Other Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

Scoliosis Analog Model For The Evaluation Of Bracing Technology, Chloe Ly Chung

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Thoracolumbar braces are commonly used to treat Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS). Braces serve to reduce and prevent progression of the spinal curve by applying corrective forces. The magnitude and direction of these corrective forces applied by the brace to the spine remain unknown. Additionally the brace fitting process involves making alterations to the brace that affect its corrective force capacity. The objective was to design and validate an analog model of a mid-thoracic single curve scoliotic deformity for quantifying structural properties of the brace and the force response of the brace on the spine. This model was used to investigate …

The Effects Of Massage On Perceived Physical Soreness, Pain And Markers Of Inflammation Following High Intensity Unaccustomed Exercise, Courtney Lynn Crow

Master's Theses

Massage is often recommended to athletes to facilitate recovery and attenuate DOMS. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of massage on perceived muscle soreness and pain, inflammatory and immune markers, ROM, and mood state. Fourteen, recreationally active, women participated in a randomized crossover design study, consisting of 1) 60 min. full body massage following unaccustomed exercise and 2) 60 min. of rest. following unaccustomed exercise. Perceived muscle soreness and pain, active range of motion (ROM), mood state, along with blood concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), creatine kinase (CK), and neutrophil count (NC), was assessed …

The Effect Of A Multiple Modality Mind-Motor Exercise Intervention On Single And Dual-Task Gait, Balance, And Executive Function, In Community Dwelling Older Adults With A Subjective Cognitive Complaint: A Randomized Controlled Trial., John P. Bocti

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Cognitive decline disorders are becoming increasingly prevalent, with older adults at increased risk. Combined exercise has been recently explored as an intervention to help to prevent the decline, however cognitive activation in combination with physical activity has yet to be explored. Therefore, the purpose of the study is to determine the effects of multiple modality exercise programs in combination with a mind-motor task and their effects on mobility and cognitive variables. A total of (n=89) older adults (55+ yrs), with subjective cognitive complaints participated in a multiple modality exercise class, three days a week over six months, with the intervention …

Print Awareness: A Comparison Between Print And Electronic Assessments In Typically Developing Preschool Children, Peter Kao

Theses and Dissertations

This study compared print and electronic formats of the Concepts About Print (CAP) assessment in typically developing preschool children. The researchers were interested in comparing print awareness skills using two different reading modalities. Independent variables were mode of presentation and age, dependent variables were the CAP scores. To account for a learning curve, two different versions of the CAP assessment were used and counterbalanced. Modes of presentation was also counterbalanced. Examiners achieved a 98.24% agreement (K = 0.964) across 40% of all assessments.

A significant correlation (r =.919) was found between the scores on the CAP and scores on the …

The Effects Of Color In Recognition Of Images In Multiple-Choice Displays By People With And Without Aphasia, Kristin Michelle Zenz

Theses and Dissertations

Language assessments for people with aphasia often rely on the use of images. Images are presented together with a verbal stimulus and participants are asked to choose the image that corresponds to the verbal stimulus. It is assumed that if a person chooses an incorrect image, he or she has language comprehension deficits. However, other non-linguistic factors can influence image recognition processes, such as stimulus characteristics and verbal or motoric response requirements associated with target selection. Color has been shown to facilitate image recognition in language-normal individuals and in people with aphasia. However, traditional tasks to assess the influence of …

Comparison Of Conversation And Narrative Language Abilities In Children With Autism: Diagnostic And Therapeutic Considerations, Corissa Kroenke

Theses and Dissertations

Many children with autism experience significant difficulty with comprehension and expression of spoken language. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) require sensitive assessments to describe the unique profiles of individual clients with autism so that appropriate treatments can be prescribed. Language sample analysis is a current best-practice for describing language profiles in children with language difficulties, though there is a limited literature describing clinical best-practices for children with autism. The purpose of this study was to analyze the difference in conversation and narrative language abilities in children with autism. Language ability was also analyzed in comparison to age-matched typically developing peers. This goal …

Satellite Cell Behavior In Cyclists Following Intensified Training With And Without Protein Supplementation, Alec I. Mckenzie

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

PURPOSE: The objectives were to determine the satellite cell (SC) response among endurance-trained cyclists (n=8; VO_2max: 63.1 ± 8.4 mL/Kg/min)to a period of intensified training (ICT) (10 days) and 10 days of recovery (RVT), with and without protein supplementation. METHODS: Muscle biopsies were obtained from the vastus lateralis prior to- and immediately following ICT and RVT. Fluorescent microscopy was used to analyze SCs and myosin heavy chain I and IIa (MHC I and IIa). Data were analyzed using magnitude-based inferences. RESULTS: MHC I SCs were exceptionally abundant at baseline (38 ± 20 SCs/100 fibers). MHC I SC count …

