Purpose: Patients who can only use one of their upper limbs experience difficulties in opening the lids of full-open-end cans. Thus, we developed a self-help device consisting of a cord and J-shaped hook. This device allows the user to pull a tab fixed to the end of the can with the body, enabling the lid to be opened with one hand. This study aimed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the device by comparing it with a spoon for opening the lids of cans.

Methods: The study participants were 28 hemiplegic individuals. They were taught to use a device that involves leaning their body backward instead of pulling a tab with their fingers as well as using a spoon to open a lid. They were then asked to open the lid using only one hand. Next, we judged whether the participants could perform the movements, and measured the time taken to open the can using video recording.

Results: All the participants successfully opened the can with the device and its use greatly reduced the opening time.

Conclusions: Our results suggest that this device is effective in helping hemiplegic individuals open cans. They also demonstrate that this self-help device created from cheap, everyday components enables hemiplegic individuals to open can lids without difficulty.

Introduction: The number of Japanese children who refuse to attend school is increasing every year. However, it is uncommon for occupational therapists (OTs) to visit to the homes and rooms of these students. We examined the effects of visiting occupational therapy on a junior high school student with an addiction to Internet games.

Methods: The case (Case) involved a home visit by an OT to a 13-year-old boy with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Case told the OT that he was addicted to competitive Internet games and went to bed around 5 a.m.

Result: OT spoke with Case concerning his daily rhythm, and he promised to be in bed by midnight. However, this promise was frequently broken, and no improvement was seen in his life rhythm or his relationship with his family. Therefore, the OT increased the frequency of visits from once to twice a week. Six months into the visit, the OT took advantage of plastic model making, which Case had shown interest in, to break the vicious cycle caused by Internet games. Case's reliance on Internet gaming was eliminated, thanks to plastic model building, and his life rhythm significantly improved. Case's Vineland-2 Adaptive Behavior Scale scores also improved, and his Maladaptive Behavior Scale score was zero.

Conclusion: The OT's encouragement to build plastic models occurred at the right time to assist Case to break free from his addiction. These findings suggest that home-visit occupational therapy is effective for students who refuse to attend school.

Purpose: Patients forced to use only one hand find wearing a knit cap without a brim difficult. Therefore, we developed a self-help device using a string and clothespin. The device can immobilize the knit cap, making it easy to put on the cap with one hand. This study aimed to demonstrate the device's effectiveness by comparing the action of putting on the cap with the device (usage motion) and without the device (non-usage motion) in hemiplegic patients.

Methods: Twenty-eight hemiplegic patients were recruited as participants. After receiving explanations about the procedures for both the usage and non-usage motions, the participants were asked to put on the knit cap with one hand. Next, the success of the action was evaluated before hearing the feedback provided by participants regarding the ease of wearing. Finally, the time taken to put on the cap was measured from the video footage.

Results: The usage motion made it easier to wear the cap and had a higher success rate than the non-usage motion.

Conclusion: The experimental results suggest that the motion of putting on the cap using the device is an efficient method for hemiplegic patients. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that hemiplegic patients can comfortably wear a knit cap without difficulty using a self-help device combining inexpensive daily items.