Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

Evaluation Of Swallowing Related Measures In Different Head And Neck Postures In Healthy Young And Older Adults, Mabell Vargas

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study evaluated swallowing related measures (oral transit time and number of swallows, tongue force and lip force) and different head and neck postures in a group of healthy young adults and older adults. Participants consisted of 19 healthy young and 17 healthy old. They were asked to ingest 2 different liquid consistency to measure the time they take to swallow and the number of swallows. The maximum tongue and lip force was measured with the IOPI device for 3 seconds and repeated 3 times.

The results of the study showed that the number of swallows is not significant regardless …

A Comprehensive Analysis Of Balance, Symmetry, And Center Of Mass In The Gait Cycle Of Transfemoral Amputees, Kayla T. Etienne

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis is to create a framework that assists in the transfemoral prosthesis fitting process by calculating balance and symmetry to quantify patient comfort with an understanding of bipedal locomotion and human anatomy. Three different software applications were used to compare (1) the body position during gait cycle, (2) the natural and amputee anatomies, (3) the natural and prosthetic legs, and (4) the equilibrium and torque movements of the hip, knee, and ankle joints. Models were created in Maya for analysis in Solidworks and MEL code evaluation with MatLab. The MatLab code tested combinations of joint degrees …

Correlates Of Vitamin D Status In Healthy Older Adults Living In Miami-Dade And Its Association With Non-Skeletal Outcomes: A Cross-Sectional Study, Johanna Lopez

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Examining factors that affect vitamin D status in the fast-growing elderly population of Miami-Dade, Florida, is needed. Vitamin D deficiency in older adults has been linked to correlates of disability, including falls and fractures, and cardiovascular disease. The purpose of this study was to determine the proportion of vitamin D insufficient individuals and their relationship with vitamin D insufficiency in older adults (n=97) living in Miami-Dade. We evaluated the association between vitamin D status and 1) dual task physical performance to understand the link between vitamin D and cognition in the context of mobility; and 2) cardiometabolic risk, measured by …

Neuromuscular Changes In Older Adults During The Lateral Step Task, Tatiana Bejarano

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Older adults may have trouble when performing activities of daily living due to decrease in physical strength and degradation of neuromotor and musculoskeletal function. Motor activation patterns during Lateral Step Down and Step Up from 4-inch and 8-inch step heights was assessed in younger (n=8, 24.4 years) and older adults (n=8, 58.9 years) using joint angle kinematics and electromyography of lower extremity muscles. Ground reaction forces were used to ascertain the loading, stabilization and unloading phases of the tasks. Older adults had an altered muscle activation sequence and significantly longer muscle bursts during loading for the tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius, vastus …

The Benefits Of A Regular Exercise Group Program In Community Dwelling Elders With Chronic Stroke, Dessislava Dakova

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether community dwelling elders with chronic stroke who participate in a regular exercise group program demonstrate decreased fear of falls, decreased depression and improved quality of life/health status perception as compared to community dwelling elders with chronic stroke who don’t participate in such an exercise program.

Two groups of 13 English speaking community dwelling elders with chronic stroke, were selected. The first group consisted of individuals who were currently participating in the Adult Fitness Group at South Miami Hospital (SMH) and the second group consisted of former SMH patients who had not …

Interprofessional Perceptions Between Occupational Therapists And Physical Therapists: Barriers To Effective Interdisciplinary Team Functioning, Jennifer L. Gober

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

OT and PT practitioners are expected to function as members of an interdisciplinary team effectively. It is important to be aware of the barriers that may create conflict between them. The purpose of this study was to examine interprofessional perceptions regarding interprofessional and practice issues that might serve as barriers to effective interdisciplinary team functioning. A random sample of 400 therapists (200 OTs and 200 PTs) was mailed questionnaires. A total of 182 questionnaires were used for data analysis. Research questions were analyzed using descriptive statistics, frequency distributions, t-tests, and chi-squares.

