Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Camping: A Positive Developmental Context For Youth With Disabilities/Serious Illness, Christopher T. Troxell

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The paper will examine how elements of youth development can enhance the camp experience, so that new camps for youth with disabilities and/or serious illness, such as Flying Horse Farms, can start with a solid knowledge base of what works and why it works. Also, even though the paper is geared toward these specific types of camps, part of its recommendation could be modified to fit the purpose of any camp.

The Influence Ofattribute Performance Appraisal, Emotion And Time On The Satisfaction Response Of Golf Travelers, Brian Krohn

All Dissertations

Golf travel has been shown to be a strong component of the economy for regions that rely on tourism for generating revenue (Flowers, 2006). As a reflection of the importance of this component of the tourism industry, researchers have examined the components of the golf travel experience (Petrick & Backman, 2002). One methods to examine the quality of the experiences is to examine variables such as perceived value (Hutchinson, Lai & Wang, in press), loyalty (Backman, 1991) and satisfaction (Petrick & Backman 2001, 2002b).
Consumer behavior research has looked at satisfaction as a gauge of the quality of the experience …

Female Collegiate Gymnasts And Experiences In Sport Retirement Due To Injury, Coleen Harrington Barry

Dissertations

There has been very limited research on sport retirement concerning the experiences that female collegiate athletes face when retiring from a sport due to injury. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore, understand, and describe experiences that former NCAA Division I female gymnasts had when they retired from gymnastics, part-way through college, due to injury. The main objective of the study was to attempt to understand female collegiate gymnasts' sport retirement experiences and the impact these experiences may have had on their identity development and college experience. The study also considered female collegiate gymnasts' perceived needs and coping …

Radiographic And Functional Analysis Of Movement Allowed By Four Wrist Immobilization Devices, Timothy M. Mullen

Dissertations

Immobilization of the wrist is a common practice throughout the healthcare industry. The main forms of wrist immobilization are short-arm casts, prefabricated wrist splints, custom volar wrist splints, and custom circumferential wrist splints. It is generally accepted, by the medical community, that each form of immobilization allows for some movement. The amount each device allows is unknown. Establishing data that accurately describe the amount of mobility in each immobilization device will allow clinicians to make an evidence-based decision each time they are confronted with the need to order an orthosis.

The purpose of this study was to identify the specific …

Meaning And Occupational Engagement In A Day Program For Adults With Developmental Disabilities, Wanda Jean Mahoney

Occupational Therapy Program Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

"September 2008" A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Occupational Therapy. Typescript Project Advisor : Elysa Roberts Occupational justice recognizes that all people have the right to occupational engagement because it is through occupational engagement that people experience well-being. Occupational injustice occurs when outside forces prevent people from engaging in occupation, require participation in activities that they find meaningless, or prevent people from making choices about their occupations. People with developmental disabilities in a day program are at risk for occupational injustice because they require environmental support in order to engage in …

Effect Of 3-Electrode Electrical Stimulation On Current Delivery And Healing In Chronic Wounds, Hyejin Suh

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Chronic wounds have been an enormous burden on the healthcare system due to their prevalence and the lack of efficacy of current treatment modalities. Over the years, electrical stimulation (ES) has been widely used in the treatment of wounds. Unfortunately, the effectiveness of this treatment is under scrutiny, since many studies have failed to report successive and/or consistent effects of ES on wound healing. This inconsistency may be due to the uneven current produced by the conventional 2-electrode delivery system (2-channel ES) and the reduced resting blood flow resulting from thermally cool treatment rooms. In this study, a new approach …

Response Of Endothelial Cells To Stressors: The Impact Of Aging And Diabetes, Katie Mclellan

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Preliminary research indicates there is some impairment of the endothelial cells to respond to single stressors such as local heat, shear stress, and global heat in older people and people who have diabetes. The response of the skin blood flow to local heat is an indicator of the endothelial cells ability to cope with stress. In addition, factors such as thicker subcutaneous fat and skin moisture may impair the skin’s ability to dissipate heat. For older people and people with diabetes, this endothelial dysfunction may cause an even more diminished response to multiple stressors. However, no studies have examined the …

