Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Modification Of The Functional Reach Test: Validity & Reliability, Jessica Chesser, Jennifer Werley, Mary Yeager

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the reliability and validity of a modified version of the Functional Reach (PR) to more accurately predict falls in elderly women. This modified version, the Lateral Functional Reach (LFR) incorporates dynamic balance testing in the scapular plane.

Fifty female volunteers were recruited from a Senior Center in Holland, Michigan. Each subject completed the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), the FR, and the LFR tests. Prior to testing, each subject was screened for depression, cognition and gross medical history.

Validity and reliability of the LFR was determined through correlational and test-retest analysis. The correlation …

Assessing Selected Shoulder Muscle Activity During Performance Of Exercise On The Cuff Link Exercise Unit, Kathleen Johnstone, Kathleen Wagner

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to evaluate muscle activity of pectoralis major, serratus anterior, teres major, and latissimus dorsi during an exercise performed on the Cufif Link utilizing normal subjects. Forty-four subjects performed a rotation exercise in a clockwise direction at a speed of 58 beats per minute. Three trials were completed using the push-up handles and the large-diameter hemisphere. Surface electromyography recorded the activity of the four muscles. Recorded EMG values were normalized as a percentage of the maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVTC). A two-way ANOVA was used to compare mean normalized muscle activity for each muscle and …

The Effects Of A Five-Day Therapeutic Horseback Riding Program On The Standing And/Or Sitting Balance Of Children Ages 8-18 With A Wide Variety Of Disabling Diagnoses As Measured By The Functional Reach Test And The Modified Functional Reach Test, Richard A. Chaperon, Pamela A. Staszewski, Heather L. Vavrina

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect that a five-day horseback riding program had on the standing and/or sitting balance of children ages eight to eighteen afflicted with a variety of disabling diagnoses. The stated hypothesis is that after participating in a five-day session of therapeutic riding, subjects will show significant improvement in standing and/or sitting balance as measured by the Functional Reach Test (FRT) and the Modified Functional Reach Test (MFRT). The 15 subjects tested using FRT and the 17 subjects tested using the MFRT were all participants of the Cheff Center riding program. Subjects were …

Effects Of Prenatal Drug Exposure On Neurobehavioral Functioning In Young Infants, Yvette Blanchard, Patricia E. Suess, Marjorie Beeghly

All PTHMS Faculty Publications

In the newborn period, infants prenatally exposed to cocaine and other drugs show low scores on the Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale. Beyond that period, research is limited on the effects of prenatal drug exposure on neurobehavioral functioning. In this study we compared infants exposed to cocaine and other drugs and control infants from low socioeconomic backgrounds on measures of neurobehavioral functioning during neuromotor assessment at 1, 4 and 7 months of life. None of the measures of neurobehavioral functioning showed any significant group differences. This study did not support the hypothesis of disrupted neurobehavioral functioning beyond the neonatal period in …

Alcohol Related Violence And Unwanted Sexual Activity On The College Campus, Mary E. Nicholson, Min Qi Wang, Dolores Maney, Jianping Yuan, Beverly S. Mahoney, Daniel D. Adame

Faculty Publications and Presentations

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships among alcohol consumption, sexual assault and rape, and nonsexual violence in a college population at a large Northeastern university. A 49-item questionnaire was designed to elicit responses from both victims and perpetrators. Of the 1,084 respondents: 518 were male, 566 were female, the majority were White (91.8%), and in the 18-21 age range. Unwanted sexual activity, rape, and violence were significantly related to alcohol consumption on the college campus studied. These data indicated that alcohol was involved in: a) unwanted sexual activity--both from the victim's perspective (85.7%) and from the …

The Inter-Relatedness Of Nutrition, Menstrual Status, Lean Body Mass, And Injury Among High School Female Varsity Basketball Players, Megan Jean Pavlak, Robyn Kristina Smith, Kristie Ann Wood

Masters Theses

Basketball is one of the highest risk sports for injury, especially for the female population. Studies have been performed looking at intrinsic and extrinsic factors that may contribute to an increased injury rate among female athletes. This study focused on nutrition, menstrual status, lean body weight and injury in female high school varsity basketball athletes (n=138). Nutritional and menstrual surveys were administered to these athletes. The athletes’ body fat percentages were measured and calculated into lean body weight. Injuries were documented for one season. No clinically significant relationships were found among the variables. Descriptive data concerning nutrition, injury, menstrual status, …

