Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

An Online Educational Resource On Adaptive Sports For People With Spinal Cord Injuries, Rachel Morgan, Steven M. Gerardi

Fall 2021 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

A spinal cord injury (SCI) has a serious impact on an individual’s participation in everyday life activities, leading to a high risk of a sedentary life-style. There is a paucity of research pertaining to adaptive sport participation post-injury and the role of occupational therapy (OT). Additionally, there are limited resources available that inform people with SCI on the benefits of adapted sports or where to go to engage in them. As such, this paper describes the development of a doctoral capstone project to address this need. The purpose of this capstone project was to create an educational web page that …

Exploring The Form, Function, And Meaning Of Esports, Kyle Fitzstevens, Susan Macdermott, Becki Cohill, Karen Park

Summer 2021 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Esports has become an internationally recognized occupation that is continuing to grow in popularity. The discipline of occupational science with a qualitative, phenomenological approach was used to study the occupation of esports. Larson, Wood, and Clark’s (2003) framework of form, function, and meaning was applied to study to explore the occupational experience of esports with five participants. Form, function, and meaning guided the methods utilized through semi-structured interviews and observation. Eight sub-themes were extracted from the data and embodied the personal occupational experiences of esports. The findings support the importance of understanding the complexities of occupations such as personal experience …

Exploring Sensory Processing & Inclusivity Within A Fitness Gym Environment, Deveshma Maharaj, Karen Park, Becki Cohill, Susan Macdermott

Summer 2021 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

An individual’s sensory processing involves the reception, modulation, integration, and organization of sensory stimuli, as well as behavioral responses to sensory input (Dunn, 2001). Adults with sensory processing challenges may come across troubles with completing routines and tasks for work, social participation, and leisure (STAR Institute for SPD, n.d.). Since most individuals with these sensory processing challenges have struggled with symptoms continuously, they are likely to encounter secondary effects such as depression, underachievement, and social isolation (STAR Institute for SPD, n.d.). Adults with sensory processing deficits may experience difficulties with establishing their role in society, maintaining social support systems, and …

Exploration Of Aerial Arts As An Occupation, Kristine De Guzman, Susan Macdermott, Becki Cohill, Karen Park

Summer 2021 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Introduction: Aerial arts is a performance art with acrobatic and dance principles that includes a variety of apparatuses, such as silks, hammock, and lyra. Aerial arts has been transforming over the years; it was once a form of entertainment and is now utilized in occupational therapy interventions. Occupational science, the academic discipline of studying occupations, has emerged to inform occupational therapy practice. Understanding the occupation of aerial arts through an occupational science framework, Doing, Being, Becoming, and Belonging, and Model of Human Occupation offered an in-depth description of the occupation that can provide more knowledge on how to use occupations …

Occupational Therapy’S Role In Reducing Barriers For Team-Based Sports Participation For Adolescents, Dennis Nguyen, Karen Park, Becki Cohill, Susan Macdermott

Summer 2021 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Participating in team-based sports has numerous benefits that includes not only increased physical fitness, but also cognitive abilities and academic performance. With the many benefits of participating in team sports can provide, it will be significant to understand adolescents' specific barriers and assist in reducing the barriers for successful participation. The purpose of the capstone project was to identify and understand adolescent barriers to bridge the gap between conventional rehabilitation and team sports participation. Multiple barriers and motivators were identified including financial management, time management, and physical/athletic skill. Facing these determinants may possibly support in increasing team sports participation and …

The Development And Implementation Of An Inclusive Community Sports League For Children With Disabilities, Delnai Filip, Angela Blackwell

Summer 2021 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Many developed sports leagues are tailored toward non-disabled children and adults, even though, in the United States, about 26 percent of the population live with a disability and one out of every three people within this population want to participate in sports (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2020a; Activity Alliance, 2018). This ultimately leads to decreased sporting opportunities for individuals with disabilities. This higher rate of development of sports leagues for children without disabilities is due to the competitive environment of sports. This competitive environment leads to the marginalization of children with disabilities who want to participate in …