The Relationship Of The Language Skills Required For Reading And Speech Reading Skills For Children With Hearing Impairment, Christine Mcloone

Masters Theses

Currently there is no model of the development of reading skills currently exists for children with hearing impairments. Using the framework of a commonly excepted model of reading for children with typical hearing researchers have sought to determine how children with hearing impairments develop reading skills. The purpose of this is study was to examine a possible link between two components of reading development, speech reading and language. Participants consisted of 5 school aged children with severe to profound hearing loss with cochlear implants or hearing aids. These children were administered the CELF-4 and a department created speech reading test. …

Efficacy Of The Lidcombe Program For Early Stuttering In A Public School Setting: A Pilot Investigation, Joellen Marie Mellin

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was twofold: 1) To determine what type of early intervention for stuttering is being offered in the public schools and compare those interventions to the Lidcombe Program for early stuttering. 2) To find out if the Lidcombe Program can be effectively implemented in the public schools. A small focus group of speech language pathologists was conducted and a questionnaire was completed by 47 school speech language pathologists in Knoxville, TN. The questionnaire revealed that school clinicians have very little familiarity with the Lidcombe Program, most do not use any particular evidenced-based programs for fluency intervention, …

A Guide To Training Therapists In Dealing With Difficult Patient Care Situations, Tegan Aymond, Andrea Kuhn

Occupational Therapy Capstones

A literature review was conducted on the difficult issues faced in occupational therapy to gain general information on how these issues and situations were being addressed. After reviewing the literature, it was noted that there is a high rate of over-involvement when working in occupational therapy that can lead to stress and burnout. It was found that defining the role of occupational therapy is difficult and trying to establish boundaries within that role is a constant challenge. The lack of knowledge on issues such as ethics, therapeutic relationship, and core values can be difficult when establishing a personal and professional …

An Occupational Therapy Guide For Entry-Level Therapists Not Specializing In The Treatment Of Upper Extremity Dysfunction: Three Common Cumulative Trauma Injuries, Ryan Edwards

Occupational Therapy Capstones

According to Kasch, Greenberg, and Muenzen (2003), occupational therapists (OTs) who are initiating entry into upper extremity orthopaedic therapy specialization do not have the knowledge and skills of experienced therapists; a concerning viewpoint considering the fairly high rate of cumulative trauma injuries each year in the United States. Carpal metacarpal osteoarthritis occurs in “approximately 8% of all adults” (Hunter, Schneider, Mackin & Callahan, 1990, p. 886), whereas ulnar neuropathy at the elbow occurs in “10 to 15 percent of adults” (Trumble, 2000, p. 327). “Tennis elbow occurs in approximately one third of the tennis population because of the requirements of …

An Occupational Therapist's Guide For Rehabilitative Driving With Traumatic Brain Injured Clients, Josiah Hadsall

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Traumatic brain injuries are devastating occurrence accounting for nearly 10 million injuries occurring each year, with 2 million of those occurring in the United States. As these individuals progress through rehabilitation and begin to acquire independence once again, they look for opportunities to reintegrate within the communities which they live. Driving has been identified as a monumental stage of rehabilitation and is a key way to experience the community for individuals after a traumatic brain injury. This scholarly project was conducted to help occupational therapists addressing driving rehabilitation with traumatic brain injured clients and help ease some of the problems …

The Impact Of Domestic Violence On Children: Implications For Professionals, Kelly Hughes, Brooke Kohler

Occupational Therapy Capstones

There are 3 million child abuse and neglect accounts reported to child welfare agencies across the United States every year, but researchers predict as many as 10 million children are exposed to domestic violence in the home (Christian, 2002). Children do not always show the physical signs of living in homes with domestic violence. Frequently the most prevalent impact can lie within the child’s mind, resulting in possible cognitive, emotional, and behavioral effects (Tri-State Rural Collaboration Project, n.d.). In order to provide the best possible care, it is imperative for professionals to understand the effects that domestic violence has on …

