This multi-part program proposal lays out the needs assessment, design, implementation, and evaluation of an upper-extremity injury-prevention program for new parents. The full documents are embedded and downloadable below.
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UE Injuries and Injury Prevention with New Parents Program Proposal Part 4
Erin Goodwin, OTDS
Doctor of Occupational Therapy, University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences
OCT5470 - Administration and Management in Occupational Therapy
Dr. Julie Watson, PhD, OTR/L
07/26/2026
UE Injuries and Injury Prevention with New Parents Program Proposal Part 4
Supervision
The UE Injuries and Injury Prevention with New Parents Program will include one occupational therapist (OT) and one occupational therapy assistant (OTA). The OT will develop program content, complete evaluations, and oversee all services provided. The OTA will assist with demonstrations, participant practice, and reinforcement of ergonomic strategies during common childcare tasks. Because the program focuses on injury prevention through education, body mechanics, and task modification, all participant instruction will be provided by occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant, complying with AOTA supervision guidelines. (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2020).
Internal Marketing Strategies
Internal marketing will focus on professionals who regularly work with new and expectant parents, including physicians, nurses, lactation consultants, therapists, and case managers. Marketing efforts will include brief presentations, informational emails, and referral materials distributed through hospitals and outpatient clinics. The focus will be on the high prevalence of musculoskeletal pain associated with childcare tasks and the lack of structured ergonomic education available to parents following discharge. The program will be promoted as a preventative service that supports safer participation in caregiving occupations (Adams et al., 2023; Sanders & Morse, 2005).
External Marketing Strategies
External marketing will target new and expectant parents through childbirth classes, parenting groups, physician offices, community organizations, and social media platforms. Materials will focus on common childcare activities that place physical demands on parents and provide information on how the program can help prevent pain and injury through ergonomic education and adaptive strategies. These efforts will help increase awareness of available injury-prevention resources while supporting parents' ability to participate in meaningful caregiving occupations (Adams et al., 2023; Vincent & Hocking, 2013).
Rational Marketing Flyer
The flyer was designed to be easy to read and relevant to new and expectant parents. Simple language, clear headings, and minimal text were used to improve accessibility, while the content focuses on common childcare tasks that can contribute to pain and injury. The flyer highlights the practical benefits of the program, including injury prevention, improved body mechanics, and continued participation in caregiving occupations, while also increasing awareness of occupational therapy's role in health promotion and preventative care.
## References
Adams, Y. J., Miller, M. L., Agbenyo, J. S., Ehla, E. E., & Clinton, G. A. (2023). Postpartum care needs assessment: Women’s understanding of postpartum care, practices, barriers, and educational needs. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 23, Article 502. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-023-05813-0
American Occupational Therapy Association. (2020). Occupational therapy practice framework: Domain and process (4th ed.). American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 74(Suppl. 2), 7412410010. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2020.74S2001
American Physical Therapy Association. (2026). Medicare payment thresholds for outpatient therapy services. https://www.apta.org/your-practice/payment/medicare-payment/coding-billing/therapy-cap
Brown H, Paul L, Hislop J, & McFadyen A. (2004). Erector spinae activity during three methods of lifting a baby car seat in postnatal women and matched controls. Physiotherapy, 90(4), 204–209. https://0b30c2cqb-mp03-y-https-doi-org.prx-usa.lirn.net/10.1016/j.physio.2004.06.00
Carlson, K., Mughal, S., Azhar, Y., et al. (2026). Perinatal depression. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519070/
Capdevila, E., Rodríguez-Bailón, M., Kapanadze, M., & Portell, M. (2020). Clinical utility of the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure in older adult rehabilitation and nursing homes: Perceptions among occupational therapists and physiotherapists in Spain. Occupational Therapy International, 2020, 1-13.
LegalClarity. (2026). Does insurance cover occupational therapy services? https://legalclarity.org/does-insurance-cover-occupational-therapy-services/
Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (n.d.). Health care access and quality. Healthy People 2030. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://odphp.health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/browse-objectives/health-care-access-and-quality
Pehlivan, S., Tanrıverdi, M., Argunsah, H., & Uygur Şahin, T. (2025). Infant-carrying methods and their biomechanical influence on maternal gait patterns and joint mechanics. Journal of Back & Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, 38(5), 1004–1011. https://0b30c262f-mp03-y-https-doi-org.prx-usa.lirn.net/10.1177/1053812725132177
Sanders MJ, & Morse T. (2005). The ergonomics of caring for children: an exploratory study. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 59(3), 285–295. https://0b30c262f-mp03-y-https-doi-org.prx-usa.lirn.net/10.5014/ajot.59.3.28
Therapy Comply. (n.d.). Medicaid coverage of occupational therapy in all 50 states. https://www.therapycomply.com/50-state-survey/Medicaid-Coverage-of-Occupational-Therapy
Vincent, R., & Hocking, C. (2013). Factors that Might Give Rise to Musculoskeletal Disorders when Mothers Lift Children in the Home. Physiotherapy Research International, 18(2), 81–90. https://0b30c262f-mp03-y-https-doi-org.prx-usa.lirn.net/10.1002/pri.153
Zylstra, S. E., & Doyle, S. (2020). Measuring client-centered outcomes in an occupational therapy student teaching clinic using the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 74(4),
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Appendices
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