Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

The Effects Of Leg Length Discrepancy On Gait And Balance, Colin E. Dombroski

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Leg length discrepancy is a condition shown to affect 25-70% of the general population. The ubiquitous nature of leg length discrepancy can prove frustrating to many clinicians, particularly due to lack of consensus surrounding the amount of discrepancy that necessitates treatment.

The present research is intended to address the uncertainty surrounding diagnostic and treatment thresholds, through three related studies. In the first study, leg length discrepancy was manipulated in a sample of 15 healthy young adults, using a novel heel-to-toe lift (creating discrepancies of 5mm, 20mm, and 30mm), and the effects of this new discrepancy was observed on the spatial-temporal …

Fatigue And Mobility Post-Stroke, Svetlana Knorr

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Fatigue post-stroke is a disabling and persistent symptom affecting many stroke survivors. Despite its high prevalence, the pathophysiology underlying this phenomenon remains obscure. Thus, the aim of this thesis was to study the neuromuscular basis underlying fatigue post-stroke and its association with self-reported fatigue and with the performance of tasks incorporating balance and mobility components.

Community-dwelling stroke survivors who had mild to moderate deficits in functional balance and mobility participated in a series of investigations. Chapter 2 describes the initial validation of the Community Balance and Mobility (CB&M) scale for use in persons with chronic stroke. Chapter 3 reported the …

Prehabilitation For Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Patient-Centred Approach To Maximizing Surgical Outcomes, Carly D. Mckay

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The purpose of this dissertation was to investigate the role of prehabilitation in post-operative recovery for patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) for osteoarthritis. Study one was a meta-analysis that aimed to consolidate the body of knowledge regarding prehabilitation for TKA patients. Study two compared the Lower Limb Tasks Questionnaire (LLTQ) to the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) in terms of agreement and responsiveness. Study three investigated the effect of a six-week pre-surgical strength training program on post-operative outcomes (quadriceps strength, mobility, pain, self-reported function, health-related quality of life, arthritis self efficacy) for TKA patients. Finally, study …

Walk Softly And Carry A Big Stick: Strategies To Decrease Dynamic Knee Joint Loading, Daniel J. Bechard

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Excessive dynamic loading of the knee joint, quantified indirectly during three dimensional gait analysis, is a risk factor for the progression of knee osteoarthritis (OA). The overall objective of this thesis was to explore the effects of prolonged walking and the use of Nordic walking poles on selected gait characteristics indicative of knee joint load. The first study evaluated the time-varying behaviour, reliability, and validity of selected gait kinematics during 60 minutes of treadmill walking in 20 healthy adults. Maximum lateral trunk lean angle and maximum toe-out angle did not change over time, were consistent from day to day and …

Development And Testing Of A Low Vision Product Selection Instrument (Lv-Psi): A Mixed-Methods Approach, Daniel Fok

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

In Canada, it is conservatively estimated that $46 million is lost per annum from low vision (LV) assistive technology device (ATD) abandonment alone. The proper matching of the person and the technology during the selection process has been theorized as necessary to mitigate inappropriate abandonment. In the current dissertation, a mixed-methods approach with qualitative and quantitative study components was used to develop and test a LV product selection instrument (LV-PSI) that may help with the matching process.

The key qualitative aspect of the study included two qualitative research sessions with LV participants (N=10). Each session was made up of two …

Assessment Of Occupational Competence In Dementia: Identifying Key Components Of Cognitive Competence And Examining Validity Of The Cognitive Competency Test, Briana M. Zur

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Considering the links between dementia and everyday living, occupational therapists are called upon to make recommendations regarding appropriate living arrangements for persons with dementia. Re-framed as occupational competence, this is often accomplished by an evaluation of cognitive competence. Within the context of an aging population, a key question is how to best inform decisions regarding occupational competence, using cognitive competence as an indicator. The Cognitive Competency Test (CCT) is a tool used to evaluate cognitive competence and inform judgments about occupational competence in individuals with dementia. This thesis incorporates two studies that identified cognitive components that predict occupational competence in …