CHAPTER 37
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY—REHABILITATION
BY WORK
From the beginning, it was realized at Stoke Mandeville that a satisfactory rehabilitation
of paraplegics—i.e. their restoration to useful and socially accepted citizens—could only
be achieved, if their physical readjustment went hand in hand with their re-adaptation
to work adjusted to their permanent disability. This principle was introduced from the
start as part of the medical treatment and was, therefore, supervised by the Director
in charge of the unit and his medical staff.
The work of the occupational therapist, like that of the physiotherapist, is of great
importance in the physical and psychological readjustment of both paraplegics and tetra-
plegics. Their work also consists to a great extent in exercises to strengthen the remaining
muscle groups above the level of the lesion. This applies in particular to tetraplegics.
These patients can be divided into three categories:
FIG. 260.
603
