Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Examining The Effects Of Human-Animal Interaction On Individuals With Developmental Disabilities, Jennie Feinstein

Theses and Dissertations

Companion animals play a pivotal role in typical human development. It remains unknown how animals affect individuals with developmental disabilities. Based on the knowledge that companion animals help typically developing individuals, this research examined the effects of human-animal interactions on individuals with developmental disabilities.

Human-animal interactions are based on the Biophilia hypothesis, an assertion that an emotional and beneficial relationship exists between humans and nature, in which there is an “innate tendency to focus on life and lifelike processes.” These are the shared, dynamic associations between people and animals, and the effects of those relationships on health and well-being. Sparse …

Anomia Treatment Platform As Behavioral Engine For Use In Research On Physiological Adjuvants To Neurorehabilitation, Diane Kendall, Anastasia Raymer, Miranda Rose, Joellen Gilbert, Leslie J. Gonzalez Rothi

Communication Disorders & Special Education Faculty Publications

The purpose of this study was to create a "behavioral treatment engine" for future use in research on physiological adjuvants in aphasia rehabilitation. We chose the behavioral target anomia, which is a feature displayed by many persons who have aphasia. Further, we wished to saturate the treatment approach with many strategies and cues that have been empirically reported to have a positive influence on aphasia outcome, with the goal being to optimize the potential for positive response in most participants. A single-subject multiple baseline design with replication across eight participants was employed. Four men and four women, with an average …

Perceived Outcomes Of Web-Based Modules Designed To Enhance Athletic Trainers' Knowledge Of Evidence-Based Practice, Cailee E. Welch, Bonnie L. Van Lunen, Dorice A. Hankemeier, Aimee L. Wyant, Jessica M. Mutchler, William A. Pitney, Danica G. Hays

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

Context: The release of evidence-based practice (EBP) Web-based learning modules to the membership of the National Athletic Trainers' Association has provided athletic trainers (ATs) the opportunity to enhance their knowledge of the various EBP concepts. Whereas increasing the knowledge of EBP among ATs is important, assessing whether this newfound knowledge is being translated into clinical practice and didactic education is crucial.

Objective: To explore the effectiveness of an educational intervention regarding EBP on the didactic instruction patterns of athletic training educators and the clinical practice behaviors of clinicians.

Design: Qualitative study.

Setting: Individual telephone interviews.

Patients or Other Participants: A …

An Evidence-Based Practice Educational Intervention For Athletic Trainers: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Cailee E. Welch, Bonnie L. Van Lunen, Dorice A. Hankemeier

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

Context: As evidence-based practice (EBP) becomes a necessity in athletic training, Web-based modules have been developed and made available to the National Athletic Trainers' Association membership as a mechanism to educate athletic trainers (ATs) on concepts of EBP.

Objective: To assess the effect of an educational intervention on enhancing knowledge of EBP among ATs.

Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Web-based modules and knowledge assessment.

Patients or Other Participants: A total of 164 of 473 ATs (34.7% response rate), including professional athletic training students, graduate students, clinical preceptors, educators, and clinicians, were randomized into a control group (40 men, 42 women) …

Arch Height In Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis: A Pilot Study, Christopher Aeschliman, Rebecca Demattia, Rex Hurlbut, Adam Joy

University of Dayton Doctor of Physical Therapy Annual Research Symposium

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is the most common neurological disorder affecting younger adults. MS causes demyelination of nerves in the central nervous system, which impairs the ability of the nerve to conduct its impulse to other nerves and muscles. Over time, weaknesses and sensory deficits in the limbs may lead to structural changes in the musculoskeletal system, such as tightness in certain muscles and joints (calf and ankle) and excessive motion in others (foot and knee). Structural changes in the foot, including arch height and mid-foot flexibility, have yet to be measured or studied in persons with MS.

Test Items In The Complete And Short Forms Of The Bot-2 That Correlate To Subtest Score In Typically Developing Children 6-10 Years Of Age, Betsy Donahoe-Fillmore, C. Jayne Brahler, Kadi Carmosino, Ashley Grzeszczak, Kaylie Mcmurray, Bo Slutz, Brittany Zoll, Susan Aebker, Megan Kreill

University of Dayton Doctor of Physical Therapy Annual Research Symposium

The Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, second edition (BOT-2), is used to measure fine and gross motor proficiency in children ages 4- 21 years.1 The BOT-2 consists of both a Complete and Short Form and is comprised of 4 composites with 8 subtests. The Short Form consists of 14 items proportionally selected from the subtests of the Complete Form. Despite requiring less time to administer and score, a group of researchers found that the BOT-2 Short Form is not a valid measure for assessing motor proficiency in 4-6 year olds, suggesting that a revision of the Short Form may be …