Exploring The Form, Function, And Meaning Of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Alvin Ma, Susan Macdermott, Becki Cohill, Karen Park

Summer 2021 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a grappling martial art derived from Judo and primarily uses chokeholds and joint locks to incapacitate an attacker. These techniques require little strength and can apply tremendous amounts of force to anatomically weaker areas of the body. BJJ is a growing martial art due to its popularity in self-defense and its effectiveness in sports like mixed martial arts (MMA). This study uses a phenomenological approach and aims to increase the understanding of the form, function, and meaning of BJJ through the lived experiences of BJJ practitioners from different experience levels. Participants will be recruited and interviewed …

An Occupational Therapy Practice Guide For Sport-Related Concussion In Student Athletes, Jenny Park, Steven M. Gerardi, Mary Ann Smith

Summer 2021 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Sport-related concussion (SRC) is a prevalent injury that affects millions of youth and young adults every year (McKeithan et al., 2019). The sequelae associated with an SRC can interfere with a student athletes’ ability to participate in school, return to play, and perform daily tasks (DeMatteo et al., 2018). Common practice in concussion management highlights the significance of getting individuals back to engaging in all areas of their lives; and this is consistent with the emphasis on participation by occupational therapy (OT) practitioners (DeMatteo et al., 2018). Despite the beneficial role that OT may offer, not only is there limited …

Alter-G® Treadmill Chamber Pressure At Three Unweighted Conditions In College Age Volunteers, Lauren Roberts, Jacqueline Santaniello

Transformations: Presentation Slides

Lower body positive pressure (LBPP) treadmills utilize an inflatable chamber to provide a range of unweighted conditions for specific rehabilitation or training purposes. This is achieved by pumping air into the chamber, which results in a lower body lift or unweighted condition. Creating an unweighted condition for the user lessens the impact on the lower body during treadmill exercise. Yet, little is known about internal chamber air pressure changes during unweighted conditions and its effect on arterial blood pressure (BP). The purpose of this investigation was to study changes in chamber air pressure (CAP), arterial BP, and heart rate (HR) …

Exploring The Benefits Of Adaptive Baseball From The Parent Perspective / Exploring The Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Athletes, Kristen Yee, Karen Park, Becki Cohill, Susan Macdermott

Spring 2021 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Sports can be an integral part of a child and adolescent’s life; however, those with disabilities, regardless of severity, are less likely to participate in organized sports compared to their peers. Adaptive sports accommodate the varying ability levels of individuals through environmental modifications or the use of specialized equipment.

The purpose of this project was to understand the benefits of participation in adaptive baseball from the parent perspective to increase awareness of the sport and better inform the role occupational therapy has in helping individuals engage in meaningful occupations that promote health and well-being, social participation, and a sense of …

The Effects Of Pectus Excavatum Corrective Surgeries On Inspiratory Capacity Of Adults: Comparing Preoperative And Postoperative Results, Joshua Bolin

EXSI 432/532: Research Methods in Exercise Science: Research Proposal Posters

The purpose of this study is to perform specific tests and measurements before and after pectus corrective surgeries to find differences in lung volumes of individuals affected by pectus excavatum.

The Impact Of Exercise Programs On Dementia, Luke Beamer, Tori Birks

EXSI 432/532: Research Methods in Exercise Science: Research Proposal Posters

Dementia is defined by the loss of cognitive abilities such as thinking, remembering and reasoning. It also affects behavioral abilities and interferes with daily life and activities. Each person may experience several signs and symptoms depending on severity, from mild to severe (Jacobs et al., 2018).

