Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

The Role Of Occupational Therapy In School Disciplinary Practices, Trisha Irwin, Angela Blackwell, Anne H. Watson, Steven M. Gerardi

Fall 2020 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

The capstone project discusses disproportionate rates of disciplinary practices utilized in public education and examines the negative impact current disciplinary practices have on adolescent well-being, school climate, student engagement, and student outcomes. Public schools across the United States are utilizing exclusionary disciplinary practices wherein the consequence often is more extreme than necessary, influencing continued student misconduct, failing to address trauma and deficits in social-emotional skills, and limiting academic performance and participation for all students.

The purpose of this project is to inform occupational therapy practitioners of their potential roles in addressing school disciplinary practices to better support students in promoting …

Occupational Therapist Role In Post-Secondary Education Transition Program: Emphasis On Self-Advocacy Skills, Nikki Voorhees, Becki Cohill, Susan Macdermott

Fall 2020 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

It is becoming increasingly important for individuals to obtain post-secondary education in order to gain employment (Alverson et al., 2019; Chandroo et al., 2018). This increased importance to attend post-secondary education makes it imperative for students who are graduating from high school to be fully prepared for the transition to post-secondary education (Rothman et al., 2008). The transition from high school to post-secondary education is difficult for any individual. However, it is even more difficult for students with learning differences, as they tend to have problems in the areas of social skills, communication, problem solving, self-advocacy, and executive functioning (Alverson …

Providing A Safe Space For Children Who Have Experienced Trauma, Alexis Garcia

Honors Theses

Health care professionals are continuing to learn about childhood trauma and the implications on health and development. With time, there has become a better understanding of how to determine and provide the resources needed for families and children who have experienced childhood trauma. Additionally, information about childhood trauma is slowly being understood throughout public school districts. This allows teachers to better understand children and accommodate their needs. This honors thesis will discuss childhood trauma and the development of a resource that can be used to provide elementary school-aged students with a place to go when they need assistance with regulation. …

Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome: A Guide For Caregivers, Camryn Keane

Honors Theses

Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) is a condition that affects infants who have faced exposure to certain drugs in utero. The incidence of NAS is dramatically rising in the United States. This increase is primarily due to the growth in opioid prescribing to pregnant women. NAS has an immediate effect on four primary areas of occupation: activities of daily living (ADLs), sleep, social participation, and play. This paper aims to review the background of NAS, then describe how this condition impacts an infant’s occupational performance. Moreover, this paper identifies models of occupational therapy intervention that can guide the treatment of NAS. …

Using Photovoice To Measure Learning Objectives At Camp With Adults With Developmental Disabilities, Delaney M. Grimm

Honors College Theses

This thesis explores what qualitative objectives adults with developmental disabilities learn and comprehend at a weeklong camp that is meant to enhance interests, abilities, and social skills. The methodology used is Photovoice analysis which allows an individual who either has difficulties verbally expressing themselves or is nonverbal to still participate in question and answer focus groups. For data analysis, my categories relate back to the six domains of recreational therapy: physical, emotional, spiritual, social, cognitive, and leisure.

Effects Of Goal Type And Reinforcement Type On Self-Reported Domain-Specific Walking Among Inactive Adults: 2×2 Factorial Randomized Controlled Trial, Mindy L. Mcentee, Alison Cantley, Emily Foreman, Vincent Berardi, Christine B. Phillips, Jane C. Hurley, Melbourne F. Hovell, Steven Hooker, Marc A. Adams

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Background: WalkIT Arizona was a 2×2 factorial trial examining the effects of goal type (adaptive versus static) and reinforcement type (immediate versus delayed) to increase moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) among insufficiently active adults. The 12-month intervention combined mobile health (mHealth) technology with behavioral strategies to test scalable population-health approaches to increasing MVPA. Self-reported physical activity provided domain-specific information to help contextualize the intervention effects.

Objective: The aim of this study was to report on the secondary outcomes of self-reported walking for transportation and leisure over the course of the 12-month WalkIT intervention.

