Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Efficacy Of Complimentary Manual Therapies For Labor Pain Management, Emily Yenter

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Posters

Labor and delivery pain is commonly considered to be the most pain a woman will ever experience. Options for pain control during labor include pharmacological and nonpharmacological. The purpose of this systematic literature is to determine if complementary manual therapies such as massage therapy, acupressure, and reflexology are effective nonpharmacologic management tools for labor pain. The electronic databases PubMed and ClinicalKey were searched, and the ten studies chosen for this review were randomized controlled trials published within the past ten years. Current research provides significant data supporting these three complementary modalities as effective nonpharmacologic management tools to control labor pain. …

Home-Based Cardiac Rehab Vs. Center-Based Cardiac Rehab In Rural Areas, Timothy Fresonke

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Posters

Cardiac rehabilitation in rural areas can present unique challenges. The main challenge is the locations patients must travel to receive such care. Some patients are expected to travel more then an hour away, on multiple occasions during the week, to undergo their therapy. A literature review was done to see if there was a safe and effective alternative to the traditional center-based cardiac rehabilitation. The electronic search databases PubMed, Embase and CINAHL Complete were utilized to search for articles that addressed the four main topics of the paper. Dalal et al. (2019) found that home-based cardiac rehabilitation was as safe …

Corticosteriod Injection Vs Therapy Vs Combination For Shoulder Rotator Cuff Injuries, Rodney Guy Palmer Jr.

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

Rotator cuff pathologies seen in a primary care setting ranks third for musculoskeletal complaints seen by primary care providers. Rotator cuff pathologies can cause significant dysfunction in activities of daily living (ADLs), work tasks, and daily life. Current treatment recommendations are intra-articular steroid injections, therapy only rehabilitation, or the combination of the two. This literature review researched articles comparing the effectiveness of steroid only treatments, therapy only treatments, and the combination of the two. There was conflicting evidence regarding which treatment was the most effective. Significant side effects for steroid injections were discovered which included rotator cuff rupture. Therapy demonstrated …

Alternative Treatment Modalities For Plantar Fasciitis, Chelsey Clark

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

Plantar Fasciitis is a common and frequent condition in adult patients. The purpose of this literature review is to determine whether evidence exists for alternative treatments in the regimen of plantar fasciitis that has not been resolved with the standard treatment. The review was done using Pubmed, CINAHL and SportDiscus. Research was included on the following alternative treatments of PF: corticosteroid injections, extracorporeal shockwave, dry needling, Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP), Autologous Blood Injection (ABI), cupping, custom insoles, and ultrasound therapy. A total of 12 research articles were included in this review. The alternative treatments considered within this literature review had some …

Corticosteroid Injection Vs Therapy Vs Combination For Rotator Cuff Injuries, Rodney Guy Palmer Jr.

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Posters

Rotator cuff pathologies seen in a primary care setting ranks third for musculoskeletal complaints seen by primary care providers. Rotator cuff pathologies can cause significant dysfunction in activities of daily living (ADLs), work tasks, and daily life. Some current treatment recommendations are intra-articular steroid injections, therapy only rehabilitation, or the combination of the two. This literature review researched articles comparing the effectiveness of steroid only treatments, therapy only and the combination of the two. There was conflicting evidence regarding which treatment was the most effective. Significant side effects for steroid injections were discovered which included rotator cuff rupture. Therapy demonstrated …

Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome: Surgical Treatment Vs Conservative Care, Molly Ruebke

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

Chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS) is a relatively rare pathology characterized by pain, tightness, and/or numbness in the affected calf upon performance of repetitive physical activity, most commonly with running or serving in the military. CECS usually has a delay in diagnosis due to low levels of awareness among clinicians and a wide range of differential diagnoses for chronic exertional leg pain. The natural course of CECS is often not self-limiting and therefore requires intervention, as symptoms can be severely debilitating and eventually force patients to avoid any provoking activity. The purpose of this literature review is to take a …

Home-Based Cardiac Rehab Vs. Center-Based Cardiac Rehab In Rural Areas, Timothy Fresonke

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

Cardiac rehabilitation in rural areas can present unique challenges. The main challenge is the locations patients must travel to receive such care. Some patients are expected to travel more then an hour away, on multiple occasions during the week, to undergo therapy. This can be an issue for many patients and something that has been studied and is starting to be addressed in various countries. A literature review was done to see if there was a safe and effective alternative to the traditional center-based cardiac rehabilitation. The electronic search databases PubMed, Embase and CINAHL Complete were utilized to search for …

The Role Of Occupational Therapy In Determining The Effectiveness Of Functional Task Assessments Used To Improve Quality Of Life For Older Adults With Parkinson’S Disease., Kate L. Westphal, Brooklyn L. Wiest, Jordyn M. Wolff

Critically Appraised Topics

This critically appraised topic focuses on the role of occupational therapy in ascertaining the effectiveness of specific functional assessments in improving the quality of life of older adults with Parkinson’s disease.

