Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

Increasing Social Inclusion And Engagement Of Exercise For Individuals With Spinal Cord Injuries: A Universal Resource Development For Wellness Facilities, Alexa Hall

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

Individuals with spinal cord injuries (SCIs) are 1.5 times more likely to disengage in exercise one-year post-injury despite 80% of these individuals agreeing that exercise is critical to their overall health and quality of life (Baehr. Et al., 2022). A needs assessment was conducted on why the lack of engagement in exercise exists for individuals with SCIs within fitness facilities to identify barriers preventing participation. A quality improvement program called the Spinal Cord Injury Wellness Toolkit was created based off these findings and implemented at the MUSC Wellness Center. 14 individuals with SCIs participated at wellness center; REDCap surveys were …

Tandem Walking Exercise To Improve Cognitive Function In The Elderly, I Made Dhita Prianthara, Iga Sri Wahyuni Novianti, I Putu Prisa Jaya, Ni Putu Diah Anantari, Ni Kadek Yuni Fridayani

Jurnal Keolahragaan

Decreased cognitive function in the elderly is the leading cause of inability to carry out normal daily activities, as well as a high level of reliance on others in caring for themselves. The many problems that arise due to decreased cognitive function require a healthy aging process so that decreased cognitive function does not cause health problems in the lives of the elderly. Decreased cognitive function in the elderly is the biggest cause of inability to carry out normal daily activities and is also the cause of the elderly experiencing a high level of dependence on others in caring for …

Accessing Outdoor Recreation For Persons With Physical Disabilities (Pwpd), Molly Lindquist, Mary Smith, Emily Brent

Fall 2023 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

To contribute to a website that would be a one-stop location for PWPD who wish to engage in sports and outdoor recreational activities.

Design Guidelines For Homeless Shelter And Resource Center Site Plans, Samuel Johnson

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

Homelessness is one of the most pressing humanitarian issues facing the country today. Lack of affordable housing, among many other complicating factors, have led to many cities scrambling to find both short-, middle-, and long-term solutions to the issue. The Covid-19 pandemic added a disruption in services, critical record-keeping, and data-gathering, which has further confounded experts looking for an effective path forward. As it stands, there is a significant gap in academic research addressing best practices for shelter site design, particularly as it relates to landscape. The role of landscape and greenspace within and around a shelter is not well …

The Lived Experience Of Persons With Parkinson's Disease In Non-Contact Boxing Programs, Laura Mulder

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

We conducted a scoping review to identify articles examining non-contact boxing programs for persons with Parkinson’s disease (PwP). Results suggested that gait, mobility, balance, and quality-of-life were the most-studied outcomes. Many qualitative articles explored the experience within in-person boxing programs, but no articles explored experiences within virtual boxing programs. We followed this review with an interpretative phenomenological analysis aimed at addressing this research gap and interviewed six PwP who had engaged with both virtual and in-person Rock Steady Boxing programming. Results suggested that although the virtual setting improved elements of the individual experience, the physical and social aspects were better …

The Effect Of Long Covid Syndrome On Physical Activity, Patrisha Hanna Villarmea

Master of Science in Kinesiology

Long covid syndrome is a condition where individuals experience persistent symptoms and functional limitations that can last about three months to two years after the initial Covid-19 infection. While long-term health consequences of Covid-19 have garnered significant attention,the impact of long covid syndrome symptoms is poorly understood. The purpose of the study is to explore the effect of long covid syndrome symptoms to an individual’s physical activity. Furthermore, this research aims to provide an overview of the existing literature on the effect of long covid syndrome symptoms on physical activity. The research would invite participants to answer two surveys that …

Perceptions Of Professionals: Karate As An Ot Intervention, Matthew Watkins, Jazminne Orozco Arteaga

