Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

Barriers To Implementation Of Post-Concussion Grade Exercise Tests, Tyler Beauregard

Journal of Sports Medicine and Allied Health Sciences: Official Journal of the Ohio Athletic Trainers Association

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to assess the potential barriers to sports physical therapy and athletic training clinicians implementing graded exertional tests, specifically for their patients following concussion.

Quality Improvement Of A Post-Concussion Recovery Protocol, Halle Strege, Kaitlyn Burnham, Laura L. Harris

Journal of Sports Medicine and Allied Health Sciences: Official Journal of the Ohio Athletic Trainers Association

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effectiveness of a post-concussion recovery protocol in an adolescent athletic population.

Neurocognitive Performance Differences Between Athletes Who Are Deaf Or Hard-Of-Hearing And Athletes Who Are Hearing, Matthew P. Brancaleone, Jaclyn Caccese, James Onate

Journal of Sports Medicine and Allied Health Sciences: Official Journal of the Ohio Athletic Trainers Association

OBJECTIVE

There are over 71,000 college students in the United States who are deaf or hard-of-hearing (D/HoH), with many participating in athletics. Athletes who are D/HoH have similar concussion rates to athletes who are hearing at the collegiate level. Differences in neurocognitive baseline performance between athletes who are D/HoH and athletes who are hearing may exist due to misunderstanding of written English instructions or differences in sensory processing. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare neurocognitive performance between athletes who are hearing and athletes who are D/HoH.

An Eye-Opening Capstone: A New Perspective On Occupation-Based Treatments For Neurologic-Based Visual Deficits, Katlyn J. Knakmuhs

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

The purpose of this 14-week capstone experience was to gain hands on in depth clinical experience working with individuals post neurologic injury, specifically post-concussion, who were experiencing a visual perceptual deficit. Additionally, the focus of this capstone was to implement occupation-based skills and activities into therapy sessions for individuals experiencing those visual perceptual deficits post-concussion. This capstone experience took place at the Sanford Outpatient Rehabilitation Clinic in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and was completed under the supervision of a licensed occupational therapist who is a certified brain injury specialist. Eight individuals post-concussion with visual perceptual deficits who were patients of …

Promoting Wakefulness To Increase Occupational Engagement In Military Service Members Experiencing Insomnia Following Mtbi, Leah N. Myers

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Sustaining a traumatic brain injury of any severity is associated with an extremely high prevalence of insomnia. Military service members, being exposed to hazardous equipment and conditions, are one of the most likely populations to sustain sleep concerns following TBI. This student capstone project aimed to support military service members experiencing sleep disturbances due to TBI through direct advanced clinical skill attainment, Light Therapy program development, and by initiating research and clinic resource creation relating to shift work and sleep. To target this population, the project was completed at the Fort Carson Intrepid Spirit Center in Colorado where outpatient concussion …

The Occupational Performance Of Student-Athletes Post-Concussion: A Guide For Coaches And Athletic Trainers, Baylee A. Felts, Mary Ann Smith, Danielle Cade

Spring 2024 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Concussions are a rising concern amongst the sports community. Student-athletes with concussions can exhibit deficits in physical, psychosocial, cognitive, and visual-perceptual abilities (Centers for Disease Control, 2019). Occupational therapists are equipped to address the impacts of those deficits to improve occupational engagement and performance but are often overlooked in concussion management teams (Finn, 2019). A concussion management team typically consists of coaches, athletic trainers (ATs), physicians, and sometimes physical therapists, depending on the severity of the concussion. Due to growing concern and continued research, the concussion management team must be current with new information. Coaches and ATs may not keep …

Occupational Therapy Interventions For Visual Impairments Among Adolescents With Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, Olivia Vander Haar, Molly Whitlow, Sarah Fellman

Student Systematic Reviews: Occupational Therapy

PUPROSE: The purpose of this systematic review was to synthesize the evidence of occupational therapy (OT) interventions for adolescents who have sustained a mTBI and experience visual dysfunction.

