Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

The Empower Model: A Framework For Fostering Neurodivergent Occupational Participation And Supporting Neurodiversity-Affirming Occupational Therapy Practice, Bryden Carlson-Giving

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Neurodivergent occupations are ways of embodying life and experiencing the world that speak true to their neurotype; they are vivid, complex, and need to be fostered by the occupational therapy profession. Though the neurodiversity movement is garnering increased attention in the profession, the medical model of disability remains the dominating lens influencing occupational therapy services. Neuronormativity remains the ideal form of participation, which can lead to occupational therapists manifesting occupational marginalization with their neurodivergent clients. To date, there is a lack of practical frameworks supporting occupational therapists in integrating neurodiversity-affirming and anti-ableist principles into everyday occupational therapy practice. This paper …

Occupational Therapy For Ostomy Patients In Acute Care: A Case Series, Carolina Orozco, John V. Rider, Pamela Morales

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Ostomy surgery, which diverts stool or urine through an abdominal stoma, significantly impacts individuals’ physical and psychosocial functioning. Skilled education and training are required to promote independence in ostomy self-care. Occupational therapists are uniquely equipped to address these needs through holistic, person-centered approaches.

Method: This retrospective descriptive case series examines the integration of occupational therapy services, including ostomy-specific evaluation and intervention, for three patients in an acute care hospital.

Results: Three cases, varying in age, diagnosis, and functional status, demonstrate individualized occupational therapy interventions targeting activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, and health management, emphasizing ostomy …

Interventions For Lgbtq+ Youth: A Scoping Review To Support Occupational Therapy Practice In The United States, Ricardo D. Ramirez, Iris Nosek, Alexandrea Guiritan, Annalise Valente, Francinne Fotopoulos, Jennifer Westrick

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Youth in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, and other dissident genders and sexualities (LGBTQ+) community face extensive health disparities and dynamic political landscapes. Occupational therapy (OT) has potential to support LGBTQ+ youth; however, there is limited guidance for occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants seeking to implement evidence-based interventions with this population. Therefore, the purpose of this scoping review was to examine interventions within the scope of OT to support LGBTQ+ youth.

Method: We used Arksey and O'Malley’s framework to guide this scoping review and searched five databases: PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Google Scholar. Using …

Autism And Air Travel, Joceline Rodriguez, Riley Rynders, Mckenzie Guth, Divya Sood

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Autistic children frequently encounter several difficulties during travel, especially in airport environments. This research study aimed to investigate the perceptions of parents of autistic children, as well as airport and airline staff, regarding the support available and barriers these children encounter during air travel.

Method: A qualitative descriptive design was used, involving data collection through interviews with two distinct groups of participants: airport and airline staff (n = 4) and caregivers of autistic children (n = 5).

Results: Caregiver participants shared that having access to quiet spaces, sensory rooms, and more readily available information on accommodation …

Group Occupational Therapy Sessions Using Hippotherapy: Growth Of Resilience And Leadership In Youth Facing Adversity, Marra I. Robert, Julie Jacob, Gerry Conti, Laura Alegre

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Youth experiencing adversity face significant challenges and are more likely to experience mental health concerns, low self-confidence, and difficulty with leadership skills, impacting their future occupational potential. This study examined the impact of using hippotherapy in a group occupational therapy intervention on the resilience, mental health, and leadership of youth facing adversity.

Method: Twenty-one youth experiencing adversity participated in a 10-week group occupational therapy intervention. Using a single-group pretest/posttest mixed-methods design, the Resilience Scale for Children and Adolescents (RSCA) was administered pr and postintervention alongside structured interviews.

Results: Quantitative results indicated statistically significant improvements in emotional …

Experiences Of Parents Of Children Diagnosed With Eating Disorders, Elizabeth C. Larson Traver, Crystal C. Barchacky

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Eating disorders are diagnoses found throughout the world regardless of race, gender, and age. Recovery for these diagnoses are typically demanding and on-going, leading parents and caregivers of those diagnosed to face substantial stress throughout the process. While many treatments use caregivers as agents of change, these are established with the client in mind and do little to aid the families through their own stress and decline in well-being.

Method: This qualitative phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of 10 caregivers during their children's recovery through in-depth interviews regarding that time of their lives. Participants were recruited via …

Promoting The Well-Being Of Refugee Students Through A Kawa-Guided Occupational Therapy Intervention: A Mixed-Methods Study, Suzanne Brederson, Heidi Baist, Jennifer E. Lape

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Refugee students newly enrolled in U.S. schools encounter academic, socialization, and mental health challenges because of trauma, language barriers, and cultural differences. Many have had limited or interrupted access to formal education in their home country. This study aimed to gain the perspectives of refugee students on their lived experiences and explore the impact of an occupational therapy intervention guided by the Kawa model on the well-being of this student population.

