Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

Mapping Occupational Therapy Interventions In Adult Patients With Post-Covid Diagnosis: A Scoping Review, Jennifer Ng, Hannah Franks, Marissa Halvorson, Sarah Malone, Claudia L. Hilton Phd, Karthik Mani

Translational Science in Occupation

Importance: Post-COVID patients experience difficulties in their everyday lives due to the persistent nature of their symptoms. This scoping review explores the role of occupational therapists in treating post-COVID patients and examines occupational therapy intervention options for this population.

Objective: This scoping review seeks to answer the following questions: What does the literature say about the role of occupational therapy with post-COVID patients? Which rehabilitation interventions are currently being utilized for treatment? How often are occupational therapists involved in the treatment of and research of post-COVID patient care?

Data Sources: Articles were obtained through an exhaustive search in the following …

Computer-Based Simulation In Occupational Therapy Lecture Courses: A Program Evaluation Of Simulation Implementation, Lacy Wright, Lauren Foster, Lisa Mische Lawson

Translational Science in Occupation

The COVID-19 pandemic expedited the use of computer-based simulations in occupational therapy educational programs. Research supports computer-based simulations as an alternative to in-person clinical fieldwork experiences. However, a knowledge gap exists for the instructional design and implementation of computer-based simulations within occupational therapy lecture courses. In this program evaluation, faculty explored and implemented computer-based simulations in pediatric lecture courses, combining simulation best practices and varying instructional designs. Entry-level occupational therapy doctorate students shared their perspectives through a survey design quality improvement study. Student responses were gathered using the Simulation Evaluation Tool-Modified (SET-M) questionnaire and Student Feedback Survey to gather quantitative …

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

Student Systematized 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 …

Evidence-Based Interventions For Postpartum Women With Pelvic Floor Dysfunction: A Systematized Review​, Kelsey Novak, Jaycee Wallace, Emma Rutt, Lydia Delkamiller, Danielle Westmark, Stacy Smallfield, Molly Whitlow

Student Systematized Reviews: Occupational Therapy

Importance: Pelvic floor disorders affect an estimated 86% of pregnancies, leading to decreased quality of life and negative health outcomes for postpartum women (Palmieri et al., 2022; Dasikan et al., 2020). Functional challenges including urinary incontinence, and difficulty with sexual activity and exercise are also frequently reported (Burkhart et al., 2020).

Objective: The objective of this review is to provide occupational therapists with evidence-based interventions for postpartum women with pelvic floor dysfunction.

Study Selection and Data Collection: Inclusion criteria were as follows: published in English within the last 10 years, postpartum women, RCTs, systematic reviews and meta-analysis.

Data Sources: The …

Interventions To Promote Social Participation In Children With Autism: A Systematized Review, Noah Farho, Bailey Hein, Holly Manalili, Danielle Westmark, Stacy Smallfield, Molly Whitlow

Student Systematized Reviews: Occupational Therapy

Importance: Roughly 1 in 36 children have autism spectrum disorder (ASD) (CDC, 2024). Children with ASD frequently experience difficulties with social participation (SP), which is essential for positive development and quality of life (Smith et al., 2023).

Objective: This systematized review examines the effectiveness of Occupational Therapy (OT) interventions for improving SP among children with ASD.

Data sources: A search of PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycINFO from 2014 to 2024 was conducted by a medical librarian.

Study Collection and Data Collection: English-language articles were included if they were within the scope of OT, level 1-5 evidence, and related to promoting SP. …

Occupational Therapy Interventions For School-Aged Children To Improve Handwriting Outcomes: A Systematized Review, Cassidy P. Johnson, Carley E. Leners, Ashley N. Stanton, Nicole A. Wiese, Danielle Westmark, Stacy Smallfield, Molly Whitlow

Student Systematized Reviews: Occupational Therapy

Importance: The development of handwriting skills builds a child’s confidence, self-esteem, fine motor skills, ability to communicate effectively and overall academic success (Feder & Majnemer, 2007).

Objective: The purpose of this systematized review was to determine which occupational therapy interventions are most effective for improving handwriting outcomes for prekindergarten through 3rd grade students.

Data sources: Searches were performed by a medical librarian in PubMed, CINAHL and ERIC including articles from 2014 to 2024.