Summer 2023 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Karate in literature is shown to be therapeutic for a wide range of populations and conditions they may have, yet current research has not investigated the barriers and opportunities of a collaboration between occupational therapists and karate instructors to implement karate as a therapeutic medium. This mixed-methods study aimed to gain the perspective of both professional groups on potentially collaborating with one another, via a survey and qualitative interviews. Results indicated that intrinsic and extrinsic factors can act as barriers or supports depending on client and intervention context, that knowledge must be shared between all parties for successful collaboration, and …

The Role Of Recreation In Preventing Delinquency And Misdemeanor In Children, Fidel Toker, Hatice Guclu Nergiz

University of South Florida (USF) M3 Publishing

The active role of recreation should be considered in the solution of social problems. In the elimination of the psychological and environmental causes of juvenile delinquency, the prevention of crime before it is committed must be taken as the basis rather than post-criminal rehabilitation (with recreational rehabilitation). For this purpose, researches showing that the tendency of crime and violence decrease with recreational activities were compiled by document analysis method. A wide literature search was made with appropriate keywords and these studies were interpreted with published statistical data. As a result of the research, it was found that the relationship between …

The Effects Of Music Therapy On Elderly Adults With Dementia, Jeante J. Jackson

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

As people age, the brain is more susceptible to changes that diminish cognitive function. In recent years neuroscience has found convergent evidence between music therapy and brain architecture, as it has shown the generation of new connections in the brain or a reorganization and possible strengthening of existing connections already in the brain. However, the literature regarding music training’s effects on executive control, selective attention, and speech processing is lacking particularly when it comes to older populations.

This study investigated Verbal Working Memory, Visuospatial Attention and Task Initiation, and Auditory Selective Attention in a 91-year-old adult (B.P.) diagnosed with dementia. …

Improvement On The Slopes: The Impact Of An Adaptive Snow Sports Program On Children And Young Adults With Disabilities, Stephanie Green, Mark T. Fisher, J Eichner, Matthew J. Mclaughlin

Research Days

Background: Adaptive downhill skiing has been described as a fun, safe, engaging recreational activity for those with disabilities (Sterba, 2006). There are numerous ways the alpine skiing can be modified to meet these athletes’ needs. For instance, athletes can use tethered skis, horizontal poles held by their instructors, or modified walkers. For those that have poor standing balance, or are non-ambulatory, sit-skis are an option, with or without outriggers to add additional support and balance for athletes with poor trunk stability or core strength. These options provide equal and accessible alternatives for those with disabilities to get out and enjoy …

Dancing Through Parkinson’S: Investigating The Impact Of Argentine Tango On Motor, Cognitive And Psychosocial Function, Suraj Pothineni, Fazal Choudhary

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: People with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) undergo progressive motor, cognitive, and psychosocial symptoms, which decrease their quality of life (QOL). Adapted tango (AT) has recently emerged as a promising approach to ameliorating functional mobility, balance, and gait seen in people with PD.

Methods: A comprehensive literature review is conducted using databases such as PubMed, SCOPUS, and Embase. A wide variety of search terms are used, including but not limited to Parkinson’s disease, exercise, dance, tango, motor, cognitive, psychosocial effects, freezing of gait, and balance.

Results: People with PD who have undergone AT have improved in certain motor, cognitive and psychosocial …

An Exploration Of The Experience Of Leisure Among Adults Who Immigrated To The United States From Latin American Countries, Violeta Chavez Serrano, Jazminne Orozco Arteaga, Karen Mccarthy

Spring 2023 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Kaplan (1975) defined leisure as a self determined activity that is pleasant and allows for personal growth. Although the diversity among the population in the United States has continued to increase over the past years (United States Census Bureau, 2019) the amount of leisure research related to race and ethnicity is relatively limited. According to Floyd et al., (2008) only 4.5% of published articles highlighted the impact of race and ethnicity on leisure. Exploring how personal context influences occupational engagement, by examining a specific group's experience engaging in an occupation can help further develop the understanding of how personal factors …

Tech 4 Kids: Increasing Opportunities For Children With Disabilities To Explore Technical Theatre Arts, Kaitlyn Allemand, Angela Blackwell, Erik Pérez

Spring 2023 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

This poster presentation is about a four-week program for children with disabilities named Tech 4 Kids. The program focused on expanding opportunities for a creative outlet and improving participants' self-competence, creativity, well-being, and social-emotional skills through activities surrounding the stage, set, lighting, props, and costuming.