Methods: The researchers employed a convergent mixed-methods design. Refugee students (n = 8) created Kawa models, which provided rich, qualitative data. Participants completed pre and posttest surveys. Quantitative …

Effects Of The Lsvt Big® On Occupational Performance And Functional Skills In Parkinson’S Disease: A Case Study, Sandra J. Allen, Madison Gumm, Donald Stapleton, Lexee Trainer, Lydia Workman

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) leads to motor decline and reduced occupational performance. Limited evidence addresses if gains from the LSVT BIG® are sustained, particularly in occupation-focused outcomes.

Objective: This single-subject study evaluated the effects of the LSVT BIG® on occupational performance and functional skill outcomes in a 69-year-old woman with PD, and whether improvements were sustained 8 weeks postintervention.

Methods: The participant completed 16 1-hr LSVT BIG® sessions over 4 weeks. Outcomes included the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), the Performance Assessment of Self-Care Skills (PASS), the Five Times Sit to Stand (FTSTS), and the Functional Reach Test (FRT). …

Solving The Problem Of Non-Linear Data In The Health Care Professions Using Spline Regression, Heather Staal, Rob Lyerla, Diane Powers Dirette

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

No abstract provided.

A Case Of Neurogenic Orthostatic Hypotension Secondary To Pure Autonomic Failure, Lauren Cooper, William Studt, Rayan Islam, Richard Weinberger

The Journal of Integrated Primary Care

Neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (nOH) is a debilitating manifestation of autonomic dysfunction and is most commonly associated with neurodegenerative disorders, though it can occur in isolation. Pure autonomic failure (PAF) is a rare and often underrecognized cause of nOH, particularly in older adults. We report the case of an 80-year-old man with hereditary hemochromatosis who presented with recurrent falls due to severe orthostatic hypotension. Orthostatic vitals demonstrated a marked blood pressure drop with minimal heart rate response consistent with a neurogenic etiology. He lacked motor, cognitive, or sensory features of neurodegenerative disease, and extensive evaluation excluded secondary causes, supporting a diagnosis …

Psychological Therapy In The Management Of Temporomandibular Disorders: A Systematic Review, Pragatheeswari R, Kavitha M, Sarumathi T, Niveditha B, Barkavi Panchatcharam, Pavithra D, Samu Fathima A I, Vigneshwaran J

International Arab Journal of Dentistry

Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of psychological therapy in the management of temperomandibular disorders compared to other treatment modalities.

Methodology: Studies were selected according to PICO criteria, considering the RDC/TMD as a reference, improvement of pain and psychological parameters were the primary outcomes. Data search was mainly carried out through electronic search in several renowned databases: PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science and Google scholar. The publications collected were published between 2010 and 2024. Randomized clinical trials that compared the efficacy of psychological treatment modality with other conservative treatment modalities were screened and evaluated. A total of 5 …

Beyond Screening In Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Domain-Standardized, Measure-Flexible Framework For Comprehensive Neuropsychological Assessment, Etiane Navarro

Archives of Assessment Psychology

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a multisystem neurodegenerative disorder in which cognitive, behavioral, language, and social-cognitive changes may occur across clinical phenotypes, including the ALS-frontotemporal spectrum. Neuropsychological assessment is important for characterizing nonmotor manifestations and identifying changes relevant to autonomy, everyday functioning, and clinical management. This systematic review examined literature identified through APA PsycINFO, PubMed, Google Scholar, and supplementary searching to characterize neuropsychological domains, measures, phenotype-related findings, and disease-specific limitations relevant to comprehensive assessment. Two hundred records underwent title and abstract screening, 150 reports were reviewed in full text, and 61 resources were retained for synthesis. ALS-specific screening instruments, including …

In-Home Free-Living Gait Monitoring Using A Single Lumbar Imu Reveals Nonlinear Complexity Changes During Intensive Stroke Rehabilitation, Rahul Soangra, Susan V. Duff, Alison Mckenzie