DESIGN AND METHOD: A systematic review of peer-reviewed literature was conducted. Articles were included if participants were eight to nineteen years of age and diagnosed with an mTBI. Titles and abstracts of 506 articles from three databases were screened. The full text of 26 articles was reviewed. Seven met inclusion criteria. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force levels of certainty and grade definitions described the strength of evidence.

RESULTS: Physical conditioning, vision …

Stimulant Medication Use In Children/Adolescent Athletes With Adhd Reduce The Recovery Time Of Concussions And Traumatic Brain Injury, Matthew Lee

Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies Capstone Presentations (Center City)

Introduction

• Concussions and TBIs are well-known injuries occurring 30-50 million times a year worldwide and are commonly seen in sports.¹ The majority of TBIs are mild yet still have the potential to cause lifelong detrimental effects.
• Short- and long-term complications include difficulty thinking, difficulty concentrating, changes in emotions and personality, decreased memory and sensation, and may lead to depression and dementia.²
• Especially in children and adolescents who are undergoing brain development.
• There are no known prophylactic medications, however, some studies have indicated that sympathomimetic drugs, MPH, may be neuroprotective in the setting of TBIs.
• The purpose of this …

Unreported Concussions Within Law Enforcement Officers, Bailee Faulkner, Jennifer Walker, Audrey Wagstaff

Journal of Sports Medicine and Allied Health Sciences: Official Journal of the Ohio Athletic Trainers Association

OBJECTIVE

Understand the degree to which concussions go unreported among members of the Law Enforcement community.

The Value Of The Vestibular/Ocular Motor Screening (Voms) In Evaluating Adolescent Patients With Concussions, Laura Harris, Kirstin Antonaros, Hayley Cole, Patrick Daniels, Kurtis Gould, Trent Ivey, Alexa Lewis, Alexis Maxwell, Paul Miles

Journal of Sports Medicine and Allied Health Sciences: Official Journal of the Ohio Athletic Trainers Association

OBJECTIVE

To determine the VOMS can differentiate between typical and protracted recoveries in adolescent patients.

A Hybrid Assessment Of Clinical Mobility Test Items For Evaluating Individuals With Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, Peter C. Fino, Patrick G. Michielutti, Ryan Pelo, Lucy Parrington, Leland E. Dibble, Carrie W. Hoppes, Mark E. Lester, Margaret M. Weightman, Laurie A. King

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background and Purpose:

The Functional Gait Assessment (FGA) and High Level Mobility Assessment Tool (HiMAT) are clinical batteries used to assess people with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). However, neither assessment was specifically developed for people with mTBI; the FGA was developed to evaluate vestibular deficits, and the HiMAT was developed for individuals with more severe TBI. To maximize the sensitivity and reduce the time burden of these assessments, the purpose of this study was to determine the combination of FGA and HiMAT items that best discriminates persons with persistent symptoms from mTBI from healthy controls.

Methods:

Fifty-three symptomatic civilians …

Emotionally Concussed: The Impact Of Pre-Existing Anxiety On Concussion Recovery, Grace Szucs

Honors Theses

Recent advances in concussion research have shed light on numerous mental and physiological factors that may complicate concussion recovery. Systematic reviews of the existing literature have found that premorbid mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety may be a predictor of complicated concussion recovery, but studies have not had an appropriate design to isolate anxiety or depression as a predictor of lengthened recovery. This study investigated if athletes with a history of premorbid anxiety and/or depression would have a longer time of recovery than athletes without this history. Male and female athletes from a Division-1 athletic department treated for …

Reliability Of Accelerometer-Based Reaction Time Tests, Jacob Hepp, Warner Rhodes, Jordan Walton, Rahul Soangra, Brent Harper

