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Translating Modified Ashworth Scale Into Functional Measures And Quantitative Kinematic Values: A Pilot Study, Patrick Frigge

Theses and Dissertations

TRANSLATING MODIFIED ASHWORTH SCALE INTO FUNCTIONAL MEASURES AND QUANTITATIVE KINEMATIC VALUES: A PILOT STUDY

by

Patrick D. Frigge

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 2016

Under the Supervision of Professor Ying-Chih Wang, PhD

Introduction: Spasticity is a motor disorder characterized by a velocity-dependent increase in tonic stretch reflexes. The gold standard for assessing spasticity in stroke patients is the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), but the scale is highly subjective to the clinician’s opinion and previous experience and lacks psychometric fidelity. Numerous studies have criticized the scale’s subjectivity and lack of rater reliability. Development of a quantitative spasticity device in routine clinical care …

Reliability Of Clinical Evaluators Of Spasticity In Patients With Stroke, Tiffany Alvino, Shiney David, Chelsea Gendvil

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Spasticity is characterized by hyperexcitable stretch reflexes with amplitude increases in response to velocity dependent passive movement and resistance. Spasticity is the result of abnormal function of segmental and suprasegmental neuronal circuits. The objective of this study was to determine any positive correlation between three clinical evaluators of spasticity (i.e., the pendulum test, the patellar tendon tap test (PTT), and the Modified Ashworth scale) in their reliability to assess spasticity in people post-stroke. It was hypothesized that the use of force movement sensors along with surface electromyography increases the reliability of the standardized clinical tests. The results show that all …

Effectiveness Of The Bridge/Adapt Program On Functional Skill Generalization After Acquired Brain Injury, Janice S. Li, Diana Lopez, Eugene Cheung, Angela Talamantez

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

This study explored the effectiveness of the Bridge/Adapt program for generalizing increased cognition to functional skills. Three participants, identified as having significant cognitive impairments as measured by the Cognistat assessment, participated in the Bridge/Adapt program, an eight-week program that includes both remedial and compensatory components. The remedial component used was a computer-based cognitive rehabilitation program called Parrot Software. Past studies have proven computer-based cognitive rehabilitation to be effective in increasing overall cognition. The Bridge/Adapt module is the compensatory component that utilized a variety of strategies and everyday tasks to facilitate the generalization of improved cognition to functional performance. A homework …

Effect Of Stance Symmetry On Perturbation-Induced Protective Stepping In Persons Poststroke And Controls, Katherine M. Martinez

Department of Physical Therapy Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Problem Statement: Stepping is a common strategy after a perturbation. Stroke survivors display a predilection for stepping with non-paretic leg. Insight into induced stepping between stroke survivors and age-matched control may guide our understanding for reactive postural control training post stroke. Purpose: To investigate the difference in perturbation-induced stepping between chronic stroke survivors and age-matched controls at three phases of the stepping response: preparation, execution, and landing and association with clinical outcome measures. Procedure: Twenty-one community-dwelling chronic stroke survivors (mean age 59y/o ±13yrs) and 17 age- and gender-matched controls (mean age 54.4y/o ±17yrs) completed this study. Clinical measures of gait, …

The Experience Of Adults With Chronic Stroke Who Have Participated In Occupation-Based Or Modified Constraint Induced Interventions As A Part Of A Research Study, Ariel Wilson

Online Theses and Dissertations

There is a lack of qualitative research about the client perspective of specific chronic stroke interventions for motor recovery. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the experiences of adults with chronic stroke who have participated in occupation-based (OBP) or modified constraint-induced (MCIT) interventions as a part of a research study. Four participants were recruited through convenience sampling and interviewed about their participation in research. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and analyzed until themes emerged. Results showed participants engaged in the research interventions because of a desire to achieve a lost sense of ‘normalcy’ and perceptions of their …

The Lived Experience Of Informal Caregivers Of Chronic Stroke Patients, Ann Snider Wigginton

Online Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to contribute to the literature surrounding stroke-survivor caregivers and to understand the caregivers’ perspective on leisure participation and quality of life. Four caregivers of clients with chronic stroke were recruited for the study via convenience sampling. Participants were audio-recorded during a semi-structured interview lasting 60-80 minutes. The interview guide was consistent across participants and included open-ended questions about the caregiver’s leisure participation and quality of life. Recorded data was transcribed and in-vivo coding was completed. Eight categories were developed from the identified codes and narrowed into primary meaning units: role shift, loss of …

Evaluation Of An Augmentative And Alternative Communication Intervention For Individuals With Aphasia., Michelle Lam

CMC Senior Theses

With a large population of people who suffer from aphasia, it is imperative that an effective form of therapy is utilized. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) programs in improving the communication needs and lives of people affected by aphasia. Individuals (n = 20) suffering from aphasia for 3 months or more completed therapy sessions with speech and language pathologists and the AAC program. Pre- and post-intervention evaluations were administered, consisting of communication satisfaction and success questionnaires, the Western Aphasia Battery (WAB), and probing tests (prompt and response) with an …