Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

The High-Level Mobility Assessment Tool (Himat) In Myotonic Dystrophy Type 2: A Case Report, Kim B. Smith, Evan M. Pucillo

Physical Therapy Collection

Myotonic dystrophy type 2 (DM2) is a progressive muscular dystrophy with multi-system manifestations and can affect functional mobility, gait, and balance. Currently, there are few reports of functional outcome measures in this population. This case describes the change in function detected by the High-level Mobility Assessment Tool (HiMAT) and 30-second Chair Stand Test (CST) in a high-functioning adult female with DM2 after physical therapy treatment. The patient’s chief complaint was muscular pain and fatigue that affected activities of daily living (ADLs). Multimodal physical therapy focused on neuromuscular re-education, balance and strength training, patient education, and moderate cardiorespiratory training. Improvements were …

Cannabis Shenanigans: Advocating For The Restoration Of An Effective Treatment Of Pain Following Spinal Cord Injury., Daniel E. Graves, Phd

Department of Rehabilitation Medicine Faculty Papers

Cannabis is an effective treatment for pain following spinal cord injury that should be available to patients and researchers. The major argument against the rescheduling of cannabis is that the published research is not convincing. This argument is disingenuous at best, given that the evidence has been presented and rejected at many points during the political dialog. Moreover, the original decision to criminalize cannabis did not utilize scientific or medical data. There is tension between the needs of a society to protect the vulnerable by restricting the rights of others to live well and with less pain. It is clear …

Leadership: Self-Awareness Of Leadership Styles In Occupational Therapy, Katrina Greathouse, Joseph Gritter, Alexandra Imhoff

Work

Successful organizations and professions depend on quality leadership. However, the literature on leadership in the field of occupational therapy, particularly understanding the effects of self-awareness, is limited. The qualitative, hermeneutic, phenomenological methodology combined with grounded theory analysis utilized in this study, examines the perceived effects of self-awareness of leadership styles on occupational therapy leaders’ decision making. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews, four weeks after the completion of two self-awareness assessments. There were a total of four participants. All participants were occupational therapists and currently held a formal leadership title in the Midwest United States. The data was transcribed verbatim …

The Modified Dynamic Gait Index And Limits Of Stability In Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1, Evan M. Pucillo, Melissa M. Mcintyre, Mary Pautler, Man Hung, Jerry Bounsanga, Maren W. Voss, Heather Hayes, Deanna Dibella, Caren Trujillo, Melissa Dixon, Russell Butterfield, Nicholas E. Johnson

Physical Therapy Collection

INTRODUCTION:

The purpose of this study was to describe and compare the performance of balance and walking tests in relation to self-reported fall history in adults with myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1).

METHODS:

Twenty-two (13 male) participants with DM1 completed, a 6-month fall history questionnaire, the modified Dynamic Gait Index (mDGI), limits of stability (LoS) testing, and 10-m walking tests.

RESULTS:

Mean (SD) falls in 6 months was 3.7 (3.1), and 19 (86%) participants reported at least 1 fall. Significant differences in mDGI scores (P = 0.006) and 10-m fast walking gait velocity (P = 0.02) were found between those …

Framework For Implementation Of A Partial Hospitalization Program, Katelynn Krause, Erin Bachler, Stephanie Moon

Mental Health

This abstract will be available for download after an embargo period

An Electromyography Study Of Muscular Endurance During The Posterior Shoulder Endurance Test, Neil A. Evans, Emily Dressler, Tim Uhl

Physical Therapy Faculty Research

The primary purpose was to determine if there is a difference between the median frequency slopes of 5 posterior shoulder muscles during the initial portion of the Posterior Shoulder Endurance Test (PSET) at the 90⁰ and 135⁰ shoulder abduction positions.