Effects Of Electrical Muscle Stimulation (Ems) And Active Recovery On Blood Lactate Levels, Andrew N. Mintz

EXSI 432/532: Research Methods in Exercise Science: Research Proposal Posters

Electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) is a method of muscle recovery used by athletes before, during, and after competition. Active recovery is arguably the most popular recovery technique after intense exercise because of how much it reduces lactate levels in the blood. Few studies have analyzed the effects of EMS and active recovery on blood lactate levels in swimmers, and none have been found on the combination of the two. Therefore, there is an insufficient amount of information linking the two methods together for the purpose of maximizing blood lactate reduction. This study sought to analyze the effects that EMS and …

Effects Of A Post Activation Potentiation Stimulus Coupled With Plyometric Training Program On The Swimming Start Performance Of Collegiate Swimmers, Brady Fields

EXSI 432/532: Research Methods in Exercise Science: Research Proposal Posters

30 collegiate swimmers from Division 1 universities in the south east United States took part in this study. Testing group completed plyometric training coupled with post-activation potentiation (PAP) stimulus as well as structured aquatic training. Control group completed only structured aquatic training. Pre and post program data was gathered from both groups to compare the effects of the training. Both groups were assessed on vertical jump height, swim start velocity, time to the 15m marker, and peak horizontal force. After the training program concluded and the resulting data from the two groups was compared

Type 2 Diabetes And Exercise, Weslyn Almond, Meredith Furgeson

EXSI 432/532: Research Methods in Exercise Science: Research Proposal Posters

Type 2 diabetes is estimated to afflict over 400 million people worldwide (Javeed & Matveyenko, 2018). Type 2 diabetes arises from a combination of genetic susceptibility and environmental factors including physical inactivity and poor nutrition (Stanford & Goodyear, 2014). People with type 2 diabetes have normal or high insulin levels, but tissues such as liver, skeletal muscle, and adipose tissue become resistant to insulin. The pancreas compensates by producing more insulin and this increase in circulating insulin can result in impaired glucose transport into these tissues (Stanford & Goodyear, 2014).

Effect Of Reducing Brain Lactate Levels By Blocking Glutamate Receptors In Panic Disorder Patients, Tim Bennett

EXSI 432/532: Research Methods in Exercise Science: Research Proposal Posters

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of glutamate receptor blockers in untreated panic disorder (PD) patients during visual panic stimulation to evaluate its ability to reduce panic response. Untreated PD patients (N=36) were recruited. Patients were given either a sugar pill, CBiPES, Alprazolam, or THIIC. MRI scanning occurred with 10 minutes of rest –eyes closed, 8 minutes of 40 total photos –20 neutral & 20 panic, and 10 minutes recovery for 28 total minutes. Panic severity questionnaires were taken before & after MRI scanning.

Yoga's Impact On Collegiate Male Soccer Player's Flexibility And Balance, Haley Church

EXSI 432/532: Research Methods in Exercise Science: Research Proposal Posters

As injuries increase in sports due to flexibility and balance issues, coaches and trainers strive to develop new techniques that can decrease the risk of injuries and improve overall performance of their athletes. The practice of yoga and its techniques have been associated with positive results in various aspects for decades. Most literature states that yoga does have a positive impact on flexibility and balance but lacks research on which type has the greatest impact (Polsgrove et al. 2016).

Chronic Hemodynamic Response To Blood Flow Restriction Training On Geriatric Hypertensive Patients, Maggie Jackson

EXSI 432/532: Research Methods in Exercise Science: Research Proposal Posters

Studies have shown that BFRT has elicited improved hemodynamic characteristics associated with hypertension such as lowered systolic blood pressure (SBP)and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). The purpose of the research study was to determine the chronic hemodynamic effects from BFRT in geriatric, hypertensive patients. Engaged BFR walking and chair-stand conditions as a therapeutic modality. The perceived usefulness of this study is its positive influence on hypertensive patient’s quality of life and their body’s ability to mediate hypertension.

