Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

Investigating Immersive Augmented Reality As A Rehabilitation Tool For Parkinson Disease, Danielle M. Bell Boucher

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Physical rehabilitation programs are often prescribed in an effort to maintain range of motion, and to adapt strategies for managing the debilitating symptoms of Parkinson disease (PD) in everyday life. An emerging trend to overcome the limitations of traditional rehabilitation is the use of virtual reality technologies. IThe goal of the present study was to determine the feasibility of augmented reality technology (IAR) in a rehabilitative setting. Three IAR environments were designed and a corresponding task was completed in each one. Not surprisingly, the control group generally performed better than the PD group on the tasks. All participants typically performed …

Perceptual Correlates Of Acoustic Measures Of Vocal Variability, Bree Ann Cumbers

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated relationships between acoustic measures of vocal variability (pitch sigma, SFF range) and perceptual ratings of vocal variability during a reading task. Fifteen male (19-30 years of age) and nineteen female speakers (20-30 years of age) who were recorded reading the Grandfather Passage provided the stimuli for the listening task. From these samples, 30 were selected as representing a continuum of degrees of vocal variability. Male (N = 15) and female (N = 15) samples were presented to listeners separately. Thirty graduate students in Communication Sciences and Disorders who had a course background in voice supplied the perceptual …

Acoustic Characteristics Of Tense And Lax Vowels Across Sentence Position In Clear Speech, Lindsay Kayne Roesler

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the acoustic characteristics of tense and lax vowels across sentence positions in clear speech. Recordings were made of 12 participants reading monosyllabic target words at varying positions within semantically meaningful sentences. Acoustic analysis was completed to determine the effects of Style (clear vs. conversational), Tenseness (tense vs. lax), and Position (sentence-medial vs. sentence-final) on vowel duration, vowel space area, vowel space dispersion, and vowel peripheralization. The results showed speakers had longer durations and expanded vowel spaces in clear speech for both tense and lax vowels. Importantly, the amount of increase was similar …

The Effects Of Expiratory Muscle Strength Training On Swallowing And Voice Measures In Healthy Older Adults, Adam Follmer

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the effects of a four week expiratory muscle strength training (EMST) exercise program on healthy older adults (65-79 years). The investigators were interested in possible changes to the swallowing and voice production systems, both of which are in the scope of practice for a speech language pathologist. Specific voice variables included maximum phonation time, conversational intensity level, and upper and lower limits of available intensity range. Swallowing variables were related to tongue function and included maximum isometric pressure and mean swallowing pressure. Finally, maximum expiratory pressure was measured as a comparative value to other EMST studies. A …

Cepstral- And Spectral-Based Acoustic Measures Of Normal Voices, Rachel Garrett

Theses and Dissertations

A review of recent literature suggested that cepstral- and spectral-based acoustic measures showed good potential as objective measures of dysphonia for clinical application. However, the small numbers of normal subjects in previous research and wide age ranges prevent a good estimation of the performance of normal speakers of various ages on these measures. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to provide normative data for Long-Term Average spectral- and cepstral-based measures for both men and women in two different age groups to aid clinicians with assessing and treating voice disorders. Sixty participants consisting of fifteen males and fifteen females, ages …

Causes Of Post Stroke Falls Along The Care Continuum: Implications For Improving Patient Safety, Mona Madady

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

In Western countries stroke is responsible for 10-12% of all deaths. In 2000, strokes cost $3.6 billion for the Canadian healthcare system and lost productivity due to premature death and long-term disability. Falls are a frequent occurrence at all stages of post-stroke recovery and can have significant negative impacts. While information about the incidence and risk factors of falling among stroke survivors is available, considerably less is known about the specific factors contributing to falls and the circumstances surrounding these adverse events. The purpose of this project was to identify similarities between systemic factors of falls in stroke survivors across …