Cat Part Iv: Occupational Therapy Interventions To Support Upper Extremity Spasticity In Older Adults Following A Stroke, Mary Redlin, Allie Reiffenberger, Shannon Ring, Aubrey Rude

Critically Appraised Topics

This critically appraised topic focuses on interventions for improving hand functions in activities of daily living (ADLs) for elderly adults who have chronic upper extremity spasticity following a stroke. For the purpose of this critically appraised topic, the focus will be on the elderly population, defined as being age 55 and older; research indicates stroke is most prevalent in this population (Mayo Clinic, 2022). When considering a particular theory, the Ecology of Human Performance (EHP) is the most suitable model for our focus question (Dunn, 2017). The Ecology of Human Performance is focused on the person and environment to increase …

Addressing Adherence To Home Exercise Programs In A Hand Therapy Setting, Austin B. Ellis

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Roughly 1,100 per 100,000 persons experience an upper-extremity injury per year including burns, fractures, or amputations (Ootes et al., 2012). These upper-extremity injuries can impact a person’s physical function, activities of daily living (ADL), social, psychological, and financial aspects in life (Che Daud et al., 2016b). These statistics warrant the need for occupational therapy practitioners specializing in hand therapy, and other hand therapists to address these areas of client’s lives that have been affected by their upper extremity injury.

Physical Therapy Clinical Instructor's Viewpoints On Entry-Level Performance Of Physical Therapy Students And New Graduates, Elhana Selimovie

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to gain perspective on how physical therapy clinical instructors (CI) define entry-level in relation to the field of physical therapy. The research question asked CIs was whether or not there was a difference in how CIs defined entry-level physical therapists. Entry level is defined as “a student who is capable of functioning without guidance or supervision while managing simple or complex conditions, with proficiency in skilled examinations, interventions, and clinical reasoning, and is able to maintain 100% of a full-time therapist’s caseload in a cost-effective manner.”

Methods: A survey was sent …

Case Report Of A 42-Year-Old Male Affected By Plantar Fasciitis, Jenna Baumgartner

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose: Plantar fasciitis is an irritation of the plantar fascia that causes increased pain and inflammation of the area. Plantar fasciitis affects nearly 1 in 10 people in their lifetime with a high likelihood of reoccurrence. There can be multiple causes but physical therapy (PT) can be crucial for the reduction of pain and return of function. Due to high likelihood of reoccurrence, it is the goal to give patients the tools that they need to self-treat when they experience another bout of plantar fasciitis.

Case Description: The patient was a 42-year-old male who had pain in …

A Case Report Of Guillain-Barre Syndrome, Jonathan Tyre

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose: Guillain-Barre Syndrome is a medical condition with no known cause. Incidence of this condition is 1 to 2 per 100 000 people in the United States. Guillain-Barre Syndrome is a condition in which a person’s immune system attacks the person’s nervous system and demyelinates nerves in a person’s body.

Case Description: The patient is a 64-year-old male who received physical therapy services following a diagnosis of Guillain-Barre Syndrome. The condition came on with insidious onset and the patient had no signs or symptoms prior to his diagnosis. The patient was evaluated and treated by my clinical …

Transitioning A Hand Therapy Clinic From Traditional Paper Home Programs To An Electronic Platform: A Quality Improvement Project, Megan Raissa Fuka

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Individuals with upper extremity conditions who receive occupational therapy within the hand therapy context are often provided with paper or electronic home programs (HPs) as part of their rehabilitation protocol. Electronic HPs may promote greater adherence and functional improvements than paper handouts, as they can accommodate various learning styles and address patient barriers (Chung et al., 2020; Harte & Law, 2019; Lambert et al., 2017; Nussbaum et al., 2019; Toci et al., 2021; Valdes et al., in press). Despite evidence showing positive patient satisfaction and outcomes as a result of using electronic HPs, some occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) may be …

A Proactive Approach To Lymphedema Treatment: A Patient’S Educational Guide, Bridget Jae Reuss

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Lymphedema affects between 90 and 250 million people worldwide, yet there is little information about it, and it is poorly understood by the medical community (Manrique et al., 2022). This too often results in patients not receiving proactive treatment for their symptoms. Proactive intervention increases the patient’s ability to engage in meaningful occupations, socialization, quality of life, mobility, and confidence (Dominick et al., 2014; Lu et al., 2015; Warren et al., 2007; Yarmohammadi et al., 2021).

