Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

Evolution Of Occupational Therapy Practice: Life History Of Mary Hager, Allison Moran, Grace Spanos

Oral History Posters

Objective: The purpose of this qualitative study using a life history approach is to provide current and future generations of occupational therapists a view of the history and how occupational therapy practice has evolved from its inception to current practice through the life history stories of occupational therapists who have held leadership roles at the national level and beyond.

Method: A semi-structured phone interview was conducted between the student researchers and Mary Hager, a retired occupational therapist. The interview was audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim prior to data analysis. Codes, categories, and themes were synthesized from the interview to comprehend a …

Evolution Of Occupational Therapy Practice: Life History Of Lela Llorens, Ph.D., Otr/Ret, Faota., Rylee Skyberg, Rachel Grubb

Oral History Posters

Objective: The objective of the overall study was to gain insight into Dr. Lela Llorens’s life experiences and leadership throughout her time of work in the profession of occupational therapy.

Method: This was a qualitative study done using a life history approach. The participant was selected from a list compiled through purposive sampling by the project directors. Data was gathered through a two-hour, semi-structured interview with Dr. Llorens via Zoom, and through her curriculum vitae. The two-hour interview was audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Member checking was not used for the triangulation of the data. The data collapsed into …

Evolution Of Occupational Therapy Practice: Life History Of Ivelisse Lazzarini, Otd, Ashley Timm, Aspen Pitcher

Oral History Posters

This life history is one of 30 life history interviews which are part of a larger project,Histories of Individuals Who Have Been Influential in Developing Occupational Therapy (OT) at the National Level and Beyond. The purpose of study is to provide current and future generations of occupational therapists a view of the history and how occupational therapy practice has evolved from its inception to current practice through the life history stories of occupational therapists who have held leadership roles at the national level and beyond. It is anticipated that the life history process will be a powerful way to gather …

A Case Report: Treatment Of Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy, Jeremy Korthuis

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Purpose: The purpose of the case study was to explain a treatment program involving low/moderate intensity strength training and stretching for a patient with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD).

Background: FSHD is the third most common type of muscular dystrophy. This pathology results from a mutation in chromosome 4 and results in progressive weakening of facial, scapular, and hip musculature. Research behind effective strengthening programs is often inconclusive and varies in results.

Case Description: The patient was a 34-year-old female, who was diagnosed with FSHD 3 years prior to our first visit. She had complaints of left shoulder pain (2-3/10), shoulder …

Outpatient Pt Management Of Patient With Bilateral Knee Pain S/P Stem Cell Cartilage Replacement Therapy Of Both Knees, Justin Hett

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose: This article describes the 6-week outpatient physical therapy management of a 65-year-old male who c/o bilateral knee pain s/p stem cell cartilage replacement therapy. The patient presented with decreased ROM in both knees R>L, difficulty ambulating moderate distances, knee pain, and decreased LE strength bilaterally. The purpose of this article is to describe the treatments used for this patient and the results from these treatments.

Description: The treatment of this patient involved range of motion, strengthening, patient education, and stretching.

Outcomes: Following PT intervention, the patient had increased ROM in both knees L>R, normal strength, …

Standard And Cognitive Four Square Step Test (Fsst), Renee Hoffman, Hannah Bucholz

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background/Purpose: The Four Square Step Test (FSST) measures dynamic standing balance and agility and was developed to identify older adults at risk for falls. It has a cognitive component for remembering the stepping sequence but has never been tested with an additional cognitive task. The purpose of this study was to collect normative data for the FSST and Cognitive FSST in community dwelling adults for various age groups.

