Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Hip Muscle Function In Individuals With Chronic Ankle Instability, Lindsay Carroll

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: Hip muscle function has been reported to be altered in individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI). The purpose of this study was (1) to determine whether the single leg squat test (SLST) could be used to detect differences in proximal muscle activation between individuals with and without CAI and (2) to determine if there was a difference in maximum isometric body weight normalized torque output of the hip lateral rotators, extensors, and abductors between individuals with and without CAI.

Subjects: Forty-eight subjects (14 males, 34 females; median age = 22.00 years, interquartile range (IQR) = 1.00; median height = …

Consideration Of Executive Functioning For Physiotherapy Rehabilitation: Studies Of Physiotherapists’ Knowledge, Normative Data, And A Practice Application, Nicole A. Guitar

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Executive functioning (EF) refers to cognitive abilities involved in decision-making and self-regulation and can be impaired in many patients referred for physiotherapy, including older adults and people living with chronic pain. This dissertation aimed to determine what physiotherapists understood about EF, to summarize normative data for application in physiotherapy practice, and to provide an assessment of feasibility for studying EF impairments in people living with chronic pain. Study one surveyed what physiotherapists understood about EF as a concept, what EF assessments they used, and if this was influenced by their primary area of practice. Respondents (N = 262) subjectively reported …

Minimizing Musculoskeletal Injury Risk In Health Care Professionals With Education On Safe Patient Handling, Aubrey Graves

Honors College Theses

Introduction: Nursing is a high-risk occupation for musculoskeletal injuries due to the strenuous activity of patient handling. These tasks include, assisting a patient in bed, moving a patient from the bed to a wheelchair, and assisting with walking. These work-related tasks can create a large amount of stress on the body, especially the back if proper technique is not utilized and/or if excessive loads are applied. The purpose of this study is to examine if teaching proper body mechanics and the dangers of not performing the tasks properly is an effective way of reducing musculoskeletal injuries.

Methods: The NUR 202 …

Using A Social Support Group To Educate And Empower Immigrant Latina Women, Diana N. Rendon

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

The purpose of this capstone project was to promote mental health education and access to vulnerable South Florida Latina Women. The original intent was to establish a program providing families with mental health education, including information about common mental illnesses, signs and symptoms, community resources, and the impacts on occupations. This capstone experience was conducted with the Magnolias Women's Support Group at Caridad Center, located in Palm Beach County, Florida. The focus areas of this capstone were advocacy, policy and program development, and administration. Furthermore, this capstone project was intended to promote health literacy for underserved populations, especially immigrant women.

Implementation Of Strategic Supports Into Coursework To Improve Notetaking Abilities And Overall Ota Student Success, Cheyenne M. Murphy

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

Notetaking is a widespread practice utilized by students to capture valuable information mentioned throughout lectures, readings, and other supplementary instruction. Practices of notetaking can vary based on educational level and the student’s ability to take notes throughout their educational career. More specifically, the ability to take strategic notes is recognized as an important skill needed in a higher educational setting in relation to a students’ overall success (Salame & Thompson, 2020). When examining the effect of notetaking, earlier studies focused solely on the practice and utilization of notetaking (Rahmani & Sadeghi, 2011). The objective of this culminating project is research …

Effects On Adherence And Comprehension With Video Demonstration Support Versus Traditional Home Exercise Programs: Culminating Project, Emily E. Morales

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

This culminating project examines the need for video-supported home exercise programs (HEP) in outpatient hand therapy clinics in South Jersey by developing a YouTube channel. This YouTube channel will consist of HEPs for common upper extremity diagnoses including proper demonstration of each exercise and clear concise written instructions within a playlist correlating to diagnosis. Advance clinical skill in hand therapy is the main goal for this capstone project. An analysis was completed evaluating adherence and comprehension when clients are prescribed traditional HEP to HEP supported by a video demonstration. The ultimate goal of this project was to establish an easily …

Interventions To Improve Medication Management In The Aging Population: An Evidence-Based Practice Project, Carrie Ashland, Grace Grommesh, Josephine Marchant, Katherine Mrozek, Reilee Schepper, Brandi Steinbach, Alexandra Stellmach, Sara Teske

Graduate Occupational Therapy Research and Projects

The overall focus of each of case scenarios are related to assessment or interventions that are related to Choosing Wisely Campaign® items 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 10. Case scenarios were developed related to each initiative with clientele and conditions across the lifespan in various practice settings. Practice settings included school district, outpatient pediatric, primary care, skilled nursing facility, work rehabilitation, and acute care.