Design: Studies were included if they were English-language articles with a level of evidence of I, II, or III that focused on occupational therapy interventions with an …

Ot Interventions For Post-Stroke Depression: A Systematized Review, Jack Cosgrove, Austin Fernau, Christian Kwambamba, Claire Vanderbeek, Danielle Westmark, Stacy Smallfield, Molly Whitlow

Student Systematized Reviews: Occupational Therapy

Importance: Strokes are a leading cause of disability. 35-50% of stroke survivors develop depression, which is the most common physiological impairment post-stroke and associated with less functional independence with activities of daily living (ADLs) (Ezema et al., 2019; Hildebrand, 2014; Wijeratne & Sales, 2021).

Objective: This systematized review addressed interventions within the scope of occupational therapy that are effective for reducing depressive symptoms for adults post-stroke.

Data sources: A medical librarian searched the databases Medline, PsycINFO, and CINAHL. Quantitative studies, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and randomized controlled trials published in English within the last ten years were included.

Study selection and …

A Multiple Methods Study To Describe The Manifestation Of Burnout Of Nebraska Physical Therapists, Nicole M. Sleddens

Theses & Dissertations

The extent of burnout within the profession of physical therapy remains relatively unexplored despite the widespread national attention given to burnout among other healthcare professionals. The purpose of this pilot study was to describe the current state of burnout of physical therapists in Nebraska using a multiple methods approach.

The quantitative phase of the study utilized a cross-sectional design and survey to measure burnout levels and identify associated characteristics of 407 practicing physical therapists in Nebraska. According to the Maslach Burnout Inventory, approximately half the sample exhibited engagement while the other half experienced at least one dimension of burnout. The …

A Mixed Methods Study Of Physical Activity In The Intensive Care Unit And Post-Intensive Care Unit Hospital Stay: Patient Characteristics, Symptom Burden, And Experiences Of Postoperative Adults, Christina Bach

Theses & Dissertations

Background: Physical activity (PA) beginning early in the intensive care unit (ICU) can reduce adverse outcomes commonly experienced by individuals after ICU discharge. Patient-centered approaches to PA in the ICU and reliable activity evaluations are essential for understanding PA's impact on patient outcomes.

Objective: This dissertation sought to evaluate patient-related factors associated with PA in the ICU and post-ICU hospital stay.

Methods: The purpose of the dissertation was to conduct: 1) a concept analysis to define ICU survivorship and identify critical care aspects important for patient recovery; 2) an integrative literature review to assess early mobility (EM) interventions with physical, …

Interventions For Care Partners Of Adults With Dementia: A Systematic Review, Makenzie Kay Homan, Azia Marie Ourada, Reannon Taylor Rieber, Grace Delaney Tynan

Student Systematized Reviews: Occupational Therapy

Interventions for Care Partners of Adults with Dementia: A Systematic Review

PURPOSE: It is estimated that 8.5 million people are informal care partners for people with dementia (Friedman et al., 2015), which is a challenging role associated with emotional strain, anxiety and depression, increased care partner burden, poorer quality of life (QoL), financial strain, and lack of support (Hellis & Mukaetova-Ladinska, 2023). It is important for occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) to use the most effective interventions that can be implemented to preserve informal care partners’ health, wellbeing, and quality of life (QoL) (Hellis & Mukaetova-Ladinska, 2023). The purpose of this …

Botulinum Toxin Type A Injections For Refractory Abdominal Dystonia: A Case Report, William J. Naber Ii, Jodi M. Wilhelm, Kurt A. Kuhlman, Gabriel Howard

Graduate Medical Education Research Journal

Background: A 58-year-old male with chronic bilateral treatment resistant abdominal spasms secondary complications of ascites/ alcoholic cirrhosis. Spasms would occur 4-5 times/day, lasting minutes to hours despite a 2-year course of therapeutic and pharmacological interventions. Due to treatment refraction, 6 uniformly spaced botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) injections were placed per side, using electromyography for audible intramuscular syringe placement confirmation, while visual confirmation was made via ultrasound. During the initial trial, 6 evenly spaced injections were performed bilaterally, uniformly distributing 80U/side. Injections began bilaterally just medial to the junction of the inferior rib cage border/ anterior axillary line and progressed …

Occupational Therapy Feeding Interventions In The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Systematic Review, Karly Boehm, Lindsey Brechbill, Johana Cedillo, Sara Mengler, Allyson Thomas

Student Systematized Reviews: Occupational Therapy

No abstract provided.

