Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

The Effectiveness Of Home Health Physical Therapy Following Diagnosis Of Acute Respiratory Failure Secondary To Covid-19: A Case Report, Desiree Lyall, Maura Owens

San Marcos, Summer 2020

The purpose of this case study is to describe the effects of home health physical therapy involving gait training, respiratory exercises, disease process education and rehabilitation exercises for strength, endurance and balance in the treatment of a 73 year-old, male patient with a diagnosis of acute respirtory failure secondary to Covid-19.

For a patient with a diagnosis of acute respiratory failure secondary to Covid-19 diagnosis home health physical therapy was an effective treatment option to facilitate return to prior level of function. This case study supports previous research and recommended treatment guidelines for the effectiveness of gait training, respiratory exercises, …

The Effectiveness Of Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback In Conjunction With Traditional Treatment For Thoracic Outlet Syndrome In A 25-Year-Old Female: A Case Report, Sepehr Rezaei

San Marcos, Summer 2020

Introduction: Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) is a complex condition that causes pain, tingling sensation, hypesthesia, muscle atrophy, weakness, and edematous changes in the upper quadrant (UQ) and down upper extremity (UE). ^3,7,8,16,17 TOS is due to compression of neurovascular bundles in the interscalene triangle, costoclavicular space, and under pectoralis minor and caused by trauma, congenital malformations such as a cervical rib, and abnormal/poor postures from muscle imbalances.^3,7,8,16,17 Interventions for TOS can consist of correcting posture by addressing muscle imbalance, decreasing tone and muscle tightness and rib mobilization, and in rare cases, rib resection. ^{3,7,8,13,16,17} However, there is limited research …

Remedying Healthcare Disparities Affecting The Black Community, Savonna Reed

San Marcos, Summer 2020

The purpose of this literature review is to determine how black communities are being impacted by racial/social determinants of cardiovascular health, and to investigate potential healthcare solutions to eliminate these disparities.

As physical therapists, we commonly treat patients following lumbar spinal fusion surgery. Post-op outcomes have been found to be impacted by racial disparities in decision making in whether care providers offer surgical care, differences in access to care due to socioeconomic barriers, and differences in attitudes towards surgical care among ethnic groups.

Review of current literature has revealed that more research should be done to establish ways of remedying …

Dressing Skills For Children With Cerebral Palsy [Research Plan], Diane Mellin, Jenna Oberg, Amber Torgerson, Charlene Yuson

San Marcos, Summer 2020

Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common physical dysfunction in children. Because there is damage to their cortex and corticospinal tracts, children who have cerebral palsy have difficulty in precise grasping and fine motor control, affecting their activities of daily living and quality of life (Ouyang et al., 2020).

The purpose of this study will be to develop an OT intervention using threading techniques that will help children with cerebral palsy dress independently without using adaptive clothing. This study will utilize a quasi-experimental design with the subjects as their own control. Pre- and post-tests will be administered for each child …

Analysis Of Physical Therapy Interventions Vs. Kinesio Taping For Relieving Low Back Pain, Amanda Orr

San Marcos, Summer 2020

Introduction/Background: This topic focuses on the utilization of kinesio taping (KT) to assist with decreasing pain in the low back. According to Shipton, low back pain has gone up by more than 50% since 1990. These factors are attributed to smoking, obesity, sedentary occupations, and to low socioeconomic status.Globally, in 2016, it is said that low back pain contributed 57.6 years to disability and the prevalence peaks around the ages of 35-55 years according to the World Health Organization.

Purpose: The purpose of this literature review is to compare research articles between KT with physical therapy interventions as compared …

Exploration Of A Resilience Intervention Among Women With Disabilities: An Examination Of Two Case Studies, Susan Stuntzner, Angela Macdonald, Jacquelyn A. Dalton

Counseling Faculty Publications

People who live with a disability are faced with the prospect of adjusting to the disability and its associated life experiences. Many people encounter negative and hurtful situations such as unemployment, lack of adequate resources, changes in relationships and social support, negative societal attitudes, bias, and discrimination, and so forth. Women with disabilities are subject to these same negative encounters, but they often experience several others based on their gender (i.e., higher rates of abuse, poverty, and financial independence). Given the likelihood that women may experience additional stressors with fewer supports in place, professionals must focus on the needs of …