Effects Of Yoga On Arm Volume Among Women With Breast Cancer Related Lymphedema: A Pilot Study, Mary I. Fisher, Betsy Donahoe-Fillmore, Laura Leach, Colleen O'Malley, Cheryl Paeplow, Tess Prescott

University of Dayton Doctor of Physical Therapy Annual Research Symposium

Early detection efforts and aggressive treatment have resulted in female breast cancer survival rates approaching 90%. Treatments for breast cancer often result in upper extremity morbidities including the development of lymphedema. Impairments may result from the development of lymphedema, including decreased arm function, range of motion and strength along with increased arm swelling and heaviness. This arm swelling can be accompanied by a general decline in the quality of life (QOL). Therefore, it is important to determine effective methods to manage lymphedema. Exercise is one aspect of lymphedema management that has been supported by research to improve physiologic function of …

The Immediate Effects Of Carbon Composite Ankle Foot Orthoses On Balance And Gait In Individuals With Peripheral Neuropathy: A Pilot Study, Holly Combs, Tristen Glesey, Renee Laux, Lucas Petkewitz, Gina Santoianni

University of Dayton Doctor of Physical Therapy Annual Research Symposium

Peripheral neuropathy (PN) is a neurological disorder that involves damage or disease of the peripheral nervous system. Diabetes is one of the most common causes on PN, while another large percentage of cases are idiopathic in nature. Individuals with PN often experience a distal to proximal progression of motor and sensory deficits such as loss of proprioception, muscle weakness, and loss of ankle reflexes. Since lower extremity proprioception plays a primary role in postural control, individuals with PN demonstrate difficulty maintaining balance, especially under conditions in which vision or vestibular input are also compromised. Because of these deficits, individuals with …

The Utility Of Functional Movement Assessment On Nba Players, Philip A. Anloague, Donald S. Strack, Joshua Corbeil, Carl Eaton, Shawn Windle, Branden Bubnick, Philip Firkins, Alex Gehle, Krystal Heile, Timothy Lynn, Steven Short

University of Dayton Doctor of Physical Therapy Annual Research Symposium

Professional basketball related injuries have not declined over the last decade despite improvements in training and conditioning or medical advancements in diagnostics, surgery, or rehabilitation. A descriptive epidemiological study of 80% of the National Basketball Association (NBA) teams over 17 years reported an injury incidence of 19.1 per 1000 athlete exposures, and 59,179 games missed due to injury. Starkey found that the there has been a 12.4% increase in game-related injuries in the NBA in a 10-year period from the 1988 - 1997 seasons. It is suspected that increased contact within the NBA along with improved player athleticism, size, power, …

Assessing Candidacy For Intensive Language Therapy: A Preliminary Study, Jessica N. Bellamy

Theses and Dissertations--Communication Sciences and Disorders

The goal of the present study was to examine changes in the speech and language performance of patients with chronic, non-fluent aphasia over the course of a three-hour group speech and language treatment session, a time allotment comparable to intensive therapy practices. Nine participants, (three groups of three), with chronic, non-fluent aphasia were seen for a single group therapy session three hours in length. Therapeutic activities were designed to be as similar as possible for each group of participants. Each participant was individually assessed before (time 1), during (time 2), and after (time 3) the group treatment session. Assessments included …

The Relationship Between Patient Expectations, Functional Outcome, Self-Efficacy, And Rehabilitation Adherence Following Cartilage Repair Of The Knee: A Sequential Explanatory Analysis, Jenny L. Toonstra

Theses and Dissertations--Rehabilitation Sciences

Patient expectations have been shown to be a major predictor of outcomes. Furthermore, fulfilled expectations have been linked to increased patient satisfaction and rehabilitation adherence. Expectations may be influenced by a variety of factors, including patient characteristics, pre-operative function, or disease characteristics. However, it is currently unknown what factors and to what degree they may influence patient expectations prior to knee surgery. Furthermore, understanding the importance and values of those expectations for recovery using qualitative methods has not previously been conducted in this patient population.

