Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

The Effect Of A Standardized Training Program To Enhance The Therapeutic Alliance In Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain: A Mixed Methods Analytical Approach, Marino Bucci, Dominick Haynes, Megan Cundiff

UCF DPT Research Capstone

Background: Chronic low back pain (cLBP) affects up to 84% of adults. Evidence suggests a strong therapeutic alliance (TA) enhances care in a variety of ways. While themes associated with strong alliances have been identified, few studies have provided instructions on utilizing this information to craft a strong TA in physical therapy. Therefore, the aim of this study was to look at the effectiveness and feasibility of a training protocol to enhance the TA in patients with cLBP.

Methods: A total of 19 practicing physical therapists and 16 physical therapy students completed a TA training course with a pre and …

The Effectiveness Of Therapeutic Interventions For The Management Of Vulvodynia: An Integrated Literature Review, Arianna Cohen

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Problem: Vulvodynia, an unexplained vulvar pain, is a medical condition affecting women of all ages, races, and ethnicities and causes pain levels ranging from very mild discomfort to extreme suffering.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore women’s knowledge toward seeking care for vulvodynia and to explore the different types of treatments prescribed after diagnosis. The secondary purpose of this review was to describe the treatments most effective in reducing pain caused by vulvodynia.

Methods: A review of the literature was conducted using articles from 2001 to 2021 that focused on diagnosis of vulvodynia and the relief of …

The Relationship Between The Population's Perception Of Herniated Intervertebral Disks And Their Known Physical Presentation, Jonah D. Gant

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The second most common lumbosacral diagnosis in the United States is a herniation or prolapse of the intervertebral disc. Individuals with herniated discs can have a wide variety of clinical presentations, ranging from asymptomatic to severe spinal cord compression and pain. Studies suggest that an individual’s pre-existing perception of a condition is likely to influence their course of recovery. Currently, perceptions the general public holds regarding the consequences of disc herniation is unknown. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess current views regarding disc herniations in the general population with their reported prevalence and clinical outcome. This was …

A Mixed Methods Study On Levels Of Physical Activity And Degree Of Fear Of Falling In Older Adults, Oscar L. Garcia

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Maintaining a physically active lifestyle has shown to decrease the risks of falling by slowing down the degenerative changes that occur with aging adults. But despite these physical changes, research has recognized the development of the fear of falling (FOF) as also attributing to the aging adults’ risk of falling. Furthermore, increases the risk of falling and subsequently increases the loss of independency. This study aimed to: 1) examine the relationships between the levels of physical activity, degree of FOF, and fall risk using quantitative approach; and 2) explore the changes of FOF and understand its cause using qualitative approach. …

The General Population's Perception Of Factors Associated With Positive Or Negative Perceptions Of Physical Therapy Care In Those With Low Back Pain, Jada M. Strowbridge

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Low back pain (LBP) has a global impact on health and is a substantial contributor to long term disability. The economic burden of LBP is immense and it is advancing annually. Costs attributing to LBP in the United States is about $84.1 to $624.8 billion. Physical therapy is commonly recommended for those with LBP since it is linked to improved clinical outcomes. However, patient perceptions can influence how this treatment approach is perceived. It is unclear if these perceptions can influence outcomes for patients suffering from LBP. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to identify the factors associated with …

Effectiveness Of Virtual Reality On Reducing Pain In Burn Patients, Jillian R. Carr

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Burn patients undergo excruciating levels of pain throughout their treatment in the hospital. Pain levels increase during medical procedures, such as wound care and debridement. As a part of the treatment plan, traditional pharmacologic interventions are provided. Over time, patients become tolerant of pain medications, specifically opioids. The developed tolerance contributes to more pain felt by the patient. Medical providers limit the number of opioids prescribed to prevent addiction and other adverse effects, contributing to the challenge in treating burn pain. Virtual reality (VR) has been studied as an intervention across various settings to alleviate distressing symptoms in patients. Many …

Systematic Literature Review Of Cognitive Behavioral Treatments For Patients With Classical, Secondary, And Idiopathic Trigeminal Neuralgia, Linnea B. Herzog

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Trigeminal neuralgia is a painful neuralgia with a complicated pathology that is not clearly understood. Due to the ambiguity of the condition, patients often have to search for medical providers that specialize in trigeminal neuralgia, and even with the guidance of a specialist, some patients do not respond well to treatment.¹ Despite the uncertainty surrounding the specifics of the disease, there are treatments available that can provide some level of pain relief for patients suffering from this disorder. When a patient does not respond well to medical therapy, surgery can be the next appropriate step in patient care management. …

The Use Of Hydrotherapy For Chronic Pain, Emily S. Medal

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to provide a critical analysis of research findings about hydrotherapy as a means of reducing chronic pain used independently of opioids. Chronic pain is often treated with analgesics of varying potency, some with serious adverse side effects if used over a long period of time. Exploring the effectiveness of therapies other than medication to treat chronic pain is important to decrease or eliminate the amount to pain medication taken for chronic pain. Hydrotherapy is one therapy that may improve the pain experience for those with chronic pain. A literature search was conducted using the …

