OT conversations

When Helping Early Does Not Help Band 5s

28 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

“Complex cases often get passed upward quickly—in the name of safety, support, or efficiency.But what if that very act is the reason our juniors n...

How to manage complex cases

21 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we explore the common belief:“If a patient is complex, it’s automatically too much for me.”We break down why this thought traps...

Behavioral FOR

14 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Hao breaks down one of the most practical and powerful tools in Occupational Therapy—the Behavioural Frame of Reference. If you’v...

Understand the Limbic System

07 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we explore the limbic system — the brain’s emotional and memory engine — and break down simple, practical ways to stimulate eac...

NDT frame frame of reference

31 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of OT Conversations, we dive into the Neurodevelopmental Treatment (NDT) Frame of Reference — one of the foundational approaches use...

The structure of a Frame of Reference

24 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of OT Conversations, we unpack one of the most fundamental ideas in occupational therapy — the Frame of Reference. It’s the lens t...

Reawakening the somatic nervous system in critical care

17 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

When the body hibernates after critical illness, survival takes over — but movement, awareness, and engagement fall silent.In this episode of OT Con...

Documenting the fat neck debate

10 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this quick and lighthearted episode, Hao shares a real workplace moment that turned into a professional lesson. What started as a funny debate betw...

Let us understand the airway

03 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Hao unpacks the anatomy and purpose of the airway—from nose to alveoli—and explores why airway understanding matters in occupatio...

Complexity of strength assessments

24 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Hao — your occupational therapist — unpacks one of the most familiar assessment tools in rehabilitation: muscle testing and muscl...

When the Hand forgets

17 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, We reflect on a bedside encounter that revealed something subtle but profound—a patient who could move her hand, but couldn’t qui...

Social Prescribing

10 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of OT Conversations, Hao explores the growing movement of social prescribing — the idea that connection, purpose, and community can ...

Understand Cystic Fibrosis

02 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we’re talking about cystic fibrosis, how we support daily living, energy conservation, treatment adherence, and participation in th...

Engagement: the vital sign of OT

27 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

“Critical care isn’t just about survival—it’s about recovery. And that recovery starts the moment a patient shows they can engage. For us OTs,...

Beyond Diagnosis: How OTs Support PIP Applications

20 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Personal Independence Payment — or PIP. You’ve probably heard of it, maybe even applied for it. But do you really know what it’s about? It’s n...

Who is killing OT?

13 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Let me ask you this—have you heard the rumour that some hospitals in the UK are stopping occupational therapists from taking vital signs? I hope it’...

Understanding Orthostatic hypotension

06 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Ever felt dizzy or lightheaded when standing up? That could be orthostatic hypotension—a sudden drop in blood pressure that affects safety, independ...

Learn about D2A

30 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

“Today on OT Conversations, we’re diving into Discharge to Assess. Why did the NHS bring it in? How did therapy response times — especially ours...

Sensory Stimulation and Early Engagement in Critical Care

23 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we dive into the world of critical care occupational therapy and ask:👉 What’s the most frequent sensory stimulation we provide i...

Missing the opportunity to define OT to the Board of Directors

16 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How do you explain what you do when you can’t say your job title? In this episode, I share my experience in a high-pressure hospital board meeting, ...

Learn about Chorea

09 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Chorea and OT“Chorea — sudden, dance-like movements that a person can’t control. But behind the movements are real challenges: eating, dressing,...

Learn about the basal ganglia

02 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What if I told you there’s a part of your brain that doesn’t play the music, but makes sure the orchestra is in rhythm? That’s the basal ganglia...

Learn about fronto-temporal dementia

25 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of OT Conversations, Hao explores Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) — a condition that often goes unnoticed compared to Alzheimer’s, y...

Motor Neuron Disease

18 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What happens when the body weakens but the mind stays sharp?In this episode of OT Conversations, we explore MND—its impact, its challenges, and the ...

Educating an Educational Lead about OT

11 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of OT conversations I talk to the AHP education lead and I gave her an educational conversation regarding occupational therapy. She ha...

“When Thinking Gets Cloudy: The Cognitive-Perceptual Frame of Reference”

04 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

“Cognitive-perceptual dysfunction remains one of the most challenging barriers to functional independence. In this episode of Occupational Therapy C...

What is an Impella device?

28 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

“Imagine a pump, smaller than your finger, stepping in to do the work of a failing heart. That’s the Impella — a tiny mechanical device that can...

