Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Latent Effects Of Stress On Delayed Modulation Of Chronic Low Back Pain: Case Series, Roger Allen Phd, Pt, Anna Chang Spt, Catherine Mooney-Myers Spt, Lauren Gallison

Physical Therapy Research Symposium

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to investigate the temporal relationship between psychogenic stress and perceived intensity of chronic low back pain (LBP). LBP was chosen as a pilot condition prefacing a larger research effort to determine which variants of chronic pain may manifest latent psychogenic modulation based on previous studies of neuropathic pain conditions.

Methods: The study consisted of five subjects, one male and four females, ranging from 19-32 years old and chronicity of pain ranging from 5 months to 6+ years since diagnosis. Over 12-15 weeks, participants completed daily visual analog pain, stress, and pain-related function scales. …

The Temporal Relationship Between Stress And Spasticity, A Comparison Between Subjects With And Without Intact Thyroid Function, Dr. Roger Allen, Benjamin L. Hannula, Benjamin T. Gilksion, Caitlin A. Turner

Physical Therapy Research Symposium

Purpose/Hypothesis: Stress has been studied as a credible trigger of spasticity, but evidence is limited concerning temporal relationships. Case studies of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) and fibromyalgia (FM) have established a ten-day delay between psychogenic stress and episodic pain flares. This is explained by a stress induced release of thyroxine (T4) from the thyroid gland via the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis, which reaches its peak effect by day 10. Models suggest that T4 may increase peripheral nerve excitability, which could increase sensitivity in 1A fibers from muscle spindles, leading to hyper-excitability in motor neuron pools. The purpose of our study …

The Temporal Relationship Between Daily Stress And Delayed Modulation Of Chronic Headache Pain, Chelsea Clark

Sound Neuroscience: An Undergraduate Neuroscience Journal

Headache pain affects a large portion of the population and significantly reduces quality of life. Stress has been implicated as a cause in many headache disorders, and this study investigates how stressful events affect subjects with chronic headache pain. Ten days after a stressful event, there was a significant change in perceived headache pain, though pain increased for some and decreased for others. Stress-related release of the hormone thyroxine may be a mediator for chronic pain states.

Healing Spaces: Gardening Activities For Stress-Reduction, Leslie Dietz

School of Occupational Therapy Master's Theses (2010-2015)

The therapeutic benefits of peaceful garden environments have been understood since ancient times. As healthcare professionals begin to recognize the benefits of using the natural environment and plants as a therapy modality, Horticultural Therapyis emerging in many hospitals, nursing homes, and mental health facilities around the country. The purpose of this project was to create a resource manual for use in a group home for people living with HIV/AIDS and comorbid mental illness. The manual, which will be used by volunteer “CareTeams” working in the home, offers ideas on creating a healing space for the residents, as well as therapeutic …