with video games been like post-stroke or other disability? Let us know in the comments below.
• Check out ErikUnleashed.com or Erik's non-profits from the links above.
• Share this episode with an OT or gamer in your life by giving them the link http://strokecast.com/Erik
• Check out A Teachable Moment on Amazon Prime
• Don't get best… get better

Here is the latest episode of The Strokecast