Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Physical Activity Levels In First-Year University Students, Jerealya Cogdell

Honors College Theses

The purpose of this study is to see if physical activity (PA) is affected for students since transitioning from high school to their first semester in college. The study was conducted by asking questions pertaining to PA via an online survey through the platform Qualtrics. It will be administered to students at Georgia Southern University. However, only the data from freshmen students that meet specific criteria will be accounted for in this study. The data will be analyzed using Chi-squared to determine how PA is affected due to this transition. The data will compare the results from high school senior …

Prevalence Of Depression In Physical Therapy Environments For Young Adult Populations In The U.S.: A Systematic Literature Review, Audrey N. Baucom

Honors College Theses

Objective: This systematic review aimed to examine interactions of depression symptoms and diagnoses and its prevalence in physical therapy settings among the young adult population ages 18-24 in the United States through current literature and to identify existing literature. Methods: This review followed the PRISMA guidelines to form a systematic review. Ten databases were extensively searched. Results were screened by one researcher and those that met the criteria were verified as inclusive by a second researcher. Results: The search yielded 3,017 results and included two studies. In each study, age was not identified as a prevalent variable in mental health …

Comparisons Of Unilateral And Limb Symmetry Indexes Between Fixed Dynamometry Testing Modes, Emily E. Frizzell

Honors College Theses

Hamstring muscles strains are extremely common and can vary in severity. The biarticular structure of the hamstring groups is one reason that they are more susceptible to injuries. The recurrence of these injuries is also common even after they have been through a rehabilitation phase in their recovery. This project aims to compare and associate knee flexion and extension muscle performance characteristics between isometric, isotonic, and isokinetic assessment modes. These different modes of assessment will test analyze muscle performance under varying muscle lengths, movement velocities and biomechanical load modes. The data collected from this testing will be analyzed to see …

The Relationships Among Proprioception, Balance, And Cognitive Perception Of Body Awareness In College Students, Courtney Helmick

Honors College Theses

Introduction: Proprioception is an important physiological function that is essential for activities of daily living as well as exercise and sport performance. Integration of proprioceptive signals plays a key role in both static and dynamic balance. Previously, researchers have assessed the relationship between balance and proprioception, however, the effect of cognitive perception of body awareness has not previously been included in this research. The aim of this pilot study was to explore the relationships among lower extremity proprioception, dynamic balance, and cognitive perception of body awareness in college students.

Methods: Nineteen apparently healthy college students (age 21.26 ± 1.10 years, …

Barriers To Exercise And Physical Activity - Insight From The Rural Practitioner, Erin G. Tillery

Honors College Theses

Sedentary lifestyles are a growing public health concern. Furthermore, many rural Americans lack adequate access to healthcare resources. When healthcare is sought, the patient-practitioner interactions may serve to influence the patient’s lifestyle choices. The practitioners' exercise and physical activity habits may shape the effectiveness of the patient-practitioners interaction. Here, we explored the potential barriers to exercise and physical activity (PA) in licensed physical and occupational therapists. In addition, we aimed to describe barriers to exercise and PA in individuals with a history of stroke from the perspective of the practitioner. Lastly, how current exercise and physical activity habits influence their …

Music As A Treatment For Perceived Postoperative Pain In Adults: A Critically Appraised Topic, Savannah G. Mcdaniel

Honors College Theses

Clinical Question: In postoperative patients, how does listening to music affect perceived pain levels? Clinical Bottom Line: There is consistent evidence to suggest music decreases perceived pain in postoperative patients undergoing nasal septal surgery, open heart surgery, total knee replacement surgery, and general orthopedic surgeries requiring hospitalization. Athletic trainers can confidently implement music during patients’ post-operative care sessions to help reduce pain.

Kinesiophobia Effects On Returning To Sports Following Shoulder Injuries, Haley Burke

Honors College Theses

Kinesiophobia is a condition in which patients experience an excessive, irrational, and often debilitating fear of movement or physical activity that results in a feeling of vulnerability in which they believe movement will cause painful (re)injury. There is limited research on the effects of kinesiophobia in athletes who suffered shoulder injuries, so the purpose of our research was to examine kinesiophobia effects in adult male baseball players who returned to sport following a shoulder injury. We hypothesized the presence of kinesiophobia and tried to measure its degree level using the 11-item Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK-11) to assess fear during …

Narrative Review - Optimal Occupational Therapy Experience, Kaylee G. Clay

Honors College Theses

This narrative review examines factors associated with optimal occupational therapy experiences, including patient perspectives of occupational therapy, cost-effectiveness, use of practices, organization, and patient involvement/experiences. The information found within this review provides information to those interested in creating the most optimal experiences for their occupational therapy patients.