Pne - Lots Of Talk, Superficial Results, Aidan Keller, Michael Ray, Taylor Baugher

ASPIRE 2023

A narrative review (NR) of meta-analyses (MA) and systematic reviews (SR) that assess the effectiveness or efficacy of pain neuroscience education (PNE) on various outcome measures in individuals with chronic musculoskeletal (MSK) pain. Systematic searches were conducted on 4 databases. Study selection included MAs and SRs that assessed the effectiveness or efficacy of PNE on CP populations. Quantitative eligibility criteria included randomized controlled trials (RCTs), adults (18+ years of age), English or Spanish speaking individuals, and reporting of chronic pain (persistent or recurrent pain lasting ≥ 3 months). Qualitative eligibility criteria included individuals reporting chronic pain and experienced a PNE …

Clinical Effectiveness Of An Aquatic Exercise Program On Strength, Balance, Quality Of Life And Emotional Well-Being In Those With Visual Impairments: A Protocol Study, Laura Murphy, Nicole Joers, Alyssa Buonavolonta

Student Research Poster Presentations 2023

As of 2019, at least 2.2 billion people worldwide are living with some degree of visual impairment according to the World Health Organization. Generic physical therapy has been shown to benefit those with visual impairments. In a 2014 systematic review, researchers analyzed multiple studies that focused on the visually impaired population and their progress on strengthening after participating in exercise programs. They found that the generalized PT helped to improve the performance on tests of physical function in those with visual impairments. There has been minimal research on aquatic therapy and those with visual impairments, yet there have been other …

Effects Of Physical Activity, Play And Mindfulness-Based Interventions On Emotional Regulation And Emotional Awareness Skills In Adults With Developmental Disabilities At A Day-Time Assistance Program, Aaron Arndt

OT Student Capstones

Background: According to literature, deficiencies in emotional regulation and emotional awareness skills are more prevalent among adults diagnosed with developmental disabilities. Limited research shows promising support that the use of noninvasive treatments such as exercise, and play can promote emotional well-being among this population. This project aims to better understand the benefits of physical activity, play, and mindfulness-based interventions on emotional regulation skills in adults with developmental disabilities who attend a day-time assistance program.

Method: This 14-week capstone project was conducted at Lauren’s Institute for Education’s Adult Day Treatment (DTA) program. The occupational therapy doctorate (OTD) student developed and implemented …

Effect Of A Wilderness Rafting Trip On Disability Identity With Those Who Have Physical Disabilities, Kathryn Bauer

OT Student Capstones

Background: Disability identity is a concept that can occur when one focuses their identity and purpose on their disability. This can be positive or negative and have direct effects on one’s quality of life. Several studies have found that being in the wilderness has improved one’s self-perception, community, and goals for the future. This project aims to measure, after going on a 12-day rafting trip in the Grand Canyon, if there is any change on one’s disability identity, as well as to analyze accessibility for those with physical disabilities.

Method: Six participants with physical disabilities were included. All …

The Use Of Culturally Sustaining Practices In Play To Foster Resilience, Genevieve Lowry

Graduate School of Education

Children present in the hospital with an array of previous experiences. Play specialists must learn to help children use experiences as opportunities for growth and coping and be prepared when significant life events emerge as part of a child's play. Ecological models provide a framework for understanding children's lived experiences affecting development and offering insight into children and families responses to stress. Foundational theories of play provide knowledge of children's development, interests, and understanding of themselves and the world. This chapter examines two culturally sustaining models that build on play theories viewing children and families through a strengths-based lens that …

Play's Continuum Of Needs: Building Blocks For Deepening Play Opportunities In Medical Environments, Deborah Brewster Vilas