The Influence Of Footwear On Functional Balance In A Population Of Institutionalized Elderly Women, Kristen Brooks, Stacey Jonkman, Matt Schmitz

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of footwear on functional balance in a sample of 19 institutionalized elderly women. The Tinetti Balance and Mobility Assessment, a fall risk indicator, was used to evaluate functional balance in three footwear conditions: shoes, slippers, and barefoot. An ANOVA test (alpha < 0.05) was used to determine if there was a significant difference between the three footwear conditions. A significant difference was found between each footwear condition for the balance (p=.008) and summary scores (p=.004), but not for the gait score (p=.155). Post-hoc analysis revealed that the shoe condition provided significantly superior scores than the slipper (p=.005) and barefoot conditions (p=.043). Recommendations from this study include support for the standardization of the Tinetti Balance and Mobility Assessment for footwear, and recommendations that institutionalized elderly should wear shoes and avoid the use of slippers or barefoot to reduce fall risk.

A Preliminary Study Of Gait In Elderly Women With Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy, Roberta M. Fischer, Sheri L. Bjornseth

Masters Theses

Somatosensory impairment due to diabetic peripheral neuropathy results in decreased environmental input during ambulation, which may compromise feedback mechanisms used for balance control Individuals with distal symmetrical diabetic peripheral neuropathy provide a model of somatosensory loss in which balance impairments can be studied. Somatosensory input is an important component of standing balance in the elderly. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy has been associated with postural instability and an increased history of falls. This study investigated differences in gait between elderly diabetic subjects with distal symmetrical sensory polyneuropathy and elderly diabetics without neuropathy. To conduct this study the 3-dimensional gait analysis protocol developed …

Post-Pregnancy Functional Ability, Kari J. Dulaney, Dawn M. Hallwood, Kristen Z. Keeter

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine perceived changes in functional ability among three groups of women: women who have never been pregnant, women six to seven weeks postpartum, and women six to eight months postpartum. Secondary to the paucity of literature pertaining to physical therapy and pregnancy, the authors chose a qualitative design for this study. Thirteen Caucasian women participated in open-ended audiotaped interviews. Audiotapes were transcribed, then data was thoroughly analyzed. Responses were organized into categories and themes discovered between different categories were outlined. The major themes impacting functional ability were psychosocial and physical in nature. Although …

Cardiorespiratory Fitness And Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors In Postmenopausal Women, Bryan L. Haddock

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

In spite of the reductions in cardiovascular disease mortality over the last several years, cardiovascular disease remains the number one cause of death in the U.S. Prior to menopause, women have approximately 2.5-4.5 times lower risk of cardiovascular disease than do men of a similar age. Within about 10 years following menopause, however, the rate in women becomes similar to that seen in men. Increased cardiorespiratory fitness and use of hormone replacement have been suggested as ways to improve the cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk profile. Unfortunately, very little is known about the effect of cardiorespiratory fitness on the CVD risk …

Locus Of Control, Activity Level, And Living Situation Among The Elderly, Jennifer L. Birchenough

Masters Theses

The focus of this study was to investigate the relationships among locus of control, activity level, and living situation in the elderly. The participants in this study consisted of 62 elderly individuals who resided in one of three living situations: (1) independent living, (2) assisted living, and (3) comprehensive care centers. All participants were screened for cognitive status using the Mini-Mental State Assessment (Folstein, M., Folstein, S., & McHugh, 1975). Individuals who scored in the normal range then completed a Locus of Control Scale (Rotter, 1966) and the Index of Occupational Behavior (Gregory, 1983) to address the meaningfulness of, and …

Cultural Considerations In Clinical Reasoning: An Occupational Therapy Case Study, Sandra M. Winter

Masters Theses

This study looked at an occupational therapist's work with clients from varied cultural backgrounds. Qualitative research strategies and a phenomenological approach were used to gather data through interviews with a single respondent and observation of treatment. This methodology was used to examine the process utilized to acquire cultural knowledge and integrate that knowledge into treatment planning. Research focused on: (a) how the cultural background of a client influenced an occupational therapist as she planned and implemented treatment, (b) how the treatment process was influenced by cultural differences between the therapist and the client, and (c) how training or education helped …

The Effects Of Animal Assisted Therapy When Used As An Adjunct To Occupational Therapy In The Rehabilitation Of Persons Who Have Had Cerebral Vascular Accidents, Alice Arlene Briggs

