Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

Age, Frequency, And Precautions In Relation To Stimulation In The Nicu, Kathleen Nickens, Ceara Fauble

Occupational Therapy Graduate Student Evidenced-Based Research Reviews

In a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), occupational therapists work with infants and their families to provide the appropriate stimulation and environmental adaptations necessary for growth and development. Occupational therapists are utilized in the NICU setting to contribute to a multidisciplinary approach, as well as focus holistically on an infant’s neurobehavioral development, sensorimotor regulation, and developmentally-appropriate occupations. One key component of an occupational therapist’s role in the NICU is determining appropriate stimulation in regards to their gestational age and providing protocols to prevent overstimulation.

Inter-Rater Reliability: Wrist Goniometer Placement, Jamie Hain, Kelli Turner

Occupational Therapy Graduate Student Evidenced-Based Research Reviews

A 26-year-old female client sustained a right distal radius fracture due to a fall on an outstretched hand (FOOSH) while riding her bike with her dog two weeks ago. She had an open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) and now has limited range of motion (ROM) in both her right wrist and hand. ROM measurements were completed in order to accurately determine her progress in therapy. Correct goniometer placement is of great importance when making clinical decisions and when looking at overall therapy outcomes.

Pediatric Constraint Induced Movement Therapy Protocols For Hemiplegia, Christina Fisher, Brittany Newton

Occupational Therapy Graduate Student Evidenced-Based Research Reviews

In a variety of settings, the OT works with children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy (CP). Hemiplegic CP often affects sensation, perception, cognition, communication, and motor movements. These skills impact participation in home, school, community life, and activities of daily living (ADLs) such as grooming, dressing, and feeding. The OT has the responsibility to decide the most effective way to allocate treatment. Constraint induced movement therapy has been shown to improve developmental disuse in the effected upper extremity. As there are many variations of this intervention, the OT wants to know what is the most effective type, frequency, duration, and intensity …

Pediatric Constraint Induced Movement Therapy Vs. Bimanual Training For Hemiplegia, Heather Duyck

Occupational Therapy Graduate Student Evidenced-Based Research Reviews

Sarah is a five year old girl diagnosed with congenital hemiplegia from cerebral palsy. Her right side is affected, and she has no intellectual disabilities. While her parents want her to start first grade in the fall, they are worried about her ability to do well in the classroom because she is right handed. As her occupational therapist, you are interested in whether pediatricconstraint induced movement therapy (pCIMT) or bimanual training (BIT) would be a more effective treatment plan for Sarah.

Effective Utilization Of Progressive Mobility Programs In Medical Intensive Care Units (Micu’S), Abby Davis, Megan Palczewski

Occupational Therapy Graduate Student Evidenced-Based Research Reviews

In medical intensive care units (MICU’s), the OT frequently works with clients who are in the early stages of mobility. Clients with orders of bed rest are at heightened risk to co-morbid conditions that significantly impact client health. The OT plays an important role in the mobility process, and wants to know the most effective utilization of progressive mobility programs. The OT is ideally interested in their role in the progressive mobility process.

Examining Sensory Processing Tools For A School System, Rachel Chaney, Lisa Wilkey

Occupational Therapy Graduate Student Evidenced-Based Research Reviews

A child with sensory processing issues leads a life that differs significantly from typically developing children. There are numerous types of sensations that children encounter every day in different environments, especially in school. If a child does not process the incoming stimuli correctly then their motor response is affected. As a result of this, the child is unable to perform to their fullest potential in school. The Sensory Profile (SP) and the Sensory Processing Measure (SPM) are two tools that help assess sensory processing.

