Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Standing Time While Engaged In An Upper Extremity Activity Versus Standing Time While Not Engaged In An Upper Extremity Activity, Wendy A. Smith

Masters Theses

The standing time of recent (within four weeks) cerebral vascular accident subjects while engaged in an upper extremity activity (tile trivet) was compared to the same subjects standing time while not engaged in an upper extremity activity. The subjects from a rehabilitation center ranged in age from 30 to 85 years. For each subject three sessions were randomly recorded for each condition. Lights were connected to the knee and buttock pad so that, if activated, they alerted the data collector that the subject was leaning.

The findings from this study indicated that subjects stood longer while engaged in upper extremity …

Differences In Values And Goals Of Occupational Therapy Students, Margaret A. Danka

Masters Theses

This study compared professional values and goals of three levels of occupational therapy students: (1) seniors in baccalaureate programs (n = 337), (2) students in professional master's programs (n = 95), and (3) students in post-professional master's programs (n = 62). Demographic characteristics and factors influencing career choice were also examined.

Significant differences were found among the three student groups for three professional goals: (1) contributing to theory, (2) doing research, and (3) educating occupational therapy students, and four professional values: (1) intellectual stimulation, (2) exciting life, (3) comfortable life, and (4) helpfulness. The demographic differences among the three student …

Assessing Joint Mobility Of The Lower Extremities When Walking In Water Through The Use Of Motion Analysis, Jennifer Evitts

Presidential Scholars Theses (1990 – 2006)

Despite the lack of any attempts to quantify the ROM while walking in water, several products have recently been introduced which utilize the concept of an underwater treadmill to harness the advantages of walking in water, one of which includes an increase in ROM. The purpose of this study is to utilize motion analysis to qualitatively and quantitatively analyze the ROM of the ankle, knee, and hip when walking in the water and to compare these results to those observed when walking on land .

A Study Of The Relationship Between Improvement In Physical Status And Self-Esteem In Geriatric Patients, Kate A. Hayner

Masters Theses

The improvement in physical abilities in the geriatric population after occupational therapy was investigated to determine whether self-esteem would also improve. Fifteen subjects from three different nursing homes were measured. All of the subjects were referred to occupational therapy by their physician.

Treatment was implemented by trained rehabilitation aides after an occupational therapist assessed each subject and determined the need for therapy. Measurable goals were set for each subject to improve dysfunctional areas and reviewed with each resident and rehabilitation aide responsible for implementing the treatment program.

Types of treatment consisted of active and passive range of motion, strengthening, retrograde …

The Effect Of Horseback Riding Activity On The Tibialis Anterior, Vastus Lateralis, And Rectus Abdominis Of A Paraplegic, Laurie A. Price

Masters Theses

Horses are now being used in various programs under various conditions. The use of horses for therapy and recreation for the physically and mentally disabled first began in Germany and Switzerland. The United States now has many schools and different riding programs as well.

Riding seems to be especially beneficial to those with neurological impairments. Treatment of paraplegia is very limited but recreational activities are advancing. The use of the horse is beneficial for paraplegics emotionally as well as physically. Measurements and evaluations of these benefits are lacking. This project analyzes and measures the physical benefits of horseback riding on …

Continuous Passive Motion After Knee Arthroscopy, Lisa Bauman

Masters Theses

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of continuous passive motion (CPM) after arthroscopy. A CPM machine was used one hour following knee surgery. Statistical analysis was performed to determine differences in knee range of motion (ROM), strength and circumference, at time intervals preoperatively, one, seven, and twenty-eight days following surgery. The analysis of variance revealed no significant difference between the CPM and control groups for any parameter. A significant interaction effect between treatment and time was demonstrated one day after surgery for extension, joint line circumference, and midthigh circumference; and 28 days after surgery for the …

The Effects Of Added Purpose On Fine Motor Performance In Learning Disabled Children, Sarah Lynn Austin

Masters Theses

The idea that occupations which offer added levels of purpose elicit a high quality of performance is widely accepted within occupational therapy. In this experiment involving fine motor performance, fifty-three learning disabled children were randomly assigned to two groups. It was hypothesized that children cutting out a circle, presented as a wheel which would complete a paper truck, would cut more accurately than those who cut out the same circle without the suggestion of it being used as a wheel. Accuracy was assessed by measuring the area of the children's cutting errors. The experimental design included the use of a …