Masters Theses

Occupational therapists can use animals to assist their clients in achieving goals in treatment. Most often dogs are used as they are more easily trained. The dog may fetch a ball thrown by the client or stand still and allow the client to brush it. These activities with the animal increase the client's range of motion, endurance and strength. Dogs as well as other animals are used in various ways to elicit the desired response from the client. No studies were found in the literature that examined the use of animals as adjuncts to, or as modalities in occupational therapy …

Electrodiagnosis Of Median-To-Ulnar Nerve Anastomosis And Anomalous Innervation Of The Intrinsic Hand Muscles, Chih-Liang Wu, Huann Chang, Pi-Chang Sun, Su-Fen Liao, Rai-Chi Chan

Rehabilitation Practice and Science

Communication between the median and ulnar nerves is a common anomaly in the forearm (Martin-Gruber anastomosis, MGA). The knowledge of these anastomoses and the resulting anomalous innervation patterns is of crucial importance to the clinicians and electromyographers in the performance of nerve conduction and electromyographic studies in normal patients and those with peripheral nerve lesions. One hundred forearms (fifty cases) were examined for median-to-ulnar or ulnar-to-median nerve anastomoses using surface electrodes. We found a motor median-to-ulnar nerve anastomosis occurring in 12% of forearms studied. The incidence of innervation of the different intrinsic hand muscles: abductor pollicis brevis (APB) 17%; abductor …

Predicting Respiratory Status In Patients With Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Rong-Bin Hong, Tyng-Guey Wang, Chih-Whei Lu, Jin-Shin Lai, I-Nan Lien

Rehabilitation Practice and Science

The life expectancy of individuals with untreated Duchenne muscular dystrophy(DMD) is around 18-19 years. The cause of their death is mostly from respiratory complications. Early detection of respiratory function will provide the opportunity of early management and prolong their life span.This study included 30 patients with DMD in a period of three years and took a cross-section design. All the data were obtained by telephone interview with the patients or their family. Nineteen of 30 patients accepted functional evaluation in Brooke’s grading scale and pulmonary function test(PFT). Ten of these 19 patients received nocturnal breathing monitor including O2 saturation and …

Medical Care And Rehabilitation Services Providing To Children With Cerebral Palsy In Northern Taiwan, Hua-Fang Liao, Shwu-Chong Wu, Suh-Fang Jeng, Pen-Jung Wong, Su-Ching Lee, Wen-Po Chow

Rehabilitation Practice and Science

The condition of medical and rehabilitation services for children with cerebal palsy（CP）in Taiwan has rarely been investigated. Such information is crucial for the health services planning. To understand the current status of medical and rehabilitation cares of CP children and related influencing factors, we sent 2435 copies of questionnaires to the main caregivers of possible CP children in the northern Taiwan. Six hundred and eighty-nine copies (28%) were returned. Four hundred and twenty-six copies were of CP children younger than 18 years of age（17.5%）. Their data were analyzed for this report. In 6-month period prior to this investigation, three hundred …

The Kinetic Assessment Of Sit-To-Stand In Stroke Patients And Its Relationship To Fall, Pao-Tsai Cheng, Shu-Hsia Wu, Mei-Yun Liaw, Pay-Shin Lin, May-Kuen Wong, Hsieh-Ching Chen, Fuk-Tan Tang

Rehabilitation Practice and Science

Fall has been reported as a major cause of morbidity, hospitalization and mortality of older people. Stroke patients are more prone to fall than non-stroke subjects, because of the pathological conditions inposing upon the physiological aging process. Since fall is so frequent, fall prevention strategies should therefore be developed and included in rehabilitation programs.Falls are associated with many physical and environmental factors. Excluding tripping, many of the falls in stroke patients occurred during the patients changing their positions, such as standing up, sitting down or initiation of steps. Therefore, the purpose of this study is focus on the kinetic analysis …

The Comparison Between Selective Posterior Rhizotomy And Phenol Intramuscular Neurolysis On The Treatment Of Children With Cerebral Palsy: Preliminary Report, May-Kuen Wong, Chia-Ling Chen, Tai-Ngar Lui, Wei-Pin Hwang, Hsing-Jung Tsai, Fuk-Tan Tang

