BIOMECHANICAL FRAME OF REFERENCE
What is background to the biomechanical frame of reference?
Relates to loss of occupational performance in a specific role as a result of a
limitation that concerns movement (in joint / strength / proprioception)
Informs OT and assists the overall therapeutic process if individual has
temporarily/permanently lost an occupational role due to occupational performance
problem primarily concerning movement
What are the 2 approaches to practice?
What is the Top Down approach?
o Begin by considering & evaluating occupational performance (occupations &
occupational roles)
o Treatment grounded in client-centered frame of reference
o Work within a conceptual model of practice (paradigm) that views client as an
occupational being.
i.e., MOHO, VdTMOCA or ICF
o Overarching conceptual model of practice (paradigm) influences every aspect
of the OT’s practice Practice is then supported with other frames of reference
when required
i.e., Biomechanical frame of reference.
What is the Bottom Up approach?
o Considers pathology first
o Connects what is absent / lost in occupational enablers to the difficulty the
person has in performing occupations
How to determine which approach to use for assessment of occupation?
o TOP DOWN:
Assessments constructed by OT’s drawn from the conceptual model
of practice or paradigm
E.g., DASH or the WHODAS
o BOTTOM UP:
Specific assessments are required in specialist areas of practice that
are drawn from frames of reference
E.g., ROM, Muscle strength
How is the biomechanical frame of reference used in approach to practice?
Knowledge from Biomechanical frame of reference needs to be “filtered” through the
model of practice when used to ensure that the focus remains on occupation
What do you need to consider in order to apply the Occupation Filter to the biomechanical
frame of reference?
Person’s occupational performance
o How do the aspects of the Biomechanical frame of reference influence
individual performance in occupational roles?
Aspects → movement, strength, endurance, and sensation
o Indicate
which area there is a loss
what the degree of loss is
what influence of that loss is on performance of occupational roles
What is background to the biomechanical frame of reference?
Relates to loss of occupational performance in a specific role as a result of a
limitation that concerns movement (in joint / strength / proprioception)
Informs OT and assists the overall therapeutic process if individual has
temporarily/permanently lost an occupational role due to occupational performance
problem primarily concerning movement
What are the 2 approaches to practice?
What is the Top Down approach?
o Begin by considering & evaluating occupational performance (occupations &
occupational roles)
o Treatment grounded in client-centered frame of reference
o Work within a conceptual model of practice (paradigm) that views client as an
occupational being.
i.e., MOHO, VdTMOCA or ICF
o Overarching conceptual model of practice (paradigm) influences every aspect
of the OT’s practice Practice is then supported with other frames of reference
when required
i.e., Biomechanical frame of reference.
What is the Bottom Up approach?
o Considers pathology first
o Connects what is absent / lost in occupational enablers to the difficulty the
person has in performing occupations
How to determine which approach to use for assessment of occupation?
o TOP DOWN:
Assessments constructed by OT’s drawn from the conceptual model
of practice or paradigm
E.g., DASH or the WHODAS
o BOTTOM UP:
Specific assessments are required in specialist areas of practice that
are drawn from frames of reference
E.g., ROM, Muscle strength
How is the biomechanical frame of reference used in approach to practice?
Knowledge from Biomechanical frame of reference needs to be “filtered” through the
model of practice when used to ensure that the focus remains on occupation
What do you need to consider in order to apply the Occupation Filter to the biomechanical
frame of reference?
Person’s occupational performance
o How do the aspects of the Biomechanical frame of reference influence
individual performance in occupational roles?
Aspects → movement, strength, endurance, and sensation
o Indicate
which area there is a loss
what the degree of loss is
what influence of that loss is on performance of occupational roles
