Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Rain Rhythms: Fall 2007 - Spring 2008, College Of Nursing & Professional Disciplines

RAIN Rhythms

No abstract provided.

Pediatric Oncology: Parent Education Handbook, Lindsey Anderson, Lacey Harrington

Occupational Therapy Capstones

In America, approximately 12,400 children and adolescents are diagnosed with cancer each year (Harris, 2004). The number of newly diagnosed children is on a steady increase. With this steady increase it is important to ensure that parents of the child diagnosed with cancer have resources about cancer and the treatment process as well as support. A review of current literature, research, and resources was conducted in order to locate the gaps within pediatric oncology. The literature helped identify areas of concern related to pediatric oncology. The areas identified consist of the parents having minimal knowledge while under emotional stress when …

Alzheimer's Toolbox: A Caregiver's Guide, Kristen Eastwood, Gerry Smith

Occupational Therapy Capstones

“Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia in North America and Europe” and “accounts for sixty percent of all irreversible dementia cases” (Moore, 2003, p. 50,126). Along with the 4.5 million Americans who suffer from Alzheimer’s, there are also the caregivers who are suffering alongside their loved one. The stress of caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s can be overwhelming. This affects the quality of life for those with Alzheimer’s and the health of the caregiver.

A comprehensive literature review was conducted to explore and identify effective techniques and interventions, pertinent to both the caregiver and patient's …

Giving Dentistry A Hand: Occupational Therapy Msd Prevention In Dentistry, Andrea Bilotti

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) pose a significant threat to the dental profession. There are many risk factors inherent in the tasks of dental professionals that could lead to MSDs. A literature review from professional literature, journal articles, and professional websites was used to determine the various risk factors and types of MSDs that occur in the dental profession; best practices in MSD prevention in the dental field; and the role of occupational therapy ergonomic intervention in the dental field. The information has a solid foundation in Malcolm Knowles' theory of Andragogy.

To gather real life information, visits to a dental office …

The Role Of Occupational Therapy In The Secondary Prevention Of Transient Ischemic Attacks, Alan Hodenfield, Amy Shulstad

Occupational Therapy Capstones

A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a condition in which an individual experiences an "episode of temporary and focal neurological dysfunction of rapid onset, caused by cerebral circulatory failure and lasting no more than 24 hours" (Shah, Cooper & Lyons, 1992, p. 358-359). Even though a TIA is temporary and leaves no permanent effects, it's far from an irrelevant event. About one in three people who have a TIA eventually have a stroke, with about half occurring during the year after the TIA (Mayo, 2006). A TIA can serve as both a warning and an opportunity: a warning of an …

Cardiac Rehabilitation Education Module For Entry-Level Occupational Therapists, Bonnie Hoff

Occupational Therapy Capstones

According to the American Heart Association (2007) statistics, it is estimated that 79,400.000 American adults have one or more types of cardiovascular disease, or one in every three people. It is estimated that 37,500.000 are over the age of 65 years. (AHA, 2007). Heart disease and stroke are the first and third leading cause of death for both men and women in America and accounts for 40% for all deaths, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2005). Approximately one individual will die from heart disease every thirty-three seconds (CDC, 2005).

According to the CDC (2005), a …

Caregiver Activity Guide To Promote Occupational Function In Individuals With Alzheimer's Disease, Lacey Konickson

Occupational Therapy Capstones

No abstract provided.

Evidence-Based Practice Guidelines For Complementary And Alternative Medicine In Occupational Therapy, Kristin Murch, Angela Olson

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) within the scope of occupational therapy has the potential to add to the holistic treatment of clients with a wide range of disability or dysfunction. It has been suggested that a variety of complementary and alternative methods may be appropriate to use as an adjunctive treatment by occupational therapists with proper training and consideration of various client needs (Giese, 2005). A comprehensive literature review was conducted regarding the use of CAM with populations commonly seen by occupational therapists. Myofascial release, guided imagery, meditation, and yoga were determined to be most prevalent in the literature concerning …

Birth To Three Early Intervention Parent Handbook, Sarah C. Nicholas

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The purpose of this study was to investigate family-centered advocacy in early intervention, specifically the development of a parent handbook for families of young children who are eligible to receive early intervention services in Wyoming. Early intervention programs provide services for children with disabilities ages birth to three and their families under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (2004), Part C. The resource handbook was designed for parents and community partners so that they may better understand and utilize early intervention in the community where they reside. The parent handbook was designed to be as a written reference of …

A Community Re-Integration Manual For Individuals With Amputations: Preparing For The Paralympics, Carmen Schempp