This study finds that OTs and PTs have differences …

Clinician Perceptions Of Factors That Enhance Patient Compliance In Physical Therapy, Victoria R. Benea

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine physical therapists utilization of methods to increase compliance with home exercise programs, and to determine their perceptions of barriers patients have to completing exercise programs. The secondary purpose of this study was to describe the association, if any, between therapists' age, participation in exercise and/or lifestyle changes and the utilization of methods to increase exercise compliance. A sample of 73 physical therapists attending the American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting were surveyed for this study. This study found that barriers listed by patients were similar to those found in the literature. …

Occupational Therapists' Interests And Attitudes Toward Animal Assisted Therapy As A Treatment Modality, Lori Susan Buckley

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

One hundred seventy-nine occupational therapists (OTs) responded to a survey regarding their interests and attitudes toward animal assisted therapy as a treatment modality. It was found that most of the practitioners would be interested in learning more about animal assisted therapy and most felt it is a valid treatment modality to be used by occupational therapists. Furthermore, the most common answer to the question "why would you not be interested in participating in an AAT program," was "I feel I don't know enough about it". It was also found that therapists' most commonly selected patient goals for AAT were in …

The Relationship Between Acculturation And The Effects Of Caregiving Of The Elderly Among Cuban-Americans, Georgia De Las Pozas

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to establish the perceived caregiving effects among thirty Cuban-born individuals caring for elderly relatives and the relationship of these effects with acculturation.

Most common difficulties were lack of private time, or social life, and decreased emotional and physical health. Satisfactions were mostly derived from fostering the elders' welfare. A strong positive relationship was found between caregivers' difficulties and stability of the caregiving dyad (r= - 0.642, p< .001). Caregivers involved in more unstable caregiver-care receiver dyads had more stress associated with caregiving difficulties. The acculturation factors of language, electronic media, and social relations, and the stability of the caregiving dyad accounted for 54 percent of the variation in caregivers' difficulties (p< .001) but only 21 percent of the variation of caregivers' satisfaction (p<.221).

These findings provided preliminary data of caregiving characteristics among Cuban-Americans and the importance of including acculturation in studies involving minorities.

The Effects Of Participation In An Arthritis Foundation Sponsored Aquacize Program On Health Status, Rose Ann Ruggiero Curboy

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The current study assessed the effects of participation in an Arthritis Foundation sponsored water exercise program on self-reported functioning and health status. Nine older community living women with various forms of arthritis took part in this pre to post-test design study, along with a comparison group of eleven older women also regularly engaged in differing forms of exercise. Both groups completed a standardized questionnaire, the Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales 2, twice over an eight week period. Twelve scales and additional questions measured physical, social, and psychological aspects of daily functioning. Aquacize participants reported significant improvements in the Physical Component area …

Age-Related Differences In Self-Reported Health And Functional Abilities In The Elderly, Cynthia Garner Condon

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to compare age-related differences in self-reported health and self-reported functional abilities from 1971 individuals surveyed in the Comprehensive Needs Assessment Survey of Elders 60 years and Older in Dade County. The responses were divided into four age groups: (a) 60 to 64 years, (b) 65 to 74 years, (c) 75 to 84 years, and (d) 85 years and older and results compared.

The study found that self-reported health ratings were significantly different across the four age groups and exhibited a gradual decrease in favorable health ratings with age. For all ages, at least 60% …

The Effects Of Therapeutic Ultrasound On Open Wounds, Martha Henao Bloyer

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the evidence for the effectiveness of therapeutic ultrasound (US) therapy in the treatment of open wounds as an adjunct to the usual and customary treatment provided by physical therapists. An exhaustive search of all published studies on the effects of therapeutic ultrasound on open wounds was performed. Every article, which met certain criteria, was reviewed in detail. Criteria included the use of human subjects, animal subjects, or human cells in vitro, publication in referred journals indexed by MEDLINE, CINAHL and availability of full text in the English language. Fourteen studies met the …

Occupational Therapists' Assessment Of The Caregivers Of Their Elderly Patients, Ernest Vincent Corradetti

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the methods and extent to which occupational therapists who are practicing in aging are assessing the caregivers of their elderly patients. A random sample of 500 therapists who subscribe to a special interest group publication of a professional organization were surveyed by mail and 204 responses were received.