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

Concussions are traumatic brain injuries that affect the function of the brain. One of the primary symptoms of a concussion is a lack of reaction time. The people that are most susceptible to concussions are athletes; Laker’s (2011) study found that 135,000 patients that suffer concussions from playing sports are expected to be hospitalized each year, with football making up 75% of concussions at high school and college levels. Honda et al. (2018) suggested reaction time as an important biomarker of concussion. Laboratory camera-based motion capture data, while reliable, is not a realistic tool to use outside of a laboratory …

The Clinical Value Of Oculomotor Assessments Across The Continuum Of Concussion, Dillon Richards

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Concussions are complex conditions that are difficult to manage medically. Variations in symptom presentation, intricate neurophysiological processes, and the availability of a variety of possible assessment tools may contribute to this complexity. Clinicians must use a broad approach, employing both subjective symptom assessment and objective assessments to confirm a diagnosis and/or monitor progression and recovery. Oculomotor function after concussion may be an important indicator of injury, given the interconnectedness of oculomotor function, vestibulo-ocular and visual systems, and even cognition. Oculomotor function may be assessed objectively or indirectly using patient-reported symptom checklists as part of subjective assessments. One way of objectively …

Exploring Vestibular Ocular Motor Screening In Adults With Persistent Complaints After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, Lucy Parrington, Laurie A. King, Carrie W. Hoppes, Maxwell J. Klaiman, Patrick Michielutti, Peter C. Fino, Leland E. Dibble, Mark E. Lester, Margaret M. Weightman

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications and Presentations

Objective:

The purpose of this study was to (1) explore differences in vestibular ocular motor screening (VOMS) symptoms between healthy adults and adults with persistent symptoms after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), and (2) explore the relationships between VOMS symptoms and other measures (self-reported vestibular symptoms, clinical measures of balance and gait, and higher-level motor ability tasks).

Setting:

Research laboratory setting.

Participants:

Fifty-three persons with persistent symptoms (>3 weeks) following mTBI and 57 healthy controls were recruited. Eligibility for participation included being 18 to 50 years of age and free of medical conditions that may affect balance, with the …

Implications Of Race On Post-Concussion Neurocognitive Performance And Symptom Presentation, Taia B.B. Maceachern

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The objective of this thesis was to examine the impact of race on post-concussion symptoms and neurocognitive performance. This was achieved through a systematic review and meta-analysis (Chapter 2), and a retrospective study (Chapter 3). From 15 published studies, it was found that Whites (70.11%) reported a higher prevalence of concussion then Black/African American (13.65%). A small effect (g = 0.3) of race was found on neurocognitive measures, indicating that Whites performed better. Using a database of concussion outcomes, it was found that Black/African American reported significantly higher symptom severities (p <0.05), but this was dependent on the …

A Novel Approach Toward Concussion Testing, Jorge K. Mercado, Ari Schacter, Danielle Euzent

Student Theses

A concussion is a violent jarring or shaking of the head caused by whiplash or direct impact that results in a disturbance of brain function. Concussions can be mild and brief, as a person may be dazed momentarily or can be more serious, resulting in a loss of consciousness. Underreporting of concussions is prevalent because they are a symptom-based diagnosis, lacking a clinical test. In this study, we investigated the use of VNG testing as a clinical diagnosis of concussions. Looking at the VNG test battery, the previous research cohort found that saccades, gaze, and positional testing are the most …

Impacts Of Methods And Pose On Performance Of Two Modern American Football Helmets, Ta’Quoris Newsome

Honors Theses

The standardization of American football helmets began with the development of the National Operating Committee for Safety in Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE). The organization successfully developed a certification that quantifies a helmet’s ability to mitigate blunt force to prevent skull fractures; however, the ability to assure the same level of protection against concussion has been elusive. Regardless, The National Football League (NFL) and Virginia Tech University (VT) have developed blunt and rotational impact testing methodologies that aim to provide consumers with the effectiveness and safety of American football helmets through their respective ranking system. These ranking systems are intended to aid …

Supporting Students After Concussion: What College Faculty Need To Know, Susan C. Davies

Thomas C. Hunt Building a Research Community Day

Returning to university life following concussion can be challenging for students. Our Brain Health Collaboratory, in conjunction with the Center on Brain Injury Research and Training, developed set of online resources to inform college faculty members about brain injuries. The module includes information about concussion effects, academic and environmental accommodations, and the role of college faculty in providing support. This session will share our research that led to development of the module, as well as our plan to evaluate its efficacy.

