Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

The Post-Secondary School-To-Work Transitional Program: An Occupational Therapist's Guide To Service Delivery, Annemarie Assel, Erin Haugen

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Background: Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) are one of the most prevalent childhood diagnoses, occurring in every 1 in 68 children (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015). Although ASDs are considered childhood disorders, they persist throughout one’s life and are often more pronounced during common life transitions. For adults with ASDs, this is a time marked by fragmented services, as well as disengagement from services (Baldwin, Costley, & Warren, 2014; Friedman, Warfield, & Parish, 2013; Shattuck, Wagner, Narendorg, Sterzing, & Hensley, 2011; Strickland, Coles, & Southern, 2013). Those with ASDs have skills deemed valuable by employers that include being: reliable, …

Prosthetics Guide For Occupational Therapy Students And New Graduates, Chelsea De Bruto, Kayla Oates

Occupational Therapy Capstones

"The prosthetic technology is effectively an interface between that person and the life they wish to lead" (Gallagher, 2004, p. 828). Occupational therapy can help individuals with prosthetics deal with psychosocial and physical aspects of his or her condition (Gulick, 2011). Current literature covers all aspects of prosthetics, but it is scattered in many different places. The results of a study conducted by Mitchell, Gorelick, Anderson, and Atkins (2014), approximately 3-5 hours or less are spent on prosthetic training, while 85% of respondents felt that it was considered to be “very important”. This scholarly project focuses to bridge this gap …

A Resource Manual To College And University Academic Return For Young Adults With A Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, Rachel Gromek, Emily Hermanson

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: Reportedly, in the United States 75% of traumatic brain injuries that occur each year are referred to as mild (Centers for Disease Control Prevention, 2010). Traumatic brain injury is the leading cause of disability each year with the highest prevalence being between ages 15-24 years (Willmott, Ponsford, Downing, & Carty, 2014). The greatest deficits experienced by college or university students with a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) are cognitive, psychosocial, and physical (Kennedy, Krause, & O’Brien, 2014; Marschark, Richtsmeier, Richardson, Crovitz, & Henry, 2000). The purpose of this project was to address the limited resources available to individuals with …

A Pilot Study To Document Outcomes Of Occupational Therapy Intervention With Individuals Who Experience Upper Extremity Trauma Using The Role Checklist 2 And Quickdash Assessments, Devan Henderson, Jacob Kucera

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) quick form is a selfadministered patient perception questionnaire used to measure upper extremity disability and symptoms. The Quick DASH (QD) gauges the patient’s difficulty with task performance when impacted by an upper extremity injury. The Role Checklist: Version 2 (RC-V2) is a self-administered, patient perception that focuses mainly on the individual’s daily life roles, role competence, performance, and interest in performing those roles (Scott, 2013). The purpose of this study was to determine which of these assessments best measured progress of occupational therapy interventions for patients who sustained a traumatic upper …

Resource Guide For Secondary Complications Of Individuals Aging With A Spinal Cord Injury, Allison Laska, Emily Proctor

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: The purpose of this scholarly project was to develop an easy to use resource guide to aid occupational therapists in working with those aging with a spinal cord injury (SCI) that have endured a secondary complication and advocating to other healthcare professionals the usefulness of occupational therapy in treatment of these individuals.

Method: An extensive literature review was conducted using Cinahl, OT Search, PubMed, PsycInfo, various medical journals, OT course textbooks, and documents obtained from the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) website. Information was gathered about aging with SCI, common secondary complications in SCI, OT’s role in SCI, OT’s …

The Occupation Of Driving: A Guide For Occupational Therapists Working With Adolescents Who Have Adhd, Molly Schmitz, Morgan Voss

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Driving is a rite of passage for all teens with or without a disability. Individuals with ADHD are at a far greater risk of being in an accident or receiving a traffic violation as a compared to their developmental counterparts. In addition, parents and practitioners are often unaware of an individual’s readiness to drive skills prior to receiving formal driver’s education. Thus, this can be a stressful transition or learning process with individuals with ADHD and their families. For parents, practitioners, and teens, it is important that they understand the resources available to them and the steps to access those …