Circus In Motion: A Multimodal Exergame Supporting Vestibular Therapy For Children With Autism, Oscar Peña, Franceli L. Cibrian, Monica Tentori

Engineering Faculty Articles and Research

Exergames are serious games that involve physical exertion and are thought of as a form of exercise by using novel input models. Exergames are promising in improving the vestibular differences of children with autism but often lack of adaptation mechanisms that adjust the difficulty level of the exergame. In this paper, we present the design and development of Circus in Motion, a multimodal exergame supporting children with autism with the practice of non-locomotor movements. We describe how the data from a 3D depth camera enables the tracking of non-locomotor movements allowing children to naturally interact with the exergame . A …

Occupational Therapist’S Role In Addressing Transition Support Through Life Skills, Rupa Parikh, Becki Cohill, Susan Macdermott

Summer 2020 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

The transition period from high school to postsecondary education has been shown to be a difficult time for youth, especially those with disabilities. The use of occupational therapists in transition services can positively affect a student's ability to attend postsecondary education. Guidance and support are necessary to teach these individuals life skills needed for future success in the transition to postsecondary education. This capstone project aims to assess the needs of students at the Winston school to identify occupational limitations in the area of life skills. Through identification of problem areas, a detailed program was created and implemented to meet …

Occupational Therapy And Accessibility In The Outdoors And Summer Camps, David M. Lewis, Susan Macdermott, Becki Cohill

Summer 2020 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Opportunities for positive youth development (PYD) are promoted through both outdoor and camp experiences. The experiences provided by the outdoors and camps are ideal for developing physically, cognitively, socially, emotionally, and spiritually. These areas of PYD are further generalizable to several aspects of occupational performance and participation, while continuing to have benefits throughout the lifespan. While the outdoors and camps provide these valuable opportunities for development, the environments and contexts of these opportunities are often limiting factors for individuals with disabilities.

Utilizing an occupational therapy approach allows for further understanding of how to promote inclusion and accessibility practices in these …

Occupational Therapy’S Role In Addressing Sensory Deficits In Children With Behavioral Health Challenges Through Teacher Training, Devon A. Ayres, Becki Cohill, Susan Macdermott, Mark Wilson

Summer 2020 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Sensory processing difficulties have been well-documented in children who have behavioral health challenges. Addressing a child’s sensory processing needs may decrease behaviors that disrupt occupational participation and thus leading to improved learning and better information retention. A review of current literature revealed that teachers who work with children with behavioral health challenges are not required to receive education in addressing sensory deficits in the classroom. This capstone project performed a needs assessment, exploring current teacher understanding of sensory processing and what role occupational therapy could play in providing training for teachers. The project also generated pertinent online teacher training modules …

Turning Everyday Activities Into Play: Building Relationships And Fostering Connections For Adopted And Foster Children, Marissa E. Siu, Becki Cohill, Susan Macdermott

Summer 2020 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Turning Everyday Activities into Play is a program that was created for foster children, adopted children, and individuals who work with this population in the community. This program uses everyday activities to foster the connection between children and adults. The goal of this program is to use the power of play to support regulation and build stronger bonds and relationships by turning everyday activities into play.

The Effect Of A Parental Diagnosis Of Cancer On The Occupational Performance Of Adolescent And Young Adult Offspring, Brianna Wong, Susan Macdermott, Becki Cohill, Pandora Patterson

Summer 2020 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Objective: To gain an understanding on the current knowledge and practice of OTs relating to the occupational impact that a parental diagnosis of cancer can have on AYA offspring. In addition, to determine if there is occupational disruption or imbalance impacting AYAs whose parents have cancer and if OT is a good fit to treat this population.