Effects Of Music Therapy On Individuals With Dementia: An Intergrative Literature Review, Liani Sanchez

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The purpose of this integrative review was to examine the effects of music therapy, a complementary intervention, on individuals with dementia. Peer-reviewed journals were retrieved from MEDLINE, CINAHL, CINAHL Plus with Full Text, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Music Index to evaluate their relevance to music therapy use in people diagnosed with dementia. English and Spanish-language research articles published from 2000-2017 were included for the review (n=15). The literature indicates the use of music therapy as an adjuvant therapy for the treatment of dementia in older adults may be beneficial in decreasing symptoms of aggression, anxiety, agitation and depression. …

The Impact Of Arthritis On The Health-Related Quality Of Life Among Individuals At The University Of Central Florida, Ryan E. Garwood

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This purpose of the study is to examine the difference in the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) between individuals who suffer from physician-diagnosed arthritis compared with individuals who do not suffer from physician-diagnosed arthritis in a population of university students, faculty, and staff. The study sampled from a population of students, faculty, and staff at the University of Central Florida. Through the implantation of a cross-sectional ecological design, differences between the two groups were measured with a survey that measures health-related quality of life, such as the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). The SF-36 questionnaire was distributed to subjects …

Examination Of The Rehabilitation Protocol Of Traumatic Transfemoral Amputees And How To Prevent Bone Mineral Density Loss, Emily R. Jenkinson

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The purpose of this literature review was to identify any adaptations that could be made to the rehabilitation process for Traumatic Transfemoral Amputees. Traumatic Transfemoral Amputation is particularly debilitating with the amputees encountering many obstacles throughout the rehabilitation process. These obstacles can prevent the return to pre-morbid functioning. With an ever-increasing number of amputees within the United States, it is imperative the rehabilitation process be addressed. This literature review addresses possible adjustments in the initial stages of rehabilitation examining the post-operative, pre-prosthetic, and prosthetic rehabilitation stage to enhance the physical functioning for the amputee. This comprehensive literature review encompassing 63 …

Perceptions Of Adherence To Clinical Practice Guidelines For Low Back Pain Treatment Of Physical Therapy Students And Recent Graduates, Emiangeliz Gonzalez Luna

Digital Repository: Showcase of Undergraduate Research Excellence

This study aims to analyze possible factors that can affect perceptions towards adherence of clinical practice guidelines for low back pain treatment of current and past physical therapy students. An original survey was created to measure demographics, current knowledge of guidelines, influential resources, and perceptions about adherence to these guidelines.

Nursing Management And Mirror Therapy For Phantom Limb Pain, Bridget Henry

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Phantom limb pain may occur after the accidental removal or surgical amputation of a limb. Phantom limb pain is the experience of pain in the limb that is no longer present. The clinical management of phantom limb pain is essential in the overall reduction of patient rehabilitation and poor patient outcomes. A patient’s degree of phantom limb pain is influenced by their personal response to loss and pain and can have devastating effects to a person’s social performance, occupational role, family role, relationships, and involvement in activities or hobbies. Like most chronic pain, phantom limb pain decreases the quality of …

Pelvic Floor Muscle Training In Management Of Postpartum Pelvic Floor Dysfunctions: A Literature Review, Rebecca S. Tanner

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Women can face a wide range of pelvic floor dysfunctions following pregnancy, ranging from urinary incontinence to pelvic pain. Unfortunately, these problems are not routinely checked for in postpartum check-ups and women do not always bring it to the physician’s attention. Strengthening of the pelvic floor muscles may be able to help women prevent these disorders and improve these women’s lifestyles.

The purpose of this thesis was to review and analyze different trials to determine if different pelvic floor dysfunctions (urinary incontinence, sexual dysfunction, and pelvic girdle pain) can be treated using pelvic floor muscle training in the postpartum. After …

The Effects Of Resistance Training Frequency On Muscle Hypertrophy And Strength In Healthy Trained Individuals: Literature Review, Alexander C. Boivin

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of increased resistance training frequency on strength and hypertrophy in trained individuals. Six Studies were deemed eligible based on the inclusion exclusion criteria. The inclusion criteria for this review were healthy trained individuals. “Trained” refers to over one year of resistance training experience. Exclusion Criteria were study’s that examined either untrained or obese individuals as participants. The evidence indicates a dose-response trend in frequency. Resistance training each muscle group twice a week may be superior compared to once per week. Further more, resistance training each muscle group three times a …

The Effects Of Complementary Hippotherapy For Children With Austism Spectrum Disorder, Jamie Hicks

HIM 1990-2015

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is an intricate and complex disorder that continues to grow in its prevalence year after year. The disorder is based on decreased social communication with prevalent stereotypical behaviors and problems in sensory processing. Due to the disorder diagnosis based on a spectrum, each child is different in their severity, and thus requires individualized forms of therapies and treatments. The cause of ASD is unknown, which makes the treatment difficult to standardize. Desperate to find a regimen that benefits their child’s ability to function more successfully, more and more parents are utilizing complementary alternative medicine (CAM). The …