The Role Of Occupational Therapy In Primary Care With Older Adults, Kate Gearman, Tessa Richards

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The older adult population in the United States (U.S.) is projected to increase over the next 30 years (United States Census Bureau, 2014). With that, nearly two-thirds of older adults in the U.S. are diagnosed with at least one chronic health condition (Center for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2016b). These findings highlight a need for more specialized services for this population. Primary care is one sector of healthcare service delivery operating within the U.S. healthcare system. Presently, occupational therapy services are limited in primary care settings as defined in this scholarly project. Occupational therapy services have demonstrated efficacy in …

Chronic Low Back And Pelvic Girdle Pain 10 Months Post-Partum: A Case Study, Heidi Hansen

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose

Due to the increase in relaxin hormone during pregnancy women often experience increases in joint and ligament laxity. The result of this increase in laxity during or after pregnancy can lead to problems with postural and/or gait abnormalities, diastasis recti (separation between left and right side of rectus abdominus muscle) and pain, specifically, low back and pelvic girdle pain. Activities of daily living are often impacted because of these problems. The purpose of this case study is to highlight some of the principal issues and therapeutic options for postpartum women as presented through the case of one …

Proximal Muscle Weakness And Debility Secondary To Polymyositis: A Case Report, Adam Meidinger

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Polymyositis (PM) is the most common inflammatory myopathy in persons over age 50. It predominantly causes weakness at proximal musculature including the trunk, hips, thighs, shoulders, upper arms, and neck leading to challenges with ambulation and mobility, community activities, and difficulty swallowing, eating, and talking. Studies have shown physical therapy to be a staple in the plan of care for treatment of PM to aid in the restoration of muscle function and to improve or prevent further loss of strength. The purpose of this case report is to outline physical therapy's role in the treatment of a …

Lumbar Radiculopathy Post Lumbar Discectomy: A Case Study, Amy Harmon

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose: Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most common and costly musculoskeletal diagnosis in America. Approximately 50% of individuals with LBP have recurrent episodes by 1 year, 60% by 2 years, and 70% by 5 years. Micro-lumbar discectomies are often performed to relieve the radiculopathy and pain associated with nerve root entrapment. The purpose of this case study was to describe the clinical decision process implemented for the post-operative assessment and intervention of a patient with a L4-5, L5-S1 discectomy and to outline the associated outcomes.

Case Description: The patient, a 26 year-old male, …

Post Total Knee Arthroplasty Protocol Adaptations: A Case Study, Ashley Sebelius

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the largest source of physical disability in the United States and the joint most commonly affected by OA is the knee. Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is frequently implemented as a treatment for knee OA There is research that anxiety affects the patient's outcomes following total joint arthroplasty, but nothing to suggest how to specifically manage it. The purpose of this scholarly report is to discuss the physical therapy (PT) of a patient post TKA and how modifications to PT intervention were needed due to other medical and emotional issues.

Case Description: Patient …

Regaining Function After A Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Reconstruction: A Case Report, Talya Lori Tysver

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose: Medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) reconstruction is a common surgical procedure for the correction of recurrent patellar instability. There is a shortage of case reports, systematic reviews, and meta analyses conducted on the rehabilitation process of MPFL reconstructions post-operatively. The purpose of this case report is to look at the role of physical therapy in the course of recovery for a patient who has undergone an MPFL autograft reconstruction.

Case Description: The patient was a 21 year-old, Caucasian, English-speaking female. She presented with the chief complaint of R knee pain. She also had decreased core, hip, …

An Athlete And Patellar Tendinosis: A Case Study, Lisa Monson

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose: Patellar tendinosis is a pathology among young athletes with research being conducted about it every year. This single patient case study goes through the examination and evaluation leading to a diagnosis along with the treatment, outcomes, and discussion of this patient and patients recorded in other research studies.