Rehabilitation Practice and Science

Severe spasticity often causes functional impairment in children with cerebral palsy. It is theissue that professionals have been working on to reduce the spasticity effectively and permanently. This study wants to find out the comparative effectiveness between the selective posterior rhizotomy and phenol intramuscular neurolysis on the treatment of the children with cerebral palsy. We collected 31 children with spastic cerebral palsy, aged 3 to 17, and divided the children into three groups. Group A received selective posterior rhizotomy and rehabilitation. Group B received phenol intramuscular neurolysis and rehabilitation. Group C received rehabilitation only. The preoperative evaluations included muscle tone …

Finite Element Contact Stress Analysis Of The Diabetic Foot And Orthosis - A Two-Dimensional Analysis, Weng-Pin Chen, Yueh-Yun Hsieh, Fuk-Tan Tang

Rehabilitation Practice and Science

The objective of this research is to utilize the finite element method to analyze the contact stress between a diabetic plantar and the orthosis used in treating ulcers. It is desirable to understand the stress distributions between the plantar and the ordinary insole or the total contact insole made of three different insole materials. In this research, finite element models of the foot in contact with an ordinary insole and with a custom total contact insole were built and a commercial finite element analysis package - MARC was used to investigate the contact pressure distributions at the plantar. Deformable contact …

Lower Limb Length Discrepancy Caused By Lumbar Epidural Lipomatosis-- A Casereport And Review Of Literature, Mei-Hui Kuo, Chau-Peng Leong

Rehabilitation Practice and Science

Epidural lipomatosis is resulted from abnormal accumulation of unencapsulated fat in the epidural space. A case with idiopathic spinal lipomatosis is commonly seen in the following situations: steroid treatment, endocrinopathy, and obesity. Interestingly, a young male without the previous three conditions developed idiopathic spinal epidural lipomatosis. He was observed with lower limb length discrepancy and functional scoliosis.This patient was diagnosed by the method of magnetic resonance imaging and later received a variety of treatments according to his symptoms. Since there was no progressive neurological deficit, his problem of functional scoliosis was corrected by elevating his left heel by 2 cm. …

Perceived Differences Between Male And Female Occupational Therapists’ Treatment And Other Related Gender Issues, Dennis Robert Jones

Masters Theses

This study explored how occupational therapy clients perceive the treatment they receive from male and female occupational therapists. The study was conducted in a qualitative manner. Occupational therapy supervisors who have supervised both female and male occupational therapists were interviewed to gain an initial understanding of the relevant issues. More structured interviews were then conducted with clients who have been treated by both a female and a male occupational therapist. Therapists and clients were also observed during four treatment sessions.

Analysis of the data collected through interviews revealed that supervisors and clients do notice some behavioral differences in male and …

Occupational Therapy's Link To Vocational Reeducation, 1910-1925., Sharon A. Gutman

Department of Occupational Therapy Faculty Papers

The development of occupational therapy is rooted in early 20th century medical reform. During the early 1910s, several members of the medical profession, human service workers, and the larger American society were increasingly disturbed by medical practices that did not consider the individual's personal experience of disability. Occupational therapy was developed, in part, out of this desire to provide persons with treatment that helped them to function in their communities despite their disability. Early occupational therapy leaders envisioned the fledgling profession as a societal service capable of assisting persons with disabilities to return to both work and community life. Vocational …

Windlass Taping Technique For Symptomatic Relief Of Plantar Fasciitis, Beth Anne Ernst

Rehabilitation Sciences Theses & Dissertations

This study investigated the biomechanical and symptomatic effects of a newly described taping technique to support the longitudinal arch in symptomatic plantar fasciitis patients. The subjects were 20 individuals all diagnosed by a physician with unilateral plantar fasciitis, ambulating full weight-bearing without an assistive device.

Measurements were taken pre and post-taping for calcaneal position, tibial position and navicular height, with the subjects serving as their own control. The subjects also reported pain level pre and post tape using a visual analog scale. The statistical analysis performed on the biomechanical data was the t-test, and Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed ranks test was …

Reliability Of The Modified-Modified Schober Method Of Measuring Lumbar Range Of Motion, Mira H. Mariano

Rehabilitation Sciences Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability of the Modified-modified Schober (MMS) method of measuring lumbar flexion and extension on subjects with low back pain. Thirty patients (19 females, 11 males) between the ages of 18 to 61 years (mean=40.0, SD=l 1.7) were measured by two physical therapists who each had six years of orthopedic experience.

