Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

Occupational Therapy’S Role In Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Promoting Occupational Participation And Well-Being, Kallie Alexander

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

The purpose of the Doctoral Capstone project is to enhance occupational participation and well-being of persons living with ALS and care partners and address barriers to occupational justice through physical, social, and psychosocial needs.

Lets Get Connected: Promotion Of Technology And Social Interaction For Older Adults, Sarah Brown

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

Occupational therapists play a crucial role in helping individuals engage in activities they need and want to do. As the number of older adults continues to increase the need for older adult focused interventions are required to meet that demand. Technology has become an integral part of our daily lives, influencing how we communicate, manage healthcare, and grocery shop. Equipping older adults with the necessary skills and knowledge to use technology is a vital aspect of occupational therapy, essential for maintaining their autonomy and quality of life.

Enhancing Adaptive Recreation, Abby Bruff

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

The purpose of the Doctoral Capstone Project is to utilize occupational therapy’s role and scope by using a holistic approach to address personal and environmental contexts that enhance participation for individuals with disabilities. Educational training modules were created to foster competence and confidence for non-healthcare professionals working with individuals with disabilities. The OTD student gained knowledge and understanding of barriers to adaptive recreation through a systematic review of literature, professional communication, observation, and surveys.

Occupational Therapy And Accessible Air Travel, Katie Cunningham

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

The Doctoral Capstone Project consists of developing a program reference guide directly related to promoting health and wellness in individuals with disabilities who travel to ensure autonomy, safety, inclusion, and occupational opportunity through self advocacy. The evidence-supported travel accessibility quick reference guide will promote safe travel and enhance knowledge to individuals with disabilities. This will help bridge the lack of facilitators for traveling with a disability.

A Respite Care Program For Caregivers Of Children With Disabilities, Abby Kincade

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

The capstone project was developed and implemented at the capstone site and provided to the caregiver and care recipient population as a Parents Night Out: Respite Night.

Nature-Based Occupational Therapy: Promoting Functional Skill Development In Children, Darcie Gibson

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

The purpose of the doctoral capstone project was to enhance health and wellness for children by utilizing aspects of the natural environment to promote functional skill development.

Promoting Workplace Safety Within An Industrial Setting, Jordan Profit

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

The Doctoral Capstone Project aimed to develop the Workplace Safety program at Post Consumer Brands to improve overall safety and promote health and wellness among industrial workers. The program promotes health and wellness, injury prevention, and mental health.

Improving Postpartum Care Through Occupational Therapy, Madison Savage

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

The present study aimed to determine the potential role of occupational therapy in caring for women during their postpartum period. The study also aimed to discover the current goals of the practitioners and the needs of postpartum women.

Back To The Basics: Integrating Biomechanical Frame Of Reference Into The Arkansas State University Otd Curriculum, Krysta Nash

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

The purpose of the doctoral capstone project was to increase OTD student learning in the Biomechanical Frame of Reference evaluation and intervention process.

Aging In Place Safely: The Impact Of Home Modifications, Noel Walters

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

The purpose of the capstone project is to advocate for and educate community dwelling older adults in the Columbus, Ohio area to safely age in place and remain independent to avoid institutionalization.

Promoting An Inclusive Learning Environment For Children With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities At Childcare Centers, Mehak "Mickey" Rajani

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

The purpose of the doctoral capstone project is to see how well early intervention centers promote a successful and inclusive learning environment for children with IDD through the nurturing competence of childcare providers. Thereby, a successful program can be created for childcare centers to enhance the quality of life for everyone at the center to flourish and succeed beyond the status quo.

North Dakota Physical Therapy Workforce And Telehealth Utilization Between 2018-2022, Nicole A. Thomas, Elise J. Bartel, Logan Thomas, Senior, Brendan E. Kalous, Hunter T. Sylte

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Physical Therapists (PT’s) are important healthcare providers for individuals of all ages, ailments, and provide both prevention and care of disease and injury. Traditionally, physical therapists work in a wide variety of settings including hospitals, nursing homes, schools, sports/outpatient clinics, and privately-owned clinics, to name a few. There are approximately 7.2 physical therapists for every 10,000 people nationwide. However, the geographical distribution and practice settings of PT’s can greatly vary throughout each state, county, and region. This varying distribution of PT’s creates one of the biggest limitations surrounding the field of PT which is decreased access to physical therapy services …

Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty And The Effects Of Physical Therapy In The Outpatient Setting: A Case Report, Troy L. Huff

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Introduction: Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA)is gaining popularity globally for treatment of traumatic and degenerative glenohumeral diseases, as well as for irreparable rotator cuff total shoulder arthroplasty surgeries. The number of these surgeries in 2011 were 22,820 and have jumped to a staggering increase of more than 60,000 a year in 2023. The goal of this case study is to determine the role and effectiveness of physical therapy in a status post RTSA.