Methods: A total of …

Graded Motor Imagery And Pain Neuroscience Education For A Middle-Aged Patient With Chronic Low Back Pain: A Case Report, Brandon Drinan

Case Report Papers

Background and Purpose: Chronic low back pain (LBP), defined as pain that persists for three or more months, is widely considered the leading cause of physical activity limitation and work-related disability in the world. The purpose of this case report was to describe the rehabilitation for a middle-aged male with chronic LBP, emphasizing pain neuroscience education (PNE) and cortical remapping of the brain through Graded Motor Imagery (GMI), with movement being a secondary consideration.

Case Description: The patient was a 51-year-old Caucasian male who suffered a low back injury at work. This was a work-related injury covered under Worker’s Compensation. …

Physical Therapy Management Of Gross Function Loss Following Gunshot Wound To Left Hand: A Case Report, Matthew Freeman

Case Report Papers

Background and Purpose: Nonfatal gunshot emergencies occur regularly within the United States but do not often lead to patients entering outpatient physical therapy clinics for rehabilitation. The complex musculoskeletal injuries which result from gunshot wounds may require prolonged rehabilitative care to best achieve functional outcomes, but clinicians may find a gap in the current literature for guidance. The purpose of this case study is to describe the outpatient rehabilitation treatment interventions for a gunshot wound to the hand, including manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, therapeutic activity, and neuromuscular reeducation.

Case Description: The patient was a 34-year-old, left hand dominant, white male …

Physical Therapy Emphasizing Progressive Weight Bearing And Gait Training Following Chopart Amputation In A Patient With Diabetes: A Case Report, Spenser Lynass

Case Report Papers

Background and Purpose: A Chopart amputation occurs at the Chopart joint that separates the midfoot from the hindfoot and often results from infection secondary to diabetic neuropathy and peripheral vascular disease. Previous studies have examined the associated complications, including the development of equinovarus foot contracture and the corresponding mortality risk. However, little research has been done to establish optimal rehabilitation protocols following surgery. The purpose of this case report was to describe a successful initial outpatient physical therapy intervention program that focuses on progressive weight bearing and gait training for a patient with diabetes who underwent Chopart amputation. Case Description: …

Mobilizations And Strengthening For Radiating Hip And Anterior Knee Pain: A Case Report, Thai Ho

Case Report Papers

Background and Purpose: The most common joint disorder in the United States is osteoarthritis (OA). Knee OA occurs in 10% men and 13% in women aged 60 years or older. Hip instability is commonly defined as hip joint unsteadiness that may cause pain. Joint restrictions and lack of hip strength may be associated with these two conditions. However, there is limited literature on hip strengthening and mobilizations on positive outcomes with hip instability. Therefore, the purpose of this case report was to utilize hip strengthening and mobilizations interventions on a patient with hip instability and knee OA. Case Description: The …

The Challenges Of Exercise Selection For A Post-Operative Patient With Severe Deconditioning And Longstanding Neurogenic Claudication: A Case Report, Madison Lostra

Case Report Papers

Background and Purpose: Lumbar spinal stenosis is an increasingly common diagnosis due to its association with degenerative changes of the lumbar vertebrae and the advancing age of our population. This condition may lead to neurogenic claudication which often results in significant pain and disability. Due to the negative impact on quality of life, surgical intervention is often utilized to reduce symptoms. However, post-surgical management is highly variable. The purpose of this case report was to examine a rehabilitation program used to address functional limitations and reverse impairments in a patient with severe deconditioning due to neurogenic claudication as a result …

Physical Therapy Interventions Via Telehealth For A Child With Developmental Delay During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Case Report, Julie Sullivan

Case Report Papers

Background and Purpose: During the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020, telehealth became widely used as an alternative delivery method of health care services. Due to its infrequent use prior to the pandemic, there is a gap in knowledge regarding the use of telehealth services for physical therapy (PT) in the pediatric population. The purpose of this case report is to discuss the use of PT telehealth services in pediatrics while describing the PT management of a child with gross motor delays in order to enhance care management in this population.

