Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Use Of Robotics In Spinal Cord Injury: A Case Report., Lori Siedziewski, Roseann C. Schaaf, Julie Mount

Department of Occupational Therapy Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVE: We examined the use of robotics to treat upper-extremity (UE) dysfunction in tetraplegic patients with spinal cord injury (SCI).

METHOD: a 51-yr-old man with incomplete SCI participated in an occupational therapy program that combined traditional occupational therapy with Reo Go®, a comprehensive therapy platform that includes a robotic guide featuring a telescopic arm to enable high repetitions of functionally relevant UE exercises.

RESULTS: The participant demonstrated measurable improvements in active range of motion, muscle strength as measured through manual muscle testing, perceived right UE function, and self-care performance as measured by the FIM™.

CONCLUSION: The findings from this case …

A Community-Based Occupational Therapy Wellness Program For Adult Clients With Traumatic Brain Injury, Cody Link, Amanda Myklebust

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Each year in the United States, over 1.5 million people sustain a traumatic brain injury (TBI) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011). TBI can cause a variety of long-term problems with thinking, sensation, language, sensorimotor, and emotions (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011). These lead to long-term problems in areas of social participation, emotional wellness, work and volunteer participation, community integration, leisure participation, and healthy life balance. This indicates the need for continuing occupational therapy to address these problem areas. Communitybased interventions provide a service to promote health in an individual’s natural environment and can focus on a …

A Guide For Teachers And Paraprofessionals Working With Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Lesley Fettig

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The purpose of this scholarly project was to create a resource for occupational therapists in the public school system to provide a guide to educators and paraprofessionals working with children with autism spectrum disorder. The resulting guide for the occupational therapist provides the necessary materials to develop child specific guides for the educator and paraprofessional. The product provides education and guidance to optimize the educator and paraprofessional's ability to provide for the needs of a child with autism spectrum disorder in the school environment.

A comprehensive literature review was conducted to examine current best practice and treatment guidelines for autism …

Sexuality: The Missing Activity Of Daily Living: A Pilot Study, Lindsay Farkas, Elizabeth Reynolds

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: The purpose of this pilot study was to explore the comfort level of occupational therapists addressing sexuality with clients in physical disability clinical settings in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. A secondary intention of this study was to explore why or why not OTs are addressing sexual issues with their clients, and if therapists are addressing sexual issues, what resources are utilized.

Methods: A non-experimental design pilot study was conducted to explore the comfort level of occupational therapists addressing sexual issues with clients in physical disability settings. A mixed-methods, triangulation survey design was used to gather data …

A Physical Wellness Program For The Transition Into A Wheelchair, Christa Haas, Meghan Lyle

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Based on the information from the literature reviewed in Chapter II, individuals may experience secondary medical complications and disruption to engagement in meaningful occupations once confined to a wheelchair for mobility. According to Matuska, Giles-Heinz, Flinn, Neighbor, & Bass-Haugen (2003) education through wellness programming has lasting benefits on participation in meaningful occupations and prevention of occupational limitations. The product of this scholarly project, A Physical Wellness Program for the Transition into a Wheelchair, was designed with a holistic approach to promote health and wellness in clients' transitioning to wheelchairs; the wellness program was designed to facilitate a healthy lifestyle and …

Developing An Occupational Therapy Community/Client Wellness Program, Lindsey Sauer, Lindsey Wolsky

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Health promotion is gaining more recognition with the increase of chronic diseases worldwide and the growing elderly population in the United States. The World Health Organization (2011) places a particular emphasis on health promotion as well as preventative care. The role of occupational therapy fits directly with this emphasis. The American Occupational Therapy Association (2008) identified occupational therapy's roles to include promotion of healthy lifestyle, use of occupation as a means to improve health and provide services to both individuals and populations.

Problem: Although health promotion and prevention is well within the realm of occupational therapy, Flannery and Barry (2003) …

An Occupation-Based Protocol Designed For Women With Cardiac Conditions, Erika Swirzcki, Andrea Young

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death in women worldwide as well as the number one cause of death in the United States (American Heart Association [AHA], 2010). Women are not adequately represented when entering phase II of cardiac rehabilitation due to the numerous barriers that they may experience. The purpose of this scholarly project is to help meet women’s unique needs and facilitate their return to meaningful life roles and occupations after experiencing a cardiac event. This protocol provides guidelines for occupational therapists to use during phase II of cardiac rehabilitation and addresses the implementation of occupation-based …

Bringing Occupation To Long-Term-Care Setting, Danielle Shepers, Stephanie Blonigen

Occupational Therapy Capstones

As a person enters a long-term-care (LTC) facility, they lose their home, independence, possessions and routine (O'Sullivanm, 2004). Adopting a meaningful occupational or social role may improve psychological well-being in elders (Keung Yuen, Huang, Burik, & Smith, 2008). There is a need for resources to support the use of occupations as treatment modalities in LTC setting. The purpose of this scholarly project is to address this need.