Fifty-five healthy volunteers (31 females) participated. The median frequency of the posterior deltoid (PD), upper trapezius (UT), middle trapezius (MT), lower trapezius (LT), and infraspinatus (INF) was measured during the PSET at 90⁰ and 135⁰ of shoulder abduction. External torque of 13±1 Nm was used for females and 21±1 Nm for males. A fixed effect multi-variable regression model was used …

The Outcomes Of Ot Interventions On The Stress Level Of Parents Experiencing Homelessness And Receiving Services From An Emergency Housing Shelter, Gabriella Ghattas, Sarah Kawsky, Jaime Miller, Danielle Roy

Community Based

This study measures the outcomes of occupational therapy intervention on stress and perceived occupational performance of parents receiving services from an emergency family homeless shelter. Three families each participated in three individualized intervention sessions with occupational therapy students. Researchers utilized a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design using the Parenting Stress Index Short Form (PSI-SF) and the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM). Results were analyzed using Friedman and ANOVA tests. Though generalizability is limited, parenting stress appeared to decrease and occupational performance and satisfaction appeared to increase from pre- to post-intervention. These changes were not statistically significant, but were clinically important as defined …

Families And Employment Of People With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities: Results From A Scoping Study, John Kramer, Jennifer Bose, Jean Winsor, Thinkwork! At The Institute For Community Inclusion At Umass Boston

ThinkWork! Publications

Purpose: Recent policy changes expanding community employment for people with intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD) and awareness of the important role of family members as facilitators of these opportunities motivated this scoping review of the literature on family engagement with the IDD service system.

Methods: Researchers used Arksey and O’Malley’s six-stage scoping review methodology (2005) to map a wide range of literature to discover the resources and strategies available to families supporting people with IDD to find employment; the resources and strategies to support people with IDD and families to develop a vision of employment; and the resources and strategies to support …

An Electromyography Study Of Muscular Endurance During The Posterior Shoulder Endurance Test, Neil A. Evans, Emily Dressler, Timothy L. Uhl

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

The primary purpose was to determine if there is a difference between the median frequency slopes of 5 posterior shoulder muscles during the initial portion of the Posterior Shoulder Endurance Test (PSET) at the 90° and 135° shoulder abduction positions. Fifty-five healthy volunteers (31 females) participated. The median frequency of the posterior deltoid (PD), upper trapezius (UT), middle trapezius (MT), lower trapezius (LT), and infraspinatus (INF) was measured during the PSET at 90° and 135° of shoulder abduction. External torque of 13 ± 1 Nm was used for females and 21 ± 1 Nm for males. A fixed effect multi-variable …

Preoperative Promis Scores Predict Postoperative Promis Score Improvement For Patients Undergoing Hand Surgery, David N. Bernstein, Jeff Houck, Ronald M. Gonzalez, Danielle M. Wilbur, Richard J. Miller, David J. Mitten, Warren C. Hammert

Faculty Publications - College of Physical Therapy

Background: Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) can be used alongside preoperative patient characteristics to set postsurgery expectations. This study aimed to analyze whether preoperative scores can predict significant postoperative PROMIS score improvement. Methods: Patients undergoing hand and wrist surgery with initial and greater than 6-month follow-up PROMIS scores were assigned to derivation or validation cohorts, separating trauma and nontrauma conditions. Receiver operating characteristic curves were calculated for the derivation cohort to determine whether preoperative PROMIS scores could predict postoperative PROMIS score improvement utilizing minimal clinically important difference principles. Results: In the nontrauma sample, patients with baseline Physical Function (PF) …

Associations Of Functional Connectivity And Walking Performance In Multiple Sclerosis, Rachel E. Bollaert, Kyle Poe, Elizabeth A. Hubbard, Robert W. Motl, Lara A. Pilutti, Curtis L. Johnson, Bradley P. Sutton

Exercise Science Faculty Research and Publications

Background

Persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) often demonstrate impaired walking performance, and neuroimaging methods such as resting state functional connectivity. (RSFC) may support a link between central nervous system damage and disruptions in walking.

Objectives

This study examined associations between RSFC in cortical networks and walking performance in persons with MS.

Methods

29 persons with MS underwent 3-T brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and we computed RSFC among 68 Gy matter regions of interest in the brain. Participants completed the Timed 25-foot Walk as a measure of walking performance. We examined associations using partial Pearson product-moment correlation analyses (r …

Phase-Iii, Randomized Controlled Trial Of The Behavioral Intervention For Increasing Physical Activity In Multiple Sclerosis: Project Bipams, Robert W. Motl, Brian M. Sandroff, Brooks C. Wingo, Justin Mccroskey, Lara A. Pilutti, Gary R. Cutter, Rachel E. Bollaert, Edward Mcauley

Exercise Science Faculty Research and Publications

Background

We propose a phase-III, randomized controlled trial (RCT) that examines the effectiveness of a behavioral intervention based on social cognitive theory (SCT) and delivered through the Internet using e-learning approaches for increasing physical activity and secondary outcomes (e.g., symptoms) in a large sample of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) residing throughout the United States.