Understand ECG

21 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

“Today we’re talking about ECGs — the electrocardiogram. It’s one of the most common tests in healthcare, capturing the heart’s electrical r...

OT talk involving NIV (Non invasive ventiulation)

14 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of OT Conversations, the focus is on Non-Invasive Ventilation (NIV) and its significance for occupational therapists working in respir...

Clinical Judgement and Seating Solutions: An OT Conversation on Tumble Forms

07 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this video, Hao and Maria discuss the use of Tumble Forms, a modular seating system, for a young child with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). They emp...

Can we have adaptive device to supplement muscle inactivity in critical care?

30 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

“What if a simple electrical pulse or a gentle compression could keep ICU patients from losing precious muscle strength?”Hi, I’m your Occupation...

Understanding Hypoxia from an Occupational Therapist's perspective

23 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

“Ever wondered what happens to the brain when oxygen runs low—and how an occupational therapist can tip the scales from crisis to meaningful recov...

“ECMO Isn’t the Problem—Therapists Are: An OT’s Unfiltered Rant on Evidence, Roles, and Rehab in the ICU.”

19 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Strap in for a no‑filter ride with Hao, "your Occupational Therapist". While commuting to work, Hao dismantles the myth that “there’s no evidenc...

Chronological Time Frame of the development of our OT Theories

12 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of OT Conversations, Hao, an occupational therapist, delves into the historical progression of occupational therapy (OT) theory and pr...

Occupational Therapy as a Grandfather Therapy to Modern Therapies?

05 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this exciting and thought-provoking episode of Occupational Therapy Conversations, Host Hao, an experienced Occupational Therapist, dives headfirst...

learn intricacies of muscle contractions

29 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Dive into the fascinating world of muscle contractions with Hao, an experienced Occupational Therapist, in this riveting episode of Occupational Thera...

Mary Reilly :The woman who sparked the concept of the MOHO

22 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Who inspired the Model of Human Occupation? Please tune in to hear about Mary Reilly, the visionary who sparked a holistic shift in occupational thera...

Understand Cardiac Pacing

15 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of OT Conversations, Hao, an occupational therapist, discusses the critical topic of heart pacing or cardiac pacing, explaining how it...

Learning about Rib Fractures

05 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to 'OT Conversations' with Hao, your occupational therapist. In this episode, Hao delves into the topic of rib fractures, a common chest injur...

Myasthenia Gravis from an OT perspective

29 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of 'Occupational Therapy Conversations,' occupational therapist Hao delves into Myasthenia Gravis, a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular ...

Exploring Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

22 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this engaging conversational podcast, Maria, a dedicated occupational therapist, discusses her experience presenting at a significant interdiscipli...

Exploring Occupational Therapy competency on 'ECMO cases'

15 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this OT Conversation episode, Hao provides a perspective on competency in occupational therapy for patients receiving ECMO (Extracorporeal Membrane...

Marketing and Occupational Therapy

08 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Hello and welcome to OT Conversations, your go-to podcast for everything occupational therapy! We invite you to tune into our latest episode, where we...

Postural Control Retraining: A Relevant Information for OT Topic

01 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of 'OT Conversations,' occupational therapist Hao dives into postural control retraining. This intervention focuses on improving a pat...

Hao's personal message to band 5s, students and young clinicians

24 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of 'Occupational Therapy Conversations,' Hao, an experienced occupational therapist, speaks directly to Band 5 occupational therapists...

Stroke Upper Limb motor retraining: My thinking process

17 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of OT Conversations, Hao, an experienced Occupational Therapist, shares an insightful and detailed walkthrough of upper limb motor ret...

Let has talk about wheelchairs

10 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of OT Conversations, Hao explores the fundamentals of wheelchairs. Hao covers various types of wheelchairs, including manual, power, a...

Car Seat Challenge: A Rising Information in Occupational Therapy (RIOT) Conversation

03 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this eisode of OT conversations, Hao and guest Maria tackle the urgent care needs of a four-month-old baby diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy ...

Sleep: A Foundation ADL that OTs should know

27 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of OT Conversations, the host explores the evolving recognition of sleep as a critical occupation within the field of occupational the...

Cervical Radiculopathy: A Relevant Info involving OT talk (riOT Talk)

20 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of OT Conversations, Hao, an occupational therapist, discusses the condition of cervical radiculopathy through the case of Mr. John Sm...

"Trache Weaning" is a misnomer: A rant

13 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of 'OT Conversations,' Hao, an occupational therapist, discusses the term 'trache weaning,' commonly used in healthcare to describe re...