A mixed methods design was used. Twenty-one participants scheduled to undergo cartilage repair of the …

Occupational Therapists' Experiences With Ethical And Occupation-Based Practice In Hospital Settings, Joanne P. Estes

Theses and Dissertations--Rehabilitation Sciences

Changes in health care delivery practices are impacting the provision of care in all venues. Occupational therapists working in hospital settings strive to meet professional mandates for occupation-based practice within a medical-model system. Ethical practice is another aspect of service provision vulnerable to contextual influences. The aims of the two studies reported here were to explore occupational therapists’ experiences with occupation-based practice, and with ethical issues, in hospital settings. Grounded theory methods were employed for both studies. Data were collected via individual, semi-structured interviews with 22 participants for the first study. For the second study, nine participants participated in individual, …

Impact Of Afo (Ankle Foot Orthosis) Design On Calf Circumference, Robert H. Meier, David C. Ruthsatz, Daniel Cipriani

Physical Therapy Faculty Articles and Research

Preliminary research suggests the use of a kinetic return ankle foot orthosis is associated with small but significant shortterm increases in calf circumference, which in turn suggests this type of device might reduce or protect against the risk of disuse muscle atrophy.

Clinical Reasoning In First- And Third-Year Physical Therapist Students, Sarah Gilliland

Physical Therapy Faculty Articles and Research

Background and Purpose. The development of clinical reasoning skills is a crucial component of professional physical therapist education. Prior research has described reasoning patterns in novice and expert practitioners, yet little is known about how professional physical therapist (PT) students develop clinical reasoning skills. The purpose of this study was to explore how first-year PT students perform clinical reasoning in comparison to third year PT students in their final semester.

Subjects. A simple random sample of 6 first-year (mean age 23.1 years) and 6 third-year (mean age 27 years) Doctor of Physical Therapy students were recruited.

Methods. …

Potential For Using Smartphone Accelerometers In Non-Laboratory Environments, Rahul Soangra, Thurmon Lockhart, Christopher W. Frames, Jian Zhang, Seong Hyun Moon, Jongsoon Park

Physical Therapy Faculty Articles and Research

In recent years, there has been rising interest in using accelerometers as an alternative instrument to measure the center of pressure. Accelerometers are inexpensive, small, sensitive, and can be readily used in non-laboratory environments. In addition to this, smartphones with built-in accelerometers add to their capability with real-time processing of data from sensors. Clinicians and researchers are currently in disagreement from whether these measurements provide the same physiological information about the participant’s balance. In this study, twelve participants were asked to wear smartphone on their right ASIS using a belt clip and stand still on the forceplate. The data was …

The Effect Of Soft Tissue Oscillation Therapy On The Management Of Pain Associated With Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness, Jenifer Ann Shoultz

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Context: Soft tissue oscillation therapy is utilized in the medical profession with limited research to support its use. This study evaluates the effectiveness of soft tissue oscillation therapy on musculoskeletal pain associated with DOMS, among a healthy, physically active population. Objective: Evaluate the efficacy of soft tissue oscillation therapy compared to a placebo in the management of pain associated with musculoskeletal injury. Design: Experimental Crossover, Repeated Measure Design. Participants: Thirty physically active volunteers with a mean age 21.30 ± 1.47. Methods: Participants were induced with delayed onset muscle soreness to their elbow flexors of the non-dominant arm. Participants were randomly …

Appalachian And Pacific Crest Trail Hikers: A Comparison Of Benefits And Motivations, Eddie Hill, Edwin Gómez, Marni Goldenberg, Barbara Freidt, Stephanie Fellows, Laura Hill

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

The Appalachian Trail (AT) and Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) are two scenic trails named in the National Trails System Act of 1968. Recently, trails and footpaths have been used to promote such benefits as healthy lifestyles, sense of community, and an increased quality of life. The purpose of this study was to compare the motivations and benefits from hikers of the AT and the PCT. Grounded in Driver’s benefits model and means-end theory, and using an Internet questionnaire, 766 usable questionnaires were collected. Significant differences were found between AT and PCT users who: hike to prevent a worse health condition; …

Occupational Therapy Based Guide For Caregivers Of Individuals With Muscular Dystrophy, Chelsea Hesby, Macaila Pagel

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The purpose of this scholarly project was to develop a holistic guide that could be provided by occupational therapists (OTs) to caregivers of individuals with muscular dystrophy (MD). A comprehensive literature review was conducted on the impact that caregiving for individuals with MD has on quality of life, stress management and mental health. The review of literature also explored caregivers’ access to resources and common difficulties experienced. The literature revealed that there have been recent advances in medical fields which have led to an increased lifespan for individuals with MD to an average age of 27 years old (Eagle et …

Pilot Study: Affect Of Power Posing On Ot Student Performance When Implementing Interventions, Aimee Abel, Brittney Barelman

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Objectives. This pilot study used a quasi-experimental repeated measures design to explore the affect of power posing on Occupational Therapy student performance when conducting interventions with clients. The study was conducted in an attempt to determine an effective strategy used to enhance student therapist performance to support occupational adaptation in school and during the transition to entry-level clinician.

