Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Effects Of Reduced Muscular Strength On Running Kinematics Relating To The Planus Foot, Adam D. Froats

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The potential for injury is present in all forms of physical activity, particularly events involving repetitive motion. In attempt to identify kinematic changes following running induced reductions in muscular strength, 15 participants completed recorded treadmill runs before and after an outdoor run. Kinematics were recorded using a Vicon motion capture system and processed using 3D GAIT custom software. Using repeated measures ANCOVA with side (dominant and non-dominant) and time (pre-run and post-run) as within subject factors, and strength and arch height as covariates, no statistically significant differences were obtained. Using Pearson’s product-moment correlation coefficients to compare successive strides, post-run reductions …

The Relationship Of Plantar Sensation With Standing Balance And Gait Post-Stroke, Stephen Parsons

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Gait and balance dysfunction after stroke limit independence and quality of life. Numerous contributing factors have been investigated but the role of sensation deficits has received little attention. This thesis investigated the relationship between plantar cutaneous sensation and 1) standing balance, 2) gait, and 3) use of vision to compensate for sensory loss with a secondary analysis of data from individuals with subacute stroke. Associations between standing balance, gait and sensation were investigated with Spearman correlations. Individuals classified as impaired or intact sensation were compared on gait and standing balance measures. This thesis found plantar sensation is related to standing …

Psychometric Evaluation Of Self-Report Pain And Disability Measures For Elbow Disorders, Joshua Vincent

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Elbow disorders are one of the commonest musculoskeletal problems with a prevalence of 9% in men and 8.1% in women. Patient centered care is the goal of current healthcare delivery models; but optimizing treatment outcome and clinical research is hampered by a lack of outcome measures. Since pain and disability resulting from elbow disorders are experienced differently across individuals, they are best captured by patient reported outcome measures (PROM).

PROMs like the Patient-rated Elbow Evaluation (PREE); American Shoulder and Elbow surgeons – Elbow form (pASES-e) have been developed for use in elbow disorders, but important questions remain about their measurement …

Body Image And Quality Of Life: An Exploration Among Individuals With Head And Neck Cancer, Melissa M. Nash

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Background: One of the most distressing aspects of head and neck cancer (HNC) is the potential for physical disfigurement. Such changes may impact one’s body image (BI) with a secondary potential to impact long-term functioning; hence, changes in perceived BI may be seen as a critical component that influences post-treatment quality of life (QOL).

Methods: Forty participants completed 4 validated questionnaires during regular clinical follow-up visits.

Results: Perception of BI image does influence perception of QOL following HNC treatment(s), yet perceptions are highly individualized. Gender related differences are notable on BI questionnaire scores.

Conclusions: Data suggest that efforts to …

Inter-Relationships Of Functional Status In Children With Cerebral Palsy: An Extension, Emily Dyszuk

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The primary aim of this study was to establish functional profiles for children with cerebral palsy (CP), by determining the relationships between three classification systems (the Gross Motor Function Classification System, the Manual Ability Classification System, and the Communication Function Classification System). The secondary aim of this study was to investigate the number and impact of health conditions in the most prevalent clusters. Data were analyzed on 222 children with CP with an average age of 6.1 years, from several locations across North America. A total of 56 out of 125 possible combinations were recorded; four most prevalent cell combinations …

An Exploration Of Parental Experiences With Interventions For Children And Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Kaity Gain

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is defined as a group of pervasive developmental disorders that cause clinically significant impairments in social, occupational and overall functioning. The current body of research highlights the importance of community based interventions, programs and services for this population across their lifespan. This dissertation explores parental experiences with interventions, programs and services for their children and adolescents with ASD.

This dissertation contains three manuscripts in addition to the introductory and concluding chapters. The first manuscript explores the current literature on occupational therapy based interventions for school aged children with ASD. Manuscript two presents the findings of an …

Concept Mapping And The Cognitive Orientation To Daily Occupational Performance (Co-Op) Approach As An Intervention Framework For Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder (Asd), Jessie A. Wilson

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Individuals who are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) experience a range of difficulties that impact their daily occupational performance. The current body of research identifies the importance of occupational engagement and competence as fundamental elements in facilitating an individual’s social connections, development of personal autonomy and overall wellbeing. This dissertation explores the use of concept mapping embedded within the meta-cognitive framework of the Cognitive Orientation to Daily Occupational Performance (CO-OP) approach, to engage adolescents with ASD in meaningful occupations.

This thesis contains three manuscripts, an introductory and a final reflection chapter. The first manuscript is a methodological paper that …

Examination Of The Usability Of The Ipad Among Older Adult Consumers, Mike J. Voumvakis

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Background and Purpose

In the current technological-era there is assumption of universal Internet access of citizens in North America. Many senior citizens have the desire to access the Internet, however have limited experience-using computers. There currently exists multiple options in addition to personal computers to access the Internet such as tablet computers, however there has been limited research performed on the use of these technologies by senior citizens.