Methods/design

The proposed phase-III trial will use a parallel group, RCT design that examines the effect of a 6-month behavioral intervention for increasing physical activity and secondarily improving mobility, cognition, symptoms, and quality of life (QOL) in persons with MS. The primary outcome is accelerometer-measured …

The Relationship Between Hypermobile Joints And Tendonitis, Rachel Braden, Nicole Coughlin

Occupational Therapy Graduate Student Evidenced-Based Research Reviews

No abstract provided.

Predicting Gains With Visuospatial Training After Stroke Using An Eeg Measure Of Frontoparietal Circuit Function, Robert J. Zhou, Hossein M. Hondori, Maryam Khademi, Jessica M. Cassidy, Katherine M. Wu, Derek Z. Yang, Nikhita Kathuria, Fareshte R. Erani, Lucy Dodakian, Alison Mckenzie, Cristina V. Lopes, Walt Scacchi, Ramesh Srinivasan, Steven C. Cramer

Physical Therapy Faculty Articles and Research

The heterogeneity of stroke prompts the need for predictors of individual treatment response to rehabilitation therapies. We previously studied healthy subjects with EEG and identified a frontoparietal circuit in which activity predicted training-related gains in visuomotor tracking. Here we asked whether activity in this same frontoparietal circuit also predicts training-related gains in visuomotor tracking in patients with chronic hemiparetic stroke. Subjects (n = 12) underwent dense-array EEG recording at rest, then received 8 sessions of visuomotor tracking training delivered via home-based telehealth methods. Subjects showed significant training-related gains in the primary behavioral endpoint, Success Rate score on a standardized test …

Social Participation: Social Skills Improvement System (Ssis) Rating Scales Assessment Tool And Intervention Guide, Debra Dasilva

MOT Student Capstones

The aim of this capstone focused on the importance of social participation skills with middle school students, who qualify for special/exceptional education under the category of mild intellectual disability, for positive peer interaction, increase self-esteem, community entry and vocational employment during these first years of middle school. Upon surveying a variety of school-based occupational therapists, in both North and South Carolina, the conclusion of this capstone was to educate occupational therapy colleagues in using an evidenced-based assessment tool and interventions because the research found that these therapists are not assessing social participation and they are not providing interventions with this …

Using Mobile Augmented Reality To Enhance Health Professional Practice Education, Bernie M. Garrett, Joseph Anthony, Cathryn Jackson

Current Issues in Emerging eLearning

The use of augmented reality (AR) as a new multimedia networking technology is increasing. An investigation was made of the value of using AR as a tool to support the teaching of clinical practice skills. A series of mobile AR resources were created for use on tablet computers and smartphones to supplement clinical skills teaching in the laboratory (using image recognition), and clinical practice (using geolocation). Undergraduate students in nursing, physiotherapy, and occupational therapy tested these resources in lab sessions, a location-based campus exercise, and during clinical practice experiences. Following this, a post-exposure web survey and focus group interviews were …

Adapted Aquatics For Children With Severe Motor Impairments, Phillip Conatser, Eric James, Ulku Karabulut

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

Available research clearly shows that more children who have disabilities, including those with severe disabilities, are participating in swimming programs as well as wanting to be taught in a regular aquatic class without being segregated. Aquatic instructors need to prepare lessons that include children both with and without disabilities. This means that aquatics instructors need to understand and be willing to implement unique teaching and managerial techniques that foster the safe and successful learning environment for all children. While the task of teaching children who have severe disabilities may seem difficult at first, with a little knowledge and experience, instructors …

Immature Auditory Evoked Potentials In Children With Moderate-Severe Developmental Language Disorder., Elaine Yuen Ling Kwok, Marc F Joanisse, Lisa Archibald, Janis Oram Cardy

Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Publications

Purpose: Immature auditory processing has been proposed to underlie language impairments in children with developmental language disorder (DLD; also known as specific language impairment). Using newly available normative auditory evoked potential (AEP) waveforms, we estimated AEP maturity in individual children with DLD and explored whether this maturational index was related to their language abilities.