Method. Second year occupational therapy students (n = 10) from the University of North Dakota at the Casper, WY site and practicing clinicians (n = 10) from the community of Casper participated in the study. The student therapists conducted two interventions on …

Developing Bilateral And Spatial Concepts In Primary School-Aged Children: An Empirical Evaluation Of The Anker Bilateral Spatial System, Janet Richmond Dr, M Taylor Dr, S Evans

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background: Visual-spatial and visual-motor perceptual difficulties contribute to school-aged learning problems. Hence, a need exists to address children’s visual-spatial and visual-motor perceptual difficulties as early as possible in the child’s school career. Thus, this study reports on the evaluation of the Anker Bilateral Spatial System’s (ABSS) effectiveness in remediating primary school children’s perceptual difficulties.

Method: Thirty-one children (17 boys and 14 girls) aged 6 to 12 years who had been identified by their classroom teacher as having observable visual-spatial and visual-motor perceptual difficulties participated in a 10-week pre/posttest intervention study. The study’s pre/posttest assessments included the Developmental Test of Visual-Motor …

Role Of Physical Exercise In Reducing Depression And Improving Mental Health In Cancer Survivors, Gregory Levin

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Cancer survivors are more than twice as likely as the general population to suffer the debilitating effects of depression. This comorbid condition is associated with several negative consequences, such as reduction in compliance with cancer treatments, and hastened mortality. Recent research has examined the therapeutic effect of exercise on depression and reported excellent results of similar magnitude to those achieved with pharmacotherapy or psychological intervention. However, no research, to date, has examined the effectiveness of exercise on reducing depression in depressed cancer survivors. In order to address this important question this thesis reviewed previous literature in the area of cancer …

Speech And Swallowing Rehabilitation In The Home: A Comparison Of Two Service Delivery Models For Stroke Survivors, Katy J. E. Stewart

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Background and Aims

Speech and swallowing difficulties are common sequelae for people who have suffered a stroke. Recently, there has been an increase in early discharge, community rehabilitation and the use of therapy assistants to support health professionals in stroke rehabilitation. However, the impact of these factors on communication and swallowing outcomes remains under researched. This research explored Rehabilitation in the Home (RITH) Speech Pathology (SP) services for stroke survivors with dysarthria and dysphagia. More specifically, this research investigated whether traditional speech pathology interventions, supplemented with a home practice program are effective, as well as compare usual treatment to that …

Collaboration To Impact Occupation-Based Practice During Level Ii Fieldwork, Krista Coleman, Natalie Senger

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The purpose of the product was to develop a collaborative learning process between the fieldwork educator and the student to promote the use of occupation-based and client-centered practice during level II fieldwork experiences in adult physical rehabilitation settings. The literature review revealed many obstacles that constrain occupation-based and client-centered practice from being utilized by occupational therapists in the medical setting. The product uses the Model of Human Occupation (MOHO) as a catalyst to promote implementation of occupation-based practice throughout the fieldwork experience. A collaborative approach to learning using the social collectivism perspective is used. The product provides opportunity through participation …

Making The Better Half Even Better: A Support Program For Military Wives, Chelsey Jones, Kayley Knapek

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The purpose of this project was to develop a program that addresses the needs of military wives and the challenges they experience due to having a spouse in the military. Through utilization of an occupational therapy perspective, this program focuses on the promotion of wellness and increased quality of life for military wives which in turn facilitates overall cohesion and support among military families.