Case Description: A five-year-old male being treated in outpatient PT transitioned …

Restoring Functional Mobility In A 51-Year-Old Male Post Intramedullary Limb Lengthening Surgery Following Helicopter Crash: A Case Report, Shawn Novella

Case Report Papers

Background and Purpose: The annual incidence of femoral shaft fractures is about 10 per 100,000. When these injuries prompt bone to be resected, limb lengthening surgery may be utilized. However, the surgery takes a toll on the patient’s postoperative functional mobility. There is limited information regarding specific home health rehabilitation programs post surgery. The purpose of the report was to investigate the effect of a comprehensive home health PT program on the patient’s LE functional mobility, post bilateral limb lengthening surgery. Case Description: The case report details a 51-year-old male patient’s traumatic bilateral femoral fractures, osteomyelitis, and intramedullary limb lengthening …

A Systematic Review Of The Effects Of Blood Flow Restriction Training On Quadriceps Muscle Atrophy And Circumference Post Acl Reconstruction, Derek Charles, Ryan White, Caleb Reyes, Drew Palmer

Physical Therapy Faculty Research

Background:

ACL reconstruction often results in an extended period of muscle atrophy and weakness. Blood flow restriction (BFR) training is a technique that has been shown to decrease muscle atrophy in a variety of populations.

Purpose:

The purpose of this systematic review was to analyze the research presented on the effect of blood flow restriction training on quadriceps muscle atrophy and circumference post ACL reconstruction.

Study Design:

Systematic Review

Methods:

Articles were reviewed using the databases Google Scholar, PubMed, and EBSCO. Keywords included blood flow restriction training, ACL reconstruction, and quadriceps.

Inclusion criteria included:

English language, peer-reviewed journals; randomized control …

Mobilizations And Strengthening For Radiating Hip And Anterior Knee Pain: A Case Report, Thai Ho

Case Report Presentations

Research presentation slides:

Background and Purpose: The most common joint disorder in the United States is osteoarthritis (OA). Knee OA occurs in 10% men and 13% in women aged 60 years or older. Hip instability is commonly defined as hip joint unsteadiness that may cause pain. Joint restrictions and lack of hip strength may be associated with these two conditions. However, there is limited literature on hip strengthening and mobilizations on positive outcomes with hip instability. Therefore, the purpose of this case report was to utilize hip strengthening and mobilizations interventions on a patient with hip instability and knee OA. …

Assessment Of Performance Measures, Gait, And Rehabilitation Of A 68- Year Old Female With A Transtibial Amputation: A Case Report, Kellie Guillies

Case Report Presentations

Research presentation:

Background and Purpose: With 1.6 million Americans living with limb loss, transtibial amputations (TTA) are the most common type of below the knee amputations, and may contribute to concomitant musculoskeletal impairments, gait deviations, and decreased community ambulation. The purpose of this report was to describe the use of specific functional outcome measures, gait training with a prosthetic, and physical therapy (PT) intervention for functional mobility of a patient following a TTA. Case Description: The patient was a 68-year old female referred to outpatient PT 3 months following a right TTA. She presented with left lower leg pain and …

Ieat, Vannida Nguyen, Elly Lara, Felicia Markfield, Jesus Aguilar, Joshua Ulloa, Justine Manalo, Richelle Talamantes, Tailar Johnson

Occupational Therapy Student Research

What: iEAT is a meal ordering service and database for school meal distribution, accessible via a smart device.

Why: Interactive way to increase awareness of portion control and appropriate nutrition in an effort to build autonomy in elementary and middle school age children.

Problem Solved: Research indicates that young children are highly susceptible to overeating when given larger portion sizes, eating about 16% more. iEAT addresses proper portion control sizes pertinent to the child’s age. Further, it increases a child’s autonomy and health knowledge when making dietary decisions impacting health outcomes.

How: iEAT’ features an empty plate compartmentalized into five …

Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation And Overground Gait Training For A Patient Following A Left Central Medullary Stroke: A Case Report, Shelby Stegemann

Case Report Papers

Background and Purpose: Central medullary stroke is a rare type of stroke that is characterized by contralateral hemiplegia sparing the face, contralateral loss of deep sensation, and ipsilateral hypoglossal paralysis. It makes up a small percentage of the types of strokes that affect nearly 795,000 Americans every year. While there has been extensive research on rehabilitation principles for the general treatment of stroke, there has been little research on rehabilitation for patients following a central medullary stroke. The purpose of this case report was to describe a multifaceted intervention program with the emphasis on proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) and overground …

The Creation Of An Algorithm To Assist Survivorship Clinics Identify The Rehabilitation Needs Of Cancer Survivors: An Administrative Case Report, Joseph Connor