Materials/Methods: Eighty-seven community-dwelling adults (55 females, 32 males) between the age 21 and 86 (48.22 years) were included in the study. Participants completed a fall risk checklist and a cognitive screen prior …

Outpatient Physical Therapy Management Of A Patient Diagnosed With Myotonic Muscular Dystrophy Type 2, Ashley Jobe

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose. This article describes the 3-week outpatient Physical Therapy management of a 63-year-old female with a diagnosis of Myotonic Muscular Dystrophy (MMD) Type 2. MMD is an inherited disorder, which progressively impacts muscular, respiratory, cardiac, nervous, and endocrine systems. MMD Type 2 is characterized by muscle weakness, muscle pain, and myotonia. The patient in this case study presented to physical therapy with upper and lower extremity weakness and balance impairment. The purpose of this article is to describe the initial physical therapy evaluation process for a patient with MMD, as well as the interventions used for this patient …

Evolution Of Occupational Therapy Practice: Life History Of Kathlyn L. Reed, Ph.D., Otr, Faota, Mlis, Tristen Smith, Audrya Tarango

Oral History Posters

This life history is one of 30 life history interviews which are part of a larger project, Histories of Individuals Who Have Been Influential in Developing Occupational Therapy (OT) at the National Level and Beyond. The purpose of the study is to provide current and future generations of occupational therapists a view of the history and how occupational therapy practice has evolved from its inception to current practice through the life history stories of occupational therapists who have held leadership roles at the national level and beyond. It is anticipated that the life history process will be a powerful way …

Evolution Of Occupational Therapy Practice: Life History Of Julie D Bass, Phd, Otr/L, Faota, Michaela Zins, Taylor Beatty

Oral History Posters

Objective: The purpose of the life history of Julie Bass, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, is to gain an insight into her life, her leadership experiences, and her years of work in the occupational therapy (OT) profession to provide current and future generations of occupational therapists a view of how occupational therapy practice has evolved over time.

Method: An in-depth, semi-structured interview was guided by an interview schedule prepared by the project directors. The interview took place via Zoom conference at the University of North Dakota and lasted two hours. The interview was transcribed verbatim and coded with 22 codes. The codes …

Occupational Therapy And Veterans’ Resiliency Post-Amputation: Addressing Psychosocial Needs, Alexandra K. Broussard

OT Student Capstones

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this project is to identify: (a) the unmet needs of veterans’ post-amputation, (b) gaps in successful promotion of resilience, recovery, and reintegration, (c) role of occupational therapy in promoting resilience, recovery, and reintegration. METHODS: Needs assessment to identify the unmet needs to address psychosocial adjustment post-amputation from the perspectives of veterans and healthcare providers. RESULTS: This project revealed several themes from the experiences of veterans’ post- amputation and healthcare providers who treated veterans’ post-amputation. DISCUSSION: There is limited research incorporating mental health occupational therapy to improve resiliency for veterans’ post-amputation. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: This supports the …

Multi-Limb Control And Attention During Simulated Driving In Parkinson’S Disease: Study Methods And Discussion From An Occupational Therapy Perspective, Emily Mcfadden

OT Student Capstones

Driving is an important activity that enables independence and cessation of driving leads to decreased quality of life including depression, poorer health outcomes, and decreased longevity. Distraction and multi-tasking while driving often leads to disastrous results, highlighting the importance of attention and cognition for safe driving. Drivers with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) are at particular risk for driving cessation or reduced safety due to progressive difficulties in both motor and cognitive function. A characteristic feature of cognitive impairment in PD is difficulty to begin or change self-initiated movement based on implicit or contextual cues. People with PD rely more heavily on …

Healthy Brains, Healthy Bodies: A Program Designed To Address Mealtime Routines And Self- Regulation In Children With Dual Diagnosis, Heather Warner

OT Student Capstones

Trauma can be defined as an actual or posed threat that could cause or has caused harm to an individual (National Child Traumatic Stress Network, 2018). Situations that put a child at risk or have the perceived threat of putting a child’s life at risk are defined as traumatic and can cause serious detrimental developmental changes. For this particular doctoral project, programs were designed by an occupational therapy student for Tennyson Center for Children, a facility that works with at-risk children and their families, to address concerns in both the school and community-based setting for children who have experienced trauma. …