Effectiveness Of Occupational Therapy Interventions To Enhance Occupational Performance For Survivors Of Domestic Abuse: A Systematic Review, Mackenzie R. Post, Aubrianna Hohensee, Taylor Fisher, Amanda Malashock

Student Systematized Reviews: Occupational Therapy

TITLE: Effectiveness of Occupational Therapy Interventions to Enhance Occupational Performance for Survivors of Domestic Abuse: A Systematic Review

PURPOSE: An average of 20 people per minute experience domestic abuse in the United States (Black et al., 2011). People who experience abuse have poor physical and mental health outcomes which can include depressive symptoms, substance use, developing chronic disease, chronic mental illness, and injury (Coker et al., 2002). Occupational practitioners are equipped to address this issue because they have specific training on life skills, lifestyle management, adaptive coping strategies, time management, and personal values, which can help minimize the negative health …

Occupational Therapy Interventions To Improve Functional Cognition In Older Adults After Stroke: A Systematic Review, Brady A. Harrison, Alexa A. Preissler, Emilea R. Rogers, Allison D. Singh

Student Systematized Reviews: Occupational Therapy

PURPOSE Cerebral vascular accidents (CVA) are a leading cause of cognitive impairment in the United States, and 80% of CVA survivors experience new or worsening impairment (Knight-Greenfield et al., 2019; Zhang et al., 2021). Functional cognition is vital to an individual’s participation in occupations that are necessary and meaningful to them. Occupational therapy practitioners play a unique role in addressing functional cognition through intervention planning and implementation. The purpose of this study is to understand the most effective occupational therapy interventions addressing functional cognition in older adults post CVA.

DESIGN We conducted a systematized review of articles pertaining to occupational …

Occupational Therapy Interventions That Influence Quality Of Life Of Care Partners Of Children With Developmental Disabilities: A Systematic Review, Alaina Akey, Maggie Alsup, Madison Cockerill, Sydney Wondra

Student Systematized Reviews: Occupational Therapy

TITLE: Occupational Therapy Interventions that Influence Quality of Life of Care Partners of Children with Developmental Disabilities: A Systematic Review

PURPOSE: In the United States, 1 in 6 children have one or more developmental disabilities (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022). Children with developmental disabilities require a higher level of care and support in comparison to their typically developing peers (Akyurek et al., 2023). Due to this increased need for assistance, care partners may experience greater psychological, physical, social, and financial hardships that can impact their overall quality of life (Murphy et al., 2006). Although the scope of occupational …

Does Implementation Of A Lifestyle Medicine Curriculum Affect Student Wellness During Doctor Of Physical Therapy Education?, Betsy J. Becker, Kathleen G. Volkman, Tessa Wells, Nicole M. Sleddens, Teresa Cochran

Posters and Presentations: Physical Therapy

Background

Current healthcare environments amplify the need for educational systems to forge healthy workforces to withstand stressors. Our study examines the effects of embedding a lifestyle medicine curriculum on student wellness in a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program, simultaneously preparing students to implement lifestyle medicine with future patients and communities.

Methods

In a DPT program, we implemented a lifestyle medicine curriculum grounded within the Social-Ecological Model. This framework emphasizes student success in the program’s pre-clinical phases, creates a purposeful “ripple effect” threading wellness strategies among peers, patients, and communities, and emphasizes wellness as a clinician over the 32-month curriculum. …

Exploring First Semester Allied Health Students’ Transition To Graduate School Through The Lens Of Occupational Adaptation, Carly E. Williams, Jessica N. O'Brien, Rebecca E. Dodick, Jillian M. Bell, Jennifer O. Knauth, Lorrie A. George-Paschal, Nancy Krusen, Jacquie Rainey

Innovations in Health Sciences Education Journal

The purpose of the study was to examine experiences of students transitioning into graduate allied health programs within a public university in the United States. Researchers assessed students’ occupational adaptation as well as factors that facilitated and inhibited their transition. Researchers collected data using the Relative Mastery Scale (RMS) (George-Paschal, Krusen, & Fan, 2022) and a researcher-developed transition survey. Participants included 129 students from three allied-health professions. Researchers conducted a mixed ANOVA to explore differences in RMS ratings across three disciplines. There was a statistically significant increase in RMS ratings over time for all disciplines and statistically significant differences between …

Improving Peripheral Nerve Regeneration Through Rehabilitation And Biomaterial-Based Drug Delivery Strategies, Yunfan Kong