Best Practices In Weaning Children Off Tube Feeds To Oral Intake, Kylie Abernathy, Andrea Newton

Occupational Therapy Graduate Student Evidenced-Based Research Reviews

In an outpatient pediatric clinic, the multidisciplinary team frequently works with the child to promote oral intake. Assessments and questionnaires were utilized to identify challenges faced by the client ability to properly intake food. The OT was approached by the child’s family to help meet their feeding goals to make mealtime more enjoyable. As the OT is generally not involved in the act of proper weaning technique, they are interested in what steps they can take to provide the family with support and to develop subsequent feeding skills.family with support and to develop subsequent feeding skills. family with support and …

Addressing Ataxia Among Children With Cerebellar Disorders, Maureen Mcconville, Shane O’Shea

Occupational Therapy Graduate Student Evidenced-Based Research Reviews

Valerie is a 7-year-old girl who presents with cerebellar ataxia, causing lack of coordination in her movements. Among dysmetria, she displays many other symptoms of ataxia that cause dysfunction in her daily life such as clumsy gait and dysdiadochokinesia. She is unable to control her arms and hands. Valerie has difficulty with bilateral tasks of her upper and lower extremities. Valerie’s Occupational Therapist is determined to help improve her symptoms but is limited in specific interventions designed to help ataxia. The occupational therapist is interested in determining the most effective treatment for improving upper extremity function in children with ataxia.

An Effective Cognition Assessment In Ventilated Patients, Gabrielle Lober, Rachel Walker

Occupational Therapy Graduate Student Evidenced-Based Research Reviews

No abstract provided.

Functional Electrical Stimulation Compared To Stretching/Strengthening Interventions For The Multiple Sclerosis Individual, Kara Johnsen, Jessica Tariske

Occupational Therapy Graduate Student Evidenced-Based Research Reviews

In an outpatient clinic for adults, the OT frequently works with clients diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Personalized interventions that include stretching and strengthening to maintain UE function are typically used for this clientele within this setting. The OT has seen results with UE stretching and strengthening but is curious to know if there are any other interventions that can be used with his MS patients in order to maintain function. The therapist has looked into a new intervention of functional electrical stimulation. FMES is an emerging intervention that is being used to strengthen muscles through electrical impulses. Repetitive muscle contractions …

Developing A Data Repository Of Standard Concussion Assessment Clinical Data For Research Involving College Athletes, Arthur C. Maerlender, Jennifer Mize Nelson, Julie A. Honaker

Center for Brain, Biology, and Behavior: Faculty Publications

In sports concussion research, obtaining quality data from a sufficient number of participants to reach statistical power has been a particular problem. In addition, the necessary requirements of accessibility, informed consent, and confidentiality must be met. There is need to develop more efficient and controlled methods for collecting data to answer research questions in this realm, but the ability to collect and store these data in an efficient manner at the local level is limited. By virtue of their training, neuropsychologists can play a key role in improving data collection quality. The purpose of this paper is to describe a …

The Effectiveness Of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy On Burns And Scars, Brandon Lubish, Patrick Yee

Occupational Therapy Graduate Student Evidenced-Based Research Reviews

In an outpatient clinic, an occupational therapist is treating a client who has recently suffered a thermal burn on his left forearm 2 weeks prior to the session. The therapist wants to know if Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT) would be an appropriate treatment for their client to improve healing, appearance and mobility of the scar.

Sling Use With The Flaccid Upper Extremity: Central Nervous System Brain Injury, Cameron Guster, Brittany Domin

Occupational Therapy Graduate Student Evidenced-Based Research Reviews

In the acute care setting, an occupational therapist often evaluates and treats patients after a central nervous system (CNS) brain injury. There are many intervention strategies used to help treat these conditions. Slings are most commonly used short-term with patients who present with a flaccid upper extremity. The main concern is the efficacy for the sling use with patients who fall under this diagnosis.