Physical Therapy Faculty Articles and Research

Conventional clinical assessments of stroke rehabilitation are limited to supervised environments and fail to capture continuous real-world motor behavior. This proof-of-concept pilot study (case series, n = 3) evaluated the feasibility and longitudinal sensitivity of wearable IMU-derived digital biomarkers of three individuals with chronic stroke across Chapman University’s Stroke Boot Camp (SBC), a two-week intensive interdisciplinary rehabilitation program. A lower-back-mounted DynaPort McRoberts IMU provided continuous multi-day free-living monitoring across five sessions that spanned one week pre-intervention through to three months post-intervention. A validated Python-based pipeline implemented Mobilise-D gait sequence detection, wavelet-based heel strike and toe-off identification, and extraction of linear …

Role Of Perceived Control Over Falls In Older Adults, Kanjanaporn Tantrongphak, Kanthee Anantapong, Duangporn Suriyaamarit

Chulalongkorn Medical Journal

Falls among older adults constitute a significant public health challenge, often leading to severe physical injuries, reduced independence, and a diminished quality of life. Perceived control, a critical psychological construct, plays a significant role in sustaining physical health, cognitive function, and overall life satisfaction and is strongly associated with positive health outcomes. This review aims to examine the role of perceived control in fall risk among older adults. Concern about falling (CaF) is a prevalent psychological factor that influences fall risk by impacting behaviors linked to physical activity, balance, and adaptive responses. Perceived control theory provides a framework for understanding …

Rethinking Existing Extension Programming: A Foundation For Healthy Aging?, Nicholas J. Spokely, Sloane A. Montgomery, Kelsey J. Weitzel, Kristin A. Miller, Marta Novaes Oliveira, Stephen D. Ball, Breanne S. Baker

Journal of Extension

Muscle declines are becoming more prevalent in younger adults, driving the need for accessible exercise programs. The Stay Strong, Stay Healthy (SSSH) Extension program was developed for adults 60 years old or older, but for this study, we enrolled 135 participants aged less than 60 years old in rural and urban counties to assess if it could improve their muscle performance. We analyzed data with time and group comparisons using paired t-tests and 2 × 2 repeated measures ANOVAs. Younger adults significantly improved muscle performance after SSSH, and the results were similar between rural and urban counties. This study …

Depressive, Anxiety, And Stress Symptoms Among Respiratory Therapists In Two Tertiary Hospitals In Saudi Arabia: Differences According To Sociodemographic Characteristics, Budour Almutairi, Atheer Alsubaie, Reem Alenzi, Hala Alghemlas, Khalid Almutairi, Fouad Almutairi, Mansour Alshoaibi, Yaser Alnafea, Mona Almutairi, Salem Alqahtani

Journal of Medical Rehabilitation Science

Background: Respiratory Therapists (RTs) work in high-stress environments, predisposing them to psychological distress. This study evaluated the proportion of depressive, anxiety, and stress symptoms and their differences across sociodemographic groups among RTs in two Saudi Arabian tertiary hospitals.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between March and September 2023 at two tertiary hospitals in Jeddah and Riyadh. Out of 355 invited RTs, 112 completed an online questionnaire comprising sociodemographic items and the validated Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21).
Results: Of the 112 participants, 61.6% were female, 47.3% were married, and 58.0% were Saudi nationals. The overall proportion of participants …

Social Media Use And Health Literacy Among Patients With Multiple Sclerosis In Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study, Alaa Mohammad Arafah, Fatima Kherdm, Remas Alharbi, Noor Baswaid, Badr Fahad Alduqsi, Fayaz Khan

Journal of Medical Rehabilitation Science

Background: Health literacy (HL) plays a critical role in managing chronic conditions, as it empowers patients with MS to effectively access, understand, and apply health information to improve their well-being. With the rising prevalence of MS in Saudi Arabia, understanding the role of social media in health communication and its relationship with the health literacy of patients with MS is essential.
Objectives: This study aimed to estimate the health literacy levels among patients with MS in Saudi Arabia and investigate association between social media use and level of health literacy.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 110 adult patients …

Beyond Screening In Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Domain-Standardized, Measure-Flexible Framework For Comprehensive Neuropsychological Assessment, Etiane Navarro

Archives of Assessment Psychology

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a multisystem neurodegenerative disorder in which cognitive, behavioral, language, and social-cognitive changes may occur across clinical phenotypes, including the ALS-frontotemporal spectrum. Neuropsychological assessment is important for characterizing nonmotor manifestations and identifying changes relevant to autonomy, everyday functioning, and clinical management. This systematic review examined literature identified through APA PsycINFO, PubMed, Google Scholar, and supplementary searching to characterize neuropsychological domains, measures, phenotype-related findings, and disease-specific limitations relevant to comprehensive assessment. Two hundred records underwent title and abstract screening, 150 reports were reviewed in full text, and 61 resources were retained for synthesis. ALS-specific screening instruments, including …

