Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Sling Use With The Flaccid Upper Extremity: Central Nervous System Brain Injury, Cameron Guster, Brittany Domin

Occupational Therapy Graduate Student Evidenced-Based Research Reviews

In the acute care setting, an occupational therapist often evaluates and treats patients after a central nervous system (CNS) brain injury. There are many intervention strategies used to help treat these conditions. Slings are most commonly used short-term with patients who present with a flaccid upper extremity. The main concern is the efficacy for the sling use with patients who fall under this diagnosis.

The Effectiveness Of Compression Gloves For Reducing Hand Edema, Colleen Pastunink, Ryan Steele

Occupational Therapy Graduate Student Evidenced-Based Research Reviews

Sally is a 72-year-old Caucasian female. She is 8 weeks post left Cerebral Vascular Accident (CVA) which resulted in left hemiparesis and expressive aphasia. She has now been discharged to home and is to attend outpatient therapy twice per week for 12 weeks. Prior to her stroke, Sally was independent in all self-care activities and was very socially active in her community. During an initial occupational therapy evaluation, therapists report that Sally is independent in all transfers and ambulates with the use of a quad cane. Circumferential measurements were taken during evaluation of the right upper extremity secondary to the …

Efficacy Of Eye Patching In Post-Stroke Patients, Ann Marta, Elizabeth Kos

Occupational Therapy Graduate Student Evidenced-Based Research Reviews

The question is in regards to occupational therapy in an acute care setting. The treatment team is considering eye patching as a treatment for post stroke victims suffering from visual field deficits. They are interested in how eye patching can improve the effectiveness and use of the affected visual field. The team is also interested in having better long term outcomes for their patients.

Three-Year Trajectories Of Global Perceived Quality Of Life For Youth With Chronic Health Conditions, Janette Mcdougall, David J. Dewit, Megan Nichols, Linda Miller, F. Virginia Wright

Occupational Therapy Publications

Purpose Objectives of this longitudinal study were to examine 3-year trajectories of global perceived quality of life (QOL) for youth with chronic health conditions, as obtained from youth and parent reports, and to identify personal and environmental factors associated with the trajectory groups for each perspective.

Methods Youth with various chronic conditions aged 11–17 years and one of their parents were recruited from eight children’s treatment centers. Latent class growth analysis was used to investigate perceived QOL trajectories (separately for youth and parent perspectives) over a 3-year period (four data collection time points spaced 12 months apart). Multinomial logistic regression …

Development Of The Motivation Assessment For Team Readiness, Integration, And Collaboration (Matricx) Self-Scored Report Form: A Qualitative Study On Translating Measurement Findings For Team Development, John Liu Jr.

Doctor of Occupational Therapy Capstone Projects

The Motivation Assessment for Team Readiness, Integration, and Collaboration (MATRICx) has been shown to provide information on intrapersonal readiness to collaborate within a team. This study aims to understand and develop an innovative approach to presenting a self-scoring format for the MATRICx and to determine how results of the assessment tool could be interpreted to understand individual motivation in collaborative healthcare and biomedical teams. The MATRICx Report Form is a self-scoring version of the MATRICx that can help users interpret their own motivational profile. A qualitative study was conducted to examine user’s experience with the report form, ways of interpreting …

State Agency Promising Practice: Colorado’S Ad Hoc Committee On Employment And Community Participation, Jean Winsor, Thinkwork! At The Institute For Community Inclusion At Umass Boston

ThinkWork! Publications

The Ad Hoc Committee on Employment and Community Participation began meeting in the winter of 2004 in an effort to promote integrated employment opportunities for people with disabilities in Colorado. The committee was comprised of representatives from the Division for Developmental Disabilities (DDD) administration; the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation; local Community Centered Boards (private nonprofit organizations responsible for authorizing services); advocacy groups; and self-advocates, parents, and service providers.

Encoding Of Saltatory Tactile Velocity In The Adult Orofacial Somatosensory System, Rebecca Custead

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Processing dynamic tactile inputs is a key function of somatosensory systems. Spatial velocity encoding mechanisms by the nervous system are important for skilled movement production and may play a role in recovery of motor function following neurological insult. Little is known about tactile velocity encoding in trigeminal networks associated with mechanosensory inputs to the face, or the consequences of movement.

