Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

Moving Past Homelessness: A Program For Success, Benjamin Becher, Jaime Johnson

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Homelessness is a pervasive problem in the United States, and lack of job searching and work skills contribute to the situation (Helfrich, Chan, & Sabol, 2011). Although there are programs available that provide services to the homeless population, these programs typically do not extensively address work-related needs (Herzberg & Finlayson, 2001; Roy et al., 2017). A literature review was conducted using numerous databases and an informal interview was conducted with a key stakeholder at Seton House, a transitional housing program for homeless single parents. With this information, a program was developed to address vocational needs for the homeless, titled Work …

The Experience Of Being A Male Occupational Therapy Practitioner At Varying Points In The Career: A Qualitative Study, Zachary Bohn, John Leclerc

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Problem Statement: The experience of being a male in a female-dominated profession has not been well researched or documented through either an inductive or deductive lens in regards to how this social context affects the male occupational therapist’s ability to function in his professional role. Subsequently, there are a dearth of guideposts and evidence that male occupational therapy students and practitioners have to understand the influence of their gender in the profession from a professional development standpoint.

Purpose: The purpose of this research study was to understand the experience of being a male occupational therapist amidst the female-dominated …

A Guide For Occupational Therapists: Utilizing Trauma-Informed Care To Guide Intervention For Children In Foster Care, Courtney Crabill, Katie Hanson

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The purpose of this scholarly project was to create a guide for trauma-informed interventions for occupational therapists specifically to use with foster care children. Currently, there are approximately 600,000 children living in foster care in the United States (Child Welfare League of America, 2015). Children in the foster system who have experienced or witnessed violent actions often demonstrate post-traumatic stress like symptoms and diagnoses. Often times these experiences affect their development, coping skills, emotional regulation, and relationships and attachments (Lynch et al., 2017; Deutsch et al., 2015; Heim et al., 2010). It is estimated that between 40% and 60% of …

Promotion Of The Village Model In Rural Areas: An Educational Guide, Caitlin Herdrick, Samantha Kraus

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Background: The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that the adult population will double the population of Americans aged 65 years or older during the next 25 years to 72 million (2013). The increasing age of baby boomers will have a significant impact on healthcare resources and available housing options. This will have a drastic effect on rural dwelling elderly individuals and their access to the healthcare and other resources. Many aging individuals want to remain in their homes, communities, and social circles. Remaining in one's home is more cost effective, compared to skilled nursing and assisted living facilities …

A Group Protocol For Individuals With High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder: Transitioning Into College, Annika Eckholm, Karol Santistevan

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: The numbers for young adults with a disability transitioning to college are increasing yearly (U.S. Department of Education, National Center of Education Statistics, 2016). Changes and transitioning to the college context is particularly challenging for individuals with high functioning autism (HFA) (Elias & White, 2017; Wehman et al., 2014). The purpose of this scholarly project was to develop a group protocol as a resource for young adult students with HFA to transition successfully in a college setting.

Methodology: A literature review was conducted on topics relating to individuals with HFA, success and barriers to college, effective interventions …

Aquatic Therapy For Occupational Therapy Education And Practice, Emily L. Lablanc, Megan L. Lauck

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: With injuries, diseases and various conditions occurring daily among millions of Americans, the need for therapeutic intervention is steadily growing, as indicated by The American Occupational Therapy Association (2017a). Aquatic therapy is a unique practice that may be utilized across multiple healthcare professionals to benefit clients with a variety of conditions. Occupational therapists are qualified to perform aquatic techniques with clients in the pool; however, aquatic therapy is rarely utilized in occupational therapy practice (Franken, Mische Lawson & Santalucia, 2013). The problem may be derived from the lack of knowledge from occupational therapy students and entry-level practitioners regarding …

Educational Materials For Implementation Of Cognitive Interventions Across Practice Settings, Ashlyn Grindberg, Nicholas Wahlstrand

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to develop educational materials for the UND occupational therapy (OT) program to address cognitive strategies for intervention across populations.