Environmental And Professional Influences On Social Participation In Community Recreation In The Niagara Region Of Ontario, Canada: A Secondary Qualitative Analysis With Implications For Autism-Supportive Practice, Budor H. Saigh, Shuaa A. Mutawally

Journal of Medical Rehabilitation Science

Background: Meaningful participation in community recreation depends on more than physical accessibility. Environmental usability, activity structure, peer opportunities, and the manner in which professional support is provided may also be associated with opportunities for social participation among children with diverse developmental and support needs.
Objective: This secondary qualitative analysis examined how environmental and professional characteristics were represented in relation to opportunities for social participation across community recreational settings in the Niagara Region of Ontario, Canada. A secondary objective was to consider the potential relevance of these findings to autism-supportive recreational practice.
Methods: The analysis revisited selected qualitative materials originating from …

Short-Term Effects Of The Hypopressive Exercises In Women With Mild Pelvic Organ Prolapse, Duygu Sahin Altac, Nebahat Uzunay, Doruk Cevdi Katlan, Türkan Akbayrak

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the short-term effects of the hypopressive exercises (HE) in women with mild pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Methods: This study was conducted retrospectively using the data of 25 women who were diagnosed with stage 1,2 POP and treated as two groups [Group 1: Pelvic Floor Muscle Training (PFMT) (n = 10), Group 2: PFMT combined with HE (n = 15)]. EMG device was used to assess pelvic floor muscle (PFM) activation responses (EMG-work average and EMG-rest average); total score of Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-20 (PFDI-20) and its all sub-scales [Pelvic Organ Prolapse …

Editors' Note: From Scientific Discourse To Clinical Competence: Preserving Human Accountability In The Age Of Generative Ai, Arvie Vitente, Rolando Lazaro

Philippine Journal of Physical Therapy

No abstract provided.

From Anatomy To Safe Action: The A2d And Scope-D Frameworks For Teaching Clinical Reasoning And Referral Communication In Physical Therapist Education, Arvie Vitente, Pamela Taylor, Christopher Dela Rosa, Art Lubinski

Philippine Journal of Physical Therapy

Introduction. Physical therapist learners may accurately recall anatomy yet struggle to translate it into testable hypotheses, recognize discordant findings, select proportionate actions, and communicate uncertainty within scope. Existing frameworks address clinical reasoning or structured communication, but limited guidance connects anatomy-based hypothesis testing directly to patient-centered referral communication when findings do not fit. This theory piece pairs Anatomy-to-Decision (A2D) with SCOPE-D to address that curricular gap.

Methods. Integrative conceptual design drew on literature concerning physical therapist clinical reasoning, illness scripts, cognitive load, dual-process reasoning, hypothesis-oriented patient management, safety screening, and communication of diagnostic uncertainty. These foundations were translated into features intended …

Interrater Reliability Of Software Optimized Movement Assessment With Traditional Methods And Video-Based Functional Movement Screen Scoring And Compensatory Movement Identification, Joshua Paul Verdillo, Nj Ermina, Tanya Mariel Capilla, Russel James Balane, Evriel Prince Apura, Daryl Reymon Apla-On, Ressyl Love Salvador

Philippine Journal of Physical Therapy

Introduction: The Functional Movement Screen (FMS) is a seven-part movement assessment used to identify injury risks caused by faulty biomechanics. There are three barriers in traditional FMS assessments that could affect the tool’s validity: the subjectivity of human scores that could cause bias, the need for in-person evaluations which limit access for remote patients, and the requirement of specialized training to use the tool, which makes it less accessible. This study investigates the effectiveness of SOMA, an AI-based web application that uses the MediaPipe framework to automatically assess (FMS) performances.

Methods: This study employs a quantitative, cross-sectional, comparative design to …

Pentosan Polysulfate Sodium (Pps, Elmiron) Maculopathy Demonstrates The Importance Of Coordinated Care From A Low Vision Perspective, Charlotte I. Spada Od, Stephanie Schmiedecke Barbieri Od, Patricia Sanchez Diaz Dvm, Phd, Jeffrey Rabin Od, Phd

Optometric Clinical Practice

Background: Pentosan polysulfate sodium (PPS, Elmiron®) is a widely used medication to reduce pain caused by interstitial cystitis, a bladder disorder most often affecting females. PPS maculopathy is a novel form of toxic retinal disease often not recognized or mistaken for other retinal conditions such as macular degeneration due to the initial similarities on fundus exam. However, when visualized using fundus autofluorescence, affected eyes show characteristic hyper/hypo-autofluorescent patterns.