Method: AEPs were elicited by 225 trials of a 490-Hz pure tone. Using intraclass correlation and our previously established normative AEP waveforms of 7- to 10-year-old children with typical development, we estimated the age equivalent of the AEPs (AEP-age) from 21 children with DLD. The relation …

Neural Constraints Affect The Ability To Generate Hip Abduction Torques When Combined With Hip Extension Or Ankle Plantarflexion In Chronic Hemiparetic Stroke, Natalia Sánchez, Ana M. Acosta, Roberto López-Rosado, Julius P. A. Dewald

Physical Therapy Faculty Articles and Research

Stroke lesions interrupt descending corticofugal fibers that provide the volitional control of the upper and lower extremities. Despite the evident manifestation of movement impairments post-stroke during standing and gait, neural constraints in the ability to generate joint torque combinations in the lower extremities are not yet well determined. Twelve chronic hemiparetic participants and 8 age-matched control individuals participated in the present study. In an isometric setup, participants were instructed to combine submaximal hip extension or ankle plantarflexion torques with maximal hip abduction torques. Statistical analyses were run using linear mixed effects models. Results for the protocol combining hip extension and …

Predicting Graduate School Success In A Speech-Language Pathology Program, Larry Boles

Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences & Disorders

Graduate programs in speech-language pathology continue to experience high volumes of applicants seeking admission. There appear to be as many configurations of admission criteria as there are graduate programs. Yet, what evidence do we have for these criteria making a difference in graduate student outcome? Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores, undergraduate grade point average (GPA), prerequisite GPA, letters of recommendation, and letters of intent are valued differently by programs. These variables were investigated for their value in predicting successful graduate school outcome in a program of speech-language pathology. Three measures proved predictive: the verbal portion of the GRE, the quantitative …

Can Foot Exercises And Barefoot Weight Bearing Improve Foot Function In Participants With Flat Feet?, Marcey Keefer Hutchison, Jeff Houck

Faculty Publications - College of Physical Therapy

Background: Unexplored in individuals with flatfoot (FF) is the potential of foot specific exercise and barefoot weightbearing (BWB) to improve foot function. The purposes of this study were

A. To evaluate whether exercise and BWB alter foot muscle structure in participants with FF

B. To evaluate whether exercise and BWB alters foot and ankle function in participants with FF

C. To compare foot muscle structure and foot and ankle function between participants with FF to controls with neutral foot posture prior to exercise.

Methods: Twenty participants with FF and 12 participants with neutral foot posture participated. Participants with …

Overcoming Barriers By Doing Things Differently, Jennifer Fortuna

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Tom Yendell, an artist based in Hampshire, England, provided the cover art for the Summer 2018 issue of The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy (OJOT). “Silk Flowers” is a mouth painting made from acrylic on silk. Born a bilateral congenital amputee, Tom has learned to use his toes the same ways others use their hands. Tom relies little on aids and adaptations in his everyday life. He believes learning to do things your own way is empowering. As a world-renowned mouth and foot painter, Tom is a living example of how barriers can be overcome by doing things differently. Through …

Development And Evaluation Of A Collaborative Model Level Ii Fieldwork Program, Annmarie T. Kinsella, Catherine V. Piersol

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

This project developed a Collaborative Model Level II Fieldwork (CM-FWII) program to evaluate the effect of the program on fieldwork educator and student understanding of the model and changes in knowledge, perceptions, and satisfaction. Four fieldwork educators (FWEd) were recruited from two pediatric and two adult practice settings. Eight occupational therapy (OT) students met participation criteria and agreed to participate. A pre/post design was used to evaluate change in knowledge and perceptions. Satisfaction with the collaborative model (CM) was examined after the 12-week fieldwork rotation. Analysis procedures included a priori coding, calculation of frequency distributions, and thematic analysis of transcribed …

Sexual Functioning In Occupational Therapy Education: A Survey Of Programs, Kate Eglseder, Sheridan Webb, Miranda Rennie

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Despite the importance of sexuality to overall quality of life and well-being for individuals with disabilities, occupational therapy practitioners continue to under-address this issue. One possibility for the lack of attention in this area is the comfort and knowledge level of practitioners. In their seminal work, Payne, Greer, and Corbin (1988) surveyed occupational therapy programs in the United States in an effort to identify the amount of sexuality education provided. This study was aimed at identifying current trends in the provision of sexuality education for occupational therapy students. Despite the nearly 30-year gap in this area of research, and the …

How Service Dogs Enhance Veterans’ Occupational Performance In The Home: A Qualitative Perspective, Terry K. Crowe, Mylinh T. Nguyen, Brenda G. Tryon, Stephanie Barger, Victoria Sanchez

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: This qualitative study explored the lives of veterans diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and/or traumatic brain injury (TBI) and how the partnerships with their service dogs supported improved occupational performance in their homes.