Methods: A literature review was conducted to determine the need for our product. The review of literature included the role of OT in functional cognition, use of cognitive intervention strategies with populations, and specific frames of references used in OT practice settings. It was found that new OT practitioners did not feel prepared to address cognitive deficits across populations when moving from one setting to another.

Results: The Adult Learning Theory …

The 12-Steps Of Alcoholics Anonymous: A Guide For Occupational Therapists, Jena Roeber, Jillian Schaeffer

Occupational Therapy Capstones

A 2016 survey conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) found that 15.1 million people ages 12 and older had alcohol use disorder. An estimated 2.2 million people 12 years old or older in 2016 received specialized treatment in the past year, which represents about 10.6 percent of the people in need of treatment (SAMHSA, 2016). Occupational therapy offers a unique role that can be utilized in the treatment of individuals with alcohol use disorder. Wasmuth, Crabtree, and Scott (2014) suggest that occupational therapy can be unique in substance use rehabilitation as real-life activities in natural …

A Case Report: Physical Therapy Management Of A 25-Year-Old Female Experiencing A Whiplash Injury And Low Back Pain, Carmen Stanhope

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose. There is a prevalence of whiplash mechanism injuries affecting the cervical spine following motor vehicle accidents. The approximate incidence in Western societies for whiplash associated disorder is 1 case for every 1,000 people in the population. The purpose of this case study is to describe the physical therapy examination, evaluation, diagnosis, prognosis, and interventions used in the treatment of a patient with whiplash associated disorder.

Case Description. This case study describes the clinical presentation, physical therapy intervention, and outcomes of a young adult female following a rear end motor vehicle accident (MVA). The patient presented …

Barefoot Training: Effect On Lateral Pelvic Drop And Emg Activity Of Gluteus Medius And Tfl, Hailey Brinkman, Anna Yanchek, Esley Thorton

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Purpose/Hypothesis: Exercise has been widely accepted for its key role in disease prevention and promotion of healthy lifestyle. Due to its relative ease and low cost, running continues to be one of the most popular forms of exercise today. Although running can have a significant impact on disease prevention, injury prevalence in running is high. Barefoot running is a relatively new form of exercise that has gained popularity amongst the running community. However, enhancing muscular activity at the hip is a rehabilitation strategy, which may reduce lower extremity injury. Research investigating the hip muscle activity and movement with barefoot …

Physical Therapy Intervention In A Patient With West Nile Meningitis: A Case Approach, Kelsie Gunnufson

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose. West Nile Virus (WNV) is a neurotropic virus capable of causing damage of varying severity. WNV is commonly transmitted to humans from mosquitoes and is most prevalent in the months of August and September due to the method of transmission. The WNV can produce mild systemic symptoms classified as West Nile Fever (WNF). However, it can progress and infiltrate the nervous system, at which point the virus is categorized as neuroinvasive. One classification is West Nile Meningitis (WNM) that involves infection and inflammation of the meninges or coverings surrounding the brain and spinal cord. There is …

Impact Of A Community-Based Rock Steady Boxing Program For People With Parkinson's Disease: A Pilot Study, Katerina Hoime, Rachel Klein, Jamie Maciejewski, Molly Nienhuis

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Purpose/Hypothesis: High-intensity physical exercise has been shown to be beneficial in managing motor and nonmotor symptoms of Parkinson's Disease (PD). Exercise may also have global effects on factors that influence brain health and cognition. Programs that incorporate goal-based motor skill learning have shown promise in being more effective than aerobic exercise alone. People with PD have a need for ongoing, continuous, community-based exercise programs that are engaging and accessible. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a community-based exercise program, Rock Steady Boxing, on improving quality of life and physical mobility skills in people with …

Effects Of Physical Therapy On An Elderly Patient With L5-S1 Radiculopathy: A Case Study, Mackenzie Mears

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose. Low back pain is a major disabling diagnosis for adults over 60 with 36-70% suffering from this condition. There is little research demonstrating the effectiveness of physical therapy on the outcome of older patients with a lumbar disc herniation resulting in lumbosacral radiculopathy. The purpose of this scholarly project is to use a case report to explore the effectiveness of physical therapy in elderly patients with lumbosacral radiculopathy as the result of a L5-S1 disc herniation.