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Being an athlete with an injury is difficult, but an amputation poses even more challenges to one's life dreams for sports competition. This scholarly project focused on advancing an athlete's community re-integration, specifically back into the sporting community. Presently, there is a gap in existing occupational therapy services for persons with amputations between the completion of inpatient rehabilitation and the return to full community re-integration, particularly for the sports competitor. This scholarly project product is a manual of sequential therapeutic activities for athletes who have the goal of returning to the occupation of sports participation. This product is intended to …

Quality Of Life Occupational Therapy Measurement Tool For Patients With Lymphedema/Chronic Venous Edema, Marsha Waind

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The objective of this project was the development of a tool in the form of a patient questionnaire to be used by Occupational Therapists (OT) treating patients with lymphedema/chronic venous edema. This questionnaire was designed to identify life factors beyond limb volume reduction and activity independence that correlate with the patients' perceptions of an improved quality of life, therefore promoting Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL).

Literature reviewed supported the premise that attainment of the typical OT goals of activity completion will not accomplish the desired result of lymphedema treatment, nor will lymphedema goal attainment of reduced limb measures achieve …

Parkinson's Disease And Occupational Therapy: Evidence Based Practice, Gordon Stubbings, Tiffany Vliem

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The therapeutic benefit of occupational therapy with Parkinson's disease has not been studied in great detail. The purpose of this Scholarly Project was to provide extensive and comprehensive evidence-based information about Parkinson's disease as it applies to occupational therapists. This information was utilized to generate clinical guidelines in the form of a user-friendly manual meant for practicing OTs in treating Parkinson's disease.

An extensive literature review was performed using PubMed to determine current evidence-based practice that occupational therapists and other rehabilitation therapists were currently using. Following the review of literature, a needs assessment was completed per survey directed towards practicing …

Occupation-Based Interventions For Clients With Chemical Addiction Issues, Amanda Sylling, Alyson Wilhelmi

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Based on data from an extensive literature review and survey methodology, a product was developed to assist occupational therapists (O.T. 's) in providing individualized occupation-based interventions for clients dealing with substance abuse/dependence. Although the value of occupation-based interventions focusing on occupational performance and function has been established (Law, 2002), the literature suggests that O.T.'s working in substance abuse treatment environments generally provide group-based intervention consisting primarily of preparatory activities (Rychtarik et al., 2000). Because substance abuse often becomes a primary occupation for individuals with substance abuse issues (Stoffel & Moyers, 2004), it is imperative that O.T.'s address and support healthy …

A Work Injury Prevention Program For A Rural Manufacturing Company, Pete Angell, Tara Copenhaver, Dustin Martinson, Heather Martinson

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Purpose: This article discusses how a group of four physical therapy students built upon traditional ergonomic and biomechanical programs and applied it to a rural manufacturing company of 160 employees.

Methods: Meetings were held with the corporation's Safety Specialist and upper management. Based on research supported by evidence and suggestions from the company's administration, the students constructed an injury prevention program consisting of two presentations for office and production workers, exercise programs, a lifting and posture DVD and assessment, and a modified office assessment.

Results: Seventy-one employees attended the production lecture. Thirty-six workers took part in the office presentation. Sixty-four …

The Obesity Epidemic: Survey Of Current Physical Therapy Trends In North Dakota, Alexis M. Barten, Kristi M. Just, Lori A. Perry, Cassie R. Seal

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose. Many different health professionals are involved in the prevention and treatment of obesity. The APTA believes that physical therapists should be in a leadership role among other health care providers in providing patient education and instruction regarding physical activity. The purpose of this study was to determine current practice trends among physical therapists in the state of North Dakota relating to patients who are overweight or obese.

Subjects and Methods. Three hundred surveys were mailed to randomly selected physical therapists licensed in the State of North Dakota. The survey consisted of23 questions concerning level of training, referral …

A Pilot Study To Screen Fall Risk In Adult Health Care Employees, Patricia Borboa, Emily Hansen, Jessica Hoeft, Alicia Holzer

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose: Due to the increasing age of the working population, falls are becoming an escalating problem especially in the healthcare industry. The purpose of this research study is to develop a cost effective quick screen to determine fall risk in healthcare employees. Our overall goal is to take the results gained from this pilot study and apply them on a larger scale in hopes of preventing falls thus decreasing dollars spent by companies on work injury.

Subjects: Volunteers from a local Health Care System. Inclusion criteria: permanent employees, over the age of 20, without an assistive device. A …

Electromyographic Analysis Of Lower Extremity Muscle Activity During Wall Squats With An Adduction Contraction In Varied Foot Positions, Jill Eken, Ashlee Jesperson, Heather Sletten

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine if an isometric hip adduction contraction and varied foot positions during a wall squat results in increased muscle recruitment of the lower extremity.

