Biomechanical Frame of Reference

The Biomechanical Frame of Reference (FOR) is a Frame of Reference in which physical impairments that limit occupational performance are focused on. It uses various means to achieve the desired occupational performance such as preventing deterioration and maintaining performance, restoring moments, and compensating or adapting for loss movements that are required for an occupational goal. This FoR can be used at any age. It is practiced when an individual has a physical disability or neurological disorder and can be used to accomplish a wide range of occupational activities. One thing an occupational therapist may assess when using the FOR is range of motion. The occupational therapist will see what the client has the ability to do prior to the treatment and the work to adapt or restore the movements in order to achieve an occupational task. The core of achieving this is that engaging in occupation or therapeutic activities will highly improve an underlying impairment. One important words to know when considering this theory are occupational performance, which is the ability to perform a particular occupation. Another term to keep in mind is compensation or adaptation. This is when a client may have lost the ability to completely return to normal function for an occupation but we can create a new way for them to achieve their occupation. A final term to know as important is therapeutic activities. These are using the basis that activates that are motivating to an individual are more likely to help the individual achieve that activity rather than just using simple exercises.

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