Navy Seal Prosthetic Hand, Devon Patrick Augustus

Master's Theses

Prosthetic development recently has focused mainly on myoelectrically controlled electric hands despite a majority of upper extremity amputees actively choosing body powered devices. Myoelectric hands utilize a small electric pulse generated in muscles when flexing as a signal to the hand to close. Finger flexion in these devices is controlled by electromechanical servos, requiring no strength input from the user. Body powered devices use a cable attached to a shoulder harness which causes mechanical closure of the device via tension placed on a control cable by a shoulder shrug motion or arm extension. Outfitting of active duty service personnel has …

Anterior Cervical Decompression And Fusion On Neck Range Of Motion, Pain And Function: A Prospective Analysis, Kate Addis, Jason Longhurst, Bree-Lyn Vom Steeg

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Summary of background data: Intractable cervical radiculopathy secondary to stenosis or herniated nucleus pulposus is commonly treated with an anterior cervical decompression and fusion procedure (ACDF). However, there is little evidence in the literature that demonstrates the impact such surgery has on long term range of motion outcomes

Study Design: Prospective, non--‐experimental.

Objective: The objective of this study was to compare cervical range of motion and patient reported outcomes in patients before and after a 1, 2 or 3 level ACDF.

Patient Sample: 46 patients.

Methods: Patients undergoing an ACDF for cervical radiculopathy had their cervical range …

Is Horticultural Therapy A Safe And Effective Treatment In Reducing Agitation For Dementia Patients In Nursing Homes?, Renee J. Chiodo

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not horticultural therapy is a safe and effective treatment in reducing agitation for dementia patients in nursing homes.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three English language primary studies published between 2008 and 2010.

DATA SOURCES: Two randomized control trials and a case series, which compare horticultural therapy to the use of traditional therapy methods.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: The primary outcome measured in all three studies focus on the level of agitation in dementia patients. Secondary outcomes also included efficacy of sleep as well as level of cognition. …

Is The Use Of Animal Assisted Therapy/Activity Effective In Improving Quality Of Life Through Self-Efficacy, Self-Perceived Health, Sense Of Coherence And Mood?, Kendra B. Keene

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not the use of Animal Assisted Therapy/Activity is effective in improving quality of life through self-efficacy, self-perceived health, sense of coherence and mood.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three English language randomized control trials, two published in 2008, and one published in 2009.

DATA SOURCES: Three randomized, controlled trials comparing Animal Assisted Therapy/Activity to restricted or absent animal contact or alternative control therapy were found using PubMed Health and Cochrane Systematic Reviews.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Depression measured via BDI (Beck Depression Inventory), Anxiety measured via BAI (Beck Anxiety …

A Comparison Of Upper Extremity Function Between Female Breast Cancer Survivors And Healthy Controls: Typical Self- Report Of Function, Motion, Strength And Muscular Endurance, Mary Insana Fisher

Theses and Dissertations--Rehabilitation Sciences

Many women who have experienced breast cancer (BC) report continued impairments in upper extremity (UE) function beyond the time required for normal healing after surgical treatment. Most research supporting this has not made comparisons between survivors of breast cancer (BCS) to a sample of healthy women. This lack of comparison to a healthy cohort prevents an understanding of whether continued deficits in UE function are due to normal aging or the BC treatment.

The purpose of this research was to compare quality of life (QOL) and UE function among long term breast cancer survivors and similar aged women without cancer. …

What Keeps Us Well? Professional Quality Of Life And Career Sustaining Behaviors Of Music Therapy Professionals, Shane C. Swezey

Theses and Dissertations--Music

Self-care can be seen as not only critical for individual professionals, but also for the growth of the helping professions and the quality of care which clients receive. The purpose of this study was to investigate use of career-sustaining behaviors and the levels of professional quality of life in music therapy professionals. This study investigated research questions regarding use of career sustaining behaviors and levels of professional quality of life, the relationship between these variables, the differences in the use of career sustaining behavior by demographics, and the use of music as a self-care strategy.

An online survey was sent …