Case report: A patient taking PPS for 10 years presented with macular changes and complaints of blurry vision and nyctalopia. Clinical, electrodiagnostic, and genetic testing were performed including fundus autofluorescence and …

The Other Visual Acuity, Paul B. Freeman Od

Optometric Clinical Practice

Editorial

Chronic Pain And Mobile Health: Are The Apps That Occupational Therapists Recommend Of High Quality?, Jessica Smith, Thuy Tran, Jacqui Hunt, Katrina Liddiard

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: Chronic pain is a biopsychosocial experience that can impact peoples' ability to participate in everyday occupations. Mobile health applications, or apps, have the potential to make chronic pain services more effective and accessible. However, the quality of many health apps is not known, which creates a critical challenge for occupational therapists who aim to deliver evidence-informed intervention. This study rated the quality of apps available for Australian occupational therapists to use with clients who have chronic pain.

Consumer and Community Involvement: No consumer and community involvement.

Methods: This study used a cross-sectional descriptive design to (1) identify chronic pain-relevant …

Resources For The Caregiver And Older Adult, Riley Kiernan

Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Resources

This resource guide is intended to support older adults, caregivers, and healthcare professionals in accessing local community resources throughout York and Cumberland County, Maine. It provides information on medical equipment loan closets, home health care agencies, aging-in-place resources, disease-specific education, and resources specific for caregiver support. By bringing these resources together in one location, the guide can help reduce barriers to accessing necessary services, promote safety and independence in the home, and provide caregivers with support in navigating new responsibilities. This information may also be useful to other healthcare professionals when educating patients and families, facilitating community referrals, and supporting …

Turkish Translation And Cultural Adaptation Of The Evaluation In Ayres Sensory Integration (Easi), Aymen Balikci, Ayse Firdevs Aracikul Balikci, Isabelle Beaudry-Bellefeuille, Gamze Cagla Sirma, Fatos Kirteke, Zoe Mailloux, L. Diane Parham, Susanne Smith Roley, Roseann C. Schaaf

Department of Occupational Therapy Faculty Papers

INTRODUCTION: Cultural sensitivity and relevance are critical components for best practice in occupational therapy assessment. The Evaluation in Ayres Sensory Integration (EASI) is a performance-based assessment designed to evaluate sensory perception, sensory reactivity, postural control, ocular control, bilateral integration, and praxis abilities in children aged 3-12 years. Before the development of this tool, no standardized performance-based assessment of sensory integration functions had included a normative Turkish sample. The objective of this study was to translate and culturally adapt the EASI for Türkiye.

METHOD: A seven-step process for translation and cross-cultural adaptation, grounded in established methodology, was applied. The steps included …

Average Performance And Performance Variability On A Brief Functional Fine Motor Test Reflect Distinct Behavioral Constructs In Aging, Chung-Fu Sun, Kyle B. Tomlin, Jennapher Lingo Vangilder, Andrew Hooyman, Alexandra M. Reed, Jessica L. Trevino, Sydney Y. Schaefer

Physical Therapy Faculty Articles and Research

Prior work in older adults has developed a brief functional fine motor test, which involves repeated timed trials of an upper-limb task. Performance has been associated with global and domain-specific neuropsychological tests as well as putative markers of Alzheimer’s disease when scored using variability in trial time; however, the extent to which task performance depends on motor ability has not been established nor quantified. This retrospective study examined whether mean trial time and trial time variability (measured as intrasubject standard deviation in trial time) were differentially associated with standard assessments of motor and cognitive function. Forty-eight older adults with no …

Caregiver Burden And Health-Related Quality Of Life Among Parents Of Children With Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Ahmed K. Bamaga Bamaga

Journal of Medical Rehabilitation Science

Background: Caring for a child with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) places significant physical and emotional demands on parents and may negatively affect caregiver quality of life (QoL). This study assessed caregiver burden and QoL among parents of children with DMD.

Methods: This study included 77 parents of children with genetically confirmed DMD recruited from two pediatric neurology and pediatric neuromuscular clinics (King Abdulaziz University Hospital and Alsalama Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia). Caregiver burden was assessed using the 22-item Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI), and caregiver QoL using the Short Form-36 (SF-36) physical and mental component summary scores (PCS, MCS). Group comparisons, …