Functional Cognition: An Opportunity To Highlight The Role Of Occupational Therapy In Post-Concussion Care, Rachel Taylor Postma, John V. Rider, Robyn Otty

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

As concern surrounding concussion and the associated long-term effects grow, a continued need for comprehensive, holistic concussion care emerges. Occupational therapists are well-equipped to address the wide variety of symptoms and deficits that clients may experience post-concussion. Functional cognition is one area in which occupational therapists can demonstrate their unique value on the interdisciplinary treatment team. In this Opinions in the Profession paper, we describe how occupational therapists are poised to further establish their role in post-concussion care by becoming the primary discipline for assessing and treating functional cognition. The aim of this paper is to outline the role of …

Vestibular Rehabilitation As An Early Intervention In Athletes Who Are Post-Concussion: A Systematic Review, Gabrielle Babula, Edward Warunek, Grace Nikolski, Katherine Cure

Student Research Poster Presentations 2022

Background: Sports-related concussions (SRC) are a common injury sustained by many athletes of all different age groups and sports. The current standard treatment is rest followed by aerobic activity. Little has been researched on the effects of vestibular rehabilitation for concussion treatment, especially in physical therapy practice.

Objective: The purpose of this systematic review was to research the effects of early intervention of vestibular rehabilitation and an athlete’s time to return to play compared to rest alone.

Methods: Two searches were conducted (August 2021 & January 2022). Databases looked at were CINAHL complete, MEDLINE, PubMed, Wiley online database, and one …

A Cognitive Protocol For Individuals With Concussion, Faith M. Urbanik

OT Student Capstones

Background: Concussions have been identified in the literature to cause impairments in several cognitive domains. Limited research exists for cognitive interventions for occupational therapists (OTs) working with concussions and post-concussion syndrome (PCS) using a bottom-up approach that targets domains of cognition. This pilot study responds to these shortcomings by identifying and implementing evidence-based treatment options for OTs working with individuals with concussion and PCS to mitigate associated cognitive deficits. Method: The researcher included participants, ages 18 years or older, who are three days’ to six months’ post-concussion with concussions or PCS in this study. The researcher administered a cognitive protocol …

Impact Of An Interprofessional Student-Led Concussion Clinic, Anne W. Hunt, Kathryn Parker, Nick Reed

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

This article describes the impact on the learners and health care institution of the OnTRACK-Concussion program, an innovative student-led clinic at a children’s rehabilitation hospital. The clinic, developed and operated by occupational therapists, serves the community full-time year-round. Interprofessional health care learners work together to provide education and intervention for youth with concussion and their families and to support research and community outreach initiatives. To determine the program’s impact on student learning, a post-placement questionnaire was used to capture feedback about their clinical education experience. To determine the program impact more broadly, the most significant change method was used to …

Head Impact Exposure In Youth And Collegiate American Football, Grace B. Choi, Eric P. Smith, Stefan M. Duma, Steven Rowson, Eamon Campolettano, Mireille E. Kelley, Derek A. Jones, Joel D. Stitzel, Jillian E. Urban, Amaris Genemaras, Jonathan G. Beckwith, Richard M. Greenwald, Arthur C. Maerlender, Joseph J. Crisco

