Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

Occupational Therapy's Role In Work And Industry: Manufacturing, Madeline Spears

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

This capstone project focuses on the role of occupational therapy in a work and industry setting. I completed this capstone in collaboration with the manufacturing engineering program at EKU and leaders from Toyota Powertrain with the overarching goal being to increase accessibility and advocate for expansion of the manufacturing workforce to include workers with disabilities. Toyota provided assembly parts for their cam housing process with the objective to adapt the process to be accessible for wheelchair users. I completed a thorough task analysis followed by collaboration with engineering professionals to design and build a new manufacturing workstation that is wheelchair …

Sensory Training For School Based Professionals, Anna Rose

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

The purpose of this ALE presentation was to develop a sensory-based training for school system professionals in Floyd County Schools regarding the purpose of sensory-based interventions and sensory-based equipment to improve student outcomes and academic performance. Professionals were educated regarding the appropriate use of sensory equipment within their school’s sensory room and sensory supports to utilize within the classroom. All professionals were trained to ensure optimal outcomes for students utilizing the new and finalized sensory rooms in Floyd County. After the finalization of 8 sensory rooms, and over 10 sensory-based trainings, Floyd County professionals were assessed utilizing equipment with students, …

When Worlds Collide: The Intersection Of Horses & Rehabilitation, Rachel Carden

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

One niche practice area in Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Speech Language Pathology practice is hippotherapy. This practice area involves equine movement as part of the therapeutic process. My capstone experience was completed at Transitions Physical Therapy, with Lisa Harris as my mentor. I completed 14 weeks of hands-on, patient directed learning with direct, supervised patient handling, equine handling, and observing how the therapeutic process can involve equine movement to benefit patient goals. In this experience, I created a 46-page resource guide to include five parent handouts, describing the nature of hippotherapy and OT/PT. This resource guide also included twelve …

Occupational Therapy Education: Teaching, Scholarship, And Service, Tyler Bush

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

The past 14 weeks of this Capstone experience, I have had the pleasure of learning what it is like working in academia in a University setting. During this time, I quickly learned that teaching is just one piece of academia, where service and research are also included in three different components that make up academia. While teaching was the main area of focus I wanted to gain experience in, I was also able to learn more about research and service. At the end of my Capstone experience, I led a service community project by developing an educational learning module to …

A Multicenter Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial Using A Virtual Reality Application Of Pain Neuroscience Education For Adults With Chronic Low Back Pain, Ryan Mcconnell, Elizabeth Lane, Grace Webb, Dana Lapeze, Hailey Grillo, Julie Fritz

Funded Scholarship

Background

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a highly prevalent condition among adults and is correlated to high levels of pain, high disability, and lower quality of life. Pain neuroscience education (PNE) helps to explain the pain experience and can affect psychosocial factors, such as fear of movement, anxiety, socioeconomic status, work life satisfaction, etc. More recently, virtual reality (VR) programs have emerged allowing for immersive PNE experiences.

Objective

The purpose of this randomized clinical trial is to determine the feasibility of using a VR application for the delivery of immersive PNE (VR-PNE) and other activity training for patients with …

Sex Differences In The Effects Of Cortisol On Muscle Characteristics: A Meta-Analysis, Natalie Bitetti

CMC Senior Theses

Background: Cortisol plays a central role in both muscle breakdown and growth. These effects are highly dependent on dose and interactions with other hormones. It is known that men and women show considerable differences in their muscle structure and physiology, which are largely driven by hormonal differences. Cortisol release patterns may also vary between the sexes, with current research showing considerable disagreement. The interplay between cortisol and muscle, two highly variable and sexually dimorphic factors, may prove to have different effects in males versus females.

Objective: This meta-analysis integrates existing research on sex differences in cortisol-muscle physiology with existing research …

Exploring Factors That Influence Prosthetic Attention In Upper And Lower Limb Prosthesis Users, Tanu Bhargava, Cody L. Mcdonald, Elizabeth G. Halsne, Brian J. Hafner, Benjamin J. Darter

Graduate Research Posters

Background: Prosthetic limbs often lack the innate control and sensory feedback capabilities of natural limbs, requiring more cognitive effort or attention during motor tasks. While a conceptual model of prosthetic attention exists for lower limb (LL) users, its applicability to upper limb (UL) remains unclear. This study aimed to explore how LL and UL users experience prosthetic attention, and explore factors that influence the existing model.