OT talking about CPAP

06 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of OT Conversations, hosted by occupational therapist Hao, the topic of CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) therapy is discusse...

Understanding Trigger Finger

29 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of OT Conversations, Hao, an occupational therapist, discusses trigger finger, also known as stenosing tenosynovitis. The condition is...

Let us understand Vital Signs and Functional Implications

22 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of OT Conversations, Hao discusses the importance of understanding vital signs and their functional implications in an acute care sett...

Let us learn about the basics of Gait

15 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of OT Conversations, Hao discusses the topic of gait, which is typically covered by physiotherapists. The conversation covers the basi...

 An Unbelievable Ordeal, The Experiences of Adult Survivors Treated with ECMO: RIOTs first journal review

08 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This is a Journal article review of the article entitled, 'An Unbelievable Ordeal, The Experiences of Adult Survivors Treated with ECMO' by Dr.  Ki...

Hand Anatomy talk for OTs

04 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Hao, an occupational therapist, welcomes viewers to an episode of OT Conversations focused on the anatomy of the hand. Highlighting the significance o...

camptodactyly conversations

28 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of OT Conversations, occupational therapist How discusses the case of Amish, a 12-year-old girl diagnosed with camptodactyly, a condit...

Understanding Capacity Assessment

21 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of OT Conversations, Hao, an occupational therapist, discusses the concept of capacity assessment. Capacity assessment is a formal eva...

The Need for OTs to revive the skill of Capacity Assessment

14 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of OT Conversations, the host emphasizes the declining practice of capacity and cognitive assessments by occupational therapists over ...

A Simple Way to Understand Respiratory Conditions

07 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of OT Conversations, HAO discusses the fundamental aspects of respiratory conditions relevant to occupational therapy. The key focus i...

Start with the Head Control

28 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of OT Conversations, we talk about the critical role of head and neck control in rehabilitation, especially for patients experiencing ...

Cross Hemispheric Facilitation Treatment

21 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of OT Conversations, we talk about the importance of labeling your therapeutic interventions. The focus of this episode is on 'Cross H...

Electrotherapy Talk for Occupational Therapists

14 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of OT Conversations, we explore the various treatments and interventions available to Occupational Therapists, with a special focus on...

The 5 Special OT notes

07 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of 'OT Conversations,' we discuss the significance and various aspects of clinical documentation in the field of occupational therapy....

Epicritic System Facilitation Treatment

31 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of OT Conversations, we discuss the concept of Epicritic System Facilitation. Discover the importance of this therapeutic technique ai...

The wonderful tilt table

22 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of 'OT Conversations,' Hao, an occupational therapist, discusses the benefits and under-utilization of the tilt table in rehabilitatio...

Engage, Inspire, Connect: Tips for Critical Care Occupational Therapists

15 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Providing occupational therapy in critical care is no small feat. Patients are often awake but limited in communication or mobility, connected to life...

Delirium: A Topic of the Time and a Different Perspective of How We Deal with It

08 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this discussion, Hao, an occupational therapist, focuses on the complex issue of delirium, which is described as a prominent topic within multidisc...

The Case of Paralysed Mr C.

31 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The episode tells the story of a patient, Mr. C, who was treated by Hao about 20 years ago. Mr. C, in his 80s, had severe deconditioning and muscle wa...

RIOT Case stories: TMJ pain and what OT did

23 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A young girl, just ten years old, suffered from severe jaw pain caused by juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Eating and speaking became daily struggles, a...

Occupational Therapy Screening Practices

18 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Hao emphasizes the critical role of screening as the first step in identifying patients who need further occupational therapy interv...

An OT Seeing 22 Patients a Day

11 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Hao reflects on a recent conversation with a friend who is working as an occupational therapist in the United States, specifically in...

Performance Enhancement: Another Role of Occupational Therapy

04 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

From this talk, listeners can learn about the broad scope of occupational therapy, which extends beyond rehabilitation to include performance enhancem...

Empowering OTs: 9 tips on why we need to Mastering the Business Side of Healthcare.

26 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Today’s episode focuses on the critical need for healthcare professionals to develop business acumen. While we’re trained to deliver exceptional c...

Tips on how to get families and patients working with you and not against you

19 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The talk provides practical tips for occupational therapists to foster a positive and collaborative relationship with patients and their families. It ...

Talk About Effective Sensory Motor Strategies in Adult Occupational Therapy: Managing Stroke-Induced Sensory Challenges

10 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to OT Conversations. In this episode, Hao is joined by Becky, an aspiring therapist, grappling with a complex case involving sensory integrati...