Case Report Papers

Background and Purpose: Approximately 40% of cancer survivors have unmet rehabilitation needs. Cancer survivors not receiving rehabilitation care may be due to survivorship clinics struggling to identify which of their survivors are appropriate for rehabilitation. The purpose of this case report was to review the literature and create an algorithm that could assist survivorship clinics with rehabilitation referrals.
Case Description: A survivorship clinic in Maine was attempting to address the lack of a rehabilitation screening process. A survey done by the clinic showed that approximately 40% of their survivors used rehabilitation services. To address this lack of a screening process, …

Restoring Functional Mobility For A Patient Following A Comminuted Patella Fracture Status Post Open Reduction Internal Fixation: A Case Report, Elaina Cosentino

Case Report Papers

Background and Purpose: The patella serves an important role in the protection and biomechanics of the knee joint. A fracture of the patella typically requires surgery and immobilization, which can have detrimental impacts on functional mobility. The purpose of this case study was to document a rehabilitation program following a comminuted patella fracture status post open reduction internal fixation (ORIF).
Case Description: The patient was a 62-year-old female who sustained a comminuted patella fracture following a traumatic fall down the stairs, and underwent ORIF to her right patella. She was prescribed a straight knee immobilizer for eight weeks leaving her …

Inpatient Rehabilitation For A 75-Year-Old Female Following A Left-Sided Pontine Infarct: A Case Report, Marisa Flores

Case Report Papers

Background and Purpose: Although cerebrovascular accidents (CVAs), or strokes, occur often in the United States, only 7% of those strokes affect the pons, an area of the brainstem that provides life-sustaining functions. Due to the rarity of pontine strokes, there is insufficient evidence supporting successful interventions that yield functional benefits for patients admitted to inpatient rehabilitation units (IRU). The purpose of this case report was to examine gait, balance and functional mobility interventions on the restoration of mobility and functional independence of a patient within an IRU.
Case Description: The patient was a 75-year-old female 3 days status post a …

Physical Therapy Interventions Via Telehealth For A Child With Developmental Delay During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Case Report, Julie Sullivan

Case Report Presentations

Research presentation slides:

Background and Purpose: During the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020, telehealth became widely used as an alternative delivery method of health care services. Due to its infrequent use prior to the pandemic, there is a gap in knowledge regarding the use of telehealth services for physical therapy (PT) in the pediatric population. The purpose of this case report is to discuss the use of PT telehealth services in pediatrics while describing the PT management of a child with gross motor delays in order to enhance care management in this population.
Case Description: A five-year-old male being treated in …

Physical Therapy Management Of Gross Function Loss Following Gunshot Wound To Left Hand: A Case Report, Matthew Freeman

Case Report Presentations

Research presentation slides:

Background and Purpose: Nonfatal gunshot emergencies occur regularly within the United States but do not often lead to patients entering outpatient physical therapy clinics for rehabilitation. The complex musculoskeletal injuries which result from gunshot wounds may require prolonged rehabilitative care to best achieve functional outcomes, but clinicians may find a gap in the current literature for guidance. The purpose of this case study is to describe the outpatient rehabilitation treatment interventions for a gunshot wound to the hand, including manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, therapeutic activity, and neuromuscular reeducation.
Case Description: The patient was a 34-year-old, left hand …

Mckenzie Based Approach For Screening Lumbar Spine In A Patient With A Hamstring Strain: A Case Report, Daniel Diperna

Case Report Presentations

Research presentation slides:

Background and Purpose: The leading cause of musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders globally is low back pain (LBP). Historically, research efforts have been focused on the pathoanatomical causes of LBP. However, recent evidence found a high prevalence of structural abnormalities in the lumbar spine using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in asymptomatic patients and it is common that spinal pathology is the true culprit for patients referred to physical therapy (PT) with extremity diagnoses. Therefore, research has shifted to focus on classification systems to group patients based on subjective responses to specific movement patterns. The purpose of this case report …

Neuromuscular Response To A Single Session Of Whole-Body Vibration In Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Pilot Study, Huaqing (Virginia) Liang, Gena Henderson, Jianhua Wu

Physical Therapy Faculty Research

Background Whole-body vibration (WBV) is a relative new intervention paradigm that could reduce spasticity and improve motor function in children with cerebral palsy (CP). We investigated neuromuscular response to a single session of side-alternating WBV with different amplitudes in children with CP.