Methods: Twenty five UL users and thirty LL users with at or above wrist or ankle-level limb loss participated. Focus groups (FG), guided by open-ended questions, delved into user’s lived experiences with prosthetic attention. …

Exploring The Experience And Identity Of Associated Faculty Teaching In A Doctor Of Physical Therapy Program, Catherine A Bilyeu

Dissertations and Theses

Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program faculty often enter academia as expert clinicians or researchers, but rarely as expert educators. Recommendations for faculty development exist, yet many physical therapy faculty still enter academia with little or no formal preparation for teaching and limited understanding of academe. This lack of preparation can impact faculty performance and identity, which ultimately can influence student outcomes. This is particularly true for associated faculty, who have very limited access to development opportunities due to the nature of their academic positions. Framed in social constructivism and transition theory, this study explored the experience and identity of …

Deconstruction Of Body Representation Of The Back In Healthy Back Pain-Free Individuals And People With Chronic Low Back Pain, Simon Pratt

Theses

Changes in various body representations have been increasingly investigated and subsequently posited to be potentially important factors in the development and maintenance of chronic low back pain. Three main domains of body representation are considered here: body model, body schema (comprising superficial and postural schema), and body image. Most studies informing our contemporary understanding of these body representations have been undertaken in areas such as the hand and forearm, with a comparative dearth of studies performed on the low back. Consequently, this thesis consists of a comprehensive investigation of body representation initially in healthy back pain-free individuals and then in …

Effectiveness Of Peer Support Groups For Mothers At Risk For Postpartum Depression, Natalie Paige Gates

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Motherhood requires a role transition, new maternal responsibilities, and changes in everyday life, which can impact the mother’s mental health, possibly leading to postpartum depression. Postpartum depression can, in turn, create additional challenges for the mother in engaging in her daily routines and occupations. Therefore, a peer support group for mothers at risk for postpartum depression was developed in hopes of improving the mothers’ management of routines, ultimately improving maternal mental health. The effectiveness of the peer support group was measured through quantitative and qualitative online self-report surveys, where the mothers reported their current mental health status, self-efficacy, and occupational …

Dance Intervention For Stroke Rehabilitation: Restoring Occupational Performance Through Creative Movement, Olivia Paige Allen

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Thousands of individuals are affected by cerebral vascular accidents, (CVA), also known as strokes in the United States each year, (CDC, 2023). Cerebral vascular accidents are one of the leading causes of death among the elderly population in the U.S. each year, (NIH et al., 2023). The deficits caused by a CVA can be global, from hemiparetic limbs and sensory loss to psychosocial impacts on an individual and their support system. In occupational therapy, the goal is to regain as much function and independence as possible for the individual who has experienced a CVA. Although many evidence-based intervention tools are …

Community Resource Programs Impact On Marginalized Communities Access To Health Care Services: A Program Development Project, Alexis N. Foehrkolb

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Caring for children and meeting their needs comes with a variety of considerations regarding temperament, developmental progress, and socioeconomic impact. For children with special healthcare needs (CSHCN), those considerations become more complex. Community resource programs are designed to help families of CSHCN get access to the resources they need regarding general and healthcare services. A program was developed in collaboration with Parents Place of Maryland (PPMD) to create materials effective in educating parents of CSHCN on desired topics of interest, create a virtual environment where parents felt safe asking questions regarding specific topics of interest, and determine the most effective …

Life After Sport: A Program Development Plan For Student-Athletes, Loryn Shawn Frame

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

College athletics stakeholders have had growing concerns regarding student-athletes’ transition out of collegiate athletics. Research specific to student-athletes following college athletics has explored mental health, role identity, and occupational participation. This program development plan addresses occupational therapy’s role in assisting student-athletes transition out of collegiate athletics. The needs assessment conducted with West Virginia University athletic staff revealed two gaps in programming: athletic identity including leisure exploration, and a program to help student-athletes who want to enter health professional programs. Life After Sport comprises two programs, one to help student-athletes transition into a health professional program, titled Athletes in Medicine (AIM), …