Respondents were asked to indicate all of the activities related to caregiver assessments in which they engage. Methods of assessment included: (a) professional caregiving activities, (b) informal assessment methods, and (c) formal assessment methods. There were more than 90% of respondents who indicated that …

The Effect Of Self-Operated Prompts On Leisure Participation By Persons With Mental Retardation, Tanya Michele Camper

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The use of permanent prompts for individuals with severe disabilities has been shown to be effective in acquiring new skills, improving the accuracy and maintenance of existing skills, and in eliminating the need for trainer prompts. However, this technology has not been evaluated for its potential impact in promoting leisure participation. In this study, two men with mental retardation were administered auditory and/or visual prompts to investigate their effect on increasing participation in a leisure activity. In addition, their performance was evaluated to establish whether continuous versus intermittent schedules of the prompts would influence participation. The data were collected using …

Icelandic Occupational Therapists' Attitudes Toward Educational And Professional Issues, Elín Ebba Ásmundsdóttir

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The entire population of Icelandic occupational therapists were surveyed concerning characteristics and attitudes toward professionalism and educational goals. There were 87 questionnaires sent out and 80 (92%) were returned and used for analysis. This data will have a positive impact upon the development of the first Icelandic occupational therapy curriculum. Icelandic occupational therapists, in general, value academic skills over technical skills, are active in their association, willing to take on duties for the advancement of the profession and are interested in conducting research. The attitudes of the Icelandic occupational therapists were generally quite uniform. T- tests and one-way ANOVAs (p < .05) revealed some significant differences in a number of attitudes by education level, length of professional experience and country of education. The results show the importance of providing Icelandic occupational therapy practitioners with the opportunity to take part in research. This study will serve as a foundation for future studies on Icelandic occupational therapists and provide reference data for later comparison.

Occupational Therapy In Iceland Attitude, Knowledge And Cooperation, Gunnhildur Gisladottir

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to discover attitudes and knowledge of four healthcare student groups toward occupational therapy in Iceland.

A fact-sheet identifying philosophy, theoretical background, skills roles and occupational therapy working areas was developed. Pre-test and post-test questionnaires were used to measure any attitude and knowledge changes which might have occurred after reading the fact-sheet.

The results demonstrated that the four student groups had obtained knowledge about occupational therapy during their university experiences; either from in class information or from field trips to occupational therapy departments. The questionnaire results indicated that students' attitudes toward cooperation with occupational therapists …

Beliefs Of Icelandic Elderly Living In The Greater Reykjavik Area Toward Autonomy And Paternalism In Caregiving Of The Elderly, Ingibjorg Svava Asgeirsdottir

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

With the aging population and the increase in health care costs, issues of independence and autonomy will have a greater impact on formal and informal health care. Changes in occupational functioning that accompany increased age has raised the demand
for family assistance to the elderly. It is important for occupational therapists to understand the elderly's perceptions toward autonomy and paternalism in caregiving of the elderly because it is assumed that attitudes and beliefs affect how people interact and care for the elderly.