Methods Ten children with spastic CP aged 7–17 years at GMFCS level I-III participated in this pilot study. Participants received two sessions of side-alternating WBV with the same frequency (20 Hz) but different amplitudes (low-amplitude: 1 mm and high-amplitude: 2 mm). Each session included six sets of 90 s of WBV and 90 s of rest. Before and …

Sensory Approach To Self-Regulation For Adolescent Survivors Of Sex Trafficking: An Occupational Therapist's Perspective, Elyse Harmon

Student Capstone Papers

Adolescent survivors of sex trafficking (SST) are susceptible to being in a continual dysregulated arousal state due to lack of mastery in self-regulation. During the trafficking experience, many adolescent SST experience severe trauma and are deprived of opportunities that foster essential regulatory capacities needed for occupational engagement. The use of sensory-based approaches that focus on addressing arousal dysregulation and the impact it has on occupation is an evidence-based practice grounded in occupational therapy research.

This capstone sought to support community reintegration for adolescent SST through the development of sensory-based programming that fosters self-regulation, a skill necessary for occupational participation. A …

Clinical Update For Physical Therapists: Coagulopathy And Covid-19, Kathleen M. Lukaszewicz, Ellen Hillegass, Michael Puthoff, A. Kate Macphedran

Physical Therapy Faculty Research and Publications

Physical therapists have a unique role in both prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE) through the promotion of early mobility and physical activity and diagnosis through discovery of signs and symptoms of VTE. This Perspective updates clinicians on the latest information regarding pathophysiology of coagulopathy associated with COVID-19 and applies VTE clinical practice guidelines to COVID-19 in order to provide guidance on physical therapist management.

In-Season Rehabilitation Program Using Blood Flow Restriction With Therapy For Two Decathletes With Patellar Tendinopathy: A Case Report, Tyler Cuddeford, Jason Brumitt

Faculty Publications - College of Physical Therapy

Background and Purpose: Patellar tendinopathy is an overuse injury experienced primarily by athletes; especially athletes who participate in sports that involve frequent jumping. Therapeutic exercise is the primary conservative treatment for patients with this condition. However, some patients with patellar tendinopathy may be unable to tolerate the loading that occurs during exercise. The use of blood flow restriction (BFR) therapy for patients with patellar tendinopathy may allow the athlete to exercise with a lower load while still experiencing the physiological benefits associated with training at a higher intensity. The purpose of this case report was to detail the outcomes from …

Biomechanical Properties Of Land Based And Shallow Water Wait: A Comparative Review Of Literature, Mostafa Yaghoubi, Philip Fink, Wyatt H. Page, Sarah P. Shultz

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

Aquatic locomotion exercises are frequently used in rehabilitation and cross-training for land-based athletes. Hydrostatic pressure, thermal conductivity and drag force affect a person's ability to move; therefore, it is important to understand differences of biomechanical gait in water vs land. This review investigated biomechanical differences between shallow water and land-based exercises. PubMed, Google Scholar, SPORTDiscus and Scopus were searched; 33 studies included walking forward (27), backward (6) and running (6). Electromyographic amplitude was similar or less in submaximal intensity during aquatic gait, in comparison to on land. At maximal intensities, however, the amplitude was similar (n=5) or higher (n=4) in …

Ampakines Stimulate Phrenic Motor Output After Cervical Spinal Cord Injury, L. B. Wollman, Kristi A. Streeter, A. F. Fusco, E. J. Gonzalez-Rothi, M. S. Sandhu, J. J. Greer, D. D. Fuller

Physical Therapy Faculty Research and Publications

Activation of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors increases phrenic motor output. Ampakines are a class of drugs that are positive allosteric modulators of AMPA receptors. We hypothesized that 1) ampakines can stimulate phrenic activity after incomplete cervical spinal cord injury (SCI), and 2) pairing ampakines with brief hypoxia could enable sustained facilitation of phrenic bursting. Phrenic activity was recorded ipsilateral (IL) and contralateral (CL) to C2 spinal cord hemisection (C2Hx) in anesthetized adult rats. Two weeks after C2Hx, ampakine CX717 (15 mg/kg, i.v.) increased IL (61 ± 46% baseline, BL) and CL burst amplitude (47 ± 26%BL) in 8 of 8 …