Graduate School of Education

Optimal healing for children in hospitals occurs when their developmental needs are considered as part of their overall treatment plan. One of the most pressing developmental needs for all children is the need to play, and this remains so even when they are confined to a hospital bed or face developmental delays or disabilities. This chapter examines the most basic components of implementing play programs in hospitals, such as the intentional creation of space for play, determining the best times for children to play, and exploring what types of play are therapeutic and possible in a hospital environment. The author …

Barriers To Outdoor Recreation For Marginalized Groups At The University Of Montana, Sabine R. Englert, Beatrix Frissell, Adrienne Liebert, Sophia Rodriquez, Margaret Jensen, Rachana Harris, Abby Doss

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

Exclusion from outdoor recreation reflects legacies of oppression of marginalized communities and makes access to the outdoors not equally available. In the United States, approximately 38% of Black Americans and 48% of Hispanic Americans participated in outdoor recreation in 2020. This is compared to 55% participation among Caucasian Americans. Many other intersecting identities are actively excluded, including people with disabilities, fat populations, and members of the LGBTQIA2S+ community; furthermore, class-based hierarchies are shown through the restricted outdoor access of low-income populations.

While numerous studies show a lack of diversity in outdoor recreation, little to no research has been conducted on …

Scuba Diving Social Identity, Type Of Experience, Sociopsychobio Health, Health-Related Quality Of Life, Self-Efficacy, Disability Level, And Personality Among People With Physical Impairments: A Mixed Methods Study, Tania Santiago Perez

All Dissertations

The most common type of disability in the US is mobility or physical impairment, occurring in one in seven adults. Globally, musculoskeletal and neurological conditions account for nearly two-thirds (65.6%) of total physical rehabilitation needs. Approaches that promote healthy community living, rehabilitation, and reduce relapse and rehospitalization among people with physical impairments are critical. Participation in recreational activities and identification with social recreational groups may promote the health, quality of life, and functional abilities of people with physical impairments, contributing to reducing their hospitalization and healthcare needs. This explanatory sequential mixed methods research study had two aims. Using the experience-type …

Using Social Media To Examine Disabled Veterans’ Adaptive Sports Lived Experience At The National Veterans’ Wheelchair Games, Heather Harding

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones

Considered the world’s largest annual rehabilitative wheelchair games event for Veterans in the United States, the National Veterans Wheelchair Games (NVWG or the Games), co-hosted annually by the Department of Veterans Affairs and Paralyzed Veterans of America, is a long-standing event that offers a view into how adaptive sports and recreational activities can impact Veterans with disabilities. This hermeneutic phenomenological qualitative study sought to discover if the Veteran athletes, who participated in the NVWG between 2017 and 2021, described their lived experiences through the lens of their public social media posts on Instagram, and if so, what can be gleaned …

Implementing A Structured Walking Program For Prek Through 8th Grade Teachers, Caitlin M. Kile, Robin Harris, Robin Bowden

Graduate Publications and Other Selected Works - Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Physical inactivity has become a significant health concern not only in the United States but worldwide. Adults are becoming sedentary due to sitting at work and school, computer use, and motorized transportation. During the COVID-19 pandemic, teachers experienced increased workloads, increased sedentary work time for virtual classes, and longer work hours. A PreK-8^th grade school system in the southeastern United States had health promotion and prevention programs for students but no health and wellness programs for teachers. Wellness programs can promote physical health and less worker absenteeism. At the completion of a 12-week walking program, the teacher's weekly time …

The Effect Of Covid- 19 Pandemic Process On Social Psychology And Nature-Based Therapeutic Activities, Aysun Yalvac, Esmahan Yalcin, Murad A. Kasalak

University of South Florida (USF) M3 Publishing

Today, many scientists have stated that the use of nature-based products and activities at certain rates together with the healing effect of modern medical techniques during the epidemic that affects the whole world has health-supporting benefits. Based on these views, people's consumption of products obtained from natural resources has increased and the interest in outdoor activities in nature has increased. Due to the positive effects of these activities on mental health, socialization and rehabilitation processes, over time, it became necessary to consider these activities within the scope of therapeutic recreation applied to groups with health restrictions such as the disabled, …