Methods: A scoping literature review was conducted gathering relevant peer-reviewed articles, analyzing and creating themes with the current literature. In tandem with the scoping review, a qualitative study was conducted. Eight occupational therapists working in either an oncology care setting or pediatric setting …

Occupational Therapy's Role In Addressing Sex And Intimacy For Individuals With Progressive Neuromuscular Disorders, Lindsay N. Richards, Becki Cohill, Kathryn Ellis, Susan Macdermott

Summer 2020 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Individuals with progressive neuromuscular disorders (PND); specifically, Parkinson’s disease (PD), Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Huntington’s Disease (HD), and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) often face physical, psychological, and social challenges related to sex and intimacy. Occupational therapy (OT) practitioners are experts in activity analysis and are equipped with unique knowledge of performance skills and client factors to address deficits in occupational performance. Though there is literature presenting the effects of PND on sexual occupations, a gap exists as it relates to qualitative data from the perspective of the individual and their partners.

A mixed-methods survey was conducted examining the lived experience of …

Understanding The Impact Of Social Distancing On Older Adults And Senior Organizations To Better Adapt Towards A New Normal, Salina Jivan, Christine Mary Childers, Susan Macdermott, Becki Cohill

Summer 2020 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

COVID-19 brought about social distancing mandates that posed as a new barrier to meaningful social participation in the community. The purpose of this project was to understand the impact of social distancing on older adults and senior organizations to better inform the role of OT in helping seniors adapt to towards a new normal within the community. A qualitative study and needs assessment were performed through phone interviews with seniors and organizations that support them from around the United States. Themes highlighted seniors desire for social contact and cautious return to the community once mandates are lifted. Both seniors and …

The Role Of Occupational Therapy For Homeless Women And Women At-Risk Of Homelessness, Kelcey Storkersen, Susan Macdermott, Becki Cohill

Summer 2020 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

This capstone project is focused on assessing the occupational needs and barriers of women at-risk of homelessness at a resource center. A needs assessment, facility observations, and research study were conducted to identify population needs and create a client-centered program for offering occupational enrichment to these women at CMOH.

Occupation-Based Programming For Survivors Of Human Trafficking, Breann H. Paul, Becki Cohill, Susan Macdermott

Summer 2020 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Occupational therapists have an essential role in overcoming the gaps in maternal health care by providing the necessary support to both mothers and children. There is currently limited research on the unique needs of survivors of human trafficking who are mothers, especially their psychosocial needs. Survivors of human trafficking may experience severe trauma, physical violence, long-term emotional distress, and health problems. Therefore, it is essential that survivors of human trafficking are provided the appropriate resources, education, support, and guidance throughout the transition to motherhood and this life changing role. The program created for this population focuses on the occupational needs …

Occupational Therapy’S Role In Assisting With Community Reintegration For Survivors Of Human Trafficking, Jane Huynh, Becki Cohill, Susan Macdermott

Summer 2020 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Victims of human trafficking were exposed to traumatic experiences that affected their physical, psychological, cognitive, and social health. As the survivors entered the healing stage and progressed in their journey to community reintegration, the complex traumatic experiences may affect their independence with occupational tasks. This capstone explored the areas where occupational therapy can assist with community reintegration for survivors of human trafficking. Interviews were conducted through casual conversation using the modified-COPM as guidance, and the QOL was used to gather baseline data. Survivors identified priorities of their everyday living and the barriers to them achieving their goals: education, vocation, transportation, …

Assessing The Impact Of Online Occupational Therapy Content On Professional Development For Occupational Therapists, Lisa Nguyen, Susan Macdermott, Becki Cohill

Summer 2020 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Social media has provided a virtual space for occupational therapists around the world to connect and to share practical information and this type of media has great potential as a source of social support and mentorship. This project’s purpose is to assess the qualitative impact of online occupational therapy-based content among occupational therapists. Data was collected and compiled from the currently available blogs and podcasts with OT-based content. Surveys were conducted among 40 occupational therapy students and occupational therapy practitioners and five occupational therapy content creators were interviewed on their experiences producing OT-based content online. The themes that resulted from …

The Impact Of A Holistic Admissions Review Process In A Doctor Of Physical Therapy Program, Carrie Hawkins

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones

Holistic admissions processes in doctor of physical therapy (DPT) education programs are perceived as a means to increasing the diversity of the profession. While previous research has correlated the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) to success on the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) and the grade point average (GPA) to success in the program coursework, the impact of a holistic admissions process on the academic factors or on the demographics of the applicants offered admission has not been extensively studied for DPT education programs. This study was conducted to determine if the addition of a holistic application review process rubric to …

