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OSU alumni donates 150 balls to MUSC’s OT Department by Mary Helen Yarborough Public Relations Having a ball has taken on a new meaning in MUSC’s Occupational Therapy (OT) Department after a handy contribution by an Ohio State University (OSU) alumni association.   OSU’s Lowcountry Alumni Club donated 150 red balls to OT, which will be used to help patients gain strength and movement in their hands and arms, said Robyn Horvath, OSU alumni club president. Horvath has worked as an occupational therapist at MUSC for about eight years.   Associates in MUSC’s Occupational Therapy Department celebrate the arrival of 150 red balls, which were donated by the Ohio State University Lowcountry Alumni Association chapter. Clockwise from center front are Anne Benton, Robyn Horvath, Jamie Lupini, Linda Henderson, Ramona Pinckney, Robyn Horvath and Christine Ellison. Though OT doesn’t normally provide balls to patients for therapy, such tools are used and needed for a variety of reasons.   “Many times we get calls to provide therapy balls for a patient to give them something to squeeze to increase their strength,” Horvath said. “This is not an item we provide, but at times, it may be appropriate for a patient to have an item like this to help in their rehabilitation process. They are sometimes effective as a distraction, instead of a wrist restraint, to prevent a patient from pulling on intravenous lines and tubes.”   The OT department has one OT tech, two certified OT assistants, and 11 registered occupational therapists. This team, that works from the Clinical Sciences Building, helps patients of all ages and infirmities.   “We treat from birth to geriatrics, all ages across the spectrum,” Horvath said. “Diagnoses vary from developmental delays, cerebral palsy, hand and upper extremity injuries, stroke, spinal cord and head injuries, general medical de-conditioning, orthopaedic injuries, total joint replacements and arthritis.”   Meanwhile, OT and their patients “Are having a ball, no pun intended,” Horvath said.     Friday, June 23, 2006 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island Publications at 849-1778, ext. 201.