Case Description: This case report was conducted on a 15 year old male presenting with left patellar tendinosis. Treatment lasted eight weeks with emphasis on eccentric quadriceps exercises and return to sport activities.

Outcomes: The results of conservative treatment for this young athlete were successful. The …

Evaluation Of Fall Risk, Functional Mobility And Quality Of Life Changes Of Community-Dwelling Older Adults With Parkinson's Disease Participating In A Community Exercise Program, Gabrielle Dahl, Elizabeth Hermanson, Laura Nelson, Kayla Selinger

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Purpose/Hypothesis: Falls are evident in the older population and are a common and disabling feature of Parkinson Disease (PO). The benefits of activity are well known to decrease balance deficits and increase overall quality of life in the older adult population. In addition highly challenging exercises have been suggested to increase neuroplasticity in individuals with PD. The effect of challenging exercises on clinical outcomes in a structured Physical Therapy setting is documented in literature; however, the effect of a community based program is not well documented. Our pilot study examined the effect of a community exercise program on improving …

Shoulder Impingement, Jennifer Ramsay

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background. Women who undergo mastectomy are almost 6 times more likely to experience shoulder restriction and impairment than patients who undergo breast-conserving surgery. Many women in the U.S. will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of their lives. The purpose of this case study is to review the rehabilitation plan for a patient with shoulder dysfunction and a history of surgical intervention for breast cancer.

Case Description. The patient was referred to physical therapy with complaints of pain in the right shoulder and anterior chest which increased with overhead movement. The patient's medical history included a skin …

Effectiveness Of The 30 Second Chair Stand Test In Reducing The Fall Risk Of Community Dwelling Older Adults Participating In The Stepping On Program, Corissa Kruse

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Stepping On is a seven week fall prevention program that utilizes education and exercise. The purpose of this study is to see if the participants of Stepping On can show a decrease in fall risk through the use of the 30 Second Chair Stand Test (30sCST), a functional assessment tool used to assess fall risk. This study looked at a group of 14 females (M=87 y/o) at an assisted living facility, who met the program's qualifications (community dwelling individuals and ≥ 65 y/o) and attended the Stepping On program. Only eight participants were tested using the 30sCST at Week 1 …

A Case Report: Paraplegia Secondary To A Failed Lumbar Fusion, Nicole Jefferson

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose: Low back pain is one of the most common symptoms that individuals experience around the world. The total cost for low back pain in the United States are over a billion dollars per year. Although an ample amount of research has been done looking into the epidemiology and treatment of back pain, many people are still suffering from lack of effective treatments.

Case Description: The purpose of this case report was to describe a patient who was post lumbar surgery to evaluate and examine the benefits of physical therapy. The patient in this case report was …

The Effectiveness Of The "Stepping On" Program For Reducing The Incidence Of Falls In The Elderly: Measured By Four Stage Balance Test, Julia Nelson

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Introduction: The Stepping On program encompasses both a balance and strengthening exercise regimen that is targeted towards reducing falls in community-dwelling individuals over the age of 65, who have experienced a fall or are fearful of falling.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine if the Four Stage Balance Test (FSBT) is an appropriate measure of fall risk in the Stepping On program and to determine if the Stepping On program is effective at reducing fall risk, measured by improved time performance.

Methods: Eight participants, all female, ages ranging from 80-94 years old (M=87.2) completed …

The Activities-Specific Balance Confidence Scale And Its Use In Assessing Confidence In Elderly Community-Dwellers Attending The Stepping On Program, Sierra Heeren

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Introduction: Stepping On is a 7-week comprehensive fall program aimed at reducing falls for the community-dwelling elderly. Participants are educated on balance and strengthening exercises, and the influence medications, visions, inclement weather, etc. has on safety and falls.