Workplace dynamics and emotional vampires

05 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, I talk about the disproportionate impact a small group of challenging colleagues can have on workplace dynamics, referencing the 20-8...

Let us talk about Motor Learning

29 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The discussion on motor learning emphasizes the importance of a multisensory approach in therapy, integrating auditory, visual, and tactile stimuli to...

OT conversations following a Hand Therapy Training Course

24 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Join occupational therapist Hao and his colleague Maria as they explore a comprehensive pediatric hand therapy training course. The discussion covers ...

The technique of asking so what and then what?

21 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This episode of OT Conversations discusses the importance of critically evaluating patient conditions by asking 'So what?' and 'Then what?' to inform ...

let us talk about the challenges of presenting the impact of Occupational Therapy

17 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we explore the challenges of demonstrating occupational therapy's effectiveness, especially in abstract areas such as spirituality an...

the 11 Principles of Prioprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation(PNF)

14 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This OT Conversation episode explores the fundamental principles of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) in rehabilitation. It emphasizes h...

Let us talk about the White Board

02 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of OT Conversations, We discuss the importance and process of whiteboard meetings or handovers in a clinical setting. These briefings,...

OT processes in discharge planning: Clarifying our Role

01 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

While discharge planning might appear as a specialization in the field of occupational therapy, it is better understood as a comprehensive process tha...

How to get better at working in critical care

29 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of OT Conversations, occupational therapist Hao addresses the challenges clinicians face in critical care environments. He emphasizes ...

SMART vs STUPID Goal Setting: I'd rather set goals the STUPID way:)

06 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

As we reach the 100th episode, I am unveiling a better way for you to learn how to set goals. Instead of getting stuck setting SMART Goals, why not co...

The Parallels Between Canadian Model of Human Occupation and Model of Human Occupation

03 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of OT Conversations, Hao, your occupational therapist, discusses two popular models of occupational therapy: the Canadian Model of Occ...

The Sequence of Prehension Patterns: Essential when you're doing Dexterity Retraining

01 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of OT Conversations, we look into the sequence of prehension patterns necessary for upper limb motor retraining. Whether dealing with ...

The End of Bobath Centre: A Very Sad Casualty of Evidence-Based Skepticism

30 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome everyone to our podcast. Today, we have an emotional and significant topic to discuss. It's about a recent development that has sent shock wav...

If you want to locate the brain impairment, you should know the neurological symptoms

28 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

 Welcome to O T Conversations! In today's discussion, we'll delve into some real-life case scenarios that highlight the neurological symptoms you mi...

Rehabilitation Talk for OTs: You really do not want to miss this

25 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of 'OT Conversations,' occupational therapist Hao discusses the concept of rehabilitation. Hao explains that rehabilitation can be sim...

The 2 Types of Inattention

23 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Join Hao, a professional Occupational Therapist, as he dives into the intricacies of sensory and motor inattention commonly observed in stroke patient...

Let Us Move Away from Calling It 'Inappropriate Referrals'.

14 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Hao, an occupational therapist, discusses the significance of accepting and properly handling referrals in occupational therapy. He d...

Therapists' Habits that Truly Niggles

12 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Join Hao, your occupational therapist, in this episode of OT Conversations as he addresses some common mistakes and misinterpretations often observed ...

Learn about the motor symptoms of problems involving Basal Ganglia

10 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Hello, welcome to another episode of OT Conversations with Hao, your occupational therapist. In this insightful episode, Hao dives deep into the basa...

Don't Be Quick to Blame the Psychology of Your Patients: You Just Might Need to Understand the Symptoms of Cerebellar Stroke First

08 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of OT Conversations, Hao, an occupational therapist, discusses cerebellar strokes. He explains that a stroke results from insufficient...

Looking for Occupational Therapy Models Can Be Misleading - Focus on Frames of References Instead...Seriously

06 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode. Hao discusses the significance of using frames of reference over models of practice in occupational therapy. He notes the common prac...

You want to be better at communicating muscle tone? Learn about the Ashworth Scale

04 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of OT Conversations, occupational therapist Hao introduces and explains the Modified Ashworth Scale, a tool used to measure spasticity...

Parameters of Assessment and Intervention: Possibly a Topic They Didn't Teach You in OT Schooling and in Clinical Placements

02 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of OT Conversations, your host Hao delves into the key parameters of assessment and intervention in occupational therapy: independence...