Sensory Based Interventions For Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Evidence-Based Practice Project, Jenna Bartunek, Kaitlyn Dittloff,, Laura Gerdts, Angela Huepfel,, William Sievert, Victoria Walczynski, Athena Yang

Graduate Occupational Therapy Research and Projects

The overall focus of each of case scenarios are related to assessment or interventions that are related to Choosing Wisely Campaign items 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 10. Case scenarios were developed related to each initiative with clientele and conditions across the lifespan in various practice settings. Practice settings included school district, outpatient pediatric, primary care, skilled nursing facility, work rehabilitation, and acute care.

Early Mobilization For Critically Ill Adults In The Intensive Care Unit: An Evidence-Based Practice Project, Tori Brown, Jessica Jenny, Kalley Kadlec, Karis Knoff, Chloe Lantz, Bryana Leverentz, Madeline Prosser, Sophie Willems

Graduate Occupational Therapy Research and Projects

The overall focus of each of case scenarios are related to assessment or interventions that are related to Choosing Wisely Campaign items 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 10. Case scenarios were developed related to each initiative with clientele and conditions across the lifespan in various practice settings. Practice settings included school district, outpatient pediatric, primary care, skilled nursing facility, work rehabilitation, and acute care.

Gross Motor Interventions Support Play Engagement In Children With Developmental Delays: An Evidence-Based Practice Project, Olivia Beaulieu, Olivia Dains, Carlena Ebersole, Brooke Heaney, Chase Lees, Taylor Lennartson, Greta Silvernagel, Sara Stuckey, Amanda Way, Hinako Yokokura

Graduate Occupational Therapy Research and Projects

The overall focus of each of case scenarios are related to assessment or interventions that are related to Choosing Wisely Campaign items 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 10. Case scenarios were developed related to each initiative with clientele and conditions across the lifespan in various practice settings. Practice settings included school district, outpatient pediatric, primary care, skilled nursing facility, work rehabilitation, and acute care.

Purposeful Interventions For Older Adults Post-Joint Replacement Surgery: An Evidence-Based Project, Julia Christianson, Mallorie Corey, Erin Crouch, Juliann Felter, Ellen Gross, Mariah Hedner Beckius, Aimee Lutz, Monique Touchet

Graduate Occupational Therapy Research and Projects

The overall focus of each of case scenarios are related to assessment or interventions that are related to Choosing Wisely Campaign items 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 10. Case scenarios were developed related to each initiative with clientele and conditions across the lifespan in various practice settings. Practice settings included school district, outpatient pediatric, primary care, skilled nursing facility, work rehabilitation, and acute care.

Lower Extremity Power And Movement Velocity In Competitive Older Athletes, Becca D. Jordre

Dissertations and Theses

Older adults are a rapidly growing population which house a subset of older athletes who regularly engage in sport competition. The physical health and risk factors of this competitive older athlete population have been largely overlooked by healthcare providers and researchers and are poorly understood. Older athletes exhibit distinctly different measures of physical performance which require unique thresholds to identify health-related risk factors. While lower extremity power and movement velocity have been identified as valuable measures of physical performance and fall risk in community-dwelling older adults this relationship has not been explored in competitive older athletes. One method for analyzing …

Effects Of Seat And Axle Position On Pain, Pathology, And Independence In Pediatric Manual Wheelchair Users With Spinal Cord Injury, Hannah Frank