The Effectiveness Of Compression Gloves For Reducing Hand Edema, Colleen Pastunink, Ryan Steele

Occupational Therapy Graduate Student Evidenced-Based Research Reviews

Sally is a 72-year-old Caucasian female. She is 8 weeks post left Cerebral Vascular Accident (CVA) which resulted in left hemiparesis and expressive aphasia. She has now been discharged to home and is to attend outpatient therapy twice per week for 12 weeks. Prior to her stroke, Sally was independent in all self-care activities and was very socially active in her community. During an initial occupational therapy evaluation, therapists report that Sally is independent in all transfers and ambulates with the use of a quad cane. Circumferential measurements were taken during evaluation of the right upper extremity secondary to the …

Efficacy Of Eye Patching In Post-Stroke Patients, Ann Marta, Elizabeth Kos

Occupational Therapy Graduate Student Evidenced-Based Research Reviews

The question is in regards to occupational therapy in an acute care setting. The treatment team is considering eye patching as a treatment for post stroke victims suffering from visual field deficits. They are interested in how eye patching can improve the effectiveness and use of the affected visual field. The team is also interested in having better long term outcomes for their patients.

Three-Year Trajectories Of Global Perceived Quality Of Life For Youth With Chronic Health Conditions, Janette Mcdougall, David J. Dewit, Megan Nichols, Linda Miller, F. Virginia Wright

Occupational Therapy Publications

Purpose Objectives of this longitudinal study were to examine 3-year trajectories of global perceived quality of life (QOL) for youth with chronic health conditions, as obtained from youth and parent reports, and to identify personal and environmental factors associated with the trajectory groups for each perspective.

Methods Youth with various chronic conditions aged 11–17 years and one of their parents were recruited from eight children’s treatment centers. Latent class growth analysis was used to investigate perceived QOL trajectories (separately for youth and parent perspectives) over a 3-year period (four data collection time points spaced 12 months apart). Multinomial logistic regression …

Development Of The Motivation Assessment For Team Readiness, Integration, And Collaboration (Matricx) Self-Scored Report Form: A Qualitative Study On Translating Measurement Findings For Team Development, John Liu Jr.

Doctor of Occupational Therapy Capstone Projects

The Motivation Assessment for Team Readiness, Integration, and Collaboration (MATRICx) has been shown to provide information on intrapersonal readiness to collaborate within a team. This study aims to understand and develop an innovative approach to presenting a self-scoring format for the MATRICx and to determine how results of the assessment tool could be interpreted to understand individual motivation in collaborative healthcare and biomedical teams. The MATRICx Report Form is a self-scoring version of the MATRICx that can help users interpret their own motivational profile. A qualitative study was conducted to examine user’s experience with the report form, ways of interpreting …

State Agency Promising Practice: Colorado’S Ad Hoc Committee On Employment And Community Participation, Jean Winsor, Thinkwork! At The Institute For Community Inclusion At Umass Boston

ThinkWork! Publications

The Ad Hoc Committee on Employment and Community Participation began meeting in the winter of 2004 in an effort to promote integrated employment opportunities for people with disabilities in Colorado. The committee was comprised of representatives from the Division for Developmental Disabilities (DDD) administration; the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation; local Community Centered Boards (private nonprofit organizations responsible for authorizing services); advocacy groups; and self-advocates, parents, and service providers.

Lean Mass Predicts Conditioned Pain Modulation In Adolescents Across Weight Status, Stacy Stolzman, Marie K. Hoeger Bement

Physical Therapy Faculty Research and Publications

Background

There is a wide continuum of conditioned pain modulation (CPM) in adults with older adults experiencing an attenuated CPM response compared with younger adults. Less is known for adolescents and the role of anthropometrics.

Methods

Fifty-six adolescents (15.1 ± 1.8 years; 32 normal weight and 24 overweight/obese; 27 boys) completed in a CPM session that included anthropometric testing. Pressure pain thresholds were measured at the nailbed and deltoid muscle (test stimuli) with the foot submerged in a cool or ice water bath (conditioning stimulus). Weight status, body composition (Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan), physical activity levels and clinical pain were …

Only Women Report Increase In Pain Threshold Following Fatiguing Contractions Of The Upper Extremity, Kathy J. Lemley, Jonathon Senefeld, Sandra K. Hunter, Marie K. Hoeger Bement

Physical Therapy Faculty Research and Publications

Purpose

The perception of pain in response to a noxious stimulus can be markedly reduced following an acute bout of exercise [exercise-induced hypoalgesia (EIH)]. Sex differences in EIH frequently occur after exercise but may be confounded by the sex differences in muscle fatigue. The purpose was to determine if sex differences in pain relief occur after an exercise protocol when muscle fatigue is similar for both young and older men and women.

