TEOREMA PROJECT
"The main objective of Occupational Therapy is enable people to TAKE PART in everyday activities to the best of their abilities. Therapists guide patients in identifying those activities that are more difficult for them and finding possible solutions, using objects or strategies to compensate for or modify the activity. [...]
The therapist needs a series of objects to both test patient’s capabilities and difficulties in performing various actions, and to progressively train him/her to overcome them. It may be necessary to repeat the same exercise several times to obtain meaningful results, so significant help comes from having an availability of tools that can be used without the constant presence of a professional. [...]
Often an experience of unsuccessful attempts at using everyday objects or games stops any other further attempt, limits the acquisition of new skills and reduces the possibility of self-sufficient activities, increasing the need for assisted care. A patient starting occupational therapy expects an exercise and training programme, with an active role in therapy, and often expects to recover that function. [...]
Seeing how an upper limb can recover its capabilities and be used to gain more independence in everyday tasks, even after a trauma, neurological condition, arthritis, arthrosis or stroke, improves the patient’s general well-being and brings joy to family members and therapists too. It is in this context that, after many years of effort in rehabilitating patients suffering from complex conditions and multiple disabilities, we have further extended our Teorema programme with the critical contribution from patients and their families."
Dr. M. Elisabetta Gaiatto, Physiatrist and Orthopaedist;
Santa Baldo, Physiotherapist;
Dr. Manuele Meneghel, Occupational Therapist.
THE LIBRARIES
A series of work aids is proposed that are used to simulate different activities in daily life. These aids have been grouped into various libraries - “Grasp and Insert”, “Magic Snake”, “Manipulation Skills”, “Domestic Activities”, “Clothing”, and “Food”.
A series of icons is used, along with the presentation of each individual aid, to facilitate which library it belongs to, as well as other specific attributes.
The base modules used to attach the aids are made from highly resistant, anti-bacterial materials of the highest quality, made to last over time without any alteration; in particular, they are resistant to water and UV rays and can be easily disinfected.