Subjects: Eleven healthy female adult volunteers without a prior history of knee pathology participated.

Methods: Surface electromyography (EMG) data were collected from the adductor longus (AL), vastus medialis oblique (VMO), vastus lateralis (VL), biceps femoris (BF), gastrocnemius (GN) and anterior tibialis (AT) muscles of the dominant leg for each individual during six wall squats with different treatment conditions. Experimental trials included three different rotation positions with or without …

Und Physical Therapy Alumni: Job Satisfaction Survey Results In 2004 And Over 10 Years, Amber Entzel, Jill Gibbon, Laura Parent

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

This study investigates University of North Dakota Department of Physical Therapy (UND PT) alumni job satisfaction. The field has evolved greatly with regards to educational requirements, autonomy of practice and utilization of skilled services. With these significant changes in the field, a look at job satisfaction of alumni was warranted.

Methods: The Job Descriptive Index (JDI), Job In General (JIG), and a demographic survey were sent out in 1994, 1999, and 2004 to all alumni of the University of North Dakota (UND) physical therapy program. Subjects were excluded if they were no longer practicing physical therapy, or if they were …

Physical Therapy Diabetic Protocol, Jered Field, Jason Hahn, Corey Samuelson

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

As the number of individuals in the United States with Type II Diabetes continues to increase significantly, so too does the incidence of lower extremity secondary complications. Ulcer care and possible lower extremity amputation are very expensive to patients and the healthcare system and can be extremely debilitating. Preventative measures have been implemented; however, a greater focus in this area may provide significantly greater results. Previous research states that preventative programs for lower extremity complications are cost effective if they can provide a 25% decrease in these conditions. In this project, a comprehensive prevention program has been designed to increase …

Effects Of Ambulatory Assistive Devises On Subjects Post-Cva: A Series Of Case Studies, David Fulton, Richard Zaruba

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine if regularly ambulating with and without an ambulatory assistive device will lead to differences in the spatiotemporal and kinematic parameters of gait demonstrated by the subjects status post cerebral vascular accident. This study was comprised of a series of three case studies. All subjects were a minimum of fifty years old, at least three months status post cerebral vascular accident, capable of effectively communicating with researchers, and in good health. Ambulation criteria for inclusion were to regularly ambulate independently for 50 feet without use of an ambulatory assistive device, and regularly ambulate …

Electromyographic Analysis Of Abdominal And Low Back Musculature During Use Of An Experimental Stationary Bicycle, Bryce A. Kelly, Christopher L. Podoll, Kirk R. Van Slyke

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose. Currently, stationary bicycles do not incorporate exercise for the abdominal and low back musculature. An experimental stationary bicycle, the Magnus Cycle, has been developed to increase trunk muscle activation and, at the same time, provide aerobic conditioning. The purpose of this study is to assess the activity of the rectus abdominus, external oblique, erector spinae, rectus femoris and biceps femoris muscles during a stationary cycling setting and during a tilt-in-space setting of the Magnus Cycle.

Subjects. Sixteen subjects, both men and women, between the ages of 18 and 30 participated in this study.

Methods. Surface electromyography (EMG) …

The Effect Of Hamstring Contractions In The Activation Of The Abdominal Muscles During A Standard Abdominal Crunch, Deborah Sue Larson, Barry Pederson, Adam Suedel, Wayne Voth

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of a hamstring contraction on the abdominal musculature during a standard crunch. Studies in the past have looked at abdominal and core strengthening, exercise equipment, and exercise techniques and their effect on abdominal electromyography (EMG). Few published studies have looked at the effect on the abdominals during a modified crunch, which is a hamstring contraction during a standard crunch.

Methods: Participants (n=30) for this study were between the ages of 18 and 60 with no history of acute or chronic back pain or major abdominal surgery. EMG was used …

Criteria Used For Identification Of Torticollis By Professionals Providing Developmental Screenings, Amanda Van Hatten, Lacey Jenson

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Purpose: The main objective of this study was to gather data from development screeners providing infant/toddler developmental screening regarding the criteria used to identify torticollis, information about referral practices when torticollis is suspected, and the information being provided to parents regarding torticollis.

Subjects: Subjects were recruited through a midwestern developmental screening organization. All developmental screeners were invited to participate in this study and inclusion criteria consisted of participants that currently were completing developmental screenings in the selected regional area.