Sleep And Wellbeing At Phoenix Children’S Hospital, Rebecca Ls Knowles

OT Student Capstones

Background/Literature Review: Sleep and well-being have a dynamic, reciprocal relationship. A review of the literature suggests hospital night shift employees are vulnerable to health disparities due to circadian rhythm disruption, and experience low ratings of well-being. Methods: A multi-layered needs assessment included meetings with interdisciplinary representatives, review of employee satisfaction and attrition data, and interviews with night shift workers. Results: The needs assessment identified several unmet employee needs, including staffing, scheduling, and healthy food access. Insufficient staffing emerged as a barrier to employee health and well-being. Discussion: The results suggested that new graduates enter PCH enthusiastic and resilient but suffer …

An Examination Of Mothering Occupations In The Context Of Spinal Cord Injury, Gohar Ghushchyan-Tigranyan

OT Student Capstones

An examination of mothering occupations in the context of spinal cord injury across cultures, motherhood is a desired life trajectory that is strongly influenced by cultural norms and expectations. Mental or physical injuries can become a barrier to fulfilling this life goal, leaving a great sense of loss and feeling of failure for women (Albright, Duggan, and Rahman, 2009). This paper aims to understand the lives of mothers with spinal cord injury, the physical challenges and adaptation that they found around the disability, and the psychosocial impact of mothering from a wheelchair. This project will also investigate professional involvement, such …

Resiliency And Proactive Coping Methods Targeting Perceived Stress Levels In Older Adults, Katie Holmes

OT Student Capstones

Stress, or perceived stress, has the potential to be life-threatening to those that experience it on a regular basis. Community-dwelling older adults may be particularly vulnerable to perceived stress and its effects due to stressors such as negative life events, chronic disease or declining health, loss of loved ones experienced with the aging process, and social isolation. Stress and mental health and well-being are not being adequately addressed in independent and assisted living communities for older adults. An eight-week stress management program focusing on the concepts of resiliency and proactive coping was implemented at a local retirement community. An overall …

Board Games For Kids: Reducing Stress And Learning Through Play, Benjamin Wolf

OT Student Capstones

The aim of the project, Board Games for Kids was to provide an opportunity for underprivileged children to reduce stress and improve essential life skills through the occupation of play. Despite the lack of scholarly research, board games are widely considered to assist in the development of executive function skills necessary for future life skills. This program served as a pilot test and proof of concept. Clinical observation determined improvements in the development of appropriate play skills, and executive functioning skills such as planning, organizing, and sequencing. Staff observations noted improved peer to peer interactions, mood, and behaviors and abilities …

Case Report: A Modified Early Passive Mobilization Protocol For A Zone Ii Flexor Pollicis Longus Repair, Brandon Ryan

OT Student Capstones

A hand can be injured in many ways, but rehabilitation of a tendon laceration following a surgical repair can be one of the most challenging aspects of hand therapy. For example, rates of secondary repair due to complications, such as tendon rupture or tendon adhesion, have been reported to be as high as 17% (Dy et al., 2012). This can be especially problematic when considering the unique characteristics of the dynamics of thumb flexion when compared with that of the other digits. There are many different protocols for flexor tendon repairs, which can make it difficult for a therapist to …

Use Of The Alert Program® In A Sensory Room At An Emergency Children's Shelter, Sarah May Bautista

OT Student Capstones

Children who have experienced trauma have difficulty with behavioral self-regulation which effects social participation, play, and academics (Petrenchik & Weiss, 2015). Young children learn through exploration of their environment and gather information from the senses of taste, sight, touch, smell, sound, proprioception, and body movement (vestibular). As sensory information is gathered, the brain and body organize and interpret these sensations. The manner in which these senses are experienced determine which sensory experiences are preferred, and the nature of behavioral reactions. Children who have experienced trauma have difficulty managing stress, emotions, and daily routines. In the community occupational therapists can encourage …

A Case Report: Factors Influencing The Physical Therapy Care Following Medical Treatment Of An Anaplastic Oligodendroglioma, Connor Camrud

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Purpose The purpose of this case report is to describe the clinical decision-making processes of the physical therapy (PT) care for a patient who was diagnosed with an anaplastic oligodendroglioma and subsequently had surgical decompression and resection, chemotherapy, and radiation.