A literature review was conducted using AOTA, AJOT, OT Practice, CINAHL, SCOPUS, and PubMed on topics relating to the populations served in LTC, and types of OT intervention used in LTC. Issues concerning …

An Occupational Therapy-Based Education Program For Caregivers Of Individuals With Cerebral Palsy: A Culturally Conscious Perspective, Allison L. Kalb, Diana L. Huettl

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Introduction: Individuals with cerebral palsy (CP) are able to lead functional, productive, and fulfilling lives when provided the opportunity. In the country of Ghana, the prevalence of CP is estimated to be one out of every 300 births (Purple Field Productions [PFP], 2011), however, a lack of education about CP and other disabilities, limited access to healthcare services, and scarce resources hamper the Ghanaian people’s opportunities for habilitation (Reynolds, 2010; Tinney, Chiodo, Haig, & Wiredu, 2007). In addition, cultural beliefs and societal attitudes toward people with disabilities in Ghana pose a barrier for those individuals to fully participate in occupation. …

Educating And Communicating Through Sociolinguistic Registers: Adolescent Client, Chanaé Jones, Brittany Mayer

Occupational Therapy Capstones

PROBLEM: Currently tests such as the SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test) and ACT (American College Testing), as well as employment use what is identified as formal sociolinguistic register (Joos, 1967 & Payne, 2005). Payne (2005) built upon Joos’ (1967) definition and presented five registers: frozen, formal, consultative, casual, and intimates. Formal register is defined as; one-way participation, no interruption such as is seen with introductions between stangers. Technical vocabulary; “fuzzy semantics" or exact definitions are important. Montano-Harmon (1991) found that many minority and poor students do not have access to formal register at home but rather tend to rely primarily in …

Growing Occupational Identity: The Use Of Agricultural Entrepreneurship For Young Adults With Disabilities To Successfully Enter, Adapt, Or Inhabit The Role Of Worker, Nicole Likewise, Theresa Podio

Occupational Therapy Capstones

“We know what we are, but not what we may be.” – William Shakespeare

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to develop a grant proposal in order to obtain funding for the development of an entrepreneurial program for young adults with disabilities transitioning into adulthood in rural Wyoming. Through participation in the program young adults would have the opportunity to pursue entrepreneurship in sustainable agriculture while concurrently developing an occupational identity.

Methods: A selected literature review was conducted to identify the scope of the problem and identify what, if any, programs are currently being offered to assist youth transition …

Letter And Number Reversals – Identifying The Problem, Janet Richmond

ECU Posters

Letter and number orientation affects legibility

Motivation: An Occupational Therapists Guide For Motivating Young Male Clients With Spinal Cord Injuries, Michael A. Nelson, Elizabeth M. Schleicher

Occupational Therapy Capstones

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2010), males account for approximately 80% of those who endure a spinal cord injury (SCI). Most newly diagnosed clients with spinal cord injuries are between the ages of 15-35 years (50%-70%) (CDC, 2010). Occupational therapists often work with clients who have sustained a SCI. It is in the best interest of the profession and our clients to address the psychosocial impact motivation can have on clients' recovery.

According to authors of research, a major problem to participation in treatment with clients who had a spinal cord injury was a lack of …

Developing Fine Motor Skills In Preschool Age Children, Linnea Starkey

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Based on the findings of the literature review, fine motor skills are an important skill to develop during the preschool years. Marr, Cermak, Cohan and Henderson (2003) described the importance of fine motor skills to engage in valued occupations in addition to educational activities. A child's occupations that demand fine motor skills may be dressing, tying shoes, play, among other daily tasks. If a child has difficulty with fine motor skills it could have a negative outcome on their daily lives and how they perform in school. Children who have difficulty coordinating the small muscle groups in their hands have …

Resource Manual For Occupational Therapists: Providing Transportation Related Resources To The Elderly Living In Poverty In North Dakota, Amanda Ralston, Lukas Wavra

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Between the ages of 65 and 74, 9% of elderly individuals live in poverty in the United States (Forum, 2010). This poverty rate increases to 11% in elderly individuals who are 75 years of age or older (Forum, 2010). In rural areas, the effects of poverty may be even more pronounced than in urban areas secondary to the societal limitations that exist within some small rural communities; rural areas in North Dakota routinely face both the effects of poverty and the societal limitations. These limitations may include a lack of public transportation or services available to the general public. Due …

Ride The Wave: A Guide For Implementing Biofeedback In Occupation-Based Interventions In A Rehabilitation Setting, Sarah Averett, Johanna Meister