Purpose: The main purpose of this study is to utilize the Activities-specific Balance Confidence scale (ABC) and survey results to determine if attendance of Stepping On improves balance confidence. Secondly, this research sought out to discover if increased balance confidence relates to decreased fall risk.

Methods: Participants of this were included 13 individuals initially (with one participant joining the …

Physical Therapy And Above-Knee Amputation Pre-Prosthetic Rehabilitation: A Case Report, Sierra J. Maucort

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose: Promotion of functional mobility through surgical and therapeutic interventions has seen a dramatic increase within the past decade due to the aging population and increased push for objective functional assessment data. A key to obtaining optimal functional performance is core stability and this can be applied to individuals with a variety of limitations including an amputation. The purposes of this case study are to look at the preprosthetic rehabilitation regimen of an individual with an above-knee amputation and discuss the importance of key elements that should be present in a pre-prosthetic training program to allow a …

Curriculum Development For Occupational Therapy Education: Integrating Collaboration And The Use Of Simulation Laboratories, Janine Albert, Danielle Nielsen

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The Scholarly Project titled Curriculum Development for Occupational Therapy Education: Integrating Collaboration and the Use of Simulation Laboratories by Janine Albert and Danielle Nielsen and advised by Nicole Harris, MOTR/L and Breann Lamborn, MPA was developed to meet the demands of collaborative education in the field of occupational therapy. A literature review was completed to determine the need of collaborative education between Occupational Therapy education and Occupational Therapy Assistant education and the use of simulation laboratories. From the literature review there was a gap found linking the use of simulation laboratories, the occupational therapy process and occupational therapy education. Following …

Use Of Assessments In Occupational Therapy Physical Disability Settings, Caitlin Brown, Jana Carroll

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Background: The aim of this study is to evaluate occupational therapists’ (OTs) perceptions and use of informal observation and formal assessments in order to understand if differences exist between acute care and non-acute care occupational therapy (OT) adult physical disability settings. Non-acute settings may include but are not limited to home health, inpatient rehabilitation, transitional care, outpatient rehabilitation, and long term care.

Methods: Study design involved a nonexperimental survey. Qualtrics software was utilized to disseminate the survey across a five-state region to the population under study. Response rate included 88 OTs who answered consistently to the questions analyzed. Data analyses …

An Occupational Therapist's Guide For Mindful Practice Under High Productivity Standards, Breanna E. Coleman, Whitney J. Wilhelmi

Occupational Therapy Capstones

In recent years, healthcare service delivery has been influenced by one factor that has shown to considerably limit occupational therapy (OT) practitioners’ ability to be mindful in the work setting (Black, 2010). This influential factor involves increased productivity standards resulting in high burnout, empathic fatigue, job dissatisfaction, lack of mindful practice, and distress to the point of clinical effectiveness (Irving, Dobkin, & Park, 2009; Poulsen et al., 2014; Vadnais, 2014). In the midst of high productivity standards, a need surfaced for the production of a tool that assisted OT practitioners to overcome these standards as well as to incorporate a …

Modernizing Leisure Assessment Through Technology Applications, Brooke Johnson, Hanna Stevenson

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: The purpose of the product was to create an electronic based leisure interest companion for occupational therapists to utilize when treating clients. An electronic based leisure assessment would illustrate for the occupational therapy a more comprehensive understanding of the clients’ leisure interests.

