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Donation of dynamometers helps occupational therapists in needy communities
Author: Liezel Engelbrecht
Published: 19/06/2018

Survivors of road accidents, assault and violent crime often require rehabilitation, and so do people with osteoarthritis, amputations and stroke survivors.

Two worthy occupational therapy centres recently received a small boost on this front with the donation of dynamometers. “Dynamometers are instruments used by occupational therapists to test hand grip strength and are mainly used for patients that obtained hand injuries," explains Mrs Susan de Klerk, senior lecturer at the Division of Occupational Therapy at Stellenbosch University's (SU) Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS). This instrument is often not prioritised when it health expenditure budgets, and resultantly many occupational therapists have to make do without it.

De Klerk arranged for the donation of this equipment thanks to her good relationship with the International Federation of Societies for Hand Therapy (IFSHT). She has worked in the hand therapy field for 20 years, and through her research, had the opportunity to meet the former president of the IFSHT at an international congress. “She mentioned that she would like to donate two dynamometers and asked if I could receive it in South Africa. About a year later the dynamometers arrived. IFSHT's only condition was that I have to give it to an area that will use it in the rehabilitation of patients with hand injuries."

De Klerk says that although it was a difficult decision, she eventually donated the equipment to the Khayelitsha District Hospital (KDH) and the Kraaifontein Community Health Centre (CHC). “Khayelitsha has a growing hand service and the therapist there worked very hard to get equipment to supplement the orthopaedic services there," she said. “The dynamometer will definitely add value to her services, and it is also an area where many SU occupational therapy students are placed for clinical training."

The donation to Kraaifontein CHC was made for other reasons, says De Klerk. “The therapist there, a SU alumnus, works from a ship container. She receives many referrals from Tygerberg Academic Hospital and has limited resources."

The therapists from both centres are very appreciate of the donations. “It has been on my wish list for equipment since 2016, but it has never been viewed as an essential item. The instrument will be used to test hand grip strength, and hopefully serve as motivation for patients to do their exercises at home," says Mrs Terri-Ann Abrahams from KDH.

Mrs Mariechen Breytenbach, the occupational therapist at Kraaifontein CHS, says that the instrument will also help determine whether patients are ready to return to work. “A builder and a watchmaker may need the same hand grip strength to brush their teeth, but a builder needs a lot more strength to return to work. Therefore the treatment is individualised and the dynamometer will help to set specific goals," Breytenbach explains.

De Klerk is excited about the dynamometers' potential to improve patients' participation in activities. “And we are already working on a plan to obtain one or two more devices to donate to needy centres."


Caption1: Occupational therapis Terri-Ann Abrahams (left) and Susan de Klerk (right) with the dynamometer.

Caption2: The occupational therapist at Kraaifontein CHC (Mariechen Breytenbach) using the dynamometer.