Theses and Dissertations

Manual wheelchair (MWC) users with spinal cord injury (SCI) rely heavily on their upperextremities to complete daily occupations. Due to repetitive shoulder use during wheelchair mobility and propulsion, MWC users are at greater risk of shoulder pain and shoulder pathology, and thus decreased independence, and lower quality of life. The relative fit of the wheelchair and its parameters are critical and can further impact the user’s propulsion biomechanics. Parameters such as seat angle and axle position may put the user in detrimental shoulder positions for longer periods of time, impacting health outcomes even more. Although the effects of wheelchair setup …

Addressing Ocular Motor Dysfunction In Children With Autism Within Occupational Therapy Practice, Emily Kingrey Francisco, Mot, Otr/L

Occupational Therapy Research Projects

Autism affects 1 in every 54 children and has been present in all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups (Center for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2020b). Every individual diagnosed with autism can have varying skills and abilities, when dysfunction occurs impacting engagement in everyday occupation, occupational therapy services may be recommended. One important area to consider during occupational therapy evaluation, in order to explain dysfunction, is the visual system (Zoltan, 2007). Efficiently comprehending information retrieved through the visual system is crucial for successful engagement in daily occupations. Ocular motor function is a fundamental skill as explained in Warren’s hierarchy of …

Sexual Health And Wellness For Women In Recovery From Substance Use Disorder, Paige Cassidy, Otr/L

Occupational Therapy Research Projects

The aim of this Capstone project was to produce a sexual health and wellness program for women in recovery from substance use disorder (SUD). Creation of the program includes an in-depth literature review and thorough needs assessment using key stake holders in the community of Southern Ohio. Through clinical practice, literature review, and needs assessment, two modules and six sections were developed. The two modules are physical and mental health aspects of sexual health. Module one is physical health and is composed of three sections that include practicing safe sex, postpartum care, and pelvic floor strengthening. Module two is mental …

Performers' Experiences Of Participation In Sensory Friendly Performances, Molly M. Vilaithong, Brooke E. Grupe, Lucy Chen, Andrea N. Wurster, Carleigh J. Robinson

Occupational Therapy | Graduate Capstone Projects

Background: Individuals with disabilities have decreased levels of community social participation and encounter environmental barriers that limit access to community participation in cultural arts, which negatively impacts quality of life. Existing literature on sensory friendly theatre focuses on parent and organizational stakeholders and supports the promise of sensory friendly programming designed with occupational therapy consultation to increase access for individuals with sensory processing challenges.

Purpose: This study explored the lived experiences of youth performers in a sensory friendly performance The research examined youth performers' sensory friendly participation experiences, including their perceptions of sensory friendly program components and their preparation and …

Testing For Cognitive Deficits After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Using The Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metric And Dual-Task Assessments, Jasmin Mabry

University Honors Theses

Cognitive deficits are common following mTBI. DT gait assessments and seated computerized exams are often used for evaluating those deficits. Little is known about DT gait and neurocognitive performance in a chronic population. We compared people with chronic mTBI and subacute mTBI to healthy controls (HC) on DT gait and neurocognitive performance and explored the relationship of DT gait performance with a traditional neurocognitive (TNC) exam.

Subjects completed a computerized TNC - the ANAM - and a motor-cognitive DT test which assessed both DT motor performance as well as the cognitive task accuracy. The DT test consisted of subjects walking …

Designing And Evaluating An Intervention To Target Functional Movement, Flexibility, And Strength In Paddle Whitewater Raft Guides, Leah Irwin

All Theses

According to the Outdoor Industry Association (2020), about 3.4 million people across the United States went whitewater-rafting in 2019. The majority of the research on whitewater rafting has focused on guest injuries, with less attention on the whitewater raft guides, who have an arduous job and are at risk for shoulder, back, and hip injuries. In addition to these injuries, rafting guides also experience bilateral imbalances from utilizing a dominant guiding side. One way to prevent these types of injuries and imbalances is to improve functional movement, strength, and range of motion (ROM). The goal of this study was to …

Effects Of Dance/Movement Therapy On Pediatric Oncology Patients, Kaitlin Callorina

Nursing | Senior Theses

Pediatric nursing specializes in caring for patients from birth through adolescence; therefore, pediatric nursing can be spiritually challenging but rewarding. This thesis will explore the questions:

• Does dance/movement therapy have the potential to improve the quality of life for children who are diagnosed with cancer?
• How does dance/movement therapy change the quality of life in pediatric cancer patients throughout their diagnosis and treatment?