High resolution functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to investigate the neural substrates of velocity encoding in the human orofacial somatosensory system during unilateral saltatory pneumotactile inputs to perioral hairy skin in 20 healthy adults. A custom multichannel, scalable …

Lean Mass Predicts Conditioned Pain Modulation In Adolescents Across Weight Status, Stacy Stolzman, Marie K. Hoeger Bement

Physical Therapy Faculty Research and Publications

Background

There is a wide continuum of conditioned pain modulation (CPM) in adults with older adults experiencing an attenuated CPM response compared with younger adults. Less is known for adolescents and the role of anthropometrics.

Methods

Fifty-six adolescents (15.1 ± 1.8 years; 32 normal weight and 24 overweight/obese; 27 boys) completed in a CPM session that included anthropometric testing. Pressure pain thresholds were measured at the nailbed and deltoid muscle (test stimuli) with the foot submerged in a cool or ice water bath (conditioning stimulus). Weight status, body composition (Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan), physical activity levels and clinical pain were …

Only Women Report Increase In Pain Threshold Following Fatiguing Contractions Of The Upper Extremity, Kathy J. Lemley, Jonathon Senefeld, Sandra K. Hunter, Marie K. Hoeger Bement

Physical Therapy Faculty Research and Publications

Purpose

The perception of pain in response to a noxious stimulus can be markedly reduced following an acute bout of exercise [exercise-induced hypoalgesia (EIH)]. Sex differences in EIH frequently occur after exercise but may be confounded by the sex differences in muscle fatigue. The purpose was to determine if sex differences in pain relief occur after an exercise protocol when muscle fatigue is similar for both young and older men and women.

Methods

Pain perception of 33 men (15 young) and 31 women (19 young) was measured using a pressure pain stimulus on the left index finger before and after …

Technology And Opportunity: People With Serious Mental Illness And Social Connection, Lisa Townsend, Allison Zippay, Kyle Caler, Bradley Forenza

Department of Social Work and Child Advocacy Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Objective: Little information exists regarding how individuals with serious mental illness use technology and whether this usage facilitates social connections. This study contributes to filling this knowledge gap by examining ways in which a sample of persons with serious mental illness use cell phones and the Internet. Methods: Interviews with 50 consumers living in supported housing were asked about their use of cell phones and computers and their perceptions of social connections. Results: Cell phones and computers allowed greater linkage with social, medical, mental health, and employment resources. Nearly all obtained phones through publicly funded programs. “Running out of minutes” …

Student Perceptions Of Scholarly Writing, Shirley P. O'Brien, Dory Marken, Kelsey B. Petrey

EKU Faculty and Staff Scholarship

Learning the process of scholarly writing, including the significance of peer review, is an essential element in the preparation of students for professional practice. This descriptive research study, using Scholarship of Teaching and Learning methodology, explores one approach to teaching scholarly writing in an occupational science/occupational therapy curriculum. The writing assignment was designed to offer multiple points for feedback and revision and instructional features to reinforce learning. A survey of students [n = 169] participating in this scholarly writing project was conducted yearly to gather their perceptions of learning. The results revealed four key elements: instructional strategies are needed …

Managing Anxiety In Clinical Supervision, Hung-Jen Kuo, Trenton J. Landon, Annemarie Connor, Roy K. Chen

School of Rehabilitation Services & Counseling Faculty Publications

Anxiety impacts both learning and performance. While the literature is replete with portrayals of the anxious student in clinical training, close examination of practical techniques to manage anxiety and its impacts on both supervisee and supervisor is lacking. This article examines the nature and sources of anxiety, instruments used to measure and track anxiety, and interventions for managing anxiety in clinical supervisory relationships. Skilled management of anxiety within the supervisory dyad fosters optimal learning and performance. Supervisors should seek out supervision trainings specific to interventions in managing anxiety and fostering professional counselor development.

Response Shift And Functional Outcomes In Individuals With Chronic Ankle Instability, Cameron J. Powden

Health Services Research Dissertations

Ankle sprains are one of the most common injuries sustained by those who are physically active. One in three individuals will develop a condition known as chronic ankle instability (CAI) after suffering a single ankle sprain. These individuals suffer from recurrent bouts of ankle instability, residual symptoms, and a myriad of other mechanical and functional impairments as well as health-related quality of life (HRQL) deficits. Due to the abundance of health consequences associated with this condition it is imperative to establish evidence based interventions that are focused on restoring function and HRQL to pre-injury statuses.

