Which occupation-based statement best demonstrates improvement in a client with a cumulative trauma disorder of the right upper extremity when documenting progress?

• A. Brush teeth using involved upper extremity without pain.
• B. Doff and don shirt without pain on lateral side of elbow.
• C. Pain-free AROM of right elbow is now 15° to 110°.
• D. Lift 10 lbs to achieve the work task of stocking shelves.

Answer: (A)

Focusing on how the person actually uses the involved arm in daily life is key. When progress is documented, showing that the client can perform a self-care task—like brushing teeth—using the involved arm without pain demonstrates meaningful functional improvement. It shows integration of movement, strength, coordination, and pain control in a real, everyday activity, which mirrors what the client needs to do outside therapy.

The other options flag improvements in more impairments-based or job-specific contexts. A pain-free range of motion at the elbow is helpful, but it’s an impairment measure and doesn’t by itself prove the person can carry out daily tasks with independence. Lifting a specific weight for a work task assesses a job-related capacity but may not reflect general daily functioning. Donning and doffing a shirt, while functional, concentrates on a single garment task and may not capture broader daily activity performance as effectively as brushing teeth does.