Ms. Coopee received her Masters in Occupational Therapy in 1983 from Texas Woman's University. Since graduation she has worked with patients across the lifespan from children in the school system to long-term care geriatrics. In a variety of settings from acute care hospital burn, neuro and orthopedic units, subacute rehab to skilled nursing facilities and HMO clinics. Specializing in Hand Therapy she developed a number of outpatient Hand Therapy programs and achieved Hand Therapy Certification in 1991. She has lectured on a national, international, local and college level addressing various topics involving regabilitation of the Hand/Upper Extremity and Lymphedema. Ruth served as an adjunct professor at Worcester State College she developed a "Hand Therapy" course for both undergraduates & postgraduates and later as an associate professor in the OTA program at Greenfield Community College both in Massachusetts.
Her special interest lies in the biomechanics of posture and its relationship to fascial and structural dysfunction. Since 1989 she has been studying and incorporating "Indirect" Myofascial Release, Muscle Energy, Feldendrais, Strain/Counterstrain, Craniosacral Techniques, Zero Balancing into her treatment. Her focus on fascia and the "whole body approach" led to Certification in Dr. Vodder's Manual Lymph Drainage and Combined Degongestive Therapy in 1997.
Ruth has been using Kinesio Taping since its arrival to the USA from Japan in 1995 and teaching on the topic since 1996. She is a Ceritied Kinesio Taping Instructor and serves as the Occupational Therapy consultant to the Kinesio Taping Association. She awarded "Instructor of the Year 2004" at the first Kinesio Taping Conference held in the USA. Recognized for research on the use of Kinesio Taping for Lymphedema and was a guest speader at the 15th Annual Kinesio Taping International Symposium held in Tokyo Japan, November 1999. Articles regarding her research were featured in OT and PT Advance in 1998. She has authored two chapters on the use of Kinesio Taping; "Kinesio Taping" in the Mosby 5th edition of Rehabilitation of the Hand & Upper Extremity by Mackin et. al which details some of the mechanisms of Kinesio Taping and Splinting the Hand and Upper Extremity-Principles and Process (Lippincott Williams and Wilkens) by Jacobs and Austin that discusses Athletic, McConnell and Kinesio Taping techniques for the Upper Extremity and is in process of writing two textbooks: Basic and Advanced Kinesio Taping for the Upper Extremity and Kinesio Taping for Lymphedema and Venous Insufficiency. Currently, Ruth is in Private Practice and completing her education as a Massage Therapist (March/April of 2006). She has an on-line Foundations course for Kinesio Taping hosted at www.onlinece.com. Current courses and information may also be found at www.ruthcoopee.com.