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    Árticulo Revista AOTA

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    Vanesa
    revista AOTA

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    Árticulo Revista AOTA

    Uploaded by

    Vanesa
    42 views1 page
    revista AOTA

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    Árticulo revista AOTA

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    © © All Rights Reserved

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    revista AOTA

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    42 views1 page

    Árticulo Revista AOTA

    Uploaded by

    Vanesa
    revista AOTA

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 1

    SOFTWARE

    & TECHNOLOGY REVIEWS

    Exercise Break

    the user to create text and pictorial

    activities presented appear to enhance

    Hopkins Technology, 421 Hazel Lane,

    modules that can be added to the cur-

    neuromuscular activities such as range

    rent offerings. The keyboard can be


    used to access this program; however,
    the use of a mouse or other tracking input device would be helpful. A button
    to delay the bre<lk time by 5 min has
    been included. Additionally, this program contains several ergonomics
    checklists for the monitor, chair, keyboard, work area, and posture, along
    with a section on how to set up a work
    station using ergometrics. The different
    stretches during each protocol can either be changed manuall)' one at a time
    or autOmatically b)T having the computer
    go on to the next exercise once the timer is finished with the countuown.
    One dimculty discovered was the
    repetition of the four welcome screens
    every time the program starts. This
    screen is useful as an introduction because it contains warnings and pl'ecautions (e.g., do not bounce during the
    stretches, consult your phySician if you
    have pre-existing conditions, do not use
    Exercise Break if )'OU have carpal tunnel
    syndrome). Fortunately, in the current
    version the welcome screens can be fast
    forwarded. For those Windows users
    who also have a screen saver that is set
    on a timer, there may be some minor
    incompatibility problems.
    Efficacy studies conceming the ocCup<ltional therapy applications of Exercise Break are needed. The Jacobson relaxation techniques, which are similar to
    the ones being presented in this software, appear to have beneficial effects
    on the wellness of persons. This software provides an excellent solitarv activity that should help address the balance
    issue between work or job performance
    in relation to brief leisure activity. The

    of motion, muscle tone in groups of


    muscles (both for enhancing and reducing tone), and endurance (due to the
    timed aspect), as well as reinforcing
    proper postural control. Perceptual
    skills are addressed in the imitation of
    positions such as with right-left discrimination anu position in space. Because Exercise Break is primarily a visual and pictorial program, the ability to
    read words may not be necessary once
    the program is set up for the user.
    However, because of the timed aspects
    of the program, the ability to read numbers seems necessary. Cognitively, the
    user should have an attention span of at
    least 4 min (the duration of the longest
    exercise plus time for welcome
    screens).

    Hopkins NM 55343-7116, 800-397-9211


    Available for DOS, Microsoft Windows, or the
    Macintosh in English or Spanish One floppy
    drive, color or monochrome monitor. and
    minimum of 50K of RAM needed. Copyright
    1992, 1993. System used lor review: IBM
    compatible with MS Windows. Purchase
    price: $29.95 per user, site licensing
    available on request

    ,xerCise Break appears to be an ex-

    cellent software program for those


    who sit at a computer terminal for long
    periods of time and seldom take breaks.
    This program was designed by a team
    of health care professionals to reduce
    the tension caused by computer use
    The primary source of the stretches is
    Soraya Rodriguez, LPT. Exercise Break is
    a Visually oriented package in which the
    user is asked to replicate positions that
    are pictured on the screen. By using the
    sequence settings section, the user can
    control which body pans are to be
    stretched, as well as the time period between stretch breaks. For example, specifIc pans of the body can be stretched,
    such as the face, neck, shoulders,
    wrists, hands, back, and legs. In addition, sets of stretches are included for
    rela-"(ation, a quick body stretch, and circulation. Should the user choose to perform all the stretches, the total time
    combined is 18 min 59 sec initially, although individual exercise protocols
    range from 20 sec for circulation to a
    qUick full-body stretch at 3 min 59 sec.
    Individual stretches have a countdo\Cvn
    time for holding the stretch that can be
    varied by the user' in the settings menu.
    Portions of the stretches, such as performance of the shoulder roll exercises,
    are animated. In addition to the preset
    protocols, Exercise Break also allows

    The American journal of Occupational Therapl'

    Downloaded From: http://ajot.aota.org/ on 10/24/2015 Terms of Use: http://AOTA.org/terms

    Exercise Break would be useful on


    the job site as well as in a wellness program for employees. Clinically, certain
    sequences of the program could be
    lIsed to increase fleXibility and decrease
    muscle tension, although this use would
    need to be decided indiVidually or on a
    c<lse-by-case basis. Exercise Break is a
    visually oriented program that appears
    to be user-friendly. This is one of those
    programs that makes one think, "Why
    didn't they do this before?" AMaria Clauson, 01'5
    HOUSton, TX

    Editor's Note. Guidelinesfor doing software


    reviews can he ohtained from Lawrence W.
    faulkner, MSe. OTR Assistant Professor, Department of Occupat ional Therapy, School
    of Allied Health, Texas Tech University
    Nea/lh Sciences Center, 3601 Fourth Street,
    Lubbock, Texas 79430 Telephone.
    806-743-3240 (work), 806-743-3249 (/ax).
    W.e encourage your participation in this department.

    1051

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