Minimizing Musculoskeletal Injury Risk In Health Care Professionals With Education On Safe Patient Handling, Aubrey Graves

Honors College Theses

Introduction: Nursing is a high-risk occupation for musculoskeletal injuries due to the strenuous activity of patient handling. These tasks include, assisting a patient in bed, moving a patient from the bed to a wheelchair, and assisting with walking. These work-related tasks can create a large amount of stress on the body, especially the back if proper technique is not utilized and/or if excessive loads are applied. The purpose of this study is to examine if teaching proper body mechanics and the dangers of not performing the tasks properly is an effective way of reducing musculoskeletal injuries.

Methods: The NUR 202 …

Physical Therapy/Occupational Therapy And Applied Behavior Analysis Forming An Interdisciplinary Bridge For Positive Patient Outcomes, Rachel Ann Vaughn

Honors College Theses

Physical therapy, Occupational therapy, and Applied Behavior Analysis work within the pediatric population and are used to help children reach milestones throughout their development. This survey is meant to assess the amount of interdisciplinary collaboration that is occurring within these disciplines. The research team believes that this interdisciplinary collaboration could be beneficial to the pediatric population, but understands that this survey is a baseline and needs further research. Through a survey, there were 29 total participants, 22 PT/OT and 7 ABA therapists. The survey showed evidence of ABA techniques being used within PT and OT sessions for betterment of the …

The Effects Of The Mckenzie Method And Strengthening/Stabilization Exercises In Patients With Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain., Lufei Harder

Honors College Theses

Background & objective: Low back pain is a frequent problem that the majority of people will face at some point in their lifetime. Exercise has been advocated as an effective treatment for chronic nonspecific low back pain; however, there is a lack of consensus on the best form of exercise treatment. This review was designed to compare the effectiveness of the McKenzie Method against stabilization/strengthening exercises in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain.

Methods: A literature review examining McKenzie and stabilization exercises for chronic nonspecific low back pain were identified from three databases.

Results: A total of nine articles …

Different Effects Of Static And Vibrating Foam Rollers On Plantar Flexor’S Flexibility And Torque Production Capacity, Tanner Cormier

Honors College Theses

The purpose of this research was to determine if there were different effects on the range of motion and muscle contraction force in the plantar flexors of the ankle when implementing vibrating foam roller treatment in comparison to static. The study included 15 female swimmers within the age range of 18 to 28 years old without neuromusculoskelatal pathology within the last six months. Each testing session consisted of four conditions, conditions A and B were static rollers and conditions C and D were vibrating rollers. To ensure reliability the order of the conditions was randomly selected and resting flexibility and …

Using Photovoice To Measure Learning Objectives At Camp With Adults With Developmental Disabilities, Delaney M. Grimm

Honors College Theses

This thesis explores what qualitative objectives adults with developmental disabilities learn and comprehend at a weeklong camp that is meant to enhance interests, abilities, and social skills. The methodology used is Photovoice analysis which allows an individual who either has difficulties verbally expressing themselves or is nonverbal to still participate in question and answer focus groups. For data analysis, my categories relate back to the six domains of recreational therapy: physical, emotional, spiritual, social, cognitive, and leisure.

Holistic Lifestyle Counseling By Physical Therapists: Current Practice And Barriers To Improvement, Savannah Grogan

Honors College Theses

Context: Unhealthy lifestyle habits are a significant risk factor for chronic disease and death in the United States of America. The healthcare system is largely focused on symptom-management and disease treatment with seemingly little regard for prevention, but physical therapists are particularly well-placed to improve patients’ health through lifestyle counseling and modification. Objectives: To assess the current state of holistic health promotion among physical therapists and to identify barriers to improving these practices. Design: An electronic survey was completed by physical therapists in and around the state of Kentucky. Descriptive statistics were used to assess participant demographics and the state …

Muscle Excitation Of The Lower Extremity During A Single Leg Rotational Squat In Individuals With And Without A Previous Hamstrings Strain Injury, Claudia M. Simpson

Honors College Theses

The hamstrings muscles work with quadriceps and gluteal muscles to stabilize the hip and knee during multidirectional movements. The purpose of this study was to determine muscle excitation patterns of the lower extremity during a single leg rotational squat (SLRS) in individuals with and without a previous hamstrings injury. Twenty physically active individuals between 19-23 years old participated in the study, ten with previous injury and ten without. The Hamstring Outcome Score was used to assess participants’ perceived physical abilities (Hamstring=89.37+7.2%, Control=96.75+2.83%; p=0.011). Participants completed five trials of a SLRS moving through four phases to a 72bpm metronome and reaching …

Physical Therapists' Perspectives Of School Functioning For Children With Cerebral Palsy (Cp), Vevian Grace A. Lee