Case Description: The patient was a 70-year-old year male who had a right RTSA. The patient had comorbidities of Osteoarthritis of the right shoulder, a failed …

Parkinson's Disease And Voice Perception: A Little Bit Louder Now!, Samantha Manes, Taylor Desimone

Graduate Student Research: Capstone Competition

This proposed study aims to address gaps in research literature on Parkinson’s disease by investigating the neural mechanisms involved in PD patients' perception of volume using electroencephalography (EEG). By examining brain activity during voice perception tasks, the research seeks to uncover specific areas within the brain that may contribute to the lack of awareness of speaking softly. Insights gained from this study could inform the development of targeted interventions to improve communication and overall quality of life for PD patients. Ultimately, the research aims to provide a louder voice to those affected by Parkinson's disease, enhancing their ability to engage …

Say Neigh To Poor Health: Exploring The Impact Of Equine Assisted Services On Children's Health, Courtney S. Barrus

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Background: Currently, in the United States, one in six children has a developmental disability (CDC, 2022). According to the US Department of Health and Human Services (2021), developmental disabilities negatively influence an individual's ability to solve problems, social skills, life skills, ability to form relationships, and ability to learn. Equine-assisted services are a group of services, including hippotherapy and adaptive riding, which have been shown to have a positive impact on physical, emotional, and social deficits (Haig & Skinner, 2022; Helmer et al., 2021; Madigand et al., 2023; Zoccante et al., 2021). Methods: The capstone was completed in two steps. …

Determining The Concurrent And Predictive Validity Of The Repetitive Step Test In Individuals With Parkinson's Disease, Rachel Wells, Evan Callahan, Jacob Greco, Harold L. Merriman, Kurt Jackson

University of Dayton Doctor of Physical Therapy Annual Research Symposium

Purpose/Hypothesis: The Repetitive Step Test (RST) assesses rapid stepping capability in anterior lateral (AL) and posterior lateral (PL) diagonal directions. This study’s goal was to determine the predictive validity of the RST to identify fallers with Parkinson’s Disease (PD). A secondary objective was to determine concurrent validity of the RST to other established tests. It was hypothesized that those who completed fewer steps with the RST would be more likely to fall and that the RST would predict falls at least as well as the other balance tests.

Materials and Methods: 13 subjects (8 F, 5 M; mean age 70.2 …

Ehealth Cancer-Related Fatigue Intervention Single Arm Study, Anne Fleischer, Samantha Gelhaus, Emily Flohre, Caroline Frazee, Mary I. Fisher, Carrie Pickering

University of Dayton Doctor of Physical Therapy Annual Research Symposium

Purpose/Hypothesis: Cancer related fatigue (CRF), a sense of physical, emotional and cognitive tiredness not relieved by rest, negatively affects function. Prevalence is reported to be 59-100% throughout the care continuum. Exercise and psychosocial interventions are supported as effective treatment options, yet barriers to personalized care include time and distance to travel for care. The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the effectiveness of personalized exercise prescribed by physical therapy (PT), and occupational goal setting and tasks prescribed by occupational therapy (OT) on physical function.

Number of Subjects: 16 adults with cancer and fatigue ≥4/10.

Materials and Methods: Over …

Altering The Lower Limb Kinetic Chain: Reliability And Minimum Detectable Change Of Total Support Moment, J Barrios, R Cloud, M Gorski, A Grieshop, A Kinney

University of Dayton Doctor of Physical Therapy Annual Research Symposium

Purpose: 3D joint kinetics are routinely studied in various lower limb musculoskeletal conditions. Often, a condition affecting a joint is associated with altered kinetics at that same joint, such as knee osteoarthritis being associated with reduced knee flexion moments. However, these same-joint alterations may also contribute to altered comprehensive movement patterns of the entire limb in a synergistic manner. A lower limb biomechanical metric that represents this multi-joint kinetic chain synergy is the total support moment (TSM). Indeed, TSM has been found to be altered in knee osteoarthritis, anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, and partial meniscectomy. Despite this, psychometric studies are …

The Relationship Between Economic Status And Patient Retention In The Physical Therapy Setting In Selected Physical Therapy Clinics And Hospitals Of Negros Oriental: Perspective Of Filipino Physical Therapists, Rey Joshua P. Osorio, Zoscheele Monica G. Pal, Clarice M. Planteras, Raymon D. Ragay, Ginea Marydawn N. Roda, Rapunzel G. Santillan, Niña Mae B. Sequita, Ulrich Tristan Weber

Student Dissertations

Patient retention has always been part of the goals in the medical field, especially in the Physical Therapy setting; there were some studies that depicted a contingent effect on its likelihood with the patients’ economic status. However, the lack of evidence-based studies in PT surrounding these variables have made it difficult to pinpoint the relationship between the two. This study investigated how economic status influences patient retention in physical therapy settings in Negros Oriental, Philippines. It combined quantitative data from surveys on participant demographics, economic status, and patient retention with qualitative insights gathered through semi-structured interviews. The data collected suggested …

Exploring Occupational Therapy’S Role In Childcare Settings, Makayla Hamling

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

This study focused on exploring the occupational therapist's role in childcare settings. The program development, observations, and hands-on activity allowed for first-hand experience of the role occupational therapists could play in a daycare setting. Incorporating meaningful participation, education, and environmental modifications were a part of this study. The study was conducted in Northeast Nebraska, with a total of 31 participants.