Methodology and Methods

This paper describes the experiences and insight of five novice senior iPad owners as well as a detailed task and activity analysis of these seniors utilizing the device. Through …

Managing Uncertainty In Young-Onset Parkinson's Disease, Michael J. Ravenek

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Typically considered a disease of old-age, Parkinson’s disease can affect those younger in life, i.e., before the age of 55, when it is referred to as young-onset Parkinson’s disease (YOPD). Using constructionist grounded theory, this research sought to understand how, and why, individuals with YOPD became informed about their disease over time. A total of 39 individuals, who self-identified as living with YOPD, took part in this study which was organized according to four cycles of data collection. These cycles utilized focus groups, in-depth interviews and a private online discussion board, supplemented by 14 autobiographies written by individuals living with …

Measuring Fatigue In Adolescents And Young Adults With Cerebral Palsy, Laura K. Brunton

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Fatigue is a significant issue and has been estimated to affect between 30-50% of individuals with cerebral palsy (CP) in various studies; however, there is no validated measure of fatigue for this population. A systematic review revealed no one single measure with adequate psychometric properties for use with individuals with CP. As a result a new tool was created: the Fatigue Impact and Severity Self-Assessment (FISSA). Interviews were conducted with youth and young adults with CP to understand the bodily experience of living with CP and as a client-centered approach to item creation for the FISSA. Focus groups with healthcare …

From Their Perspective: How Adolescents And Young Adults Experience And Conceptualize Life And Occupation Surrounding Parental Divorce Or Separation, Laura R. Hartman

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Parental divorce affects adolescents’ emotions, routines, habits, occupations and relationships. The current body of research indicates that parental divorce leads to many unfavourable social, behavioural, and mental health outcomes for adolescents. This dissertation explores the daily lives and occupations of adolescents and young adults surrounding the transition of a parental divorce or marital separation.

This thesis contains four manuscripts in addition to the introductory and final reflection chapters. The first manuscript explores the current North American literature relating to adolescent life surrounding a parental divorce or marital separation, ranging form 1998 to 2014. The second manuscript provides an overview of …

The Influence Of Visual Cueing On Freezing Of Gait Among Individuals With Parkinson's Disease, L. Keltie Brigham

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Freezing of gait (FOG) is a distressing symptom of Parkinson’s disease with a significant impact on fall risk and quality of life. Although medication improves some of the symptoms of slowness and rigidity, it is only minimally effective in treating FOG. Therefore, a better understanding of alternative treatment strategies is needed to manage this symptom. To investigate the effectiveness of visual cueing in the management of FOG, and to determine if visual cueing is dependent upon the spatial location of cue presentation. Six individuals with Parkinson’s disease who experience FOG were asked to complete the Timed Up and Go test …

The Adolescent Experience Of Motivational Interviewing-Via-Co-Active Life Coaching As A Motivational Intervention: A Constructivist Grounded Theory, Elizabeth A. Hall

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Adolescents are often suffused in social, emotional, and scholastic pressures. The bombardment of stressors provoked by social media, external demands, self-doubt, and consequences of dangerous and spontaneous acts can result in a perception of self-inadequacy. Consequently, an increase in unhealthy activities and a decline in self-actualization become possible. Negative outcomes that result from avoidance of goal setting and ill-conceived decisions lead to familial and social sanctions, and adolescents become further detached from personal growth and success. The persistence of some youth to negative behaviour suggests that further investigation of effective interventions is a worthwhile undertaking. From this perspective, MI-via-CALC was …

Resting State Functional Magnetic Resonance And Diffusion Tensor Imaging Of Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy Patients Treated With Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy: Predictors And Clinically Correlated Evidence Of Neuroplasticity, Kathryn Y. Manning

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Hemiplegic cerebral palsy is characterized by unilateral upper limb impairment and patients often compensate by performing most tasks with their unaffected arm. Constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) directly combats this learned non-use by casting the unaffected arm and forcing the patient to repetitively practice skills with the hemiplegic limb. Subjects with hemiplegic cerebral palsy were recruited from Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Thames Valley Children’s Centre and McMaster Children’s Hospital. MRI acquisitions and clinical evaluations were collected at baseline, 1 and 6-months later. The case group participated in a CIMT camp after baseline evaluations and was compared to an untreated control …

Community Physiotherapy And Chronic Disease Self-Management For Rural Community-Dwelling Older Adults, Laura J. Graham

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Research problem: The majority of older Canadians live with at least one chronic disease. Exercise has been shown to be an effective means to reducing symptoms, and to improving physical dysfunction in chronically ill populations; and self-management is a nationally advocated approach to dealing with the growing health care issue of chronic disease. Physiotherapists are experts in prescribing therapeutic exercise and promoting chronic disease self-management.

Methods: This two-study dissertation explored older adults’ perceptions of exercise as a self-care activity within a chronic disease self-management strategy using focused ethnography; and physiotherapists’ experiences in promoting exercise as a means to chronic disease …