Honors College Theses

The purpose of this study was to use a qualitative participatory action research method – Photovoice – to identify perceived barriers and facilitators to school functioning among school-based physical therapists of children with cerebral palsy (CP). Seven physical therapists made up the participants in this study. The researchers followed the nine-step methodology recommended for Photovoice. During the training session, participants were educated on the background of Photovoice and the purpose of the study. They were given 14 days to take photographs after which researchers used a focus group interview structured by the SHOWeD method. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability …

The Effect Of Perceived Level Of Social Support On The Fear Of Falling, Kali A. Todd

Honors College Theses

Background: Perhaps the most prevalent cause of anxiety among the elderly is the fear of falling (FOF), considering that a fall can lead to serious complications and the decline of health. Kumar et al. found that subjects with a FOF usually have less social support. Therefore, increased social support could possibly decrease the FOF, thus decreasing the likelihood of a fall overall. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between the amount of perceived social support one receives and the FOF among people ages 60 and up. Methods: In order to measure FOF and social support among …

Different Effects Of Static And Vibrating Foam Rollers On Ankle Plantar Flexion Flexibility And Neuromuscular Activation, Brianna G. Mazzei

Honors College Theses

The relatively new implementation of vibration into foam rollers was developed in response to the positive feedback of whole-body vibration treatment and foam rolling therapy. The purpose of the study is to research the changes in range of motion and myoelectric activity of the ankle dorsiflexors in female NCAA Division I swimmers when using a vibrating foam roller in comparison to a static foam roller. Combining the self-myofascial release with the increased blood flow and muscle temperature exerted from vibration could possibly enhance the effects of foam-rolling treatment. The different effects of ankle flexibility and motor unit activation after static …

Caregiver Perceptions On The Effects Of A Therapeutic Camp On Well-Being Using The Flourishing Through Leisure Model, Abigail L. Greer, Brent Wolfe, Katy Gregg

Honors College Theses

Literature has noted the contribution of therapeutic camping programs in enhancing overall functioning and well-being. Therapeutic camps can provide an opportunity for recreation involvement, skill development, and reduction in deficits by providing a variety of activities suited for the needs of the population. This study explores caregivers’ perceptions on the impacts of a four week therapeutic day camp program on well-being in adolescents with disabilities. Qualitative data was collected through functional profiles, treatment goals, discharge summaries, and caregiver surveys provided by Camp RAD to evaluate the outcomes of the camp through the lens of the Flourishing through Leisure Model. By …

Seasonal Changes In Sleep, Rpe, And Scoring Percentage In Division One Collegiate Female Basketball Players, Lindsay Perrin, Dr. Stephen Rossi

Honors College Theses

Basketball season occurs over several months and involves heavy traveling, training, competing, and scholarly duties. These demands do not allow much time for rest and recovery. A lack in the quantity and quality of sleep can reduce the ability to manage stress and reduce recovery from training and competition. This can affect the health and well-being of the athlete and their success on the court. In college, sleep schedules may change from high school by staying up later and sleeping in more. College students typically sleep between six and seven hours a night which is less than the recommended nine …

Rehabilitation Protocols For Total Hip Replacement Patients: A Comparison Of Research And Practicing Physical Therapists, Austin C. Eubanks

Honors College Theses

Keeping procedures and recovery techniques current with new research is expected of the health professions. The main purpose of this study will be to compare the difference of opinion and implementation of recovery techniques, specifically full body weight bearing exercises, between physical therapists and current research in regards to a total hip replacement. By using a questionnaire created from the Eulenburg study (2015), Physical Therapists will record their own personal answers and opinions for the postop hip replacement recovery period. Information that will be gathered from this research will be beneficial for future practices to easily see if practicing Physical …

The Effects Of Static Stretching On Pennation Angle And Muscle Power Production In The Triceps Surae Complex, Lacey G. Dennis

Honors College Theses

Many studies have examined how power is affected by static stretching. However, little research has been completed to examine why the muscle power production is affected by static stretching. The purpose of this study is to see the correlation of how pennation angle (PA) and muscle power production (MPP) is affected by a static stretching protocol. For the methodology, PA of the medial and lateral gastrocnemius muscle will be measured using Terason ultrasound machine. After the PA is measured participants will perform a vertical jump on a force plate while utilizing a Vertec, to determine the height of their jump …

Practicing Therapeutic Recreation In A World Of Differences, Morgan Herrington

Honors College Theses

Therapeutic recreation (TR) services are available to any individual who wishes to increase quality of life and improve functioning. The profession is based on many conceptual foundations, including quality of life; perceived freedom; intrinsic motivation, self-efficacy, and self-determination; health, wellness, and disability; and recreation and leisure. However, these Western-ideological perspectives may hinder the introduction and practice of TR in countries with other worldviews. This study was designed to explore different worldviews and to evaluate the conceptual foundations of TR with respect to these differences. Findings attempt to identify ways to adapt and shape TR foundations so that it may be …