What Are The Perceptions And Lived Experiences Of Canadian Injured Workers About The Provision Of Physiotherapy Services Using Telerehabilitation?, Anne Hudon, Maxi Miciak, Teri Slade, Stacey Lovo, Jackie L. Whittaker, Daniel Côté, Debbie E. Feldman, Dahlia Kairy, Marie Laberge, Beverley Mckeen, Lynn Cooper, Douglas P. Gross

Études primaires

Purpose

Despite evidence of efficacy, the effectiveness of telerehabilitation in real-world clinical settings is still largely unknown. Telerehabilitation requires a substantial transformation of the organization and delivery of traditional services. Considering that a virtual setting can create unique challenges for providing physiotherapy services and given the physical and potential hands-on nature of evidence-based assessments and interventions, it is important to investigate what injured workers think of receiving physiotherapy care via telerehabilitation and to examine if rehabilitation needs are adequately met.

Methods

A qualitative interpretive description study was conducted to explore the perspectives and experiences of 17 injured workers receiving physiotherapy …

A Case Report: Regenerative And Robotic Rehabilitation In A Patient With Chronic Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy, Chieh Chen, Sun-Hui Tseng

Rehabilitation Practice and Science

Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) occurs when the brain is deprived of sufficient oxygen or blood flow, resulting in brain dysfunction. According to the relevant literature, no curative therapies are currently available for HIE-related lifelong disabilities. Regenerative rehabilitation employs regenerative technologies and cell therapy combined with conventional therapeutic exercises to restore normal function. This study used robotic-assisted gait training with the Lokomat and two infusions of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) to treat an adolescent with chronic HIE. At the seven-month follow-up assessment, we determined that the patient’s motor function had improved based on the Gross Motor Function Measure-88 (GMFM-88) …

Knowledge Translation Task Force For Core Measures Clinical Practice Guideline: A Short Report On The Process And Utilization, Marghuretta D. Bland, Jennifer Moore, Elizabeth Anderl, Megan Eikenberry, Arlene Mccarthy, Geneviève N. Olivier, Tracy Rice, Amelia Siles, Hallie Zeleznik, Wendy Romney

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

Background

As part of the 2018 Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG): A Core Set of Outcome Measures for Adults with Neurologic Conditions Undergoing Rehabilitation, a Knowledge Translation (KT) Task Force was convened. The purpose of this short report was to (1) demonstrate the potential impact of a CPG KT Task Force through a practical example of efforts to implement a CPG into neurologic physical therapy practice and (2) describe the process to convene a KT Task Force and develop products (KT Toolkit) to facilitate implementation of the CPG.

Methods

To describe the process used by the KT Task Force to develop …

Feasibility And Safety Of Early Post-Covid-19 High-Intensity Gait Training: A Pilot Study, Joakim Halvorsen, Christopher Henderson, Wendy Romney, Magnus Hågå, Tonje Barkenæs Eggen, Jan Egil Nordvik, Ingvild Rosseland, Jennifer Moore

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

Background: The feasibility and safety of rehabilitation interventions for individuals recovering from COVID-19 after the acute stage is not well understood. This pilot study aims to provide a preliminary investigation of the feasibility and safety of providing high-intensity gait training (HIT) with a targeted cardiovascular intensity of 70–85% of the age-predicted maximum heart rate (HRmax) for individuals undergoing rehabilitation post-COVID-19. Methods: Consecutive patients who were medically cleared for HIT were invited to participate in the study. Participants practiced walking in varied contexts (treadmill, overground, and stairs), aiming to spend as much time as possible within their target cardiovascular intensity zone …

Effect Of Covid-19 On Performance And Recovery Of Division I Women’S Basketball Players: A Case Study, Julie K. Nolan, Christopher Taber, Samah Senbel, Mehul S. Raval, N.S. Artan, Tolga Kaya

Athletic Training Faculty Publications

This report aimed to examine the effects of COVID-19 on athletic performance and recovery in women’s basketball players. Twelve participants were included in this case report, with four serving as the test group and eight serving as the control group. All participants wore a Polar GPS unit and a Whoop Strap. The Polar unit was worn during games and practices and used to collect metrics of physical workload. The Whoop strap was worn during daily activities, including periods of sleep, to collect metrics of sleep and recovery. Data were analyzed via descriptive statistics (mean difference ± standard deviations), and T-tests …

Exploring The Relationship Of Intact Limb Knee Joint Loading With Step Lengths And Step Length Symmetry In Individuals With Lower Limb Amputation, Edward D. Syrett