How The Phoenix Took Wing: An Examination Of The Humanities Canon As It Relates To The Psychology Of Posttraumatic Growth, Stephen Dalton

Senior Theses

The investigation of posttraumatic growth as a psychological principle is giving researchers new ways to understand how it is that some people seem to thrive following events that are normally perceived as tragic and wholly negative. These survivors do not just bounce back from their tragedies; the researchers describe these people as “bouncing forward” – that is, the survivors report that their lives now are profoundly better than they were before the trauma. While the psychological research into posttraumatic growth is relatively new, the field of Humanities has conducted this same inquiry for several thousand years. For example, Friedrich Nietzsche …

The Skinny On Eating Attitudes, Body Image, And The Thin-Ideal In College Women, Lyndsay N. Greene

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

There is evidence of a link between body image and disordered eating among females, and some research that suggests exposure to the media exacerbates both body dissatisfaction and eating pathology. Despite these claims, little research has been done on the effects that exposure to photo-shopped images specifically has on body dissatisfaction and eating pathology. The present study sought to further understand the relationship between cognitive distortions of body image and eating attitudes and to examine the effects that exposure to the thin-ideal found in the media has on body dissatisfaction among college aged women. Eighty female college students answered questions …

Productions Of Metalinguistic Awareness By Young Children With Sli And Typical Language, Lucy E. Long

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study seeks to: (1) determine if differences exist between children with Specific Language Impairment (SLI) compared to age-matched (AM) and language- matched (LM) children with typical language development (TL) in rates and proportions of five types of metalinguistic productions and (2) test theories of metalinguistic production. Forty-five children, 24 with TL and 21 with SLI, paired for age or language level, formed two groups. Previously collected data from two studies of verb learning (Proctor-Williams & Fey, 2007; Proctor- Williams, unpublished) were analyzed for rates and types of metalinguistic productions. Results yielded no within or between group significant differences in …

The Effects Of Horseback Riding On The Gait Of Adolescents, Sarah L. Hayes

Undergraduate Distinction Papers

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to investigate the changes that occur in the gait of a set of subjects after they ride a horse. Eleven riders with a developmental disability were selected and included in an experimental group and nineteen “typical” subjects or those without a developmental disability were included as a second comparison group. The length of time the subjects were able to remain standing in a tandem stance and in a one-legged stance without becoming unbalanced was measured and recorded. The stride length of the subject’s second and third step from heel to heel was also …

Take 2 Steps And Call Me In The Morning: Prescribing Physical Activity Through Primary Care, Emily Knight

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Objectives: Physical activity guidelines for older adults target high-intensity activities (i.e. increasing exercise), with less attention on low-intensity activities (i.e. reducing/interrupting sedentary behaviours) to improve health. Mobile health (mHealth) holds promise for engaging patients in self-management of chronic diseases. The purpose of this research was to prescribe physical activity of various intensities (i.e. sedentary through exercise) in primary care paired with mHealth for self-management.

Methods: 60 older adults (55-75yr) were randomly assigned to four groups: one control, and three receiving mHealth kits plus prescription for a specific intensity of physical activity (exercise, sedentary or both). Clinical measures (anthropometrics, …

Characterizing Knee Loading Patterns In People Post-Stroke, Stephanie Marrocco

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Post-stroke temporal gait asymmetry (TGA) could cause excess loading of the non-paretic leg which may cause musculoskeletal (MSK) issues in the knee. This thesis investigated knee loading during gait and its relationship to TGA post-stroke. Methods: Gait analysis was conducted in nine people post-stroke. Gait was classified as symmetric (TGS) or asymmetric and external knee adduction (KAM) and flexion moments (KFM) were calculated. Participants were compared to healthy older adults (n=109) on KAM and KFM. The proportion of individuals with increased loading was compared between the TGS and TGA groups. Results: Six and four participants exhibited increased loading …

Early Intervention Of Parent-Infant Interactions In Preterm Infants: A Systematic Review, Stacey Osborne

Theses : Honours

Every year approximately 15 million babies are born preterm. These infants are at an increased risk of language, and other developmental delays due to their immature brain development and higher incidence of brain abnormalities. They also have poorer health outcomes in the early stages of life which may go on to hinder successful parent-infant interactions. Successful parent-infant interactions are important for infant developmental outcomes such as language, cognition and behaviour. While interventions targeting the promotion of positive interactions have been found to have positive effects in a number of populations to date, interactions involving preterm infants have not been explored. …