Method: Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with six veterans with PTSD and/or TBI who graduated and received their service dogs from the Paws and Stripes Program in Albuquerque, NM. Home activities of daily living (self-care, household tasks, leisure activities, and family and friend relationships) guided the interview questions. The individual interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and coded using qualitative data analysis software. Preliminary themes were …

Levels Of Arousal In Positive Moods: Effects On Motor Performance, Carolina Valencia, Krista Currier, Sarah Lindsay, Pamela Lemperis, Titus Hughes, Jeanne Sowers

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: The use of simple preparatory methods, such as listening to relaxing music, may decrease negative emotions and enhance performance. The purpose of this research was to explore whether certain types of music, as a preparatory task, could enhance motor performance.

Method: Fifty-six participants were randomly assigned to a condition before completing a pre and postdexterity test using the Purdue Pegboard Test (PPT). Performance was assessed with the PPT and arousal of mood was assessed with the Affect Grid. During the postdexterity test, the participants heard no music or specific music based on their condition. The experimental conditions …

Use Of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation In The Treatment Of Neonatal Brachial Plexus Palsy: A Literature Review, Denise Justice, Jonathan Awori, Spencer Carlson, Kate W-C Chang, Lynda J-S Yang

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: The purpose of this study was to conduct a review of current literature on the effectiveness of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) for restoring motion and function in neonatal brachial plexus palsy (NBPP).

Method: A database search was conducted for NMES articles published between 1947 and 2015. Pre and posttreatment data were extracted for muscle power, active range of motion (AROM), and morphometric measurements.

Results: An initial search yielded 2,721 articles. A further title/abstract review produced 27 articles; of these, four met the inclusion criteria. Treatment protocols varied. There were no changes in average Medical Research Council …

Increasing Competency For Parents Of Adolescents With Executive Functioning Deficits: Enhancing Occupational Performance With Mindfulness, Kimberly S. Mollo, Bernardo A. Merizalde, Jennifer E. Lape

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Executive functions are higher order cognitive processes occurring in the frontal lobe that influence cognitive, emotional, and behavioral functions. Adolescents with executive functioning deficits are at risk for difficulties in all domains of occupational functioning. Parents of these adolescents often live in a persistent state of stress that leads to highly reactive exchanges with their children. Studies have shown that a mindful approach to parenting can enhance a parent’s caregiving ability and self-awareness in the family unit.

Methods: A pretest/posttest study evaluated the effectiveness of a 6-week mindful parenting program. Four parents of adolescents with executive function deficits participated …

Women Family Members’ Experiences Of Involvement In Adult Inpatient Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation, Isabelle Savage, Mary Egan

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) rehabilitation is an intensive process aimed at reducing disability. The experience of care is lived not only by the patient with TBI, but by the family as well.

Methods: Five women family members of patients with TBI were interviewed. Based on a descriptive qualitative approach informed by phenomenology, thematic analysis was completed to draw a general sense of family members’ description of their involvement.

Results: Two themes were identified: Wearing different hats and a balancing act, that highlight the many roles undertaken by the women family members as well as the difficulties …

Journey Interrupted: A Phenomenological Exploration Of Miscarriage, Marit A. Watson, Vanessa D. Jewell, Sarah L. Smith

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Miscarriage is a significant life event that impacts occupational performance, identity, and competence and that influences perceptions of motherhood. Because of the lack of social rituals often attributed to the death of a loved one, miscarriages may result in disenfranchised grief, which impedes coping.

Methods: This phenomenological study explored the impact of miscarriage on relationships, perceptions of motherhood, and the meaning of occupation in the context of grief. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews (N = 4) and completion of a brief demographic questionnaire. The interviews were digitally recorded, transcribed verbatim, and reviewed to ensure accuracy. Using inductive thematic …