Knowing While Growing: Occupational Therapy Interventions For Women With High-Risk Pregnancies, Rebecca Anderson, Cammie Vodicka

Occupational Therapy Capstones

High-risk pregnancy is a growing concern in the United States (McCormick, 2001), resulting in complications in both the mother and the fetus. Each year, approximately 875,000 women experience at least one complication. Approximately 460,000 women are receiving inadequate prenatal care (American Pregnancy Association, 2007). The purpose of Knowing While Growing: Occupational Therapy Interventions for Women with High-Risk Pregnancies is to promote the health and well ness of expectant mothers and to prevent disability to themselves and their developing fetus through the use of research-based therapeutic interventions. The components of this manual include definitions of high-risk pregnancies and related terms, information …

Occupational Therapy Perspective In The Management Of Lymphedema, Mellonna Beckermann

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Problem: Lymphedema is a collection of excess water, interstitial fluid, plasma proteins, bacteria, and cellular waste products in the interstitial tissues as a result of an impaired lymphatic system due to disease or trauma (Cheville, McGarvey, Petrek, Russo, Taylor, & Thiadens, 2003). This fluid typically collects in a person's upper and/or lower extremities. Lymphedema is a chronic condition and can be progressive if not managed properly. Lymphedema may result in significant impairments to the person, which results in functional limitations and a decrease in quality of life (Konecne & Perdoma, 2004). Treatment of lymphedema can be costly, timely, and overwhelming …

Managing Post-Stroke Fatigue: A Guide For Daily Living For Clients And Caregivers, Carolyn Krum, Heather Satrom

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Several research studies have determined that fatigue is a common symptom, that should be viewed as an independent consequence following a stroke: it interferes with an individual's engagement in activities of daily living. Fatigue can be misinterpreted as depression, therefore, may be treated inappropriately or remain untreated. Fatigue is not often addressed by health care professionals, therefore, clients and their families are not receiving the proper education and resources to manage fatigue challenges (Glader, Stegmayr, & Aspuland, 2002; Schepers, Visser-Meily, Ketelaar, & Lindeman, 2006). The purpose of this project was to develop a guide for daily living for clients and …

An Occupational Therapy Guide For Improving Social Performance In Adolescents Within The Juvenile Justice System, Missy Law, Ashle Hicks

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Occupational therapists believe social participation is an important aspect of adolescent development. Social participation problems can be linked to mental health diagnoses and delinquency. Adolescents who are court ordered into the juvenile justice system often do not receive the necessary treatment due to lack of resources within the community.

A comprehensive literature review was conducted to gather information regarding social participation aspects in relation to adolescent delinquency and placement within the juvenile justice system. The findings suggest there is more emphasis placed on punishment for adolescents rather than rehabilitation. Interventions used to support rehabilitation are primarily limited to counseling. A …

An Occupational Therapy Guide For Teaching Handwriting Skills To Adults, Kyla Miller, Nichole Schroeder

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Handwriting is a skill utilized widely by adults; however, there is a lack of guidelines, information, or literature on the subject as it relates to adults. The purpose of this project was to develop guidelines for occupational therapists to use when providing handwriting interventions with adults. A literature review was conducted using PubMed, CINAHL, SCOPUS, DynaMed, and professional journals to further understand the topic of handwriting with adults and its relation to occupational therapy. Currently, there is limited research and information regarding handwriting with adults and no programs or guidelines were found to assist occupational therapists in developing treatment interventions …

Constraint Induced Movement Therapy: An Educational Module For Occupational Therapy Students, Tamira Ott, Grant Basko

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The literature indicates that approximately 730,000 Americans experience a new or recurrent stroke each year. There are approximately 4 million Americans living with some type of disability as a result of having suffered a stroke. Due to the high incidence of stroke related disability and associated economic costs; stroke rehabilitation is a health care priority. Even with early intervention only 10% of stroke survivors will recover completely, 25% recover with minor impairments, 40% experience moderate to severe impairments, 10% require care in a nursing home, and 15% die shortly after the stroke. Since the highest categories range from minimal to …

An Occupational Therapy Approach To A Wellness Program For Adolescents With Mental Illness, Holly Silewski, Christina Thompson

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The purpose of this project was to identify wellness needs of adolescents with mental illness (MI) and to provide a structured program that incorporates occupational activities into wellness programming within a mental health setting.