Methods: A literature review was conducted using the CINAHL, OTSEARCH, Pub Med, and Google Scholar databases. The literature review results supported the value of leisure, and leisure assessment tools were explored. The UK Modified Interest Checklist was chosen as a focal point for the My Leisure Activities (MyLA™) companion tool development. A storyboard was created by the …

Emg Activity Of Accessory Muscles Of Breathing During Recovery Positions, Joel Kramer, Kelsey Meyer, Eric Nefstead, Daniel Vilaubi

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is predicted to become the third leading cause of death worldwide between 2020 and 2030. Signs and symptoms of this disease can be debilitating, however techniques can be taught to decrease impairments. Suggested techniques for pulmonary recovery consist of supporting the upper extremities, supporting the head and leaning forward. The purpose of the current study was to examine the effects of recovery positions on the EMG activation of accessory muscles of respiration to decipher which recovery position is the most ideal for COPD patients. Fourteen healthy adults over the age of eighteen were recruited for …

Electromyographic Analysis Of Hip Muscle Activity Comparing Maximal Voluntary Contraction To Manual Muscle Test Grades, Ty Bommersbach, Anthony Charbonneau,, Holly Koch, Braidy Solie

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between muscle activity during three manual muscle tests (MMT) and muscle activity during a maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) of the same muscle.

Subjects: Eleven female subjects voluntarily participated in this study. All participants were physical therapy students under the age of 30, nonpregnant, and without recent history of musculoskeletal injury.

Methods: Electromyographic (EMG) data was collected by placing surface electrodes over each participant's right tensor fasciae latae (TFL) and gluteus medius (GM) muscle. The EMG data from each muscle was transmitted by Noraxont TeleMy02400 G2 telemetry …

Rehabilitation Following A Total Hip Arthroplasty For An Individual With Polyarticular Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Case Study, Anna Jung

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose- Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA) is an autoimmune disorder present in children under the age of 17, most commonly seen in females. In JRA, the immune system attacks the body's cells and tissues causing persistent joint swelling and stiffness. There are 3 principle types of JRA, systemic JRA, pauciarticular JRA and polyarticular JRA. Polyarticular JRA is classified as involving 5 or more large and small joints of the legs, arms, jaw and neck. The purpose of this case study was to illustrate the rehabilitation program used for a patient with JRA following a left total hip arthroplasty (THA) …

Developmental Dysplasia Of The Hip: A Case Study, Joseph D. Taylor

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

PURPOSE: The primary purpose of this case study was to describe the implementation of a conservative treatment protocol for dysplasia of the hip in a young girl in an attempt to prevent surgical intervention. A secondary objective of reducing femoral acetabular impingement was subsequently undertaken in the course of the case study.

BACKGROUND: The patient was a 16 year old female with a diagnosis of bilateral developmental dysplasia of the hip (DOH), bilateral femoral acetabular impingement (FAI), anterior superior labral tear to left (L) hip, elevated antinuclear antibody (ANA) screening and a history of depression.

PLAN OF CARE …

Interdisciplinary Mental Health Approach To Equine Assisted Therapy For Veterans, Elizabeth Large, Brier Van Valin

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: The purpose of this program plan, Veteran Equine Therapy Services: An Interdisciplinary approach (VETS), is to provide an interdisciplinary, theory-driven structure to increase veterans’ occupational performance in the community using equines as a therapeutic medium.

Methods: A thorough literature review was completed focusing on current PTSD treatment options for veterans, beneficial effects of using animals and equines in treatment, and interdisciplinary team effectiveness. Scholarly articles were retrieved through databases found on the Harley E. French Library website located at the University Of North Dakota School Of Medicine and Health Sciences including PubMed, Google Scholar, Sociological Abstracts, CINAHL, and PsycInfo. …

Physical Activities In The Nys/Bya Program On The Turtle Mountain Chippewa Reservation: A Resource Guide For Adaptation, Lauren Herbert, Melissa Hoffman

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The percentage of children with disabilities in the United States (U.S.) is increasing at an alarming rate. According to the 2000 census, 3.9% of all families reported having a child with disabilities. As of the 2010 census, there were 53.9 million school-aged children (aged 5 to 17) in the U.S with about 2.8 million (5.2%) reporting a disability. Among the American Indian population, these rates are increasing at an even higher rate. American Indians have the highest rates of disability of any group in the United States (Nichols & Keltner, 2005). According to Waldman, Perlman, and Swerdloff (2008), more than …