The Effect Of Static Versus Dynamic Stretching Programs On The Lower Body Power Assessments Of The Broad And Vertical Jumps On Male Collegiate Football Players, Antwann Mccray

EXSI 432/532: Research Methods in Exercise Science: Research Proposal Posters

Football is a sport that requires power to be successful. The broad and vertical jumps are used for talent identification as it relates to power. Increases in range of motion should increase power and therefore better performance on the broad and vertical jumps. This study analyzed dynamic versus static stretching and its effects on jumping performance, determining which had a greater positive effect on performance. This study used skill players from the Gardner-Webb University football team. The participants participated in the study during their off-season training (15 weeks), but their respective stretching protocols were implemented into the training. To determine …

The Effectiveness Of Topical Application Of Cannabinoidon Doms In Collegiate Athletes Measured By Neuropathic Pain Scale, Ciarra Ashworth

EXSI 432/532: Research Methods in Exercise Science: Research Proposal Posters

The purpose of this study was to further the research on the influence of using CBD on delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). It was hypothesized that CBD would have a positive effect on athletes’ recovery process from DOMS induced exercises. It remains important for athletes and practitioners to know the potential benefits of topical CBD in the treatment for and recovery from strenuously repetitive exercise.

Treatment Effects Of Pop Music Combined With Aerobic Exercise On Copd Patients, Jessica Vetter

EXSI 432/532: Research Methods in Exercise Science: Research Proposal Posters

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between music-exercise therapy on patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Specifically, looking at the effect of pop music combined with aerobic exercise over the course of 12-weeks using a quantitative approach. It is hypothesized that exposing COPD patients to aerobic exercise and pop music will decrease COPD symptoms and improve their overall quality of life. This study will use N=60 participants. There will be a control group and a music-exercise therapy group. The music-exercise therapy group will be taken through aerobic exercises while listening to pop music. This will be …

Exercise Prescription For Patients With Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Josh Bolin, Caitie Mayo

EXSI 432/532: Research Methods in Exercise Science: Research Proposal Posters

EDS is a genetic connective tissue disorder which can be classified 13 different ways. Some key features which distinguish this disease are joint hypermobility, skin fragility, joint pain without arthritis, and rupture of blood vessels and internal organs. This pathology can present itself at any age, and no particular type is more common than another. Ethnicity, race, and gender do not seem to determine prevalence of this disease. 1 in every 20,000 people are diagnosed with classical EDS (Ghali et al., 2019). The process of diagnosing a patient includes examination of medical history, skin and musculoskeletal system, and other factors …

Effectiveness Of Hatha Yoga On Bone Mineral Density Levels In Postmenopausal Women, Olivia Crews

EXSI 432/532: Research Methods in Exercise Science: Research Proposal Posters

The purpose of this research was to investigate the effects that yoga techniques have on low bone mineral density levels in women post-menopause. Previous research and studies have seen a positive impact that yoga has had on improving bone mineral density levels in women post-menopause, who are facing osteopenia and osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is defined as –1 to –2.5 Standard Deviations (SD) below the mean for young, healthy adults. Different forms of yoga have seen to be impactful, however Hatha yoga has the most positive effects. Focusing on building bone strength even after menopause, which breaks down the bones in females, …

Effectiveness Of Cardiac Rehabilitation In Preventing A Second Negative Cardiac Event For 15 Years., Kaylin Schuda

EXSI 432/532: Research Methods in Exercise Science: Research Proposal Posters

The purpose of this study was to determine if cardiac rehabilitation was effective in reducing risk of the participant undergoing a second negative cardiac event for up to 15 years. Participants between the ages of 65 and 75 underwent 12 weeks of cardiac rehab. The 12 weeks of cardiac rehab consisted of 3 sessions a week and each session had an educational component to it. The participants would then return to their daily living and live as they normally would. Approximately 15 years after the completion of cardiac rehab for the participants, researchers would access their medical records. This was …

The Effect Of Pre-Competition Lower Limb Sport Massage On Vertical Jump Height Of Collegiate Female Volleyball Athletes, Audrey Gun