Theses & Dissertations

Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) is a common problem worldwide, with trauma being a common cause. PNI can lead to loss of sensory and motor functions, chronic neuropathic pain, and mental health issues, significantly impacting patients' family life, work, and social situation. Recent studies revealed that beyond the topical injury site at peripheral nerves, PNIs can also induce dysfunctions in the central nervous system (CNS) by causing maladaptive plasticity, which will result in exaggeration and exacerbation of the pathological condition caused by primary injuries. The common therapy strategies for PNI treatment are using sutures, nerve autografts or conduits in cases requiring …

Social Participation In People With Developmental Disabilities: A Systematic Review, Anna Squiers, Madison Mckeever, Sydney Fitzgibbons

Student Systematized Reviews: Occupational Therapy

TITLE:

Social participation in people with a developmental disability: A systematic review

PURPOSE:

People with developmental disabilities often experience difficulty with social skills and engagement in social interactions. One in six children aged 3-17 have a developmental disability (CDC, 2023). People with developmental disabilities experience loneliness, which can affect participation in meaningful occupations (Petroutsou et al., 2018). Participating in social interactions can decrease stress and anxiety and improve overall quality of life (CDC, 2023). The purpose of this systematic review was to determine occupational therapy interventions that increase social participation for people with developmental disabilities.

DESIGN:

We conducted a systematic …

Occupational Therapy Interventions For Activities Of Daily Living In Adults Post-Traumatic Brain Injury With Visual Symptoms: A Systematic Review, Danielle Adams

Student Systematized Reviews: Occupational Therapy

No abstract provided.

Occupational Therapy Intervention For Survivors Of Sex Trafficking: A Systematic Review, Alexis Spicer, Jensen Antilla, Madeleine Hubka, Sheridan Widhelm

Student Systematized Reviews: Occupational Therapy

PURPOSE: There are an estimated 15,000 to 50,000 women and children are forced into sex trafficking every year in the United States (Heinze, 2021). Sex trafficking leaves a lasting impact on survivors’ mental health and quality of life and presents these individuals with a complex set of barriers to occupational performance including various psychological challenges as well as cognitive impairments (Boyanapalli, 2020). Exposure to sex trafficking affects all aspects of a person’s life including work, community and social participation, self-care, and leisure (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2019). Occupational therapists are equipped to address these domains. The purpose …

From Zoom To The Clinic: Unique Student Challenges In Physical Therapy Clinical Education, Amy Both, Jaclyn Catherine Carson, Matthew B. Garber, Heather Marie Mack, Nicole M. Sleddens

Posters and Presentations: Physical Therapy

While the abrupt shift in PT education (PTE) brought on by the pandemic created opportunities for educational innovation, it also brought relational separation and fragmented learning due to lockdowns, social distancing, face masks, and communication limited to virtual platforms. Academic programs increased use of virtual learning, rearranged curriculum, reduced lab and simulated learning time, and provided fewer, if any, opportunities for service learning and patient contact. Clinic sites paused clinic education experiences or hosted fewer students to maintain social distancing and limit disease exposure. As PTE returns to more typical curricular schedules and practices, it is important to be aware …

Immediate Vs Delayed Feedback In A Progressive Musculoskeletal E-Module Case For Clinical Reasoning Development, Megan Frazee, Krista Gipson, Elizabeth Lyden, Stephanie Langel

Posters and Presentations: Physical Therapy

PURPOSE: Educators are responsible for developing clinical reasoning skills in Physical Therapy (PT) students. Simulated virtual experiences allow specific skills, such as clinical reasoning, to be learned and tested (Holdsworth, 2016). PT students prefer a combination of learning from e-modules and lecture formats (Gardner, 2016). Feedback is a critical component for consolidated learning; however, there is no consensus on the best timing of feedback (Schute, 2008). The purpose was to evaluate the impact of immediate versus delayed feedback through an e-module in PT students' accuracy in identifying the primary hypothesis, severity and irritability level for a virtual patient case. The …

Developing A Rapid Assessment Program For Student Success In Clinical Education, Nicole M. Sleddens, Betsy J. Becker, Grace Johnson, Joseph F. Norman

Posters and Presentations: Physical Therapy

Successful management of the struggling student in the clinic relies heavily on the early identification of clinical performance deficits. CIs who directly observe student performance, actions and behaviors should aim for early and precise identification of difficulties, which should lead to initial discussions with the student. If the student's struggles require involvement from the educational institution, the CI should promptly contact and collaborate with the DCE. Early communication with the DCE is beneficial, as they can provide support for CIs overwhelmed by the difficulties that accompany working with a challenging student. The DCE provides guidance on determining the depth of …

Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Residency And Fellowship Program Mentoring Structure: A Survey Of Program Directors, Darren Q. Calley, Kirk R. Bentzen, Megan Frazee, Matthew D. Haberl

Posters and Presentations: Physical Therapy

Purpose/Hypothesis: Mentoring is a required component of physical therapy residency and fellowship training, and a primary reason applicants pursue training in these programs. Resources outlining core competencies for effective mentoring, mentor and mentee characteristics, and recommendations for effective mentoring have been described. However, little is known about the timing, structure, and process of how mentoring and feedback is implemented across residency and fellowship programs. The purpose of this study was to better understand the structure, timing, and delivery of mentoring and the role mentors and program directors (PDs) play in orthopaedic physical therapy residency and fellowship programs. A secondary purpose …

Effective Occupational Therapy Interventions To Decrease Picky Eating In Children: A Systematic Review, Savannah L. Jacobsen, Josie Cox, Alli Bos, Cherokee Ferguson, Stacey Smallfield, Molly Whitlow

Student Systematized Reviews: Occupational Therapy

PURPOSE: Picky eating is related to the lack of consumption in food variety by children when shown different foods (Wolstenholme et al., 2020). A 2015 study reported that almost half of children experience a period of picky eating at some point during early childhood, including almost 15% of children for whom picky eating does not resolve by age 6 (Cardona et al., 2015). The purpose of this systematic review is to identify interventions within the scope of occupational therapy that increase food acceptance in children under the age of seven years who demonstrate picky eating characteristics and who have no …

Student Wellness During Curriculum Implementation Of A Lifestyle Medicine Approach Within The Social-Ecological Model: A Longitudinal Study, Betsy J. Becker, Anne Skinner, Tessa Wells, Kathleen G. Volkman, Nicole M. Sleddens, Teresa Cochran

Posters and Presentations: Physical Therapy

Purpose

The student-life experience is an ideal time to implement lifelong wellness behaviors needed for the professional role. The ongoing effects of the COVID pandemic have amplified the need for Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) educational programs to train an emerging workforce that can, through personal wellness, withstand the stressors of personal and professional lives. The study purpose is to: a) evaluate the change in student wellness from matriculation to mid-program to completion after implementation of a curriculum based on a lifestyle medicine approach within the Social-Ecological Model, and b) compare student wellness between cohorts that matriculated before and during …

Zoom In To Fitness: A Novel Way Of Bringing Fitness Experts To Seniors, Tessa Wells, Jenna Boyd, Gabriel Fisher, Victoria Kranz, Mckenzi Petricko

Posters and Presentations: Physical Therapy

Participants will discover a how a local educational institution was able to think creatively and bring much-needed programming to local seniors during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. Participants will also experience first-hand how a virtual physical activity session can be delivered safely and effectively in the comfort of the senior’s own living environment or a group fitness room environment. Participants will be asked to think creatively of possible community partners, as well as possible barriers and facilitators to implementing this innovative wellness strategy. Information will be presented regarding additional activities that could be presented in this format such …

Gender-Specific Effects On Muscle Activation During Incline Treadmill Walking: A Virtual Perturbation Study For Future Astronauts, Jie Hao, Robin High, Ka-Chun Siu

Posters and Presentations: Physical Therapy

Introduction Microgravity-induced muscle atrophy is a critical issue for astronauts in spaceflight [1]. To overcome neuromuscular deconditioning, combining virtual reality (VR) with treadmill training protocol could be a promising countermeasure for astronauts to enhance muscle activities and maximize the training effect [2]. Our previous study [3] found the presence of visual perturbation significantly increased muscle activation while walking on incline treadmill, compared with no visual perturbation; surprisingly, we found females had more pronounced muscle responses than males. Based upon these findings, this study aimed to investigate the effects of different visual rotation speeds and different types of visual perturbation on …

Self-Care: An Occupational Therapy Student Perspective, Isabelle Laposha, Stacy Smallfield

Journal Articles: Occupational Therapy

Health professional students, including occupational therapy students, report increasing rates of stress, anxiety, depression, and burnout while completing their academic programs of study. Self-care is one potential solution to this crisis, as engagement in evidence-based self-care practices has been found to improve the health and well-being of various student populations; however, the self-care practices of occupational therapy students have not been well studied. Therefore, this study explored how occupational therapy students understand and practice self-care, and how self-care correlates to perceived stress. Twenty participants engaged in a focus group and completed a 72-hour time diary. Focus group results indicated that …