Each subject was evaluated twice, in random order, by each tester using the MMS method. Trials 1 and 2 were used to calculate intratester reliability for each tester and intertester reliability was calculated between the two testers. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) …

Musicians' Upper Extremity Musculoskeletal Problems: Medical Care From The Patients' Perspective, Susan Gail Stephenson

Masters Theses

This study was conducted to add to the body of knowledge concerning musicians' musculoskeletal problems and to investigate whether an occupational therapy specialty is warranted for this field of medicine. An original questionnaire was constructed and administered to the members of three symphony orchestras. Three primary sections of the questionnaire address participants' demographic and occupational characteristics, symptom and treatment experiences, and opinions on medical care. Descriptive data are reported for all sections of the questionnaire. Particular attention is given to the effectiveness of traditional occupational and physical· therapy treatments. Data are provided regarding the relationships between variables: (a) certain personal …

Pathophysiology Of Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, Jo-Yong Chen, Chang-Zern Hong

Rehabilitation Practice and Science

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) usually develops in a limb after an injury. It is characterized by constant burning pain, allodynia, hyperalgesia, swelling, vasomotor and sudomotor changes. Once RSD is established, successful outcome depends upon early recognition and therapy. The therapies include sympathetic blockade, myofascial trigger point injection, physical therapy, oral corticosteroid, etc. Many hypotheses have been proposed to explain the mechanism responsible for RSD. However, no single hypothesis proposed to date explains all of the features of RSD. It has been recognized for decades that pain may in certain instances be dependent on sympathetic innervation of the area afflicted with …

A Study Of Quality Oriented Model For Hospital Accreditation In Department Of Rehabilitation, Mu-Jung Kao, Mei-Wun Tsai, I-Nan Lien, Kai-Yuan Tang, Yen-Ho Wang

Rehabilitation Practice and Science

The present hospital accreditation in Department of Rehabilitation in Taiwan is emphasized in assessing hospital structure instead of total quality consideration.The purpose of this study is to establish a new quality oriented model for hospital accreditatin in department of rehabilitation according to the quality assurance model by Donabedian including structure, process and outcome basis. In this study , an assessment questionnaire for accreditation was designed by Delphi method. The author suggests that hospital accreditation for Department of Rehabilitation should include process and outcome components in addition to structure, and a wide survey of hospital accreditation in Department of Rehabilitation should …

Mixed Nerve Conduction Study Of Brachial Plexus And Its Application On The Diagnosis Of Brachial Plexus Lesion, Jo-Tong Chen, Shu-Min Chen, Thy-Sheng Lin, Ta Shen Kuan, Chang-Zern Hong

Rehabilitation Practice and Science

This study demonstrates a technique to measure the mixed nerve conduction velocity (MNCV) of the ulnar and median component of the brachial plexus and its application on the diagnosis of brachial plexus lesion. Twenty patients with clinically confirmed pectoralis minor syndrome (Group I) and ten patients with traumatic brachial plexus injury due to traffic accident (Group II) were studied. The ulnar nerve was stimulated at the ulnar groove and the median nerve stimulated at the antecubital fossa of the elbow. The averaged nerve action potentials were simultaneously recorded from both axilla and Erb’s point with surface recording electrodes. MNCV of …

The Influence Of National Health Insurance Policy On Rehabilitation Medicine ---- Current Resource Distribution And Perspectives In Rehabilitation Medicine In Central Taiwan Area, Liu-Ing Bih, I-Nan Lien

Rehabilitation Practice and Science

The objective of this study is to determine the distribution of medical resources for rehabilitation in the central Taiwan area (including three counties and one provincial city) and foresee the possible influence of National Health Insurance policy on rehabilitation medicine.The subjects of this study were sixty-two hospitals or clinics in the central Taiwan area that instituted rehabilitation outpatient and/or inpatient medical services in June of 1995. Among them, four provided comprehensive rehabilitation medical services for inpatients as well as outpatients; nine had outpatient physical, occupational, and/or speech therapy departments; twelve employed full-time physiatrists but provided physical therapy only; seventeen employed …

The Study On Cognitive Function In Stroke Patients, Shih-Pin Chao, Shich-Fu Wu

Rehabilitation Practice and Science

Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) is a simple and effective bed-side screening test for cognitive function. Cognitive defect is frequently encountered clinically in stroke patients, but several sophisticated cognitive function tests are not proper for them. MMSE is used as a tool to investigate the correlation between cognitive function and the severity of brain damage of the stroke patient. A total of 65 patients, who had developed hemiplegia, hemiparesis or cerebellar dysfunction as a result of cerebral vascular disease, were collected in this study. All patients had received MMSE, motor status examination of affected limbs, and brain CT within 3 weeks …