Methods

Pain perception of 33 men (15 young) and 31 women (19 young) was measured using a pressure pain stimulus on the left index finger before and after …

Technology And Opportunity: People With Serious Mental Illness And Social Connection, Lisa Townsend, Allison Zippay, Kyle Caler, Bradley Forenza

Department of Social Work and Child Advocacy Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Objective: Little information exists regarding how individuals with serious mental illness use technology and whether this usage facilitates social connections. This study contributes to filling this knowledge gap by examining ways in which a sample of persons with serious mental illness use cell phones and the Internet. Methods: Interviews with 50 consumers living in supported housing were asked about their use of cell phones and computers and their perceptions of social connections. Results: Cell phones and computers allowed greater linkage with social, medical, mental health, and employment resources. Nearly all obtained phones through publicly funded programs. “Running out of minutes” …

Encoding Of Saltatory Tactile Velocity In The Adult Orofacial Somatosensory System, Rebecca Custead

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Processing dynamic tactile inputs is a key function of somatosensory systems. Spatial velocity encoding mechanisms by the nervous system are important for skilled movement production and may play a role in recovery of motor function following neurological insult. Little is known about tactile velocity encoding in trigeminal networks associated with mechanosensory inputs to the face, or the consequences of movement.

High resolution functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to investigate the neural substrates of velocity encoding in the human orofacial somatosensory system during unilateral saltatory pneumotactile inputs to perioral hairy skin in 20 healthy adults. A custom multichannel, scalable …

Response Shift And Functional Outcomes In Individuals With Chronic Ankle Instability, Cameron J. Powden

Health Services Research Dissertations

Ankle sprains are one of the most common injuries sustained by those who are physically active. One in three individuals will develop a condition known as chronic ankle instability (CAI) after suffering a single ankle sprain. These individuals suffer from recurrent bouts of ankle instability, residual symptoms, and a myriad of other mechanical and functional impairments as well as health-related quality of life (HRQL) deficits. Due to the abundance of health consequences associated with this condition it is imperative to establish evidence based interventions that are focused on restoring function and HRQL to pre-injury statuses.

The overarching purpose of this …

Student Perceptions Of Scholarly Writing, Shirley P. O'Brien, Dory Marken, Kelsey B. Petrey

EKU Faculty and Staff Scholarship

Learning the process of scholarly writing, including the significance of peer review, is an essential element in the preparation of students for professional practice. This descriptive research study, using Scholarship of Teaching and Learning methodology, explores one approach to teaching scholarly writing in an occupational science/occupational therapy curriculum. The writing assignment was designed to offer multiple points for feedback and revision and instructional features to reinforce learning. A survey of students [n = 169] participating in this scholarly writing project was conducted yearly to gather their perceptions of learning. The results revealed four key elements: instructional strategies are needed …

Managing Anxiety In Clinical Supervision, Hung-Jen Kuo, Trenton J. Landon, Annemarie Connor, Roy K. Chen

School of Rehabilitation Services & Counseling Faculty Publications

Anxiety impacts both learning and performance. While the literature is replete with portrayals of the anxious student in clinical training, close examination of practical techniques to manage anxiety and its impacts on both supervisee and supervisor is lacking. This article examines the nature and sources of anxiety, instruments used to measure and track anxiety, and interventions for managing anxiety in clinical supervisory relationships. Skilled management of anxiety within the supervisory dyad fosters optimal learning and performance. Supervisors should seek out supervision trainings specific to interventions in managing anxiety and fostering professional counselor development.