A literature review was conducted using PubMed, EBSCOhost, PsychInfo, SCOPUS, OT search, and CINAHL to determine the need for wellness programs for this population. Resources included journals, books, websites, government agencies, and government reports.

After an extensive literature review it was found that there are a limited number of wellness programs, as well as a need among adolescents with MI, as evidenced by increasing rates of …

An Electromyographic Study Of Hip Muscle Activity In Varying Subtalar Joint Positions: Implications For Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury Risk, Holly Augustine, Allison Biwer, Greg Jorgensen, Mitch Kary

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine if subtalar joint position affects the activity of hip musculature in static standing, and by those results imply a correlation between foot position and ACL injury risk.

Methods: Thirty participants took part in this randomized study in which EMG data were collected during 3 trials of 3 subtalar joint positions on the right lower extremity. Subtalar joint positions included a flat surface to represent a neutral subtalar position, a 5-degree incline rising from lateral to medial, promoting a supinated attitude of the foot, and the third position was on a 5- …

The Effects Of A Heel Lift On Gait Parameters During Ambulation For People With Hemipareses, Bryan Avery, Lindsay Riley, Shannon Webster

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

People with hemiparesis can have difficulty weight-bearing through their involved lower extremity. This can lead to asymmetry during static standing and dynamic activities including gait. Previous research has shown improved symmetry in static standing when a heel lift is inserted under the non-paretic lower extremity. The purpose of this study is to determine if a heel lift can improve symmetry during dynamic gait in people with hemiparesis.

Five subjects (1 female, 4 male) with unilateral hemiparesis were recruited from the community. All demonstrated greater than 55% of weight-bearing on the non-paretic limb in static standing. Hemiparesis resulted from either a …

Barriers And Facilitators To A Healthy Diet And Physical Activity, Tiffany Black, Jennifer Buelt, Aubrey Trefz, Brian Tuchscherer

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the barriers and facilitators to a healthy diet and physical activity of students attending the University of North Dakota. The research was designed to determine the students overall perception of the specific barriers and facilitators, however researchers also wanted to specify disparities existing among the different ages, genders, physical activity levels, body mass index and ethnicity. This study determined the attitudes and beliefs of UND students towards a healthy lifestyle. From the information gathered the researchers were able to make recommendations for program implementation and improvement.

Methods: A sample …

Effectiveness Of Pelvic Floor Exercises On Women With Urinary Incontinence :, Kayla Bucher, Brittany Carter, Ashley Waller, Rachel Zinski

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Effectiveness of Pelvic Floor Exercises in Women with Urinary Incontinence Purpose: Urinary incontinence is common in women; especially those who have had one or more vaginal deliveries. The purpose of our case study was to measure the effectiveness of pelvic floor exercises and biofeedback in women with urinary incontinence (VI) in a rural midwest physical therapy clinic.

Methods: Patients participating in this study were referred to a physical therapy clinic by their physician for a urinary incontinence program. During the initial evaluations, baseline biofeedback readings were recorded and home exercise programs were given. Patients were then seen for follow-ups at …

The Influence Of Partial Body Weight Support On The Muscle Activity In Normal Subjects: On Incline/Decline Surfaces At A Constant Speed, Kristin Citterman, Leanne Gere, Jessica Price, Kayley Uvaas

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose: The purpose of this study was to collect data on the effects of incline and decline surfaces, combined with partial body weight support (PBWS), on muscle activity of the lower extremities during treadmill walking for normal subjects. By collecting lower extremity electromyographical (EM G) data we hope that the information may be applied to the development of treatment alternatives or future research options for patients with both neurological and orthopedic dysfunction.