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Historical and current research studying EMG biofeedback has shown this method to be an effective adjunct to occupational therapy intervention. Utilizing EMG biofeedback has been shown through research as effective in improving functional gains. The use of biofeedback allows an individual to visualize unseen physiological processes which are unique to each individual and provide better understanding of otherwise unseen functions (Laurenção, Battistella, Moran de Britto, Tsukimoto, & Mayizaki, 2008). An extensive literature review and students’ observations of clinical occupational therapy practice led the investigators to conclude that EMG biofeedback was a viable treatment method which has not been utilized to …

A Lifetime Of Work: A Guide To Health Promotion And Wellness On The Farm, Andrea Hensrud, Gregory Holubok

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The purpose of this project is to develop a guide to health promotion, wellness and adapting to life changes on the farm from an occupational therapy perspective to enhance quality of life for aging farmers and rural community dwellers. The authors completed a focused literature review on topics related to health promotion, wellness, adapting to life changes, making changes and aging in place. Data was collected through an extensive study of relevant information through professional journals, clinical text books, class discussion and related state and national associations. Upon completion of the review of literature, it was determined that older adults …

The Impact Of Powered Mobility Devices On Occupational Performance : A Systematic Review ; And, The Experience Of Being A Motorised Mobility Scooter User, Ryan Fomiatti

Theses : Honours

The impact of powered mobility devices on occupational performance: A systematic review

Purpose: To systematically review the impact powered mobility devices have on engagement in independent occupations for adults with acquired mobility limitations. Method: The following databases were searched electronically: CINAHL Plus, Medline, PsychInfo, OT Seeker, Joanna Briggs Institute and Physiotherapy Evidence Database. The search terms used a combination of words to encompass all terms which are used for powered mobility. Studies were included if they evaluated adults’ use of a motorised mobility device, and if individuals used a powered mobility device due to acquired mobility limitation. Results: Eleven studies …

Role Transitioning For Athletes Coping With Injury And Occupational Loss, Steven L. Huft, Izaak P. Schafer

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: The purpose of this scholarly project was to develop an occupational therapy based intervention program for persons who are experiencing changes in their role as athletes. These transitions may include return to sport following an injury, unanticipated retirement from sport, or anticipated retirement from sport.

Methods: A thorough literature search and review was conducted using the following research databases: CINAHL, Google Scholar, PubMed, and PsycINFO. Evidence from the occupational therapy, physical therapy, athletic training and psychology professions was reviewed regarding the prevalence of injury in varying sports contexts, athletes’ ability to transition during role changes or interruption, injury rehabilitation, …

Students' Experience Of Learning To Use Occupation As Intervention On Fieldwork In Medical Settings, Kelli Atkinson, Nicole Knutson

Occupational Therapy Capstones

There are few studies that focus on students’ experiences of fieldwork; specifically, investigating how students learn to use occupation. In addition, there is limited research regarding the students’ learning to use occupation-based interventions in medical settings. The purpose of this independent study was to explore students’ experience of learning to use occupation as intervention on fieldwork in medical settings and specific strategies used by students and fieldwork educators for learning to use occupation as intervention. A phenomenological, qualitative research design was used with this study. Participants were recruited through the use of the University of North Dakota occupational therapy department …

Illness Management And Recovery: The Role Of Occupational Therapy, Crystal Brecht, Jenna Mcgregor

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: The Illness Management and Recovery (IMR) model is a collaborative program that focuses on living with a chronic mental illness by educating the client on management techniques that will facilitate goal setting toward recovery (Mueser et al., 2006).The purpose of this scholarly project was to review the occupational therapy (OT) literature and determine the role of OT in IMR programs.

Method: A comprehensive review was conducted on occupational therapy interventions appropriate for inclusion in the IMR modules. Sources utilized for the review included: United States and international OT journals, OT textbooks, and other publications authored by OTs from the …

The Use Of Occupation-Based Interventions In Long-Term Care: A Qualitative Study, Amy Jo. Jensen, Mallory Carlson

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: To explore occupational therapists' use of occupation- based interventions in long-term care facilities.