Leisure Satisfaction Of Alcoholics And Cocaine Addicts, Tamera F. Stanback

Masters Theses

A role for occupational therapists is to help substance abuse clients achieve a healthy balance across occupational performance areas, including leisure. The literature suggests that alcoholics have deficits in leisure, but cocaine addicts have not yet been studied systematically in terms of leisure. This study compared twenty alcoholics from two Midwestern in-patient treatments centers to fourteen unmatched cocaine addicts at the same centers in terms of their leisure satisfaction. Then, nine male subjects from each group were matched in terms of age and family status, and t-test comparisons were made once again. The Leisure Satisfaction Scale was used as a …

Reliability And Validity Of The Body Mechanics Obstacle Course Evaluation, Louise Sinclair-Eastman

Masters Theses

A review of the literature suggests that the way in which an individual performs activities, or body mechanics, can affect the amount of stress placed on the low back. Several clinical programs treat patients with low back pain by teaching proper body mechanics. Although body mechanics obstacle course evaluations are used by occupational therapists to assess patients, there has been no published information regarding the reliability and validity of these evaluations. The purpose of this study was to establish the validity and reliability of one version, the Body Mechanics Obstacle Course (BMOC).

Content validity was established by reviewing the literature …

An Analysis Of Motivation As A Predictor Of Vocational Rehabilitation Outcomes, Cheryl Antoinette Marshall

Theses Digitization Project

No abstract provided.

Human-Environment Process: Replication And Refinement Of A Study Of Rogers' Principle Of Integrality, Virginia Susan Meggitt

Theses : Honours

The purpose of this study was to test Rogers' principle of integrality by asking: Does a varied harmonic auditory environment increase the perceived restfulness of patients, who are hospitalised in order to heal following surgery? This study modified a previous study (Smith, 1986) which showed that varied harmonic sound had a more positive effect on the perceived restfulness of healthy subjects than did quiet ambience. This experimental study tested 22 post-operative inpatients, using a non-equivalent control group design with pretest and posttest. Varied harmonic sound was provided by audiotaped sequences of music and narrative; quiet ambience was achieved by maintaining …

Age-Related Differences In The Movement Patterns Of Adolescents 11, 14, And 17 Years Of Age Rising To Standing From Supine On A Bed, Jeanne O'Neil Mccoy

Theses and Dissertations

The purposes of this study were to determine: 1) if movement patterns (MP5) described for young adults rising from bed depict adolescents' MP5, 2) if there are age-related differences in MP5 adolescents use to perform this task, 3) most common MP combinations (MCMPCs) of each age group, and 4) if individuals are likely to progress through proposed sequences in the same order.

Sixty 11-, 14-, or 17-year-olds were videotaped during 10 trials of rising. MP5 demonstrated in each of four body regions were classified, and MP frequencies and MCMPCs were determined.

One new "near" arm MP was observed. Age-related MP …

An Evaluation Of Drama Therapy As A Form Of Secondary Prevention For Children With Social Skills Deficits, Myra Kosidoy

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The following study investigated the effectiveness of an intervention that was based on creative drama designed to improve the social skills of school age children identified as deficient in social-emotional development. The intervention, termed the structured fantasy approach, combines theoretical principals from psychodynamic theory, social learning theory, and creative drama. The study was conducted at a public school in the Kitchener-Waterloo area. Eight students from the third to sixth grade participated in a ten-week social skills program, while seven students from first to third grade participated in a similar program. Five first to third graders and four third to six …

The Purposeful Use Of An Object In The Development Of Skill With A Prosthesis, Hon Keung Yuen

Masters Theses

Theoretically, perceptual information from the interaction with an object and its surfaces (an affordance) facilitates the development of motor skill. This study investigated the use of an affordance in learning control of flexion and extension of an above-elbow training prosthesis. Fifty-two male college students were randomly assigned to two training procedures: two, 1.5-minute periods of a joining dots activity with a flashlight attached to the hook of the prosthesis (affordance group), and practice moving the prosthesis at the elbow joint (no-affordance group) for the same amount of time. To assess generalization of skill to a different task, each subject traced …

Muscle Stress And The Use Of Body Mechanics, Kathleen Ann Keeler

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the amount of lower back muscle stress produced during lifting tasks, using variations in weight and postures. Electromyographic activity of the erector spinae muscles at the L4-5 vertebral level was measured.

Thirty healthy female subjects participated in the study. Each subject lifted loads of two given weights using both the stooped and squat lifting postures. Electromyographic activity was recorded and averaged throughout each lift.