The Relationship Between Balloon Tourism And Well-Being, Serkan Bertan

University of South Florida (USF) M3 Publishing

The relationship between balloon tourism and well-being was analyzed in this study. In line with this purpose, a questionnaire was implemented on people living at Pamukkale destination. The reason for selecting Pamukkale was its importance as one of the most prominent localities with many hot air balloon activities. Structural equation model was used in this study which was conducted to determine the relation between well-being and the effects of and support for balloon tourism. The sample was determined with random sampling method. Data were analyzed through PLS-SEM method. Economic, cultural and environmental impacts were found to be positively affecting the …

Pne – Lots Of Talk, Superficial Results, Aidan Keller, Michael Ray, Taylor Baugher

Honors Projects

Objective: A narrative review (NR) of meta-analyses (MA) and systematic reviews (SR) that assess the effectiveness or efficacy of pain neuroscience education (PNE) on various outcome measures in individuals with chronic musculoskeletal (MSK) pain. Methods: This was a mixed methodology review involving systematic searches across 4 databases (PubMed, ScienceDirect, CENTRAL (Cochrane), and Google Scholar). Inclusion criteria stipulated MAs and SRs that assessed the effectiveness or efficacy of PNE on CP population. Quantitative eligibility criteria included randomized controlled trials (RCTs), adults (18+ years of age), English or Spanish speaking individuals, and reporting of chronic pain (persistent or recurrent pain lasting ≥ …

Assessment Of Postural, Locomotor, And Physical Fitness Status In Individuals With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities, Alana J. Turner

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Postural control and locomotion deficits can be observed during the early years of childhood development and throughout life. For those with disabilities, these deficits can advance past the development years and into adolescence and adulthood while affecting the quality of life and daily activity. Finding interactive rehabilitative activities to delay or limit these deficits is essential for people with disabilities to improve their quality of life, inclusion, and overall movement. Adapted physical activity/sports like badminton and virtual reality could promote improvements in postural and locomotor status for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities like cerebral palsy (CP), intellectual …

The Coping Strategies Of Older Adults With Age Related Vision Loss (Arvl) – A Narrative Account, Zakara J. Stampp

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The goal of this study was to share the stories of older adults with age-related vision loss (ARVL) and how they have coped to maintain meaningful occupational engagement. Grounded in a constructivist paradigm, data collection and analysis were guided by the narrative inquiry methodology. The participants consisted of six older adults aged 60 or older, diagnosed with one of the following ARVL conditions: macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and/or glaucoma. Participants were recruited from vision loss non-profit organizations such as the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) and the Alliance for Equity of Blind Canadians (AEBC). One older adult was …

The Influence Of Recreation Engagement On Adolescent Health-Risk Behaviors, Krista Thomas

All Dissertations

The number of adolescents who engage in suicidality is staggering. Adolescence is a unique developmental period where engagement in health-risk behaviors is prominent. Factors influencing engagement in suicidality are vast and occur both internally and externally in the adolescent. Substance use during adolescence has shown an association with increased suicidality. Similarly, bullying, both cyberbullying and in-person bullying, have contributed to adolescent suicidality. Alternatively, recreation engagement has yielded benefits in both psychosocial and physical health for adolescents. However, limited research has identified that engaging in recreation can minimize suicidality. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore how substance use, …

A Qualitative Study Of The Process Undergraduate Health Professions Students Utilize While Conducting A Scoping Review, Dawn De Vries, Betsy Williams

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: The purpose of this research study was to inform pedagogy on the effectiveness of journaling as a tool to gauge synthesis and application of course content to a scoping review. The research question asked is “Is reflective journaling effective in helping undergraduate health profession students understand and apply course research concepts and ideas directly to an academic project?” The researchers used a reflective journaling activity to enhance student learning and to explore student application of course lectures to a scoping literature review. Method: Students were required to complete the journaling activities as a class assignment. Four journal …