The overarching purpose of this …

Cuestionario De Proceso Sensorial En Adultos: Comparación De Resultados Entre Población De Usa Y De Chile: Resultados Preliminares/Sensory Processing Questionnaire In Adults: Comparison Of Results Between Usa And Chile Population: Preliminary Results, Silvia Gómez, Megan Chang, Dianne Parham, Erna Imperatore

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Spanish: Existen escasos estudios sobre la forma de evaluar el proceso sensorial en adultos; una de estas formas es el uso de perfil sensorial desarrollado por Brown y Dunn en el año 2002, aplicable tanto para la población infantil como adulta de habla inglesa. Hasta el momento no existe una evaluación de procesamiento sensorial del adulto validada en castellano. En base a estos antecedentes, el principal objetivo de este estudio es validar la construcción interna de una escala de procesamiento sensorial en el adulto a través del Cuestionario del Proceso Sensorial del Adulto (CPSA) con una población de habla hispana, …

Can Gait Signatures Provide Quantitative Measures For Aiding Clinical Decision-Making? A Systematic Meta-Analysis Of Gait Variability Behavior In Patients With Parkinson’S Disease, Niklas König Ignasiak

Physical Therapy Faculty Articles and Research

A disturbed, inconsistent walking pattern is a common feature of patients with Parkinson's disease (PwPD). Such extreme variability in both temporal and spatial parameters of gait has been associated with unstable walking and an elevated prevalence of falls. However, despite their ability to discretise healthy from pathological function, normative variability values for key gait parameters are still missing. Furthermore, an understanding of each parameter's response to pathology, as well as the inter-parameter relationships, has received little attention. The aim of this systematic literature review and meta-analysis was therefore to define threshold levels for pathological gait variability as well as to …

Muscle Activation Differs Between Three Different Knee Joint-Angle Positions During A Maximal Isometric Back Squat Exercise, Paulo Henrique Marchetti, Josinaldo Jarbas Da Silva, Brad J. Schoenfeld, Priscyla Silva Monteiro Nardi, Silvio Luis Pecoraro, Julia Maria D'Andrea Greve, Erin Hartigan

Publications and Research

The purpose of this study was to compare muscle activation of the lower limb muscles when performing a maximal isometric back squat exercise over three different positions. Fifteen young, healthy, resistance-trained men performed an isometric back squat at three knee joint angles (20∘, 90∘, and 140∘) in a randomized, counterbalanced fashion. Surface electromyography was used to measure muscle activation of the vastus lateralis (VL), vastus medialis (VM), rectus femoris (RF), biceps femoris (BF), semitendinosus (ST), and gluteusmaximus (GM). In general,muscle activity was the highest at 90∘ for the three quadricepsmuscles, yet differences in muscle activation between knee angles were muscle …

Exploring The Occupation Of Dating For Young Women Living In Ireland, Karen Mccarthy, Jeanne Jackson

Collected Faculty Scholarship

Background:
The discipline of occupational science has called for an increase in research focusing on the study of occupations. Gray (1997) stated that occupational therapy could benefit from “a more profound understanding of the essence of occupation” (p. 15). Dickie (2003) argues that “one way to achieve this understanding is to examine occupations directly” (p. 120).
Dating is an occupation that has not been examined directly and has recently undergone rapid changes in its practice. Although occupational science research has been done on mate selection (Krishnagiri, 1996), there is a dearth of literature exploring the actual activities surrounding mate selection, …

Feasibility Of Conducting A Web-Based Survey Of Patient-Reported Outcomes And Rehabilitation Progress, Jennifer S. Howard, Jenny L. Toonstra, Amanda R. Meade, Caitlin E. Whale Conley, Carl G. Mattacola

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

Background: Web-based surveys provide an efficient means to track clinical outcomes over time without the use of clinician time for additional paperwork. Our purpose was to determine the feasibility of utilizing web-based surveys to capture rehabilitation compliance and clinical outcomes among postoperative orthopedic patients. The study hypotheses were that (a) recruitment rate would be high (> 90%), (b) patients receiving surveys every two weeks would demonstrate higher response rates than patients that receive surveys every four weeks, and (c) response rates would decrease over time.