A convenience sample of 57 Icelandic elderly were surveyed regarding their attitudes toward autonomy and paternalism in caregiving …

Valued Occupational Roles And Life Satisfaction Among South Florida Hiv-Infected And Non-Infected Homosexual Males : An Exploratory Study, Kenneth Morton Byers

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A study was conducted in order to describe and understand the occupational role behavior of gay men with particular interest on understanding the impact of an HIV diagnosis on their roles and life satisfaction. A 137- item questionnaire was developed for this study and distributed through various gay community groups in south Florida. The process resulted in ranked description of 24 valued occupational roles of gay men (n = 80) along with a general understanding of potential shifts that may occur in those roles as a result of becoming infected with HIV. The study concludes that a diagnosis of HIV …

The Effect Of Three Positions Of Shoulder Flexion On Grip Strength, John David Canyock

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the effect of shoulder position on grip strength in 30 female students from Florida International University. A Jamar dynamometer was used to measure the grip strength in three testing positions (0,90 and 135 degrees of shoulder flexion with full elbow extension). The highest mean grip strength measurement was found at 135 degrees of shoulder flexion, followed by 0 degrees and then 90 degrees. An ANOVA indicated that there was a significant difference between at least two of the three positions. A Fisher's LSD post hoc test indicated that mean grip strength at 135 degrees of flexion was …

The Relationship Between Common Language And Length Of Treatment In Occupational Therapy, Nivia Liz Binett

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The diversity of ethnic and cultural groups and the effects of language in the therapeutic relationship are timely professional issues of concern to occupational therapy practitioners. The tri-ethnic, tri-cultural South Florida area offers a natural environment where one can study how patient-therapist interactions are influenced by language barriers in a diverse society. This study examines the effects of language on the adequacy of occupational therapy services, specifically how language affects the length of the treatment program. The nature of diagnosis therapists' ethnicity, and how they impact treatment outcomes are also addressed. A sample was drawn from the occupational therapy outpatient …

Physical Therapy Recruitment And Retention Strategies Of Hospitals In The Us, Laura Burgos

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Hospitals are seeing a reduction of physical therapy (PT) staff due to increased opportunities and competition. Planning effective recruitment and retention strategies for PTs in hospital settings may play an important role in reducing the problem. The primary purpose of this descriptive research was to compile information on recruitment and retention strategies used for physical therapists working in hospital settings. Four hundred surveys were mailed nationwide to hospital-based physical therapy managers. Strategies most commonly used were: attractive benefit package, interdisciplinary teams, competitive salaries, and student employment. The least used strategies used were: sign-on bonus, incentive pay programs, recruitment and retention …

Occupational Therapists As Consultants In Florida Schools : A Survey, Leigh Ann Agee

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Little research has been done on how well prepared occupational therapists feel to perform the role of consultant. This study investigated the perceptions of occupational therapists acting as consultants in Florida schools, how much education/training they have received and how they perceive their consultation skills. Participants in the study were sent a questionnaire and measures of central tendency were calculated on each item. Crosstabulations using Fisher's exact test were completed to investigate any relationship between type of consultation model used and relationships with educators. A one way ANOVA was conducted to investigate any relationship between self-perceived consultant skills and age, …

Job Satisfaction Of School-Based Physical Therapists, Leonard Elbaum

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Recruitmuent and retention of Physical Therapists (PTs) by public school systems has been identified in the literature as a significant problem, and the resultant shortage of school-based PTs hinders the capability of school systems to deliver physical therapy services to exceptional students as mandated by federal statute. The purpose of this study was to assess the level of job satisfaction among physical therapists who currently work in public school settings. Job satisfaction can be an important factor affecting recruitment and retention.

A systematic sample of 462 school-based PTs was chosen to receive via mail a survey instrument which requested information …

A Comparison Study Of Hip Range Of Motion And Electromyography During Backward Walking Between Children With Spastic Diplegia And Children Without Known Disabilities, Martin L. Carrillo

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the kinematics of the pelvis and the right hip and the electromyographic activity of the gluteus maximus and biceps femoris during backward walking in children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy and children without known disabilities. Subjects included 6 children, three with a diagnosis of spastic diplegia and three without known disabilities.