Case Description. The case study reviews an 81-year-old male who presented to physical therapy with insidious onset of left …

Treatment Post Total Knee Arthroplasty With Common Peroneal Nerve Palsy, Megan Berndt

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Introduction. With more than 600,000 knee replacements performed each year in the United States, functional exercise is necessary post-surgery. Patients who undergo knee replacements often attend physical therapy after surgery, which has been found to have significant effects on functional outcomes. In rare cases, patients experience a post-surgical complication of common peroneal nerve palsy (CPNP), and interventions must be adjusted based on the patient's specific needs.

Purpose. This is a case report describing the interventions for a patient with a right total knee arthroplasty ([R] TKA), multiple co-morbidities, and a post-surgical complication of CPNP.

Methods. A 78-year-old …

The Combined Effects Of Physical Therapy And Music Therapy For An Older Adult With Chronic Left-Sided Hemiparesis: A Case Report, Nicholas Holkup, Scott Syverson

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose: Stroke and other disorders that involve the neurological system can have adverse effects such as hemiparesis, spasticity, hypertonicity, and gait and balance deficits. Due to neurological disorders being so prevalent, proper rehabilitative treatments are necessary to return to a functional lifestyle. Multiple approaches across the therapy spectrum have been utilized, but rarely are these therapeutic approaches completed concurrently among different disciplines. The purpose of this case report is to address the interdisciplinary co-treatment by students of music therapy and physical therapy for a patient exhibiting chronic left-sided hemiparesis.

Case Description: This case report describes a …

Secondary Stroke Prevention And Support: An Occupational Therapy Program, Kaitlyn Bosch, Jamie St. Germain

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Many individuals in the United States experience a recurrent stroke and evidence suggests that strokes, primary and secondary, could be prevented through lifestyle modifications. The objective of the scholarly project was to develop an occupational therapy (OT) led secondary stroke prevention program to address modifiable risk factors for stroke. A literature review was conducted to identify research to support development of this program. Based on the review of literature and through the use of the Model of Human Occupation, The Secondary Stroke Prevention and Support: An Occupational Therapy Program was designed to address competence in the occupational role of managing …

A Review Of Community Aging In Place Programs To Minimize Social Isolation In Older Adults, Heather J. Goodwater, Joanna M. Yutrzenka

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The aging baby boomer population calls for new solutions to enable older Americans to age in place in their communities of choice. Nine out of ten adults age 50 and older prefer to remain in their homes indefinitely as they age, or as long as they possibly can (Gonyea, & Burnes, 2013). However, program funding that supports aging in place does not come close to keeping pace with the rapid growth of the 65 and older population (American Institutes for Research, 2016). There are a limited number of programs in place to address socialization in community-dwelling older adults. The prevalence …

The S.P.I.R.I.T. Program: Spirituality Promotion Interdependence Resiliency Inclusive Therapy, Alycia Heisler, Brianna Safranski

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: Native American children and adolescents are some of the most underserved people in the United States (Warzak, Dogan, & Godfrey, 2011). Common mental health problems this population typically experiences are depression, suicidal thoughts or ideation, traumatic experiences, substance use, and results of historical trauma (Brockie, Dana-Sarco, Wallen, Wilcox, & Campbell, 2015). They have the highest rates of these mental health problems, more than any other ethnic group (Evans-Campbell, Walters, Pearson, & Campbell, 2012). There is a need for preventative programs to be implemented with elementary school-aged Native American children and adolescents (Ohl, Mitchell, Cassidy, & Fox, 2008; Stigler, …

Occupational Therapy Practice Trends For Occupations Impacted By Puberty In Children With Asd, Sydney Larson, Kelsey Hemberger