Can Gait Signatures Provide Quantitative Measures For Aiding Clinical Decision-Making? A Systematic Meta-Analysis Of Gait Variability Behavior In Patients With Parkinson’S Disease, Niklas König Ignasiak

Physical Therapy Faculty Articles and Research

A disturbed, inconsistent walking pattern is a common feature of patients with Parkinson's disease (PwPD). Such extreme variability in both temporal and spatial parameters of gait has been associated with unstable walking and an elevated prevalence of falls. However, despite their ability to discretise healthy from pathological function, normative variability values for key gait parameters are still missing. Furthermore, an understanding of each parameter's response to pathology, as well as the inter-parameter relationships, has received little attention. The aim of this systematic literature review and meta-analysis was therefore to define threshold levels for pathological gait variability as well as to …

Cuestionario De Proceso Sensorial En Adultos: Comparación De Resultados Entre Población De Usa Y De Chile: Resultados Preliminares/Sensory Processing Questionnaire In Adults: Comparison Of Results Between Usa And Chile Population: Preliminary Results, Silvia Gómez, Megan Chang, Dianne Parham, Erna Imperatore

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Spanish: Existen escasos estudios sobre la forma de evaluar el proceso sensorial en adultos; una de estas formas es el uso de perfil sensorial desarrollado por Brown y Dunn en el año 2002, aplicable tanto para la población infantil como adulta de habla inglesa. Hasta el momento no existe una evaluación de procesamiento sensorial del adulto validada en castellano. En base a estos antecedentes, el principal objetivo de este estudio es validar la construcción interna de una escala de procesamiento sensorial en el adulto a través del Cuestionario del Proceso Sensorial del Adulto (CPSA) con una población de habla hispana, …

Muscle Activation Differs Between Three Different Knee Joint-Angle Positions During A Maximal Isometric Back Squat Exercise, Paulo Henrique Marchetti, Josinaldo Jarbas Da Silva, Brad J. Schoenfeld, Priscyla Silva Monteiro Nardi, Silvio Luis Pecoraro, Julia Maria D'Andrea Greve, Erin Hartigan

Publications and Research

The purpose of this study was to compare muscle activation of the lower limb muscles when performing a maximal isometric back squat exercise over three different positions. Fifteen young, healthy, resistance-trained men performed an isometric back squat at three knee joint angles (20∘, 90∘, and 140∘) in a randomized, counterbalanced fashion. Surface electromyography was used to measure muscle activation of the vastus lateralis (VL), vastus medialis (VM), rectus femoris (RF), biceps femoris (BF), semitendinosus (ST), and gluteusmaximus (GM). In general,muscle activity was the highest at 90∘ for the three quadricepsmuscles, yet differences in muscle activation between knee angles were muscle …

Exploring The Occupation Of Dating For Young Women Living In Ireland, Karen Mccarthy, Jeanne Jackson

Collected Faculty Scholarship

Background:
The discipline of occupational science has called for an increase in research focusing on the study of occupations. Gray (1997) stated that occupational therapy could benefit from “a more profound understanding of the essence of occupation” (p. 15). Dickie (2003) argues that “one way to achieve this understanding is to examine occupations directly” (p. 120).
Dating is an occupation that has not been examined directly and has recently undergone rapid changes in its practice. Although occupational science research has been done on mate selection (Krishnagiri, 1996), there is a dearth of literature exploring the actual activities surrounding mate selection, …

Feasibility Of Conducting A Web-Based Survey Of Patient-Reported Outcomes And Rehabilitation Progress, Jennifer S. Howard, Jenny L. Toonstra, Amanda R. Meade, Caitlin E. Whale Conley, Carl G. Mattacola

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

Background: Web-based surveys provide an efficient means to track clinical outcomes over time without the use of clinician time for additional paperwork. Our purpose was to determine the feasibility of utilizing web-based surveys to capture rehabilitation compliance and clinical outcomes among postoperative orthopedic patients. The study hypotheses were that (a) recruitment rate would be high (> 90%), (b) patients receiving surveys every two weeks would demonstrate higher response rates than patients that receive surveys every four weeks, and (c) response rates would decrease over time.

Methods: The study design involved a longitudinal cohort. Surgical knee patients were recruited for study …