Assisting Mothers In The Transition Into Motherhood, Abbey Mckenna Marinucci

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The perinatal period ranges from 22 weeks gestation to 2 years postpartum (Hoekzema et al., 2017; Seth et al., 2016; World Health Organization, n.d.). During the perinatal period, intervention is primarily provided by an obstetrician and gynecologist (OBGYN) during pregnancy. Typically, mothers are discharged on average 2.1 days after a natural birth (Podulka et al., 2011). Women are seen at 6 weeks postpartum where mothers’ physical health is the focus of the visit, leaving mothers' mental health concerns unaddressed and questions typically unanswered (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2012 & American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 2012 as cited in Corrigan …

Outpatient Physical Therapy Management Of A Patient With Right Hamstring Strain Injury: A Case Report, Tina M. Belgarde

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose: Hamstring injuries are the most common muscle strains in competitive sports. Insufficient rehabilitation may be attributed to a high occurrence of recurrent hamstring injuries in athletes. This case study evaluates the effectiveness of physical therapy following a Grade 2 right hamstring injury and discusses the outcomes experienced by the patient.

Case Description: The patient was a 51-year-old Caucasian female athlete who received 6 outpatient physical therapy treatments. She presented with a Grade 2 right hamstring injury after hearing a pop while competing in a tennis tournament.

Interventions: The therapy provided emphasized the use of …

The Effect Of Physical Therapy Intervention On Fatigue, Balance, Depression And Quality Of Life In Clients Following Medical Treatment For Cancer: A Pilot Study, Mckenna N. Johnson

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

People who are diagnosed with cancer and undergo radiation or chemotherapy treatment are at great risk for developing long-term side effects such as fatigue, balance deficits, depression, and decreased quality of life months and even years following treatment. With approximately 16.9 million people in the United States with a history of invasive cancer, and an expected steady increase in this number in the coming years, a better understanding of these side effects and how they can be treated would be instrumental for health care professionals. The purpose of this study was to test the effect of exercise intervention on fatigue, …

Effectiveness Of The Use Of Kinesiotape For Adults With Elbow Tendinosis In Reducing Pain To Promote Engagement In Occupations, Natasha Minar, Kinley Nordin, Kaitlyn Peterson

Critically Appraised Topics

This critically appraised topic paper focuses on the use of kinesiotape for adults experiencing chronic pain associated with elbow tendinosis that greatly influences their ability to engage fully in their meaningful occupations. Adults with elbow tendinosis may experience decreased functional mobility due to pain from their diagnosis (Eraslan et al., 2017; Karlıbel & Aksoy, 2022; Shakeri et al., 2018), thus decreasing their overall quality of life and well-being. In this paper, pain associated with elbow tendinosis, the effectiveness of kinesiotape compared to alternative interventions, and the role of occupational therapy in promoting engagement in meaningful occupations will be discussed. Kinesiotape …

Botulinum Toxin For The Treatment Of Leg Spasticity In Children With Cerebral Palsy, Kathleen Matzke

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

Cerebral palsy affects 3 out of every 1000 children in the United States. It is multifactorial and not fully understood. What is known is that most of the cerebral palsy cases are congenital and the majority of motor dysfunction is classified as spastic. Over the last 25 years botulinum toxin has been a part of the first line treatment in children with spasticity. The purpose of this literature review is to determine if botulinum toxin is as safe and effective compared to a placebo or therapy alone in children. Key words and mesh terms were used in AccessMedicine, Cochrane Review, …

How The Physical Long-Haul Symptoms Of Covid-19 Influence Occupational Performance From A Person-Environment-Occupation Perspective: A Critically Appraised Topic, Emmalee Burtsfield, Amber Matlock, Alyssia Pucel

Critically Appraised Topics

An increasing number of adults continue to experience the long-term physical effects of COVID-19. Currently, there is uncertainty regarding the best practices in occupational therapy to address long-haul COVID-19 symptomology and its effects on people as research on the topic continues to emerge (Robinson et al., 2021). The purpose of this critically appraised paper is to identify prominent areas on which occupational therapists should focus during evaluation and intervention planning while considering the person, environment, and occupation to encompass the ideals of best practice when working with adult clients who are facing disruptions as a result of long-haul COVID-19 symptoms.

Aquatic Therapy: An Interprofessional Resource Focusing On Children With Developmental And Intellectual Disabilities, Mackenzie Martha Brokaw

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Background Children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) experience impairments with physical development, learning, language, and behavior (Center for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2021b). These impairments lead to impacts with day to day functioning and meaningful occupations such as play, education, social participation, and activities of daily living (ADLs) (CDC, 2021b). Occupational therapy has the skilled knowledge to assist with these challenges from a variety of approaches. Aquatic therapy is one tool shown to be beneficial as the physical properties of water create an environment that can be very supportive to an individual and their needs (Pocius & Riley, …

The Development Of A Transition To Motherhood Education And Support Program: Elevate Motherhood, Chloe R. Haas