EXSI 432/532: Research Methods in Exercise Science: Research Proposal Posters

The purpose of this study was to examine the acute effects of pre-competition massage, dynamic warm-up, combination of massage and a dynamic warm-up, and a placebo ultrasound on vertical jump height performance in collegiate female volleyball athletes. Vertical jump height was selected is a common performance assessment for measuring strength and power in sport, specifically volleyball (Mancinelli et al. 2006). Four different protocols: pre-competition massage (PM), traditional warm-up (WU), combination of a massage and traditional warm-up (CM), and a placebo ultrasound (PU) were administered in a randomized, counterbalanced, repeated measure. Twenty female NCAA Division I, volleyball athletes participated in the …

Do Gender And Collegiate Sport Participation Correlate With Healthier Body Composition In Collegiate Subjects?, Audrey Gun, Tim Bennett, Lauren Deaver

EXSI 432/532: Research Methods in Exercise Science: Research Proposal Posters

There has been extensive research by many in the past into body fat percentage measurement methods as well as these measurements. It is historically proven that the common method of BMI is not a good measurement of this, as it is often found that male and female college athletes BMI are significantly higher than non-athletes (Ode et al., 2007). With this in mind, there were many other methods that proved to be more reliable when compared to the golden standard, the bod pod. These methods include bioelectrical impedance (BIA) measurements, and waist-to-hip ratio. For our study, we decided to use …

Cupping Therapy On Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness Of Back Musculature In College-Aged Male Lifters, D'Kota Isaac Sams

EXSI 432/532: Research Methods in Exercise Science: Research Proposal Posters

The present study was as a randomized placebo-controlled three-armed parallel-group trial comprised of twenty-one healthy novice men who were randomly assigned to one of three groups: a dry-CT intervention group, a placebo, sham cupping (SC) group, or a control group that received no post-exercise treatment. Training and treatment sessions took place every three days over an eight-week period. The effectiveness of CT was determined based on decreases in visual analogue scale (VAS) scores indicating DOMS severity. Secondary outcome measures, multidimensional fatigue inventory (MFI) scores indicting fatigue variations and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores indicated quality of sleep, were also …

Gender Differences Of Body Composition Across Four Different Forms Of Assessment, D'Kota Isaac Sams, Isabel Eigenbauer, Reah Barger

EXSI 432/532: Research Methods in Exercise Science: Research Proposal Posters

The present study aimed to evaluate the differences in body composition, specifically body fat percentage (BF%), fat-free mass (FFM), and body mass index (BMI), across four forms of assessment. It was hypothesized that male subjects, on average, would display consistently lower BF% when compared to females across four body composition data collection methods, and results would be highly correlated between the four. The BOD POD acted as the present study’s gold standard due to it being one of the most accurate methods of assessing BF% (Collins et al., 1999). It was assumed that women would have a higher BF% than …

The Effect Of Visual Stimulation On Standing Posture In Children Diagnosed With Cerebral Palsy, Kylee Garrison

EXSI 432/532: Research Methods in Exercise Science: Research Proposal Posters

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a neuromuscular disorder caused by brain damage, which leads to disruptions in an individual’s ability to complete gross motor movements, to function independently, and to maintain a long mortality rate. The purpose of this study is to determine if children diagnosed with CP will exhibit postural changes when exposed to visual stimulation during quiet standing. Similarly, the hypothesis was that children with CP would have better posture when watching a video than without. Children stood barefoot on force plates, and the Bertec Balance Advantage CDP device was used to determine variances in posture while simultaneously displaying …

The Effectiveness Of Topical Application Of Cannabinoid On Doms In Collegiate Athletes Measured By Neuropathic Pain Scale, Ciarra Ashworth

EXSI 432/532: Research Methods in Exercise Science: Research Proposal Posters

The purpose of this study was to further the research on the influence of using CBD on delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). It was hypothesized that CBD would have a positive effect on athletes’ recovery process from DOMS induced exercises. It remains important for athletes and practitioners to know the potential benefits of topical CBD in the treatment for and recovery from strenuously repetitive exercise.