To aid in answering these questions, this thesis will examine various research articles related to dance/movement therapy and other creative arts therapy as complementary medicine and integrating the activity into nursing care. Children who are diagnosed and …

Evidence On Use Of Pams With Lateral Elbow Tendinopathy: An Evidence-Based Practice Project, Natalie Cerchio, Kat Hillstrom, Anna Restemayer, Karla Scherber, Emenet Sime, Grace Smith, Olivia St. Martin, And Kyia Wu

Graduate Occupational Therapy Research and Projects

The overall focus of each of case scenarios are related to assessment or interventions that are related to Choosing Wisely Campaign items 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 10. Case scenarios were developed related to each initiative with clientele and conditions across the lifespan in various practice settings. Practice settings included school district, outpatient pediatric, primary care, skilled nursing facility, work rehabilitation, and acute care.

Effects Of Il-10 On Local Cell Populations And Functional Recovery Following Vml Injury, Zain Blackwell

Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Volumetric muscle loss (VML) injuries are prevalent in both military personnel suffering from battlefield related incidents, and civilians following severe motor accidents. Despite its prevalence, VML has no pro-regenerative clinical treatments in place to recover some of the functional capabilities of the damaged muscle. Free flap grafting, debridement of damaged tissue, and physical therapy are the only clinical standards available that offer little functional recovery benefits, even after years of consistent treatment. In this study, anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 in conjunction with autologous minced muscle was assessed as a possible treatment for VML injuries and its influences on cellular behavior within …

A Grounded Theory Study: Barriers And Expectations Of Elementary Educators Who Teach Students With Autism, Abbie M. Munoz

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative research study’s purpose is to garner a better understanding of the barriers and expectations of general and special education elementary teachers when teaching students with autism. Pervious research indicates that school aged children being identified with Autism Spectrum Disorder has significantly increased (Evans, 2016). According to federal law (Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act, 2004; No Child Left Behind, 2001) teachers are required to educate all students in their classroom including students with special needs. While several studies have been conducted on how to education and support students with autism in the classroom, few qualitative studies have been …

Positive Well-Being And Satisfaction With Life: Variables Affecting The Quality Of Life Of People With Bipolar Disorder, Maria Del Trevino-Zuniga

Theses and Dissertations

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a highly prevalent and severe mental illness of significant public health importance. Characteristics of BD include dramatic shifts in mood, energy, and activity levels affecting a person's ability to carry out day-to-day tasks. These shifts in mood and energy levels are more severe than everyone's regular ups and downs (Rihmer & Kiss, 2002). Managing BD is complex; and social and occupational life disruptions are well-documented, including higher divorce rates, unemployment, and suicide (Marrag et al., 2015). Research has consistently shown individuals with BD have a higher mortality rate compared with the general population (Walker et al., …

Central Sensitization, Muscle Function, And Knee Kinematics In Females With Patellofemoral Pain, Kemery Jean Sigmund

Theses and Dissertations

Context: Females with patellofemoral pain (PFP) are at higher risk, have higher rates, and experience worse long-term outcomes than males. Structural and functional changes have been observed in pain networks and neuromuscular systems in individuals with PFP. Central sensitization describes dysfunctional pain modulation which could lead to altered neuromuscular control. Evidence examining relationships between central sensitization and muscle function in PFP is lacking.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to determine whether females with PFP exhibit signs of central sensitization compared to pain-free females. Then, after grouping each individual based on her quantitative sensory test results into a centrally …

