Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Combined Unilateral Blockade Of Cholinergic, Peptidergic, And Serotonergic Receptors In The Ventral Respiratory Column Does Not Affect Breathing In Awake Or Sleeping Goats, Clarissa Muere, Suzanne Neumueller, Samantha Olesiak, Justin Robert Miller, Thomas Langer, Matthew Hodges, Lawrence Pan, Hubert Forster

Physical Therapy Faculty Research and Publications

Previous work in intact awake and sleeping goats has found that unilateral blockade of excitatory inputs in the ventral respiratory column (VRC) elicits changes in the concentrations of multiple neurochemicals, including serotonin (5-HT), substance P, glycine, and GABA, while increasing or having no effect on breathing. These findings are consistent with the concept of interdependence between neuromodulators, whereby attenuation of one modulator elicits compensatory changes in other modulators to maintain breathing. Because there is a large degree of redundancy and multiplicity of excitatory inputs to the VRC, we herein tested the hypothesis that combined unilateral blockade of muscarinic acetylcholine (mACh), …

Improving Outcomes By Implementing A Pressure Ulcer Prevention Program (Pupp): Going Beyond The Basics, Amparo Cano, Debbie Anglade, Hope Stamp, Fortunata Joaquin, Jennifer A. Lopez, Lori Lupe, Steven P. Schmidt, Daniel L. Young

Physical Therapy Faculty Research

A multidisciplinary process improvement program was initiated at the University of Miami Hospital (UMH) in 2009 to identify the prevalence of hospital-acquired pressure ulcers (HAPU) at the institution and to implement interventions to reduce the incidence of HAPU. This deliberate and thoughtful committee-driven process evaluated care, monitored results, and designed evidence-based strategic initiatives to manage and reduce the rate of HAPU. As a result all inpatient beds were replaced with support surfaces, updated care delivery protocols were created, and monitored, turning schedules were addressed, and a wound, ostomy, and continence (WOC) nurse and support staff were hired. These initial interventions …

The Effect Of Antagonist Muscle Sensory Input On Force Regulation, Tanya Onushko, Brian D. Schmit, Allison S. Hyngstrom

Physical Therapy Faculty Research and Publications

The purpose of this study was to understand how stretch-related sensory feedback from an antagonist muscle affects agonist muscle output at different contraction levels in healthy adults. Ten young (25.3 ± 2.4 years), healthy subjects performed constant isometric knee flexion contractions (agonist) at 6 torque levels: 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 30%, and 40% of their maximal voluntary contraction. For half of the trials, subjects received patellar tendon taps (antagonist sensory feedback) during the contraction. We compared error in targeted knee flexion torque and hamstring muscle activity, with and without patellar tendon tapping, across the 6 torque levels. At lower torque …

Arm Dominance Does Not Influence Measures Of Scapular Muscle Strength And Endurance In Healthy Individuals, Joseph M. Day, Heather M. Bush, Arthur J. Nitz, Tim L. Uhl

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND PURPOSE: Scapular muscle performance is potentially influenced by arm dominance. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of arm dominance on clinical measures of scapulohumeral muscle strength and endurance.
METHODS: Thirty-two healthy individuals between the ages of 30 and 65 years were recruited to participate. Scapular muscle strength of the upper trapezius (UT), middle trapezius (MT), lower trapezius (LT), and serratus anterior (SA) were recorded with a hand held dynamometer. One scapulohumeral isometric muscle endurance task was performed in prone. The order of testing (strength and endurance) was randomized for each individual. Dominant to …

Increased Resting-State Functional Connectivity Of Visual- And Cognitive-Control Brain Networks After Training In Children With Reading Difficulties, Tzipi Horowitz-Kraus, Mark Difrancesco, Benjamin Kay, Yingying Wang, Scott K. Holland