Procedures: Focused interviews along with pre-questionnaires were utilized to gather the data. The pre-questionnaire which was distrusted first, included questions regarding …

Outpatient Physical Therapy Management Of A Young Male Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction, Leslie Harris

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose. This paper describes the physical therapy management of a 17 -year-old male high school student, from two weeks postoperative to week 10 outpatient, after left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. An intra-articular patella bone-tendon-bone graft as well as a medial meniscus repair and notchplasty were completed using video arthroscopy. The patient presented with decreased range of motion and strength in the left knee and slightly decreased strength in the left hip.

Purpose, The purpose of this article is to describe the interventions used for this patient, the results from these interventions and to discuss current ACL treatment …

Post-Surgical Rehabilitation Of A 12-Year-Old Female Athlete After Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Reconstruction, Jonathan E. Arntson

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose. The treatment of adolescents with lateral patellar instability has changed greatly in recent years. For surgical treatment of recurrent dislocation, the intervention of choice has become medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) repair or reconstruction. The purpose of this case study is to discuss recent trends in management of patients suffering from chronic patellar instability, and particularly to describe the post-operative management of this adolescent female who underwent medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction.

Case Description. Having failed a trial of conservative rehabilitation, a 12-year-old female athlete with a history of recurrent patellar dislocation underwent MPFL reconstruction. Her postsurgical rehabilitation program …

A Case Study Of A Patient With Low Back Pain And Radicular Symptoms Treated With The Mckenzie Method, Reyn A. Hata

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Objective: The objective of this case study is to describe the use of the McKenzie Method (MM) with a patient with low back pain (LBP) with radicular symptoms.

History: The patient is a 26 year-old, male with complaints of low back pain with radicular symptoms down his right lower extremity to his ankle. The patient presented with decreased range of motion to lumbar spine, a flexed and left laterally shifted posture, decreased strength of right lower extremity, and peripheralizing symptoms of pain.

Description: The treatment for this patient involved repeated flexion and extension movements, stretching, posture education, instruction in body …

Out-Patient Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Management Of A Patient With A Degenerated Knee Resulting In Total Joint Arthroplasty, Charles A. Long

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) surgery is a common procedure performed for those patients seeking a return of knee function after substantial degeneration of the tibiofemoral joint. The TKA procedure is becoming increasingly popular as degenerative changes to the knee joints occurs at a younger age. The United States is facing an increasingly aging workforce. It is anticipated that there will be increasingly more members of the workforce seeking rehabilitation following TKA with goals of returning to work. The purpose of this article is to describe implementation of physical therapy in the recovery of a patient with degenerative joint disease of …

Weight Lifting Through Life: A Guide To Safe Weight Training, John A. Andrew

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

You Can Lift Weights Withllut Getting Hurt!

Have you ever injured yourself when trying to lift weights or initiate an exercise program? If so, you are not alone. Over many years of working as a physical therapist in an outpatient orthopedic and sports medicine clinic I have been surprised by the number of people that walk through the doors that are hurt by weight lifting. This really concerns me as one should not get hurt lifting weights as this is the opposite of why you are training. You are trying to improve your health--not get hurt! I am amazed by …

An Outpatient Physical Therapy Non-Operative Management And Intervention For An Older, Athletic, Professional, Caucasian Male Patient With An Acute Gastrocnemius Medialis And Lateralis Muscle Rupture, Thea Loy Pallansch

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Description: The gastrocnemius muscle is a two joint muscle originating on the femur and inserting into the calcaneus through the Achilles tendon. The gastrocnemius spans the knee and ankle joint providing important stabilization and movement functions in walking, running, and jumping activities. Rupture of the Achilles tendon is one of the most common tendinous injuries. Non-operative, conservative treatment of the acute Achilles tendon rupture demonstrates comparable results to surgical intervention. Non-operative management promotes patient tolerance, low cost, and positive clinical outcomes. Previous studies have supported the concept of functional bracing as a conservative, alternate treatment for an acutely ruptured Achilles …

Hip Adductor Or Iliopsoas Tendonitis In An Adolescent Athlete: A Physical Therapy Case Report, Julie Berry

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Groin pain can be caused by many different entities from a "pulled adductor muscle" to something as serious as a femoral neck stress fracture. Other possible diagnoses include slipped capital epiphysis, avulsion fractures, osteitis pubis, osteoarthritis, labral tem adductor tendonitis and hernia, Iliopsoas tendonitis is all under diagnosed clinical problem, This injury affects millions of athletes every year and is often misdiagnosed and not properly treated, Potential implications to function include a decrease in the ability to perform activities of daily living (dressing, transferring into and out of bed/car/chair, and climbing stairs), inability to control inflammation which could progress to …