Results indicated that increased weight resulted in increased stress on the erector spinae muscles, regardless of posture. The squat lifting posture was found to be more stressful on …

The Impact Of Traumatic Brain Injury On The Rehabilitation Process : A Literature Review, Laura B. Brown

Electronic Dissertations and Theses

A discussion of the incidence and prevalence of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is presented. A focus on the cognitive deficits and vocational rehabilitation is maintained throughout the paper. Cognitive deficits such as language, memory, and communication skills are discussed. Common rehabilitation appraches are presented for cognitive rehabilitation. Vocational rehabilitation and components of the services network utilized for IBI rehabilitation are described. The cost effectiveness of the TBI rehabilitation model is discussed. Exemplary programs for both cognitive and vocational rehabilitation are described.

The Effects Of Group Incentive Plans On Individual Performance, Karen Geralyn Stoneman

Masters Theses

A simulated work environment was utilized to study the effects of group incentive plans on individual performance on an assembly task. The subjects in the study were college students who worked in groups of a small size, a medium size, or a large size. A reversal design was utilized in which the first condition was an individual incentive condition, the second was a group incentive condition, and the final was the return to an individual incentive condition.

The results showed: (a) individual performance did not significantly change when individuals were switched from an individual to a group incentive plan; (b) …

The Effect Of Involvement In Recreation And Community Activities On The Self Concept Of In-Center Hemodialysis Clients, Teresa Ann Sweat

Legacy ETDs

This study consisted of 20 subjects. The treatment group consisted of 10 subjects from the Statesboro and Vidalia Dialysis Centers. The control group consisted of 10 subjects from the Metter Dialysis Center. Treatment consisted of: 1) establishing client-therapist rapport, 2) assisting subjects with their knowledge of recreation as a means for developing self awareness, self worth, and related participatory and decision making skills, 3) assisting subjects with exploration and acquisition of specific recreation interests and skills, and 4) bridging the gap between the subjects and their community. Self concept was measured using the pre and post test administration of the …

Rheumatoid Arthritis: Balancing Activity And Rest, Lynn A. Lowe

Masters Theses

Fatigue is a major symptom of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), along with joint pain, stiffness and functional impairment. Balancing activity and rest in order to decrease fatigue is frequently mentioned by health professionals as an important strategy in the management of the disease. One hundred and three adult men and women with RA were surveyed via a written questionnaire about their experience of fatigue, four types of rest, employment status, duration of illness, age, sex, and advice about rest. Frequencies related to these variables are reported. Some rest variables were found to be significantly correlated with age and fatigue. No significant …

A Comparison Of An Ideal And A Real Quality Of Work Life Program, Noreen Goldschmidt

Masters Theses

The purposes of this study were to examine the differences between: (a) a real and idealized Quality of Work Life program; (b) individual groups and the idealized Quality of Work Life program, and (c) groups surveyed.

Two departments were surveyed to obtain perceptions of a Quality of Work Life program existing within a utility company located in the state of Michigan.

Percentages were calculated on the Agree and Strongly Agree response alternatives for all items included on the survey. For the three comparisons made the difference in percent was tested at the.05 level of significance. The results indicated that the …

Congruence Between Type Of Activity And Volition And Its Relationship To Life Satisfaction In Nursing Home Residents, David De Noble

Masters Theses

This study examines the relationship between life satisfaction and the volition subsystem of 32 older adults who reside in nursing homes. Specifically, it attempts to measure congruence or the perception of the individual that the inherent characteristics of an activity "fit" his or her sense of personal causation, values and interests. The study examines the relationship between this congruence and life satisfaction.

Results of the study identified positive correlations between congruence and life satisfaction. Correlations between congruence of volition subsystem components and activity were at a statistically significant level (p <.05) for personal causation, values and total volition. Correlations between congruence of volition subsystem components and some specific activities were also found.

Effect Of Choice Making On A Self-Care Activity In Mentally Retarded Adults And Adolescents, Martin S. Rice

Masters Theses

Of central importance to occupational therapy is the issue of motivation in activity. The purpose of this study was to look at the effects of choice on motivation during an activity undertaken by mentally retarded adults and adolescents. Each subject was given a choice of five wrinkled T-shirts that had sports logos on them. The subject chose one but was then asked to iron the T-shirt before he took it to keep. With counterbalancing for order of presentation, each subject also experienced not having a choice between five T-shirts and then ironing the one given to him. The amount of …

The Effects Of Activity Group Structure On Cohesion, Engagement, And Affective Meanings In Acute-Care Psychiatric Patients, Hope L. Brucki