Methods: The study design involved a longitudinal cohort. Surgical knee patients were recruited for study …

Dating As An Occupation: Swipe Right For Ot, Karen Mccarthy

Collected Faculty Scholarship

Background As occupational therapists (OTs) we claim to treat our clients holistically, yet despite research indicating the importance of sexuality in practice (White et al 1992, Northcott and Chard 2000) sexuality and the occupations surrounding it, such as dating, can often be ignored in practice. Sexuality is expressed through many forms including sexual activity, self care and dating. As OTs, how often do we acknowledge or actively address a client’s desire to find a partner and the occupations that surround such a goal? Krishnagiri discusses “mate selection” as an important occupation with rich cultural and personal significance to the person …

Occupational Therapy On College Campuses: Facilitating Student Success Through Occupation, Kristy Coen, Carlin Daley, Kieran Lewis, Susan Madigan, Karen Mccarthy, Clodagh Nolan, Áine O'Dea, Linda Reen, Liath Sheehan, Orla Sullivan

Occupational Therapy | Faculty Conference Presentations

Purpose: To explore how occupational therapy services fit into a supported education model on college campuses.

Rationale: College students present with many strengths and challenges in college settings. There are limited services for young adults to succeed in college and students with various diagnoses face challenges in the areas of time management, organization, academic skills, and in social areas of college (Orentlicher, & Olson, 2010; Rogers, Kash-MacDonald, Bruker, & Maru, 2010). Higher education is a role emerging area for occupational therapists, and there are some pioneering occupational therapists who have discovered multiple ways to provide services to students who are …

1st Place Research Paper: The Effectiveness Of Yoga Therapy On An Adult, Post-Stroke Population: A Systematic Review, Baylor E. Hogan

Kevin and Tam Ross Undergraduate Research Prize

Objectives: The objectives of this paper are to (1) give a brief overview of stroke pathophysiology (2) outline yoga as a therapeutic strategy (3) present the current research on yoga rehabilitation for stroke (4) discuss the efficacy of yoga for chronic stroke.

Methods: Relevant terms were searched in PubMed, Web of Science, Academic OneFile, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar electronic databases. Studies were excluded if they contained pediatric stroke, non-stroke neurological diseases, or subjects with comorbidities. Statistically significant data was extracted for the primary measures of nine trials.

Results: Four studies measured statistically significant outcomes (p<0.05). These included improvements in balance, independence, endurance, trait anxiety, fear of falling, self-efficacy, pain, strength, range of motion (ROM), activity, participation, and quality of life (QoL). Discussion: Lack of statistical significance in post-stroke depression (PSD) measures may be due to inadequate intervention length or a psychosocial cause of depression. Improvements in balance, flexibility, and strength from yoga participation permitted progress in disability and functionality. Finally, overall health-related quality of life (HRQL) is affected by the severity of mental disorders and physical disability. Yoga can have a positive effect in both domains and therefore, may improve HRQL.

Conclusion: …

The Efficacy Of Motor Imagery Training On Range Of Motion, Pain And Function Of Patients After Total Knee Replacement, Noorelhoda Mahmoud, Marc A. Razzano Jr., Karen Tischler

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The present study examined the potential of motor imagery training and investigated the role of motor imagery instructions (audio) to improve knee range of motion after a total knee replacement. The participants were randomly assigned to either an experimental motor imagery group (n=4) or a control group (n=6). Both groups performed specific exercises to improve their knee range of motion and strengthen their muscles. Participants in the Motor Imagery group performed a motor imagery training exercise for a knee flexion stretch on the stairs prior to performing the actual exercise. The motor imagery group demonstrated a significantly greater increase in …

Multi-Digit Coordination In Absence Of Cutaneous Sensory Feedback During Grasping Tasks, Christina Gioeli, Kerry Mcpartlan, Emily Reid, Matthew Turturro

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Motor learning and adaptation to object properties and task requirements requires integration of cutaneous sensory feedback with motor commands. Joint mechanics constantly change, with individual joints or muscles compensation so performance output is the same per task. Effects of mixed cutaneous sensory feedback on multi-digit coordination is not well understood. Investigators sought to determine the influence absent cutaneous sensory feedback has on motor learning and adaptation, and how the CNS coordinates multi-digit mechanical output to adapt to manual tasks, with partially intact digital sensory feedback. 19 participants were randomly assigned for three-digit anesthesia administration (TIM- thumb, index, middle; TRL- thumb, …