The Role Of Occupational Therapy In Primary Care, Priti Patel

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

The Capstone Project is focused on communicating, influencing and educating other health care professionals regarding the role of occupational therapy in the future model of primary care delivery initiated by the adoption of the Affordable Care Act and the Triple Aim Initiative. Currently, primary care, the largest health care platform in United States, is not inclusive of occupational therapy services. Occupational therapists have the scope, knowledge and understanding to be part of the redesigned team model of primary care. Educating those currently working in primary care about adding occupational therapy services can have a significant impact on the profession of …

Biomechanical Analysis Of Race Walking Compared To Normal Walking And Running Gait, Jaclyn D. Norberg

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Human locomotion is phenomenon that is extraordinarily complex. It is evident that a complete description of locomotion involves consideration of kinematics, kinetics, and muscle activity of the extremities in all of their various movements. Race walking (RW) is a form of upright locomotion that differs from normal walking and running by its form dictated by the International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF). Despite the similarities to both normal walking (NW) and running (RU), RW has not been the subject of equally intensive investigations.

This study explores the comprehensive biomechanics of race walking and how it compares to NW and RU. A …

Behavioral Implications Of A Cognitive Training Program For Individuals With Moderate Cognitive Impariment, Joseph L.D. Kennedy

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a cognitive training program on behavioral outcomes for individuals with moderate cognitive impairment. A total of twenty participants were randomized into either a waitlist control or an experimental group. Collateral individuals familiar with each participant completed a series of measures of behavioral and emotional functioning at both pre- and post-intervention. Results demonstrated little effectiveness for the cognitive training program in stabilizing or improving behavioral functioning. Limitations and future directions are then provided to enhance future research in this area.

Joint Attention Intervention With Assisting Parent­ Mediated Techniques To Increase A Toddler With Autism Spectrum Disorders' Use Of Joint Attention: A Single Case Study, Rebecca Schulz

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Attention Intervention (JAI) conducted by graduate researcher, parent, and caregiver, would change the use of joint attention (JA) by a three-year-old suspected of having Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The participant was a three-­year-­old child suspected of having ASD. Intervention was conducted twice per week for 30-45 minute duration by the student graduate researcher at a university clinic under the supervisor of Dr. Bonnie Berg, CCC­SLP. The parent and child's caregiver were trained in JAI and implemented the intervention daily in the home environment. The author's research question was, "Will the use of a JAI parent­mediated intervention model increase the JA …

The Effects Of Sustainability As A Positive Attribute On Equine Therapy Design: An Interdisciplinary Study, Andria Sinclair

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Interdisciplinary studies have brought benefits to introducing new solutions to the traditional environment and traditional therapies. Sustainability in relation to design has been suggested in 2006, by the Center for Building Performance and Diagnostic (CBPD) at Carnegie Mellon University to incorporate daylight, solar, heat and ventilation of the natural environment combined with the innovations of current technologies (Whitmore, 2011). This paper will look at how sustainability plays a key role of benefits including those that are health associated with equine therapy design and its relationship to the patient, or end user. Interdisciplinary research in the therapeutic value of equine-human bonding …

The Challenges And Perceptions Of Raising A Child Who Uses Aac: A Review Of The Literature, Rachel M. Mikolay

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The purpose of this review was to examine the perceptions of parents and caregivers on raising a child who uses augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Factors and overarching themes in existing literature affecting parent’s perceptions were examined and condensed in this review. Seven research studies were chosen for analysis. A variety of common perspectives were found in the research and the conclusions relating to caregiver challenges and thoughts on AAC were categorized, including four thematic categories: problems with the AAC system; barriers to learning AAC; societal, family, and professional influences; and differences among individuals who use AAC. Information gained in …

A Comparative Acoustic Examination Of Infant Cries: Children At High Risk Versus Low Risk For Autism Spectrum Disorder Development, Ildiko Eva Bruz

Theses : Honours

Background: Early interventions for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) have shown positive gains in children who enter therapy at a young age. However, commencement of early intervention is often hindered by challenges with diagnosis. Due to the complex nature of ASD, the age of detection can range from 2 years old into adulthood. This highlights the need for methods of early detection. Previous research has found infants at risk for ASD to present atypical cry characteristics, possibly as a result from damage to the brainstem. In particular, measures of fundamental frequency appear to be the most sensitive to …