Making the “Better Half” Even Better: A Support Program for Military Wives was influenced by the Person-Environment-Occupation-Performance Model due to the focus on an individual’s valued roles, tasks and activities along with their performance in those …

Pelvic Girdle Pain In The Antepartum Population: Physical Therapy Clinical Practice Guidelines Linked To The International Classification Of Functioning, Disability, And Health From The Section On Women’S Health And The Orthopaedic Section Of The American Physical Therapy Association, Susan C. Clinton, Alaina Newell, Patricia A. Downey, Kimberly Ferreira

Capstone Projects DScPT

The purposes of these clinical guidelines are to:

 Describe evidence-based physical therapy practice including diagnosis, prognosis, intervention, and assessment of outcome for musculoskeletal disorders commonly managed by women’s health and/or orthopedic physical therapists

 Classify and define common musculoskeletal conditions using the World Health Organization’s terminology related to impairments of body function and body structure, activity limitations, and participation restrictions

 Identify interventions supported by current best evidence to address impairments of body function and structure, activity limitations, and participation restrictions associated with common musculoskeletal conditions

 Identify appropriate outcome measures to assess changes resulting from physical therapy interventions …

A Study On The Relationship Between Gre Scores Of Doctor Of Physical Therapy Students And First Time Pass Scores On The National Physical Therapy Examination Scores: A Retrospective Study, Givan Hinds

Honors Theses

Background. This study explored relationships between Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) scores. -- Methodology. This is a retrospective correlational design utilizing a purposive sample (n = 102) of Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students from three consecutive cohorts. Correlations were examined between GRE Verbal (GREV), GRE Quantitative (GREQ), and GRE Total (GRET) socres with the NPTE first time pass rate utilizing a Spearman rho correlation coefficient. Discriminant analysis was used to calculate the cut-off score that would correlate with a minimum passing score of 600 on the NPTE. -- Results. The results showed a weak, …

A Randomized Clinical Trial On The Effects Of Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy, Joint Mobilizations And Exercise On Plantar Heel Pain In Patients With Plantar Fasciitis., Elizabeth Oakley, Paolo Sanzo

Faculty Publications

Plantar fasciitis (PF) is the most common cause of heel pain today impacting on the patient’s walking ability, work tolerance, and ability to participate in active sport. Two million people in the United States (US) are treated for PF yearly with heel pain accounting for 11 to 15% of visits to medical professionals. It is estimated that 10% of the US population will develop PF during their lifetime. Treatment for PF may include a variety of interventions ranging from conservative treatment to surgical interventions. One of the suggested treatments for PF is the use of extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ECSWT). ECSWT …

Psychometric Properties Of The Compulsive Exercise Test In An Adolescent Eating Disorder Population, Pam Formby, Hunna J. Watson, Anna Hilyard, Kate Martin, Sarah J. Egan

Physiotherapy Papers and Journal Articles

The objective of this study was to evaluate the factor structure, validity, and reliability of the Compulsive Exercise Test (CET) in an adolescent clinical eating disorder population. The data source was the Helping to Outline Paediatric Eating Disorders (HOPE) Project, a prospective ongoing registry study comprising consecutive paediatric tertiary eating disorder referrals. Adolescents (N = 104; 12-17 years) with eating disorders completed the CET and other measures. Factor structure, convergent validity, and internal consistency were evaluated. Despite failing to identify a factor structure, the study provided clear evidence of the multidimensionality of the measure. The total score correlated significantly …

Health-Related Quality Of Life In Individuals With Chronic Ankle Instability, Megan N. Houston, Bonnie L. Van Lunen, Matthew C. Hoch

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

Context: Individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI) have reported decreased global and regional function. Despite the identification of functional deficits in those with CAI, more research is required to determine the extent to which CAI influences the multidimensional profile of health-related quality of life.

Objective: To determine whether global, regional, and psychological health-related outcomes differ between individuals with and without CAI.

Design: Case-control study.

Setting: Laboratory.

Patients or Other Participants: Twenty-five participants with CAI (age = 21.9 ± 2.5 years, height = 170.8 ± 8.6 cm, mass = 69.8.0 ± 11.7 kg) were sex- and limb-matched to 25 healthy participants …

Concurrent Validity Of Accelerations Measured Using A Tri-Axial Inertial Measurement Unit While Walking On Firm, Compliant, And Uneven Surfaces, Michael H. Cole, Wolbert Van Den Hoorn, Justin K. Kavanagh, Steven Morrison, Paul W. Hodges, James E. Smeathers, Graham K. Kerr

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

Although accelerometers are extensively used for assessing gait, limited research has evaluated the concurrent validity of these devices on less predictable walking surfaces or the comparability of different methods used for gravitational acceleration compensation. This study evaluated the concurrent validity of trunk accelerations derived from a tri-axial inertial measurement unit while walking on firm, compliant and uneven surfaces and contrasted two methods used to remove gravitational accelerations; i) subtraction of the best linear fit from the data (detrending); and ii) use of orientation information (quaternions) from the inertial measurement unit. Twelve older and twelve younger adults walked at their preferred …