Exploring Self-Perceived Employability In People With Disabilities And Other Intersecting Identities, Kerra Lajoy Daniel

Theses and Dissertations

People with disabilities are the largest minority group in the world representing 26% of the world’s population. More specifically, in the U.S. 61 million Americans have a diagnosed disability. However, intersectionality studies have not been inclusive of this particular population and disability studies have yet to extensively examine intersectionality in PWDs. Centering individuals with disabilities who also identify with multiple marginalized social identities , such as being a woman, a person of color or a member of the LGBT community is important since these individuals’ experiences are not uniform in nature. PWDs experience higher rates of discrimination, unemployment, and …

Identification Of Opportunity Barriers And Supports For Individuals Using Augmentative And Alternative Communication (Aac) And Stakeholders, Meredith K. Gohsman

Rehabilitation Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Individuals using augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) are supported by many AAC stakeholders and communication partners. Clinical decision making and AAC assessment models consider the capabilities and access needs of the individual using AAC, as well as opportunity barriers and supports imposed by communication partners and environments. The purpose of this research was to investigate opportunity barriers and supports identified by two critical AAC stakeholders: speechlanguage pathologists and caregivers. The first study investigated characteristics of AAC service provision reported by post-professional speech-language pathologists. Speech-language pathologists reported lack of perceived knowledge related to AAC service delivery, inconsistent use of AAC modalities, …

Exploring The Perspectives Of Older Adults And Health Care Providers On Patient Participation In Transitional Care From Hospital To Cardiac Rehabilitation During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Cecilia Flores Sandoval

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Older adults who transition from hospital to cardiac rehabilitation settings often are vulnerable and at risk of experiencing adverse health care outcomes. Given the complexities of transitional care, it is crucial to engage older adults in the clinical decision-making process and to promote their active participation in their medical care. Older adults have unique ways of understanding their participation in the transitional care process. Gaining an in-depth understanding of their specific needs during this process can help inform clinical practice and interventions aiming to improve care for older adults living with cardiovascular disease. Focused ethnography methodology was used to explore …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Lived-Experiences Of Families Transitioning To Permanent Housing, Ellie Olsen, Samantha Ruhe, Ellen Brown, Courtney Zanni

Masters Theses

There is limited support and resources available for homeless individuals, resulting in limited opportunities to engage in meaningful occupations, therefore decreasing these individual's overall sense of well-being, social interactions, and health outcomes. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact family-centered interventions have on the lived experiences of families as they transition to permanent housing. The Occupational Self-Assessment (OSA) was used to determine important areas of occupation and was used to develop three intervention sessions. Case study methods were used and data was collected during the final interview session. Two main themes were identified: “Empowerment” and “Resolution.” This …

Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome: Evaluating Postoperative Rehabilitation Progress And Return To Sport Readiness, Trevor A. Day

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS) is a common cause of non-arthritic hip pain and reduced physical activity in active young adults. It is defined as a motion-related disorder of the hip with a triad of symptoms, clinical signs, and imaging findings that represents symptomatic premature contact between the proximal femur and the acetabulum. There are two anatomical morphologies that can cause FAIS, cam, and pincer, and is a challenging clinical pathology. Patients typically undergo hip arthroscopy to repair damage to the joint and recess the bone causing the impingement. These procedures can result in positive outcomes for the patient, like reduced …

Development And Implementation Of An Evidence-Based Guideline For Spinal Cord Injury/Disorder Patients Requiring Colonoscopy, Tanya D. Young

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem: Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of preventable cancer death in the United States. Spinal cord injury/disorder (SCI/D) patients present with unique challenges for maximizing bowel prep and successful attainment of screening and therapeutic colonoscopy procedures. Current practice for bowel prep regimens does not take into consideration the specific needs of the SCI/D population resulting in significant patient dissatisfaction.

PICOT: The PICOT question that guided this project was in adult patients with spinal cord injuries/disorders requiring colonoscopy (P), how does the development and implementation of evidence-based guidelines for the care of the spinal cord injury/disorder patient …