Center for Brain, Biology, and Behavior: Faculty Publications

The Reading Acceleration Program, a computerized reading-training program, increases activation in neural circuits related to reading.We examined the effect of the training on the functional connectivity between independent components related to visual processing, executive functions, attention, memory, and language during rest after the training. Children 8–12 years old with reading difficulties and typical readers participated in the study. Behavioral testing and functional magnetic resonance imaging were performed before and after the training. Imaging data were analyzed using an independent component analysis approach. After training, both reading groups showed increased single-word contextual reading and reading comprehension scores. Greater positive correlations between …

Providing Compassion Through Flow, Lydia Royeen

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Meg Kral, MS, OTR/L, CLT, is the cover artist for the Summer 2015 issue of The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy. Her untitled piece of art is an oil painting and is a re-creation of a photograph taken while on vacation. Meg is currently supervisor of outpatient services at Rush University Medical Center. She is lymphedema certified and has a specific interest in breast cancer lymphedema. Art and occupational therapy serve similar purposes for Meg: both provide a sense of flow. She values the outcomes, whether it is a piece of art or improved functional status.

Framing Ecological Validity In Occupational Therapy Practice, Patricia A. Crist

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

No abstract provided.

He Said—He Said: A Scholarly Conversation About Assessment, Glen Gillen, Jim Hinojosa

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

No abstract provided.

Spiritual Assessments In Occupational Therapy, Barbara Hemphill

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Spirituality is recognized as an important concept in the study and practice of medicine, including occupational therapy. This aligns with occupational therapy’s core value of treating people holistically—mind, body, and spirit. Currently, the Joint Commission for the Accreditation of Hospital Organizations (JCAHO) requires that a spiritual assessment be given to patients on admission. To conduct effective spiritual assessments, occupational therapists must distinguish between religion and spirituality. They also must be aware of their own spiritual beliefs and practices and how those might influence their clinical interactions. This article presents spiritual assessment tools that occupational therapists can use in clinical practice; …

A Review And Case Exemplifications Of Health Enhancement Lifestyle Profile (Help) And Its Screener (Help–Screener) For Older Adults, Eric J. Hwang, Terry Peralta-Catipon

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Growing interest in promoting healthy lifestyles as a way to enhance successful aging has led to the necessity of screening and monitoring lifestyle behaviors among older adults. The 56-item Health Enhancement Lifestyle Profile (HELP) and its screening version, the 15-item HELP-Screener are a set of instruments designed for assessing various health-related lifestyle behaviors in older adults, including exercise, diet, social and productive activities, leisure, activities of daily living, stress management and spiritual participation, and other health promotion and risk behaviors. This article depicts the critical features (e.g., administration and scoring) and clinical usefulness of the two instruments and reviews the …

Assessing Volition In Pediatrics: Using The Volitional Questionnaire And The Pediatric Volitional Questionnaire, Anne Kiraly-Alvarez

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Evidence suggests that pediatric occupational therapists predominantly use bottom-up, impairment-focused theoretical frameworks and assessments to guide their practice, despite the current trends promoting top-down, occupation-based approaches. Understanding a child’s volition, guided by the use of the Model of Human Occupation, contributes to a more occupation-based, client-centered, holistic, and strength-based approach to therapy. Two assessment tools, the Volitional Questionnaire and the Pediatric Volitional Questionnaire, contribute to a therapists’ understanding of children’s volition. These assessments facilitate therapists’ clinical reasoning and the ability to assess and address volition throughout the occupational therapy process.

Exploring Content Validity Of Shore Handwriting Screening And Newly Developed Score Sheet With Pre-Kindergarten Students, Denise K. Donica, Erin Francsis

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Limited tools exist to measure handwriting readiness skills of pre-kindergarten students. This study was a preliminary exploration of content validity of the Shore Handwriting Screening (SHS) and the newly developed Score Sheet with the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, Second Edition (BOT-2) in 4- and 5-year-old pre-kindergarten students. Because socioeconomic status (SES) is known to impact handwriting skills, data from two different socioeconomic groups were collected.

