Ruth Coopee

Ruth Coopee received her Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy in 1983 from Texas Woman’s University. Since graduation she has worked with patients across the lifespan–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 national, international, local and college levels addressing various topics involving rehabilitation of the Hand/Upper Extremity and Lymphedema. Ruth served as an adjunct professor at Worcester State College where she developed a Hand Therapy course for both undergraduates & postgraduates. Later she served as an associate professor in the OTA program at Greenfield Community College 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, and Zero Balancing into her treatment. Her focus on fascia and the “Whole-body approach” led to Certification in 1997 for Dr. Vodder’s Manual Lymph Drainage and Combined Degongestive Therapy.

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 was 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 speaker at the 15th Annual Kinesio Taping International Symposium held in Tokyo Japan, November 1999.