Sound Effects On Standing Postural Strategies In The Elderly Via Frequency Analysis Approach, Yun-Ju Lee, Chang-Hsu Chen, Chao-Che Wu, Yu-Jung Chen, Jing-Nong Liang

Physical Therapy Faculty Research

Sound and sound frequency could improve postural sway in the elderly. The power spectrum intervals of the center of pressure (COP) displacement are associated with different postural regulations, which could be revealed by frequency analysis. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of sound on dual-tasking postural control and conduct frequency analysis to distinguish postural regulations in the elderly. Fifteen young and 15 older healthy participants were instructed to stand on a force platform and performed the Purdue Pegboard test while hearing 50 dB sounds with sound frequencies of 250 Hz, 1000 Hz, 4000 Hz, or no …

Acute Systemic Inflammation Reduces Both Carotid And Aortic Wave Reflection In Healthy Adults, Thessa Hilgenkamp, Elizabeth C. Schroeder, Wesley L. Lefferts, Bo Fernhall

Physical Therapy Faculty Research

Acute inflammation increases the risk of cardiac and cerebrovascular events, possibly related to alterations in the hemodynamic load. Wave reflection at the aorta and carotid provides insight into downstream vascular changes and hemodynamic load at the heart and brain. Acute inflammation has been suggested to reduce wave reflection via downstream vasodilation; however, this is not firmly established and has only been investigated at the aorta. We sought to explore the effect of acute inflammation on aortic and carotid hemodynamics in healthy, young adults. Pressure waveforms were collected via radial and carotid applanation tonometry in 23 adults (26 ± 4 years) …

Passive, Yet Not Inactive: Robotic Exoskeleton Walking Increases Cortical Activation Dependent On Task, Sue Peters, Shannon B. Lim, Dennis R. Louie, Chieh-Ling Yang, Janice J. Eng

Physical Therapy Publications

Background

Experimental designs using surrogate gait-like movements, such as in functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), cannot fully capture the cortical activation associated with overground gait. Overground gait in a robotic exoskeleton may be an ideal tool to generate controlled sensorimotor stimulation of gait conditions like ‘active’ (i.e. user moves with the device) and ‘passive’ (i.e. user is moved by the device) gait. To truly understand these neural mechanisms, functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) would yield greater ecological validity. Thus, the aim of this experiment was to use fNIRS to delineate brain activation differences between ‘Active’ and ‘Passive’ overground gait …

Mediolateral Damping Of An Overhead Body Weight Support System Assists Stability During Treadmill Walking, M. Bannwart, S. L. Bayer, Niklas König Ignasiak, M. Bolliger, G. Rauter, C. A. Easthope

Physical Therapy Faculty Articles and Research

Background

Body weight support systems with three or more degrees of freedom (3-DoF) are permissive and safe environments that provide unloading and allow unrestricted movement in any direction. This enables training of walking and balance control at an early stage in rehabilitation. Transparent systems generate a support force vector that is near vertical at all positions in the workspace to only minimally interfere with natural movement patterns. Patients with impaired balance, however, may benefit from additional mediolateral support that can be adjusted according to their capacity. An elegant solution for providing balance support might be by rendering viscous damping along …

Return To School 1 Year After Traumatic Brain Injury: A Study Using The Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems National Database, Kathryn Tarnai

Masters Theses, 2020-current

For many individuals, recovery from moderate to severe brain injuries involves returning to a level of pre-injury productivity. Specifically, previous research has focused extensively on factors predicting return to employment, where students are inconsistently categorized with those in competitive employment. Moreover, research dedicated to return to school for students in secondary and tertiary education is largely qualitative; very few studies have utilized predictive modeling on a sample composed solely of students. For this study, a model including days of post-traumatic amnesia (PTA), length of stay (LOS), rehabilitation discharge Disability Rating Scale (DRS) scores, and educational level was used to predict …

Bringing Function To Families: Ot’S Role In Parenting With Sci, Alexandra Economou, Ots, Molly Flannery, Ots, Nikki Tutelman, Ots, Courtney Wagner, Ots, Rebecca Sinko, Otd, Otr/L

Collaborative Research and Evidence shared Among Therapists and Educators (CREATE Day)

Objectives:

• Describe participation challenges that impact the role of parenting for parents with SCI
• Identify evidence-based intervention areas within the scope of OT that facilitate participation in the role of parenting with SCI
• Discuss the unique need and application for OT services to support parents with SCI

PICO Question:

What are interventions within the scope of OT practice that increase participation in the role of parenting with spinal cord injury (SCI)?