Method: Students from a Lower SES group (n = 36) and a Higher SES group (n = 14) completed the SHS and fine motor composite of the BOT-2. Pearson’s correlation was used to …

Examining The Purdue Pegboard Test For Occupational Therapy Practice, Debra K. Lindstrom-Hazel, Nicole Vandervlies Veenstra

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Occupational therapy ethics require that therapists use current assessment tools that provide useful comparison data. When an assessment only has normative data that is more than 40 years old, it cannot be considered current. The purpose of this study was to examine the past and current use of the Purdue Pegboard Test by occupational therapists and other professionals and to determine if it is beneficial to conduct a large normative study on the Purdue Pegboard Assembly Task (PPAT) in order to bring the test up to date.

Method: This was a psychometric study of inter-rater reliability and a small …

Performance-Based Tools For Assessing Functional Performance In Individuals With Mild Cognitive Impairment, Patricia Da Cunha Belchior, Melanie Holmes, Nathalie Bier, Carolina Bottari, Barbara Mazer, Alexandra Robert, Navaldeep Kaur

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: It is now recognized that individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) face subtle functional declines that can compromise performance in everyday tasks. However, it is still not clear how to capture these declines in the clinical setting. Thus, the goal of this study was to conduct a scoping review to identify performance-based tools for which the psychometric properties have been evaluated with the MCI population.

Methods: A scoping review of the scientific literature was performed with the guidance of a health science librarian in searching the MEDLINE, PsychINFO, CINAHL, and EMBASE databases from their inception until May 2014.

Results: …

Does The Role Checklist Measure Occupational Participation?, Tore Bonsaksen, Ursula Meidert, Deana Schuman, Hildegunn Kvarsnes, Lena Haglund, Susan Prior, Kirsty Forsyth, Takashi Yamada, Patricia J. Scott

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Among the Model of Human Occupation (MOHO) assessments, the Role Checklist is one of the most established. In spite of its widespread use, no studies have examined role examples and their association with the three embedded levels of doing, as established in the MOHO theory.

Method: A cross-sectional survey of 293 respondents from the US, the UK, Japan, Switzerland, Sweden, and Norway produced 7,182 role examples. The respondents completed Part I of the Role Checklist and provided examples of each internalized role they performed. Responses were classified as occupational skill, occupational performance, or occupational participation.

Results: …

Exploring The Role And Scope Of Clinical Assessment In Occupational Therapy, Ann M. Chapleau

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

No abstract provided.

A Randomized Controlled Trial Of Exercise In Spinal And Bulbar Muscular Atrophy., Joseph A Shrader, Ilona Kats, Angela Kokkinis, Cris Zampieri, Ellen Levy, Galen O Joe, Joshua G. Woolstenhulme, Bart E Drinkard, Michaele R Smith, Willie Ching, Laboni Ghosh, Derrick Fox, Sungyoung Auh, Alice B Schindler, Kenneth H Fischbeck, Christopher Grunseich

Physical Therapy and Health Care Sciences Faculty Publications

OBJECTIVE: To determine the safety and efficacy of a home-based functional exercise program in spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA).

METHODS: Subjects were randomly assigned to participate in 12 weeks of either functional exercises (intervention) or a stretching program (control) at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD. A total of 54 subjects enrolled, and 50 completed the study with 24 in the functional exercise group and 26 in the stretching control group. The primary outcome measure was the Adult Myopathy Assessment Tool (AMAT) total score, and secondary measures included total activity by accelerometry, muscle strength, balance, timed up …

The Healthy Mind, Healthy Mobility Trial: A Novel Exercise Program For Older Adults, Dawn P. Gill, Michael A. Gregory, Guangyong Zou, Teresa Liu-Ambrose, Ryosuke Shigematsu, Vladimir Hachinski, Clara Fitzgerald, Robert Petrella

Lifestyle Research Team

BACKGROUND:

More evidence is needed to conclude that a specific program of exercise and/or cognitive training warrants prescription for the prevention of cognitive decline. We examined the effect of a group-based standard exercise program for older adults, with and without dual-task training, on cognitive function in older adults without dementia.