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Introduction: Adolescents face physical, social, cognitive, and emotional changes during the developmental stage of puberty. Pubertal changes can be difficult for neurotypical adolescents to cope with, but especially for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Specifically, adolescents with ASD experience challenges with adapting to physical and emotional changes, managing new hygiene routines, abiding to social norms, and inappropriate sexual behaviors (Beddows & Brooks, 2016; Cridland, Caputi, Jones, & Magee, 2015; Cridland, Jones, Caputi, & Magee, 2014). While occupational therapy plays a role in helping adolescents with ASD, a lack of occupational therapy literature on this topic leads to unknown …

Exercise Therapy For Chronic Low Back Pain, Jeanmarie Dahl

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is currently ranked as the 13th most frequent diagnosis in family practice (DynaMed Plus, 2017). Unfortunately, the severe nature of this pain leads providers to prescribe opiates for these patients. Opiates are effective for short term pain management but they have a significant side effect profile. Other forms of management for CLBP need to be identified and utilized. The purpose of this study was to determine the role exercise therapy plays in the treatment and management of patients with chronic low back pain.

A literature review was conducted in order to find high quality systematic …

Conservative Treatment Of A 58 Year-Old Male Referred To Physical Therapy With A Knee Sprain And Knee Osteoarthritis, Chase Pruitt

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a common condition in people over 50. Although there may be an association between acute knee injuries and knee OA later in life, the occurrence of acute knee injuries in patients with existing OA is less clear. The purpose of this case study is to evaluate the effectiveness of an impairment based therapy program in an individual with an acute knee injury and knee OA.

Case Description: This case follows a 57 year old male referred to physical therapy with an acute knee sprain and tri-compartmental knee OA. Treatment lasted 7 sessions …

A Case Report: Outpatient Physical Therapy Treatment Of A Patient With Unilateral Medial And Posterior Knee Pain And Osteoarthritis, Joseph T. Griffin

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background & purpose: Meniscus tears are commonly considered to be associated with a traumatic event, but the degenerative nature of osteoarthritis can also damage the cartilage. As meniscal tears are a common orthopedic pathology, choosing the correct treatment can be difficult and involve several factors. Current treatment options include partial or total meniscectomy, meniscal repair, or conservative management. There is growing research supporting the effectiveness in non-operative management of degenerative meniscal tears (DMT). The purpose of this case report was to investigate the non-operative management of a 47-year-old male with a unilateral DMT combined with osteoarthritis.

Case description: …

An Epidemiological Study Of Pediatric Sports And Recreational Injuries Reporting To The Emergency Room In Grand Forks, Nd, Carly Bertsch, Lucas Dolan

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

PROBLEM: The purpose of this research study is to evaluate the emergency room records from Altru Health System in Grand Forks, ND from 2011-2015 to find trends in pediatric injuries from the ages of 0-19. The justification for the study is to provide Grand Forks with information about the frequency and distribution of pediatric sports and recreational injuries. No injury surveillance system has been implemented to monitor youth injuries, but his study is a continuation of a previous 10-year study and the combining of the two time frames would result in a 15-year compilation of data. By using descriptive data …

The Effect Of Socket Tightness In Femur Stability In A Hifi Socket, Mary Bachman, Alicia Beckel, Amanda Belyaks

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose: The introduction of the High-Fidelity (HiFi) interface was developed to help increase the intimacy of the prosthetic interface by using a series of alternating zones of tissue compression and release. The purpose of this study was to utilize motion analysis to measure the stability of the femur in individuals with trans-femoral amputation that utilize the HiFi socket for ambulation.

Methods: The subject was a 62 year old Caucasian female. She had a trans-femoral amputation 35 years prior due to a diagnosis of cancer located in the bone of her femur. Data collection was done with …

Emg Of Serratus Anterior, Upper, Middle, And Lower Trapezius During Glenohumeral Abduction In A Participant With Scapular Dyskinesia: A Case Study, Daniel Garcia, Trevor Roppel, Mekenzie Scheresky, Shane Omdahl

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Introduction and Purpose. The purpose of this case study was to examine the differences in muscle activation between the upper trapezius, middle trapezius, lower trapezius and serratus anterior in a participant with scapular dyskinesia.