A Study Exploring Parents’ And Occupational Therapists Views On Facilitating Social And Emotional Development, Salena C. Neuwar

Honors College Theses

This study examined how parents of a child with a disability and the child's occupational therapist each facilitate social and emotional development among children who have or are currently receiving occupational therapy services. This study first served to identify, through interviews, what social and emotional skills are important individually to the parent and the occupational therapist that the child gains. Through interviews, the researcher investigated the perceptions of how parents and occupational therapists facilitate social and emotional skills. The location of the therapy session was found to be a vital component among parent and occupational therapist interaction. Finally, this research …

An Examination Of Spasticity Of The Lower Extremity Among Young People With Cerebral Palsy, Jordan Nourse

Honors College Theses

Background: Spasticity is the most common symptom among individuals with Cerebral Palsy (CP). Spasticity is often presented as stiff limbs often resulting in pain. Currently, clinicians are limited in diagnosing spasticity using observational tools. The purpose of this study was compare spasticity at various functional levels using dynamometry. Methods: Participants included nine adolescents (12-19) with CP and nine adolescents (age-matched) without CP. The participants participated in passive stretches delivered by the Biodex System 4 Pro Dynamometer at four different speeds (90, 120, 150, and 180 deg/s), Measurements of the quadriceps will be collected before and during passive knee extension stretches …

Perceptions Of Adults With Intellectual Disabilities On Experiences At A Weeklong Camp, Erica P. Teilhaber

Honors College Theses

This study was conducted to attempt to understand the perceptions of a weeklong camp experience for adults with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities. A survey was administered to campers from two of the three locations, asking questions pertaining to their time spent at camp. Specifically researchers asked questions related to the conceptual, social, and practical domains. Additionally, researchers sent a follow up survey to make sure the data they summarized was correct. Results showed positive feedback, and convey the participants perceived improvements in aspects related to the conceptual, social, and practical domains.

Measuring Perceptions In Quality Of Life After Camp, Madison M. Monk

Honors College Theses

As children with intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD) begin to age out of the school system, they begin losing opportunities for socialization and recreation participation. Losing these opportunities greatly affects these individuals’ quality of life. Limitations to socialization and recreation participation are problematic and research shows it would be beneficial to provide such opportunities. This study explores how a camp environment can increase adults’ with I/DD perceptions of quality of life through providing opportunities to participate in recreation activities and socialize with other campers. Through the use of a Qualtrics survey, researchers contacted campers who attended Camp Sunlight, a camp for adults …

I'Ve Been Diagnosed: A Champion! Crohn's & Colitis Family Day, Samantha M. Goldberg

Honors College Theses

This Honors thesis outlines the creation of “I’ve Been Diagnosed: A Champion! Crohn’s & Colitis Family Day”—an experience designed to provide Southeast Georgia children and families affected by inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) an opportunity to enhance community involvement and build a support network through therapeutic recreation, team-based activities, education, and a positive family-centered environment. Following the nursing process focusing on the community as the patient, this paper is organized by assessment, diagnosis, planning, intervention, and evaluation. A literature review was conducted and interviews with a medical professional and a patient were completed. Specific interventions were planned using the nursing process …

A Qualitative Examination Of Optimal Professional Traits Of Physical Therapists. – An Exploratory Investigation, Nicholas G. Wood

Honors College Theses

Physical therapists are constantly searching for aspects of their professional practice to improve, in order to enhance interactions with patients, eventually leading to a more successful practice (Resnek & Jensen, 2003). Although this is the case, limited research has been found which has examined optimal qualities of physical therapists from neither a qualitative perspective, nor based upon their location. Thus, the purpose of this study is to use a qualitative approach to describe optimal qualities necessary for a successful physical therapy practice. In addition, this study aims to determine if therapists practicing in a rural community describe different qualities than …

Evidence Based Design In Healthcare: An Applied Study On The Impacts Of Interior Design For Cerebral Palsy, Katie D. Phillips

Honors College Theses

Evidence Based Design (EBD) is an informed approach to design where designers base their decisions on quantitative and qualitative research. The design of the Universal Access Center for United Cerebral Palsy, discussed in this paper, encapsulates this approach to design. The five stages of EBD and how they were achieved within this project is defined. In the first phase, programming, current trends in healthcare as well as issues surrounding design for adults with Cerebral Palsy (CP) are discussed. In schematic design, initial issues of the project are resolved, and creative ideas are explored leading to the design development stage. In …