Effect Of Unilateral Lower-Limb Amputation On Intact Limb Biomechanics: A Systematic Review, Amanda Boyd

Master's Theses

The United States will perform 30,000-40,000 amputations this year (Ertl et al., 2019). As a common medical intervention, there is extensive research regarding rehabilitation strategies and post-operative care. Many studies have explored the effects of the affected limb and prosthetic intervention yet have neglected that of the contralateral limb (De Asha et al., 2014; Jones et al., 2006; Winter & Sienko, 1988). Studies have reported an increase in secondary musculoskeletal conditions among unilateral lower-limb amputees, particularly in the intact limb, indicating the need for additional research (Gailey et al., 2008). The purpose of this systematic review was to investigate the …

Young Adults Can Learn To Predict Unexpected Posterior Perturbations Using An Auditory Cue, Huaqing Liang, Tippawan Kaewmanee, Alexander S. Aruin

Physical Therapy Faculty Research

To reduce the effect of an expected postural perturbation, central nervous system uses anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs), which include the activation and inhibition of the postural muscles and a slight shift of the center-of-pressure (COP) position. The generation of APAs majorly relies on the availability of visual information, and is learned through past experience. Hence, such protective mechanism to maintain balance is not implemented when perturbation comes from one’s back unexpectedly. Our previous work showed that young adults could rely on an auditory cue only to generate APAs for a front perturbation similar to that when vision was available. So …

Older Adults Retain The Ability To Predict External Perturbations Using Auditory Cues Only, Huaqing Liang, Tippawan Kaewmanee, Alexander S. Aruin

Physical Therapy Faculty Research

To maintain balance and prevent destabilization, humans utilize anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs) prior to the postural perturbations based on predictions and past experience. APAs involve the activation and inhibition of the trunk and leg muscles and a shift of the center-of-pressure (COP) position. The generation of APAs majorly relies on the availability and accuracy of visual information. However, our previous work showed that young adults could rely on an auditory cue only to generate APAs for an external perturbation similar to that when the visual information was available. Older adults generally have diminished APAs and consequently diminished postural control when …

Application Of Self-Efficacy Training In Group Aural Rehabilitation: An Interprofessional Collaborative Model, Stephen D. Roberts, Nancy A. Delich

JADARA

Few studies have explored self-efficacy training with persons with hearing loss (PHLs), yet alone with their communication partners (CPs). The purpose of this mixed-method study was to examine the impact of self-efficacy training as a framework for an Interprofessional Psychosocial Group Aural Rehabilitation (IPGAR) workshop with PHLs and their CPs. Four PHLs and their four CPs consented to participate in the IPGAR workshop that employed interventions including short lectures, psychosocial exercises, communication strategies training, speech perception training, adaptive/stress reduction exercises, and group discussions relevant to mutually established shared goals for each couple. The participants reported improved communication abilities in the …

Promoting Coping For Adults With Neurodegenerative Conditions, Julia Kraushaar, Ots, Melanie Watt, Ots, Kristine Ismael, Ots, Julia Snavely, Ots, Adel Herge, Otd, Otr/L, Faota

Collaborative Research and Evidence shared Among Therapists and Educators (CREATE Day)

Objectives

• Identify neurodegenerative conditions and how they impact occupational performance and quality of life (QoL)
• Describe the effects of coping skill interventions on QoL among adults with neurodegenerative conditions
• Examine the role of occupational therapy in improving QoL in adults with neurodegenerative conditions

PICO Question

Within the scope of occupational therapy, what are the effects of coping skills interventions on improving quality of life in adults with neurodegenerative conditions?