Methods: Twenty subjects (14 female, 6 male) were recruited for this study. EMG data was collected for lower extremity muscle activity during conditions of level, incline …

Motion Analysis And Electromyographic Analysis Of Ambulation With Assistive Devices, Tracy Foltz, Danielle Jwanouskos, Steven Pederson

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to analyze the amount of muscle activity of the rectus abdominis and external obliques during the gait cycle with the use of forearm crutches and three different weight bearing statuses. Subjects: Seven female adults were recruited from the University of North Dakota Physical Therapy program. Inclusion criteria: between the ages of 19 and 40 years of age, current physical therapy students, and healthy with no current upper or lower extremity injuries.

Instrumentation: The EMG data was collected by the Noraxon Telemyo 900 telemetry unit and analyzed using the MyoResearch XP software. Six Vicon …

Establishing Intra-Reliability And Normative Data In Physical Functioning Assessments: A Pilot Study, Scott Jackson, Ryan Schrock, Mark Wilson

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

PURPOSE: Normative data ranges are not available for all functional balance tests for all age groups. The purpose is to establish intra-reliability and normative age-sensitive data ranges in a battery of functional balance-related measures including the modified Clinical Test for Sensory Integration and Balance (mCTSIB), One-legged Stance Test (OLST), Functional Reach Test (FRT), 30-second Sit-to-Stand Test (30STS), 1 O-meter Walk Test (10MWT), and Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC Scale).

METHODS: Ninety-two subjects (n =92), aged 19-87 years, were tested with each of these balance tests. Participants were randomly assigned the order in which to complete the six balance tests. Intra-rater …

Emg Analysis Of A Hamstring Co-Contraction And Its Effects On Abdominal Strength, Stephanie Rodman, Heather Robbins, Rebecca Thurn

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose: Back pain and instability are common diagnoses treated by physical therapists. Treatment often includes abdominal or core strengthening exercises that act to improve stability about the lumbar spine. Hip flexors prevent the weaker abdominal muscles from working to their full potential and increase the lumbar lordosis placing the spine at risk of injury. Hip extensors work with abdominal muscles to reduce the lumbar lordosis, and restrict the hip flexor activity, allowing a stronger abdominal contraction. The purpose of this study was to determine if a co-contraction of the hamstring muscles during an abdominal crunch increased the electromyographic …

Analyzing Seated Pressure On Different Surfaces Using The Fsa Pressure Mapping System, Christine Robinson, Sara Sailer, Jennifer Weber, Amber Weide

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Pressure ulcers are a current problem for many individuals, both ambulatory and non-ambulatory. Insurance companies offer few policies and programs for individuals with pressure ulcers who are ambulatory, leaving these individuals minimal options to acquire pressure reliving devices that are covered by insurance. Non-traditional, inexpensive pressure reliving devices may be used as a cost effective alternative to a more expensive cushion. Little research has been conducted to determine if a less expensive device, such as a Homedics Micropedic Therapy pillow, would be effective in relieving pressure while seated.

The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a …

A Narrative Study: Exploration Of Arts And Crafts As Meaningful Productivity In A Middle-Old Adult Who Resides In An Independent Living Facility, Sara E. Thornburg

Masters Theses

This qualitative study explored the meaningfulness of engagement in arts and crafts in one older adult who resides in an independent living facility. A narrative approach was used and one participant was purposefully selected for the study. Data was collected through the use of semi-structured interviews. Additional data sources included the participant’s book of memories, artifacts, and photos. Analysis consisted of thorough readings of the data and the development of a chronology from the participant’s stories and hook of memories. Participant feedback and peer debriefing was elicited in order to insure validity of the researcher’s findings. Consistent with narrative research, …