METHODS:

We conducted a proof-of-concept, single-blinded, 26-wk randomized controlled trial whereby participants recruited from preexisting exercise classes at the Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging in London, Ontario, were randomized to the intervention group (exercise + dual-task [EDT]) or the control group (exercise only [EO]). Each week (2 or 3 …

Does Generalization Occur Following Computer-Based Cognitive Retraining?—An Exploratory Study, Kitsum Li, Jonathan Alonso, Nisha Chadha, Jennifer Pulido

Collected Faculty Scholarship

Computer-based cognitive retraining (CBCR) intervention has gained great popularity in recent years. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of skill generalization to daily living task for individuals with acquired brain injury (ABI) after completion of eight modules of a commercially available CBCR program, the Parrot Software. The study investigated changes in individuals’ global cognition as measured by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, and changes in individuals’ performance during a medication-box sorting task, a novel instrumental activity of daily living. The medication-box sorting task resembled real life medication management with daily prescribed and over-the-counter medications. Twelve individuals with ABI from a …

Role Of Mitochondria In Regulating Microrna Activity And Its Relevance To The Central Nervous System, Wang-Xia Wang, Joe E. Springer

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

A Needs Assessment Of Occupation Based Services In A West Michigan Homeless Shelter From A Staff Perspective, Stephanie A. Ballard, Katie M. Deveneau, April D. Hemlock

Community Based

In this qualitative study, student researchers conducted one-on-one semi-structured interviews of individuals employed by a homeless shelter in West Michigan, posing questions related to the perceived need of occupation-based services for shelter recipients, and the efficacy of current services. Narratives were interpreted using thematic analysis, yielding themes related to the barriers faced by the shelter population, life skills of the shelter population, and services in place to provide for the needs of the shelter recipients. Authors concluded that shelter staff perceived a need for occupation-based services to engage the shelter population in meaningful occupations, particularly relating to leisure, education and …

Commentary: Considering Educational Perspectives And Their Relevance To Allied Health Professional Education: Using Physical Therapy As An Example, Jennifer Audette, Susan Roush

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to introduce readers to three educational perspectives: progressive, critical, and professional, and explain their relevance to allied health professional education. Faculty in allied health professional education are often solely educated as clinicians and not as teachers, entering academia with limited background in educational theory. Professional organizations and accrediting bodies, however, are highlighting the need for evidence and theory-based pedagogy and practice in educational settings. Method: An overview of three educational perspectives is provided, as is a discussion of their relevance to allied health professional education, using physical therapist education as an example. Conclusion: …

A Novel Approach To Lymphedema Management In Upper Extremity Amputations: A Case Report, Katie Polo, Gali Gamble

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Many breast cancer survivors experience lymphedema complications from past medical management procedures such as axillary lymph node dissections and/or radiation therapy. These complications negatively affect the patient’s health and overall quality of life. Occupational therapists (OT) certified in lymphedema management can contribute to positive patient outcomes as part of a comprehensive medical team. A case is presented of a 73-year-old female post voluntary trans-humeral amputation due to radiation induced brachial plexopathy. This patient’s treatment was led by an OT certified in lymphedema management and included complete decongestive therapy and analysis of function with a focus on the development of a …

Median Nerve Mobility Measurement Using A Motion Tracking Analysis Program: A Reliability Study, Consuelo Gonzalez-Suarez, Jan Nathleen Dizon, Belinda Cabungcal-Fidel, Ronald Christopher A. Cua, Valentine C. Dones, Peter Lesniewski, John C. Thomas

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Objective: To evaluate relative and absolute reliability and repeatability in assessing median nerve mobility at the level of the wrist and distal upper arm of the right upper extremity during wrist extension. Methods: Six healthy participants participated in the study. Median nerve mobility was captured three times at both sites using Sonocyte Turbo by two sonologists for a total of 72 video clips (36 for each site and 18 by each sonologist). Longitudinal movement was measured using Motion Tracking Analysis Program (MTAP) by the two assessors who were rehabilitation medicine residents. After one month, the assessors remeasured the longitudinal excursion …