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Background The transition to motherhood is a transformative event. The postpartum period is a significant timeframe that challenges a mother in all areas of her life through occupational, physical, hormonal, emotional, and cognitive changes. Although most mothers receive routine care throughout their pregnancy, it is known that standard education and support are typically inadequate, placing mothers at a greater risk for postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, and other challenges of the postpartum period (Howell, Mora, Chassin, & Leventhal, 2010; Martin, Horowitz, Balbierz, & Howell, 2014). Research findings indicate that sufficient education and support prior to birth and through the postpartum period …

Telehealth Assessment In The Elderly Using The 4m'S, Witeh Esoe

Nursing Capstones

COVID-19 brought unprecedented challenges in accessing healthcare services. The lack of accessibility to healthcare drastically impacted older adults, especially those in rural America, who experienced multiple issues accessing quality care with an increase in healthcare cost leading to a significant increase in morbidity and mortality rate from COVID-19. Consequently, the usage of telehealth services skyrocketed during the pandemic. As a result, the Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP) emerged with the aim to promote the use of telehealth services to reduce COVID-19 exposure to older adults in rural North Dakota (ND). Thereby keeping older adults safe at home and still having …

Left Medullary Stroke And The Effects Of Physical Therapy In The Acute Rehabilitation Setting: A Case Study, Alissa Dahle-Koch

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose. Approximately 800,000 strokes occur each year in the United States, either resulting in death or mild to moderate functional deficits. This case study examines the effectiveness of physical therapy treatment of a patient following a left medullary stroke in the acute rehabilitation setting.

Case Description. The patient was a 72-year-old male with a complex medical history who presented to the acute rehabilitation unit with right-sided weakness, diminished postural control, impaired muscle tone, and paresthesia. His admission was complicated by the onset of delirium during the second week of treatment.

Intervention. Physical therapy treatment provided …

Effects Of Physical Therapy Following A Right Shoulder Arthroscopy In The Outpatient Orthopedic Setting: A Case Study, Hannah Riveland

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose. Shoulder pain is the third most common complaint in the musculoskeletal system. Subacromial impingement syndrome consists of 44-65% of those complaints. This case study examines the effectiveness of physical therapy treatment following a right shoulder arthroscopy including a subacromial decompression, extensive intraarticular debridement, and subpectoral proximal biceps tenodesis in an outpatient orthopedic setting.

Case Description. This patient was a 57-year old male with past medical history of chronic shoulder and back pain. He presented to outpatient physical therapy post-operatively with right upper extremity guarding, pain, weakness, tenderness, and impaired functional mobility.

Intervention. Treatment addressed …

Outpatient Physical Therapy Management Of A Patient With Left Hip Femoroacetabular Impingement: A Case Study, Mark Geerdes

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose: Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) syndrome is a motion related clinical disorder of the hip in which there is premature contact between the acetabulum and the proximal femur. This case study evaluates the effectiveness of physical therapy as a first line treatment for FAI and discusses the patient outcomes based on the chosen interventions. The results can be used to better understand the most appropriate interventions for conservative FAI treatment.

Case Description: The patient was a 15-year-old male student athlete who presented to physical therapy with left anterior and lateral hip pain.

Interventions: The rehabilitation program …

Outpatient Management Of Low Back And Neck Pain With Radicular Symptoms, Riley Ryan

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose. Neck and back pain are very prevalent in the world today. This pain can range mild to debilitating. The purpose of this case study is to examine the use of physical therapy for patients with neck and back pain.

Case Description. A 49 year old female with neck and back pain with radiculopathy. The patient presented with decreased cervical range of motion, kyphotic posture with rounded shoulders and forward head and was seen for a total of six weeks. (20 visits).

Intervention. The treatment of the patient involved education on posture/body mechanics/exercises, manual therapy techniques, modalities …

Chronic Low Back Pain With Possible Si Involvement And Weak Abdominals: A Case Study, Stacy Remer

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose: Chronic, non-specific low back pain is highly prevalent and is a cause for a large proportion of medical expenses along with many people’s pain and disability. This case report presents a variety of interventions implemented for a patient with low back pain and her reaction to therapy.

Case Description: The case study presents a 42 y/o mother to three children. Her pain began about two years ago and has been persistent throughout that time. She has tried many different forms of treatment through medical physicians, physical therapy, and massage therapy but nothing has had long-term relief of …

Effects Of Phototherapy In Patients With Atopic Dermatitis, Stephanie Krogen

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic remitting problem faced by many people in our communities of all ages. Atopic dermatitis presents as an erythematous and pruritic rash. There is no cure, only treatments that help alleviate symptoms. The purpose of this literature review is to help determine the best course of action for treatment for patients who suffer from AD. Phototherapy has been growing in popularity and research as an alternate treatment to systemic and pharmacologic therapies. This review was done using PubMed, Clinical Key, DynaMed, and Cochrane. Studies were included that reviewed the side effects and efficacy of each …