Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

The Effects Of Multiple Sclerosis On Perceived Parenting Roles And Adolescent Coping, Alyssa Coundourides, Kendra Host, Elizabeth Rexroat

Adult

This research project focused on the effects of parental multiple sclerosis (MS) upon parenting roles and family coping. Specifically, the study was implemented to acquire insight into the primary research question: How do parents perceive familial role changes resulting from MS to impact coping of their adolescent children? The study also investigated the role of occupational therapy in assisting parents with MS to facilitate coping in their adolescent children. These concepts were investigated though a mixed methods design, using the Role Checklist to quantitatively assess participants’ roles and values, and a focus group to qualitatively explore participants’ lived experiences of …

Hand Pressure And Force: Adapted Knives Compared To A Straight Knife, Melissa S. Hudecz, Lillian A. Schaefer, Katherine A. Simon

Hand and Upper Extremity

This study analyzed the pressure and force required to cut an object with a standard kitchen knife and two adaptive knives. Occupational therapists recommend adaptive utensils such as kitchen knives. The appropriate tool or adaptive device reduces joint force and pressure and helps keep joints properly aligned to reduce pain during daily activities for individuals with arthritis. This research seeks to add to the body of knowledge to support the use of adapted equipment. Methods: Thirty-three participants were included in this study. Data were collected using a hand sensor and software made by Novel Pliance-X. This tool was found to …

Impact Of Finger Position On Pinch Strength, Rachel Boerema, Jamie Powers, Kelsey Walukonis

Hand and Upper Extremity

The purpose of this study was to assess for differences in the amount of tip, lateral, and three-jaw-chuck pinch force generated when fingers are placed on the groove or bridge of a B&L pinch gauge. Thirty-six healthy volunteers (9 males, 27 females), ages 19-49, participated in the study. Using a quantitative crossover design, each participant pinched six times: one for each type of pinch with fingers placed on the groove and bridge. Although no significant differences were found, results revealed slightly higher three-jaw- chuck and lateral pinch strength when fingers were placed on the groove, whereas tip pinch strength was …

Effectiveness Of Grand Valley State University Service-Learning Project In The Grand Rapids Public Museum, Lauren French, Linnea Petzke

Service Learning

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the effectiveness of a service-learning project completed by Grand Valley State University occupational therapy students in collaboration with the Grand Rapids Public Museum. This study sought to discover the perceptions of service-learning projects from community collaborators’ perspective. A qualitative focus group was used to gather data about the museum’s role in the community and in learning, occupational therapy’s role within community settings like the museum, and the use of service-learning projects to integrate the two. Overall themes from the qualitative data analysis included: Occupational Therapy in Museums, Learning Environment, and Service-Learning. …

Upper Extremity Kinematics In Sonographers During Kidney Scanning, Jennifer Pocratsky, Blake Ashby, Jeanine Beasley

Peer Reviewed Articles

To understand the mechanisms involved that lead to the high prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders in sonographers, this motion capture study evaluated upper extremity kinematics during kidney scans. The purpose of this study was to provide an evaluation of joint ranges of motion during scanning, which could be helpful in assessing risk of injury. A Vicon MX motion capture system recorded reflective marker positions while four sonographers scanned a volunteer’s kidneys. The results indicated that sonographers were scanning with their shoulders in flexion, abduction, and external rotation. The elbows were in flexion and the wrists in extension in all cases …

Effective Conservative Treatments For De Quervain’S Tenosynovitis: A Retrospective Outcome Study, Katherine Oosting, Brittany Krenselewski, Claire Dolislager

Hand and Upper Extremity

Introduction: De Quervain’s tenosynovitis is a repetitive stress disorder occurring at the first dorsal compartment of the wrist at the radial styloid and is commonly treated by hand therapists.^1-3 Conservative treatments include activity modification, modalities, orthotics, and manual therapy.^4-7The literature is unclear regarding best practice for treating de Quervain’s tenosynovitis with conservative methods.^5,8,9

Purpose of the study: The purpose of this study was to identify which treatment or treatment combinations was most effective to reduce pain and improve functional outcomes for patients with de Quervain’s tenosynovitis.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted with 42 …

A Systematic Review Of The Best Practices For Playground Inclusion, Megan Mejeur, Graceann Schmitt, Hannah Wolcott

Pediatrics

Occupational therapy considers the person, occupation, and environment when providing treatment services. In schools, the person is the student, the occupations include education and play, and the environment is the classroom and the playground. In Muskegon, Michigan, the public school system is undergoing a consolidation of elementary schools and trying to determine what to do with the current playground environment. The researchers conducted a systematic review of the existing research regarding best practice, accessible, and inclusive playground designs for the elementary schools that will promote physical activity and enhance classroom performance. Scholarly databases and gray literature were searched using predetermined …

Analysis Of Playground Equipment At Muskegon Public Schools: A Needs Assessment, Kailee Chandonnet,, Elizabeth Elam, Leah Lucas

Pediatrics

A local school district, Muskegon Public Schools, is restructuring due to budget constraints. Therapists at Muskegon Public Schools were concerned about the safety and accessibility of the current playgrounds. The purpose of this needs assessment was to determine if any of Muskegon Public Schools’ playgrounds met the students’ safety and accessibility needs. To determine this, the researchers created a checklist using the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Handbook on Public Playground Safety (1997) and the U.S. Access Board Summary of Accessibility Guidelines for Play Areas (2005). The checklist was then used to assess all nine Muskegon Public School playgrounds. None of …

A Qualitative Study Of Middle School Students’ Perceptions Of Unstructured Time, Stephanie L. Hovick, Justine N. Gonzalez Bratt, Kristin M. Cameron

Pediatrics

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to identify middle school students’ perceptions of unstructured time by determining physical and leisure activities the students would want to have available for their use at school.

METHOD: A researcher developed questionnaire (Students’ Leisure Time Questionnaire) was used to interview 23 middle school students (ages 11 to 15) regarding their perceptions of activities during unstructured time. A phenomenological design was used, incorporating open-ended qualitative questions.

RESULTS: The students were able to identify activities in which they would like to participate during their unstructured time at school. Students primarily indicated football and basketball as …