Sports Massage Research Protocols And Industry Standards, Amber Kest

HIM 1990-2015

The purpose of this study was to determine which MT techniques current licensed massage therapists practicing sports massage are using to treat delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) by conducting an anonymous online survey of practicing sports massage therapists. The secondary purpose was to determine if previous sports massage research protocols match current practices in sports massage to treat DOMS. There were 85 anonymous respondents ranging in age from 24 to 74 years with a mean age of 44.5 years. Participants included 55 female (65.5%) and 29 male (34.5%) therapists. Professional experience ranged from 4 years or less to more than …

Use Of Complementary And Alternative Therapies: A Pilot Survey, Hector Ortiz-Cintron

HIM 1990-2015

Meeting patient expectations in relation to pain management is an essential component of palliative and end-of-life care. However, previous research has demonstrated that pain is highly prevalent, especially during the four months prior to death. Poorly controlled pain contributes to cognitive failure, depression and an inability to complete daily activities. Unfortunately, pain and symptom management are often inadequate for patients placed in hospice care. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the perspectives of hospice nurses on complementary and alternative therapies to determine if there is an educational need in order to aide in the management of chronic pain …

Interventions For Childhood Obesity: Evaluating Technological Applications Targeting Physical Activity Level And Diet, Jessica Dipietro

HIM 1990-2015

Overweight and obese children have increased risks for multiple preventable diseases and conditions which can impair their physiological health and significantly increases the overall cost of their healthcare. Free mobile applications and technology for weight loss, dietary tracking, and physical activity may be quite useful for monitoring nutritional intake and exercise to facilitate weight loss. If so, nurses are well positioned to recommend such tools as part of their efforts to prevent childhood obesity and help children and parents better manage childhood obesity when it is present. However, there are no guidelines that nurses can use to determine what applications …

A Systematic Review To Assess The Methodological Quality Of Intervention Research Designed To Increase Physical Activity In Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders, Jolene Winn

HIM 1990-2015

In comparison to normally developing children, many children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) do not possess the same opportunities to be physically active due to the impairments exhibited by their disorder. A systematic review using the Downs and Black checklist and the PEDro scale was conducted to assess the methodological quality of the literature on promoting physical activity in children with ASD. The following inclusion criteria had to be met: (1) subjects must include children with a clinical ASD diagnosis (2) the children have to be under the age of thirteen years old (3) the interventions must target physical activity; …

Non-Invasive Positive Pressure Ventilation (Nppv) Its Uses, Complications, & Implications Within Nursing Practice In Acute Care Settings, Alexis Marano

HIM 1990-2015

The use of noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) in acute care settings has drastically increased within the past 20 years. Research has indicated that NPPV is equally as effective as traditional mechanical ventilation(MV) in treating acute exacerbations of chronic pulmonary obstructive disease (COPD) and cardiogenic pulmonary edema. Furthermore, the risk of complication from NPPV is much lower than MV, in terms of ventilator-associated pneumonia and sepsis. It is imperative for the nurse to understand the various indications, interfaces, and potential complications associated with NPPV use. In addition to treating acute exacerbations of COPD and cardiogenic pulmonary edema, NPPV has been …

Preventing Neuromuscular Deconditioning In Critically Ill Patients, Shahzia A. Lakhani

HIM 1990-2015

Critically ill patients can be prescribed bed rest as a therapeutic intervention. Immobility from bed rest can cause neuromuscular deconditioning and weakness. Preventing immobility by implementing mobilization activities may prevent these complications from occurring. Currently, mobility protocols are lacking. The purpose of this literature review is to analyze the evidence related to mobilizing patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). In the future, a standard mobility protocol should be instituted for critically ill patients indicating when and how to begin mobilization. The efficacy of mobility protocols relies on an interdisciplinary team for positive outcomes to prevent complications of inactivity and …

An Investigation Of Self Care Modalities For The Effective Treatment Of Lymphedema, Amber Major

HIM 1990-2015

The purpose of this literature review is to investigate the most effective forms of self-care that patients can perform to reduce swelling caused by lymphedema. Lymphedema may occur secondary to lymph node trauma, which makes it difficult for lymph fluid to leave an extremity. Even though lymphedema is more recognized as a side effect of breast cancer treatment, it can also be the result of many other ailments or treatments and can be present in any part of the body. By knowing which therapies are most effective, nurses and other health care professionals can educate patients to help ease the …

Factors Related To Stress In Nursing Students, Marie E. Shultz

HIM 1990-2015

The purpose of this review of literature was to explore and critically analyze relevant literature regarding stress factors and the consequences of stress in nursing students. Findings from this review of literature aimed to provide a better understanding of stress factors and the physical and psychological impact of stress on nursing students. Information was collected from the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, PsycINFO, and MEDLINE- EBSCOhost databases to explore what research has been conducted and to assess the current knowledge base. Analysis of the literature indicated that nursing students reported experiencing increased levels of stress during the …