Background Anaplastic oligodendrogliomas account for 3% to 20% of all brain tumors. The incidence of this tumor is 40% greater in males than females. Average onset occurs between 35 and 44 years of age. Anaplastic oligodendrogliomas commonly occur in the frontal lobes and are supratentorial. Patients will often present with headaches, new weakness, vision changes, and a decline in cognitive …

A Case Report: Adhesive Capsulitis And Physical Therapy Intervention, Haley Brenner

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose The purpose of this case report is to describe the physical therapy interventions for a patient with adhesive capsulitis.

Case Description The patient was a 68-year-old right-handed male who presented with left shoulder pain and limited range of motion (ROM) following a fall 7 months prior. The patient had a past medical history of type II diabetes mellitus. The diagnosis of adhesive capsulitis was determined following radiographs, mechanism of injury, past medical history, and physical therapy examination and evaluation.

Intervention The patient was seen for a total of 8 physical therapy sessions over the span of 6 …

Collaborative Physical And Music Therapy Interventions For Impairments Of Chronic Stroke: A Case Study, Jake Leverington, Kelsey Bell

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

[Background and Purpose] In the United States, the annual prevalence of stroke is estimated to be 800,000. 1 Following a stroke, physical therapy (PT) interventions aim to help individuals recover from impairments such as muscle weakness and overall functional limitation. Current research supports both physical and music therapy (MT) interventions on an individual basis. The purpose of this case study was to evaluate the effectiveness of combined PT and MT interventions for strength, balance, gait, and functional activity for person following stroke.

[Case Description] The patient is a 50- year-old caucasian female post right cerebral vascular accident (CVA) with left …

Electromyographic (Emg) Activity Of The Gluteus Medius During Various Hip Exercises, Kalie Maiden, Mitchell Karbo, Taylor Doeden, Analise Richtsmeier

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose. The purpose of the study was to record and analyze muscle recruitment patterns of the gluteus medius and gluteus maximus muscles when performing a side lying abduction exercise requiring consistent force to roll a ball up and down the wall using the dominant lower extremity. Comparisons were made between the use of either a small, medium or large ball. The subjects performed a standing abduction exercises with theraband around both ankles as well.

Case Description. Fifteen subjects were recruited from the University of North Dakota Department of Physical Therapy to perform the four different types of exercises. …

Collaboration Between Physical Therapy And Music Therapy: A Case Study Of The Interventions And Their Effects On Parkinson's Disease, Mercedes Stein, Kristyn Bergh

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose: Parkinson's Disease is a chronic and progressive neurological disorder that causes motor dysfunction leading to dyskinesia, bradykinesia, muscular rigidity, resting tremors, postural impairments, and gait impairments. These impairments can have a tremendous negative impact on a person's everyday life. This case study demonstrates the collaboration of physical therapy and music therapy interventions and its effects on a female with Parkinson's Disease.

Case Description: The patient is a 72-year old female diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease around 2010. Her primary reason for seeking treatment is due to an increase in freezing of gait and overall decrease in mobility that …

The Efficacy Of Custom And Prefabricated Orthotic Interventions For Common Running Related Injuries, Jake Tavernite

Writing Across the Curriculum

One of the most popular sports in the world is running. Nearly 17 million people in the United States alone crossed finish lines in road races in 2017.¹ Unfortunately, there is an extremely high rate of running related injuries (RRI) that prevent or hinder individuals from training and competing. A 2007 systematic review revealed that the incidence of lower extremity running related injuries ranges from 19.4% to 79.3%.² Orthotics are frequently prescribed as a conservative treatment option for various injuries such as plantar fasciitis (PF), patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS), medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS), and stress fractures. Although …

Dynamic Effects Of Habituation And Novelty Detection On Newborn Event Related Potentials, Cathryn S. Cortesa, Caitlin M Hudac, Dennis Molfese