Theses and Dissertations

Individuals with unilateral lower limb amputation (LLA) frequently experience intact limb knee pain, dysfunction, and osteoarthritis. These problems can worsen pre-existing reductions in mobility and quality of life that this population regularly experiences. It is widely accepted that knee joint loading is implicated in the development of knee joint issues, and intact limb knee joint load alterations are thought to be widespread in individuals with LLA. Prior work suggests that gait deviations frequently present in this population may be a contributory cause of these altered forces. These deviations can take many forms, but individuals with LLA commonly demonstrate alterations in …

Life After Discharge: Predicting Longitudinal Trajectories Of Community Integration And Global Functioning In Black Individual With Traumatic Brain Injury, Chimdindu Ohayagha

Theses and Dissertations

The onset of traumatic brain injury (TBI) begins a chronic health pathway that contributes to various impairments and comorbidities across the lifespan. Common consequences of TBI include mental health issues, cognitive impairments, and reduced functional independence, all of which impact how an individual integrates into their community. Community integration is a primary goal for rehabilitation after TBI. Studies show that racially/ethnically minoritized individuals have a higher incidence of TBI, higher rates of mortality, and report poorer functional and community integration outcomes. Limited studies have explored longitudinal outcomes of community integration in a Black-only sample of individuals with TBI. Additionally, no …

Clinical Reasoning Development: Exploring The Role Of Instructor Feedback During Health Professions Clinical Education Experiences, Ryan T. Orrison

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

The growing complexity of the healthcare environment and the need to equitably address the health and well-being of a diverse patient population has increased the requirement for practical instruction and assessment of clinical reasoning in the training of health professionals. Formative assessment, in the form of feedback, is recognized as an essential instructional component in teaching clinical reasoning. This study aimed to investigate the role of feedback in developing clinical reasoning during clinical education.

This investigation consisted of three unique studies completed in phases. The scoping review methodology in phase one revealed six themes from the included articles (n = …

The Effect Of Interval Time On Time To Exhaustion During High Intensity Interval Training Running In Recreational Male Runners, Abraham Castrejon

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

High Intensity interval Training (HIIT) in running prescription can be applied in a variety of different ways, but HIIT prescription lacks specificity and efficiency in determining what duration of interval is optimal for improved aerobic performance. The purpose of this study was to test different HIIT protocols with a 1:1 ratio active: recovery intervals of 2:2 minute (Protocol 1), 4:4 minute (Protocol 2) and a continuous run trial (CRT). Seven recreational male runners (Age= 23.1 ± 3.4 yr, Height= 1.80 ± 0.1, Weight= 75.8 ± 9.6) performed a maximal oxygen consumption test (60.5 ± 4.9 ml/kg/min) with a graded exercise …

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Student Perceptions Of Occupational Balance In Graduate School: A Qualitative Study, Stephanie Bachman, Penelope Cleveland, Lucinda Dale, Laura Santurri

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

The objective of this study was to explore occupational therapy (OT) students’ occupational balance and to examine how OT students' experiences in a graduate program promoted or inhibited occupational balance. Grounded theory methodology was used to develop a theory of the occupational balance of entry-level OT students. Twenty-six students were recruited using convenience and maximum variation sampling. Data analysis through constant comparison of transcripts, field notes, and memos consisted of open, axial, process, and selective coding. A storyline narrative with diagrams displayed relationships among concepts and supporting evidence for inductively derived theoretical propositional statements. Students in OT programs progressed through …

Current Education Offerings On Occupational Therapy: Addressing Feeding, Eating, And Swallowing Across The Lifespan, Thilini Abeywickrema, Kate G. Barlow, Janelle Hatlevig, Cuyler Romeo, Tatiana Barcelos Pontes

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Occupational therapists play a vital role in the care of individuals with feeding, eating, and swallowing (FES) disorders across the lifespan. Although there are certain standards created by the Accreditation Council of Occupational Therapy (ACOTE) for understanding of assessment and management practices specific to FES, there are inconsistencies in how occupational therapy programs in the United States address FES disorders within their curriculum. This cross-sectional exploratory survey study received responses from 54 Master of Occupational Therapy (MSOT) programs and 63 entry-level Occupational Therapy Doctoral (OTD) programs. Survey questions included quantitative and qualitative information on general information regarding FES content taught …