Methodology: A literature review was completed on the use and effect occupation-based intervention has within a long-term care practice setting. Based upon the findings of this literature review, a qualitative research study was conducted using a grounded theory approach adopted from Strauss and Corbin (1998). Six occupational therapists working in long-term care facilities in Minnesota were recruited through purposive sampling using convenience and snowballing techniques. Each participant was interviewed once using a semi-structured interview. Data from the interviews was then coded and grouped into categories. Themes …

Caring For Individuals With Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (Fop): A Treatment Manual For Occupational Therapists, Amanda Rositas, Kathryn Zavoral

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva is a rare and disabling genetic disorder that results in ossification of the soft tissues (Kaplan, Xu, et al., 2008; Kocyigit, Hizil, Hemis, Sabah, & Memis, 2001). There is a lack of research and literature on therapeutic intervention for those with a diagnosis of FOP. However, occupational therapists (OTs) can help those with FOP increase their quality of life through enhancement of activities of daily living (Kaplan, Le Merrer, et al., 2008). Overall, this product will serve as a guide for occupational therapists working with individuals diagnosed with FOP. The benefits of this product will be determined …

Embracing Life With Als: The Role Of Occupational Therapy From Diagnosis To End Of Life Care, Chelsey Edwards, Amy Ferguson

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: The purpose of this scholarly project was to develop a comprehensive document that describes the role of the occupational therapist in working with clients and families affected by Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis CALS) from diagnosis to end-of-life care.

Method: A literature review was conducted using the AJOT, PubMed, CINAHL, and OT SEARCH databases. Information was gathered regarding current literature of ALS, the disease process, occupational therapy's role in ALS treatment, caregiver's role in end-of-life care, assistive technology, palliative care options, and additional support strategies. Additional ALS material was gathered from the ALS Association's informational manuals.

Results: Designed from the perspective …

Effectiveness Of Sensory Integration And Behavioral Interventions On Nonengagement In Preschool Aged Children, Tiffany Kuyper

Theses and Dissertations

Abstract EFFECTIVENESS OF SENSORY INTEGRATION AND BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTIONS ON NONENGAGEMENT IN PRESCHOOL AGED CHILDREN By Tiffany Ann Kuyper, OTR/L A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Occupational Therapy at Virginia Commonwealth University Virginia Commonwealth University, 2012 Director: Marie Anzalone ScD, OTR, FAOTA This single subject pilot study explored a combination of sensory-based interventions and behavioral interventions in a preschool aged child identified with Sensory Over-Responsivity (SOR). Children often display nonengagement associated with escaping and avoiding tactile and/or vestibular information because they perceive sensory input as negative or aversive. The subject …

Health And Wellness Using Occupations To Explore Internal Motivators For Change, Shayal Ram, Susan Macdermott, Becki Cohill, Karen Park

Fall 2020 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

The purpose of this capstone project was to create an occupation-based program that could be integrated into the lifestyle patterns of adults to potentially assist reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The number of Americans living with AD is expected to grow up to 16 million by 2050 (Smallfield & Heckenlaible, 2017). The risk for developing the disease could be reduced through lifestyle modifications (Hussenoeder & Riedel-Heller, 2018). Using occupation as a means for health promotion and disease prevention is an emerging area for occupational therapy practice (AOTA, 2014). This capstone sought to increase awareness of internal motivators that …

Rasch Analysis Of Repeated Measures, Trudy Mallinson

Health, Human Function, and Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

Repeated measures are common in rehabilitation studies where patients are scored on assessments at both admission and discharge. Yet repeated measures produce dependencies among responses. This paper presents an alternative approach that avoid dependencies in the data.

Resources For Assisting Elderly Individuals With Insomnia: An Occupational Therapy Perspective, Michelle Linn Anderson

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The purpose of this scholarly project is to provide a resource manual for elderly individuals, and those providing care to elderly people, to assist the individual in relieving symptoms of insomnia. Insomnia affects elderly individuals worldwide. Studies document that approximately 50% of individuals in the United States over the age of 65 are noted to have either clinically diagnosed or self-diagnosed insomnia (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 2007). As the population worldwide continues to age, it is important that occupational therapists, elderly individuals, family members and care providers be aware of the impact that symptoms of insomnia may …

Lifestyle Redesign®: Current Applications In An Outpatient Clinic, Camille Dieterle, Karen Mccarthy, Susan Mcnulty, Chantelle Rice

Collected Faculty Scholarship

The purpose of this presentation is to provide examples of OT practice in order to broaden the scope of practice to include prevention and wellness treatment and to empower OT’s to incorporate these types of services into their practice settings.

Promoting Occupational Therapy In Virtual Environments: Project-Based Learning In Second Life®, Susan Toth-Cohen, Phd, Otr/L, Veronica Souter, Ots, Elizabeth Vanderlaan, Ots, Kaitlin Rodriguez, Ots

Department of Occupational Therapy Posters and Presentations

Description of project

Occupational therapy students from Jefferson School of Health Professions in Philadelphia planned and implemented interactive exhibits within the virtual world of Second Life®. The educational exhibits were provided through an ongoing project designed to promote occupational therapy, provide immersive experiences on health and wellness for persons in Second Life® and promote collaboration between project personnel and others with an interest in health and wellness. Exhibits focused on home and playground adaptations, mental health and productive aging and were based on current research evidence and best practices. Students also participated in events in which they promoted occupational therapy …