Center for Brain, Biology, and Behavior: Faculty and Staff Publications

The relationship between head impact and subsequent brain injury for American football players is not well defined, especially for youth. The objective of this study is to quantify and assess Head Impact Exposure (HIE) metrics among youth and collegiate football players. This multiseason study enrolled 639 unique athletes (354 collegiate; 285 youth, ages 9–14), recording 476,209 head impacts (367,337 collegiate; 108,872 youth) over 971 sessions (480 collegiate; 491 youth). Youth players experienced 43 and 65% fewer impacts per competition and practice, respectively, and lower impact magnitudes compared to collegiate players (95th percentile peak linear acceleration (PLA, g) competition: 45.6 vs …

In-Season Concussion Symptom Reporting In Male And Female Collegiate Rugby Athletes, Emily E. Kieffer,, P. Gunnar Brolinson, Arthur C. Maerlender, Eric Smith, Steven Rowson

Center for Brain, Biology, and Behavior: Faculty and Staff Publications

Symptom inventories are generally only collected after a suspected concussion, but regular in-season monitoring may allude to clinical symptoms associated with repetitive subconcussive impacts and potential undiagnosed concussions. Despite sex-specific differences in symptom presentation and outcome of concussion, no return-to-play protocol takes sex into account. The objective of this study was to monitor a cohort of contact-sport athletes and compare the frequency and severity of in-season concussion-like symptom reporting between sexes. Graded symptom checklists from 144 female and 104 male athlete-seasons were administered weekly to quantify the effect of subconcussive impacts on frequency and severity of in-season symptom reporting. In-season, …

Do Memory Test Scores Improve After Organized Sport Activity?, Olivia B. Smith, Erika Smith-Goodwin, Jennifer Walker

Journal of Sports Medicine and Allied Health Sciences: Official Journal of the Ohio Athletic Trainers Association

Please enjoy Volume 7, Issue 1 of the JSMAHS. In this issue, you will find Professional, Graduate, and Undergraduate research abstracts, and case reports.

Thank you for viewing this 7^th Annual OATA Special Edition.

The Impact Of Multiple Concussions On The Lives Of Student-Athletes, Jenny L. Toonstra, Andrea E. Cripps, Lauren R. Meyers

Journal of Sports Medicine and Allied Health Sciences: Official Journal of the Ohio Athletic Trainers Association

Please enjoy Volume 7, Issue 1 of the JSMAHS. In this issue, you will find Professional, Graduate, and Undergraduate research abstracts, and case reports.

Thank you for viewing this 7^th Annual OATA Special Edition.

Evaluating Current Outcome Measures For Persistent Post-Concussion Syndrome, Alayna Dakers, Rachel Dickerson, Clare Visscher

Systematic Reviews

This systematic review examines the current literature of reliable and/or valid outcome measures for adults who have persistent post-concussion syndrome (PPCS) and their ability to engage in occupations.

The Role Of Pre-Season Health Characteristics As Injury Risk Factors In Female Adolescent Soccer Players, Brent Harper, Adrian Aron, Emmanuel John

Physical Therapy Faculty Articles and Research

[Purpose] Determine if female adolescent soccer players with a history of concussion, impaired K-D scores, and pre-season subjective complaints of neck pain, dizziness, and headache were predisposed to additional risk of musculoskeletal or concussive injury during 10-weeks of competitive play. [Participants and Methods] Twenty-three female high school soccer athletes provided concussion history and reported pre-season subjective complaints. K-D testing was performed pre and postseason. During the 10-week season, all injuries, preventing participation in practice or game, were recorded. [Results] Six reported a history of concussion. Of those six, three injuries were reported, including two concussions and a hamstring strain. Baseline …

The Long-Term Behavioral Effects Of Concussions And Post-Concussion Syndrome, Hannah Belleville

Honors College

The focus of this thesis is to examine the effects of concussions on college athletes, specifically their social activity and behavioral changes. Concussions are mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI) that occur after receiving a blow to the head or a whiplash injury that causes an altered state of consciousness, including but not limited to, being unconscious. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) reports that in the past five years college athletes have suffered 10,500 concussions. Unlike professional athletes, who have the luxury of being able to rest until fully healed, college student athletes have the demands of academics often rushing …