Evaluating The Use Of Relaxation Interventions To Promote Participation And Quality Of Life In Individuals With Cancer, Abigail Gilmore, Ots, Brianna Schwoyer, Ots, Audrey Zapletal, Ms< Otr/L

Department of Occupational Therapy Posters and Presentations

Background:

• High levels of anxiety and distress are associated with the diagnosis, treatment, and remission stages of cancer.
• Psychological symptoms have the potential to negatively influence functional performance, quality of life, overall health, and recovery of individuals with cancer.
• Improvements in occupational performance and quality of life, as well as reductions in anxiety and pain have been demonstrated in a variety of health conditions with the use of therapeutic relaxation techniques, such as:
  • Yoga/Tai Chi
  • Mindfulness based stress reduction (MBSR)
  • Relaxation Training
  • Massage
• Research continues to emerge investigating trends in use, patient experiences, and efficacy of therapeutic relaxation techniques with …

A Five Year Program Review Of Infusing Occupational Therapy Into Over-Night Camping For Children With Disabilities, Audrey Zapletal, Ms, Otr/L, Ashley Kalman-Binkowski, Ms, Otr/L, Lindsey West, Ms, Otr/L

Department of Occupational Therapy Posters and Presentations

Objectives:

• Describe an OT faculty-student training model in a nontraditional rural setting
• Provide examples of strategies to enhance campers’ participation in a variety of activities
• Discuss the impact of occupational therapy program on satisfaction and participation of campers with disabilities

Increasing Organizational Accountability And Performance: Activity Tracking For Employment Consultants, Alberto Migliore, Kelly Nye-Lengerman, Jeanine Pavlak, Steve Aalto, Thinkwork! At The Institute For Community Inclusion At Umass Boston

ThinkWork! Publications

No abstract provided.

Understanding The Sympathetic Nervous System In Response To Food In Children With Autism And Typically Developing Children, Jonathon D. Haskell

Occupational Therapy Graduate Student Evidenced-Based Research Reviews

Previous research behind sympathetic nervous system functioning in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder has shown disturbances in their ability to regulate their arousal level (Miller et al., 2003; Tomcheck and Dunn, 2000). Depicting this notion in previous research, children diagnosed with autism are likely to be comorbid with Sensory Over-responsitivity (SOR) or Sensory under-responsitivity (SUR), and could ultimately elicit variable sympathetic nervous system functioning in response to their sensory environment-whether it be taste, smell, auditory, tactile, or visual stimuli. Although previous research depicts inconsistent measures involving sympathetic responses to stimuli in children with autism, research specifically involving food selectivity provided …

Effect Of Social Skill Training Programs On Bullying, Kaycee Johns, Megan Kloska

Occupational Therapy Graduate Student Evidenced-Based Research Reviews

Bullying is a problem that is often found in schools during the adolescence age. Although this is not a new concept, bullying continues to lead to the victimization of children and adolescents all over the world. Research has played a critical role in understanding bullying, victimization, and prevention programs. However, bullying and victimization still continue to be problems within schools and peer relationships.

The primary purpose of this systematic review is to assist practitioners by investigating evidence-based studies related to school social skill programs, and their effectiveness in reducing victimization of bullying throughout adolescence.

Effectiveness Of Executive Function Performance Test (Efpt) In Stroke Population, Faryal Shaheen

Occupational Therapy Graduate Student Evidenced-Based Research Reviews

Stroke is the leading cause of long term disability in the U.S, causing 15,000 deaths each year (Hall et al, 2015). It has been estimated that 71% of clients are discharged with minimal to no services from acute/subacute after stroke because of deficits that go undetected (2015).

One of the most common deficits in stroke is loss in executive functioning (EF). Occupational therapists (OTs) have typically used a combination of tools to measure EF and most of these assessments did not involve observations in the everyday environment (Morrison et al, 2015). A new measure, known as the Executive Function Performance …