Paired Associative Transspinal And Transcortical Stimulation Produces Bidirectional Plasticity Of Human Cortical And Spinal Motor Pathways, Luke Dixon, Mohamed Ibrahim, Danielle Santora

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Anatomical, physiological, and functional connectivity exists between primary motor cortex (M1) and spinal cord neurons. Paired associative stimulation (PAS) produces enduring changes in M1 based on the Hebbian principle of associative plasticity. The present study aims to discover immediate neurophysiological changes on human corticomotor pathways by pairing noninvasive transspinal and transcortical stimulation via transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). We delivered paired transspinal and transcortical stimulation for 40-min at precise interstimulus intervals with TMS being delivered after (transspinal-transcortical PAS) or before (transcortical-transspinal PAS) transspinal stimulation. Transspinal-transcortical PAS markedly decreased intracortical inhibition, increased intracortical facilitation and M1 excitability with concomitant decreases of motor …

Physiopathology And Intervention In Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review, Justin Gelesky, Dylann C. Germann, Amanda Percaccio, Rachelle Schick

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

In the United States, osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common chronic illness in the adult population affecting an estimated 27 million individuals with a yearly health care cost of over $150 billion (CDC, 2014; Lawrence et al., 2008). The pathological osteoarthritic process results in the progressive degradation of articular cartilage due to chemical and biological imbalances within a joint (Weiland et al., 2005). These imbalances are not well understood and neither are the biomechanical joint changes that occur as a result. Due to these limitations, treating and monitoring this condition is a challenge to clinicians and the processes are currently …

Language-Mixing In Discourse In Bilingual Individuals With Non-Fluent Aphasia, Avanthi Paplikar

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Language-mixing (LM) as defined by Chengappa (2009, p. 417) is an “intra-sentential phenomenon referred to as the mixing of various linguistic units (morphemes, words, modifiers, phrases, etc.), primarily from two participating grammatical systems”. LM is influenced by grammatical, environmental, and social constraints (e.g., Milroy & Wei, 1995; Bhat & Chengappa, 2005). Researchers have suggested that LM in patients with aphasia is a communicative strategy used to achieve successful exchanges between speakers; the effectiveness of this mixing, however, had yet to be demonstrated quantitatively.

In the current study we investigated whether LM is present in bilingual speakers with aphasia, and if …

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 …

Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Survey To Assess Inclusion In Dpt Curricula In The United States, Michael Erickson, Paul Nasri, David Perrotto

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The objective of this study is to assess the current level of inclusion of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in Doctor of Physical Therapy curricula in the United States. This survey provides self-reported data regarding the challenges associated with incorporating TCM into the curriculum. All 228 CAPTE (Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education) accredited Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) programs were included in this survey instrument. A College of Staten Island (CSI) Human & Animal Protection Office (HARPPO) approved survey was e-mailed to the chairperson of each DPT program and respondent data was stored via a secure Survey Monkey® online …

A Literature Review Of Studies Evaluating Rotator Cuff Activation During Early Rehabilitation Exercises For Post-Op Rotator Cuff Repair, Samuel N. Wells, Jodi R. Schilz, Timothy L. Uhl, A. Burke Gurney

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

Despite the modern advancement of surgical repair equipment and techniques, many rotator cuff repairs do not clinically heal. Prescribed rehabilitative exercises must appropriately load the repaired muscle-tendon complex to promote healing and prevent capsular adhesions without damaging the repair. The clinician must possess an understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the healing rotator cuff, and understand the importance of the plane of movement, speed of the movement, position of the extremity, level of assistance, and type of resistance used. Electromyography (EMG) provides a useful means to determine muscle activation levels during specific exercises. Descriptions of specific exercises and EMG …

Effects Of Adjustments To Wheelchair Seat To Back Support Angle On Head, Neck, And Shoulder Postures, Afnan M. Alkhateeb

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Background: People spend a long time in the sitting position may have poor alignment that leads to neck and back pain. A wheelchair represents mobility for people with cerebral palsy, who are unable to walk. They spend long periods of time sitting in their wheelchair. Opining the seat to back support angle of the wheelchair enable realignment body segments and improves posture. Objective: 1) assessed the validity/reliability of Coach’s Eye (CE) smart device application, 2) examined the effect of seat to back support angle adjustments on head, neck, and shoulder posture in the sitting position, and 3) compared changes in …