Evaluating Change In Skill Performance Over Time And Practice Context In Introductory Fieldwork Simulation, Kaitlin R. Sibbald, Diane E. Mackenzie

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Simulation has been recognized for its ability to develop competency-level skills and as a replacement for some introductory fieldwork (FW) hours. This study explored how occupational therapy competency-related skills developed over sequential in-person simulations across health practice contexts during Level 1 FW. Entry-to-practice occupational therapy students (N = 66) participated in six sequential, formative, Level 1 FW simulations. The first three sequential simulations (the same patient case evolves in each successive interaction) included a trained simulated patient in a community mental health context and the following three engaged a trained simulated inpatient in a physical health context. Evaluation rubric variables …

Occupational Therapy Educators’ Self-Efficacy To Teach In A Blended Curriculum, Inti A. Marazita, Amy Adcock, Mary Shotwell

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Educational trends have influenced occupational therapy education as evidenced by the adoption of new teaching methods such as blended learning. Blended learning is a combination of both synchronous and asynchronous learning that occurs online as well as portions of the learning occurring in a brick-and-mortar. As more occupational therapy programs design their curriculum to include blended learning, it is essential to understand occupational therapy educators' self-efficacy related to their skills and capabilities to teach in such an innovative format. Little is known regarding occupational therapy educators' self-efficacy to teach in a blended curriculum. This qualitative study aimed to examine the …

Occupational Therapy Student Characteristics Influencing Level Ii Fieldwork: An Exploratory Study Of Mental Health, Confidence, And Mindful Self-Care, Jessie L. Bricker, Kaitlin Hill, Steven D. Taff

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Level II fieldwork serves as a critical component of occupational therapy (OT) student education during which students develop and refine skills to become practicing clinicians; however, research on student characteristics that influence the fieldwork experience is limited. The purpose of this study was to explore student mental health, confidence, and mindful self-care practices throughout Level II fieldwork. Ten OT students completing Level II fieldwork participated in this study by completing surveys during the first week, midpoint, and final two weeks of their second Level II fieldwork experience. Each survey contained Cohen’s Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), the Student Confidence Questionnaire, and …

A Model For Interprofessional Education Between Occupational Therapy And Accounting Students: A Mixed-Methods Study, Angela Lampe, Brenda Coppard, Alison Maloy, Yongyue Qi

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

This interprofessional education (IPE) project was designed to prepare students to work and lead in an increasingly complex healthcare environment. The purpose of this project is to describe and measure accounting and occupational therapy students’ perception and value of participating in an IPE learning activity and how the activity enriched the learning environment and identified gaps of knowledge to improve teaching. A mixed methods pre- post-survey design was used to collect quantitative data from a modified version of the Interprofessional Socialization and Valuing Scale (ISVS-9a) from 115 occupational therapy and 21 accounting students. Qualitative data was collected from a post-survey …

Effective Communication With People With Dementia: An Exploratory Study Of Pre-Registration Occupational Therapy Students, Samita Kirve, Lucy Perkins

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Dementia is a major global concern, with 50 million people already affected worldwide in 2018, and this number is expected to triple by 2050. Healthcare practitioners, specifically occupational therapists, are responsible for providing care and ensuring the well-being of people with dementia. However, occupational therapy students may not always have the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively communicate and support dementia patients, which could negatively impact the quality of care they provide. To explore this issue, a study was conducted with final-year pre-registration occupational therapy students at a public university in England. The study used a qualitative methodology, with semi-structured …

Qualitative Evaluation Of Interprofessional Education Experiential Learning (Ipeel) For Health Professional Students, Kelle Deboth Foust, Madalynn Wendland, John Schaefer, Suzanne Giuffre, Donald Allensworth-Davies

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Interprofessional education (IPE) is critical for health professional students to form professional identities and develop collaborative skills. Although accrediting bodies mandate incorporating IPE, the effects of IPE programming on health professional students and the best pedagogical approach for achieving desirable outcomes are still unclear. In addition, specific effects of IPE within the context of experiential learning are not fully understood. That is, the literature has not presented a clear framework for structuring IPE programs, nor have outcome measures for IPE utilizing experiential learning (IPEEL) been established. The purpose of this study was to complete a grounded theory qualitative analysis of …