Masters Theses

Through activity analysis, occupational therapists identify various components of group structure and group processes for use in therapeutic activities. This study compared the effects of individual activity group structure (members engage in individual projects) and common activity group structure (members share a common project) in a sample of 38 acute-care psychiatric patients. Subjects were randomly assigned to one of eight theme-oriented poster-making groups, four for each experimental condition. Cohesion among group members was measured by the Group Environment Scale (GES), engagement was assessed by the Group Climate Questionnaire-Short Form (GCQ-S), and affective meanings were evaluated by Osgood's short-form semantic differential …

The Evaluation Of Factors Affecting Adherence To An Exercise Program Among College Students, Mark Robert Dean

Dissertations

Though investigative studies have identified the many benefits of aerobic exercise for both biological and behavioral health, only a small percentage of individuals maintain regular exercise. Team or group exercise programs report higher participation rates, but studies of individually prescribed exercise programs typically report problems of compliance and attrition. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of various interventions--including the provision of course bonus points, cash lottery, and partner assignment--designed to increase exercise compliance among college students. Thirty-two student volunteers reporting "no current exercise" were randomly assigned to either the "partner" or the "individual" exercise group. …

Health Locus Of Control Belief And Health Behavior In Patients With Job Related Injuries, Elnora H. Allen

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the relationship between an individual's health locus of control belief and four variables: previous job injury experience, the duration of work absence due to previous job injury, appointment keeping behavior, and the wage replacement ratio. Seventy-two subjects with job related injuries referred to an industrial physical therapist were administered the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale (MHLC). There was an uneven distribution of subjects according to MHLC belief patterns with more subjects demonstrating a "pure internal" health locus of control belief. No significance (Q > .05) was found between our four variables associated with a job injury and …

An Assessment Of Pain Responses During Stages Of Pregnancy, Ann H. Dunbar

Theses and Dissertations

As physical therapists are becoming more involved with the pregnant population both in traditional patient care as well as in childbirth education, a better understanding of the influence of pregnancy on the pain system is needed. The purpose of this study was to determine if an endogenous analgesia system is present in pregnant humans as has been shown to be present in animals (Ginzler, 1980). Women's affective and intensity responses were measured during late pregnancy, labor and post-partum. Using a repeated measures design, fifteen women responded to thermal stimuli (43-52 degrees C) by marking a visual analogue scale. No significant …

Effectiveness Of A Video Recorded Ocean Scene Technique As A Relaxation Therapy, David M. Ford

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a video recorded ocean scene as a relaxation technique by comparing it with an established method, progressive relaxation training (Jacobson, 1938) on their ability to affect the following physiological measurements: systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, pulse, and respiration.

Thirty female elementary school teachers participated in this study and were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups: Video Recorded Ocean Scene Group, Progressive Relaxation Training Group, and Self Directed Relaxation Group (used as control). The general protocol for each treatment group consisted of a forty minute session with …

Ipsilateral Electromyographic Activity Of Shoulder Muscles During Unilateral Maximal Resistance Of Grasp In The Prone-On-Elbows Position, Bryan John Wodaski

Masters Theses

This study reports the relationship between electrical output of the deltoid muscle and the pectoral is major muscle (clavicular portion) ipsilaterally, following maximal resistance to grasp of the non-dominant hand while in the prone-on-elbows position. Forty-two normal college students were recruited from Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, and were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The experimental subjects' shoulder muscles' electrical activity was measured for changes from baseline to maximal contraction during two trials. The control group was measured in the same manner but they were not asked to contract their hand against resistance. For both groups electrical activity was …

Illness Behaviour Questionnaire As A Predictor Of Problematic And Aproblematic Patients With A Painful Upper Extremity, Suzanne S. Seay

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to measure the illness behavior of acute and chronic upper extremity pain patients using the Illness Behaviour Questionnaire (IBQ), to determine' the rehabilitation outcome by pre-set criteria, and to determine the effectiveness of the seven scales of the IBQ in predicting the problem pain patient. Each subject completed a self-administered test packet which included the IBQ. Each was identified by the investigator as a problematic or as a problematic patient using information in the medical chart. Patients entering the study with acute pain (n=12) had less pain upon discharge and returned more quickly to …

Age And Experience Differences In Posture And Movement Of Children While English Horseback Riding At A Walk, Mary Katherine Belissary

Theses and Dissertations

The purposes of this study were to: (1) describe posture and movement of non-disabled children while English horseback riding at a walk, (2) propose a developmental sequence for each of three components of body posture and movement: the upper extremity the lower extremity, and the head and trunk, and (3) describe age differences in posture and movement while riding.

The study was designed as a cross-sectional descriptive study. Thirty children without disabilities: ten five-year-olds who had never received formal riding lessons; ten seven- and eight-year-olds who had received six months or less of formal riding lessons; and ten nine and …