Center for Brain, Biology, and Behavior: Faculty Publications

Newborns habituate to repeated auditory stimuli, and discriminate syllables, generating opportunities for early language learning. This study investigated trial-by-trial changes in newborn electrophysiological responses to auditory speech syllables as an index of habituation and novelty detection. Auditory event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded from 16 term newborn infants, aged 1–3 days, in response to monosyllabic speech syllables presented during habituation and novelty detection tasks. Multilevel models demonstrated that newborns habituated to repeated auditory syllables, as ERP amplitude attenuated for a late-latency component over successive trials. Subsequently, during the novelty detection task, earlyand late-latency component amplitudes decreased over successive trials for novel …

Concussion Competencies: A Training Model For School-Based Concussion Management, Arthur C. Maerlender, Jonathan D. Lichtenstein, Jennifer Parent-Nichols, Kate Higgins, Peggy Reisher

Center for Brain, Biology, and Behavior: Faculty Publications

This study reports on the use of ten knowledge competencies related to the behavioral management of concussion in schools. Trainings using these competencies as learning objectives were delivered to school personnel. This aims of the use of competencies in this way are to streamline the education of key stakeholders, to establish clear roles and responsibilities for constituents and equip individuals working with students following a concussion with the relevant knowledge to optimize outcomes. The majority of participants, primarily speech language pathologists working as related service providers in the schoolswhere the trainings occurred, judged the use of the competencies to be …

Confirmatory Factor Analysis Of Two Computerized Neuropsychological Test Batteries: Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment And Cognitive Test (Impact) And C3 Logix, Caitlin Masterson, Julie Tuttle, Arthur C. Maerlender

Center for Brain, Biology, and Behavior: Faculty Publications

Introduction: Tests of memory and speed of cognitive and motor responses have been the primary foci in sports-related concussion assessment. This study sought to assess the construct validity of neuropsychological tests within C3 Logix.

Method: Results of both baseline C3 Logix and the Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Test (ImPACT) computerized tests from 86 Division I collegiate athletes were submitted to a two-factor confirmatory analysis using structural equation modeling. The two factors of Speed and Memory have been confirmed in previous studies of ImPACT.

Results: Results confirmed the two-factor model of ImPACT, whereas C3 Logix did not …

Functional Source Separation For Eeg-Fmri Fusion: Application To Steady-State Visual Evoked Potentials, Hong Ji, Badong Chen, Nathan M. Petro, Zejian Yuan, Nanning Zheng, Andreas Keil

Center for Brain, Biology, and Behavior: Faculty Publications

Neurorobotics is one of the most ambitious fields in robotics, driving integration of interdisciplinary data and knowledge. One of the most productive areas of interdisciplinary research in this area has been the implementation of biologically-inspired mechanisms in the development of autonomous systems. Specifically, enabling such systems to display adaptive behavior such as learning from good and bad outcomes, has been achieved by quantifying and understanding the neural mechanisms of the brain networks mediating adaptive behaviors in humans and animals. For example, associative learning from aversive or dangerous outcomes is crucial for an autonomous system, to avoid dangerous situations in the …

Dr. Seuss Fine Motor Development Club, Nicole Borcyk, Madelyn Beck

Honors Program: Expanded Learning Clubs

After school club that helps students develop fine motor skills by doing hands-on activities relating to Dr. Seuss's most popular books.

Influence Of Clinical Instructor And Physical Therapist Student Characteristics On The Use Of Standardized Tests And Measures In Clinical Practice, Vicki Lafay

Department of Physical Therapy Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Problem Statement: Physical therapist (PT) students report discord between what they learn in the academic environment and what they experience in clinical practice. Despite increasing reporting requirements, standardized tests and measures (STMs) are not well integrated into routine clinical practice. The primary purposes of this study were to (1) examine clinical instructor (CI) and PT student characteristics and beliefs that influence the use of STMs in clinical practice, and (2) explore alignment between the STMs students learn during academic preparation to those commonly reported in clinical practice. Procedures/Methodology: In this mixed method sequential explanatory study, participant demographic characteristics, perceived STM …