Methods. EMG activity was recorded using a Noraxon TeleMyo DTS telemetry unit with a sampling rate of 1 kHz. EMG data was recorded during three different speeds of shoulder abduction. Four scapular muscles were monitored bilaterally during the experiment. The muscles that were monitored included the upper trapezius, middle trapezius, lower trapezius and serratus anterior. The subject was also captured on video using the NiNox 125/250 …

The Co-Treatment Of Physical Therapy And Music Therapy And Its Effect On Parkinson's Disease: A Multidisciplinary Approach, Kayli Muckenhirn, Laura Whiteley

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background. A multidisciplinary approach combining physical therapy and music therapy can improve functional mobility in individuals with Parkinson's Disease.

Objective. The authors studied whether a multidisciplinary approach of PT and MT would reduce the primary symptoms associated with PD.

Methods. In a single subject design, one patient participated in the following interventions; seated activities, task-specific training, balance and posture, pre-gait activities, and gait activities. The patient was evaluated on the first, mid-term, and last days of treatment. Evaluations included the Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-39 (PDQ-39), Freezing of Gait Questionnaire (FOGQ), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Timed-Up-and-Go (TUG), Five Times …

Association Of Generalized Joint Hypermobility And The Occurrence Of Musculoskeletal Work-Related Injury In The First Zero To Five Years Of Physical Therapy Practice: A Pilot Study, Mikelle Fetsch, Ashley Naas, Amanda Slaikeu

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background: Previous research has shown that there is greater prevalence of work-related injuries for Physical Therapists in their early years of practice. However, little evidence has focused on the correlation with the high physical strain and stress of the job to the rate of injury occurrence. Hypermobility has also been researched in regards to an increased risk of sustaining an injury, but no correlation has been found between hypermobility and work-related injury in Physical Therapists.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a correlation between hypermobility and work-related injury occurrence in the first …

Effects Of Walking Poles On Posture And Gait, Kate Darnell, Tatum Hall, Sadie Hefta, Jessica Lynch, Jenna Sagedahl, Nicole Salfer

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

INTRODUCTION: Walking poles have become increasingly popular not only as a tool for exercising, but also as an assistive device. Physical Therapists use them to assist patients with balance during ambulation. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to look at the effects of walking poles on gait speed and posture. METHODS: This study included 60 community ambulators between 21-74 years old (19 males and 41 females), seen for a single session. Participants were fitted for walking poles and given a 3-minute warm-up period to become comfortable with them. A 10 Meter Walk Test (10 MWT) was …

The Efficacy Of Hippotherapy For Physical Rehabilitation: A Systematic Review, Megan Hilgers, Haley Nielsen

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: The purpose of this scholarly project is to examine existing literature pertaining to hippotherapy and conditions impacting physical health through completion of a systematic review. According to the American Hippotherapy Association (AHA, 2017), hippotherapy is defined as “how occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology professionals use evidence-based practice and clinical reasoning in the purposeful manipulation of equine movement to engage sensory, neuromotor, and cognitive systems to achieve functional outcomes” (What is Hippotherapy, para. 1). Hippotherapy was initially cited in occupational therapy practice in the 1980’s, but minimal attention and research have been applied to the topic as …

An Occupational Therapy Perspective Of A School-Based Suicide Prevention Program With A Peer-Mentorship Emphasis, Maddie Bjornstad, Karyssa Kimery

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in adolescents today (Pisani et al., 2012; Katz et al., 2013). Zalsman et al. (2016), reported the recognition of suicide prevention as a public health priority has helped to encourage research, detection, treatment, and management of individuals at risk for suicide, however the implementation of proven, evidence-based, and cost-effective strategies are the duty of public health policy makers and healthcare providers. Occupational therapists are trained to help individuals determine what occupations are meaningful and completed in order to feel a sense of self-efficacy, therefore occupational therapy can play a critical role …