The results of the study showed important differences between the experimental group and the control group. Subjects with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy (SDCP) walked backwards with less hip extension, more body rotation, shorter and slower steps, and used a higher percentage …

The Use Of Aerobic Exercise As An Occupational Therapy Intervention For Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Patients, Phyllis A. Davis

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric diagnosis receiving increased attention. Occupational therapists are becoming more involved with this diagnosis, particularly with Vietnam Veterans in Veteran Affairs Hospitals. Aerobic exercise is a treatment which has not been explored with this population. Depression and anxiety are symptoms commonly associated with PTSD. This study sought to determine whether aerobic exercise would reduce overall PTSD symptomatology, including depression and anxiety. Three psychological inventories: The Penn Inventory for PTSD, The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and The Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and one physiological inventory: The Queens Step Test for VO₂ Max were …

A Descriptive Study Of University Students' Beliefs Regarding Autonomy And Paternalism In Caregiving Of The Elderly, Linda Ann Cain

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

An elderly person with declining physical and mental abilities associated with aging or disease, often needs assistance from others for functional activities. The beliefs in autonomy and paternalism of those who render assistance to the elderly may influence their behavior toward the elderly. The purpose of this study was to identify university students' beliefs regarding autonomy and paternalism in caregiving of the elderly and to determine if there were any differences in beliefs between educational levels. Seventy-two undergraduate and graduate occupational therapy students (mean age 28.3) volunteered to participate in this study. The measurement instruments included: the Respect for Autonomy …

Comparison Of Parental Perception And Therapist Interpretation Of Child's Performance Of The Peabody Fine Motor Scale, Martha Gene Belote

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Public Law 102-119 (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1991), mandates that family members, if they wish, participate in developing a plan of treatment for their child. Traditionally, therapist have not relied on parental assessments based upon the assumption that parents overestimate their child's abilities. The present study compared parental perceptions about the developmental status of their child's fine motor abilities to the therapist's interpretation of a standardized assessment using the Peabody Developmental Motor Scale (Fine Motor). Thirty seven children, enrolled in an early intervention program, and their parents were recruited for the study. The results indicated that the parents …

Enhancing Physical Therapy Students' Attitudes Toward Telecommunication Technology By Using A Demonstration Model, Steven R. Bernstein

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to assess and enhance the attitudes and knowledge of physical therapy students toward telecommunication technology. A questionnaire was given to appraise the attitudes and knowledge of 156 physical therapy students toward telecommunication technology. The intervention was a one hour presentation on applications relevant to physical therapy practice. The majority of students expressed interest in telecommunication before the presentation, and felt that expanded use of telecommunication was important to the profession. However, only a minority of students demonstrated knowledge about specific medical telecommunication applications. The post-intervention questionnaire showed the presentation to be effective in changing …

The Effects Of Massage Therapy On Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness After Unaccustomed Exercise For Healthy, Sedentary Adults, Neal B. Finkelstein

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the effects of massage therapy on delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) following unaccustomed exercise in healthy, sedentary adults. Fifteen volunteers between the ages of 23 and 63 performed 100 calf raises followed by 15 minutes of rest. After the rest period, one leg was randomly assigned to receive a 5-minute massage while the other leg received a 5-minute placebo ultrasound treatment. A questionnaire was administered to evaluate DOMS at 24, 48, and 72 hour posttreatment intervals when DOMS reportedly is at its peak. A double blind control was employed so that the examiner was unaware as to which …

Stated Versus Observed Performance Levels In Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain, Alma R. Abdel-Moty

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the relationship between chronic low back pain (CLBP) patients' perceived (stated) levels of function and their measured (observed) performance in squatting and stair climbing activities as compared to healthy volunteers. Twenty patients with CLBP and 20 healthy subjects were asked through an interview to self-assess their ability to comfortably perform stair climbing and squatting as well as other tolerances. The subjects were then asked to perform the activities and their performance levels were recorded. Results of the t-tests and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) procedures revealed that patients' estimate of squatting and stair climbing abilities as well as …