Early detection is key to addressing developmental delays in many areas (play, social, leisure, dressing, eating, etc). Developmental screenings can assist caregivers and specialists in knowing and understanding how a child is developing compared to his or her same-aged peers. …

Wrist Flexor And Extensor Tendon Stiffness During Functional Grip: A Pilot Study, Kristin Stein, Matthew Stephens, Camryn Yacks, Harold Merriman, Joseph Day

University of Dayton Doctor of Physical Therapy Annual Research Symposium

Purpose/Hypothesis: Ultrasound shear wave elastography (SWE) quantifies muscle stiffness, a mechanical muscle property that is known to influence muscle function. Gripping is an important functional task and relies on the synergistic actions of the wrist flexors and extensors. To date, there are no studies to quantify tendon stiffness as measured by SWE during a functional task like gripping. The purpose of this study was to quantify differences between resting and submaximal gripping stiffness of the common wrist flexor (CFT) and common wrist extensor tendons (CET). Secondly, we aimed to compare tendon stiffness values between the flexor tendon and extensor tendons …

Effectiveness Of A Talocrural Joint Mobilization On Restricted Dorsiflexion: A Time Series Intervention Analysis, Carly Archambeau, Ceili Kacmarcik, Camryn Yacks

University of Dayton Doctor of Physical Therapy Annual Research Symposium

Purpose/Hypothesis: Restricted ankle dorsiflexion (DF) mobility is a common musculoskeletal impairment. For intervention, ankle joint mobilizations are often utilized to address restricted DF. Interestingly, no studies have investigated the short-term effect duration of a joint mobilization intervention on restricted DF. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to observe the initial effectiveness and effect duration of a DF mobilization treatment. DF measures included both a static inclinometer-based weight-bearing lunge test (WBLT) as well as dynamic 3D motion capture-based peak ankle DF during a forward step down (FSD) task. We hypothesized that both measures would increase post-mobilization and fade to baseline …

The Use And Accuracy Of Millimeter Wave Radar And Machine Learning For Gait Classification And Monitoring, Mubarak Alanazi, Abdullah Alhazmi, Vamsy Chodavarapu, Kurt Jackson, Meghan Brown, Kara Gnau, Shannon Thiel

University of Dayton Doctor of Physical Therapy Annual Research Symposium

Purpose/hypothesis: The ability to monitor human activity remotely may be useful in providing telerehabilitation and measuring real-world rehabilitation outcomes. Current methods of activity monitoring have significant limitations (cost, privacy, ease of use) that can limit their benefit and widespread use. Recent advances in machine learning (ML) and millimeter wave radar (MWR) have allowed for the development of a cost effective and simple way to monitor human movement continuously and remotely while maintaining reasonable privacy. The purpose of this study was to test the ability of ML and MWR to accurately classify and monitor different types of human activity including different …

An Artificial Intelligent Millimeter Wave Radar System For Human Activity Recognition And Monitoring, Abdullah Alhazmi, Vamsy Chodavarapu, Kurt Jackson, Cameron Djukic, Jennifer Jaszek, Anna Brown

University of Dayton Doctor of Physical Therapy Annual Research Symposium

Purpose/hypothesis: The ability to monitor human activity remotely may be useful in providing telerehabilitation and measuring real-world rehabilitation outcomes. Current methods of activity monitoring have significant limitations (cost, privacy, ease of use) that can limit their benefit and widespread use. Recent advances in machine learning (ML) and millimeter wave radar (MWR) have allowed for the development of a cost effective and simple way to monitor human movement continuously and remotely while maintaining reasonable privacy. The purpose of this study was to test the ability of ML and MWR to accurately classify and monitor different types of human activity including falls. …

Structural Sensorimotor Adaptations In Young Adults With Low Back Pain, Isaac Chrisman, Jo Armour Smith, Rongwen Tain, Kelli G. Sharp, Laura M. Glynn, Linda R. Van Dillen, Jesse V. Jacobs, Steven C. Cramer

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is the largest cause of disability worldwide. There is evidence for regional structural brain adaptation in CLBP. Most studies have investigated middle-aged adults and show decreased grey matter density in pain processing regions. It is not clear if these adaptations are evident early in the lifespan of individuals with CLBP. The purpose of the study was to compare sensorimotor gray matter density in young adults with a history of CLBP with back-healthy controls. 53 young adults with a greater than 1-year history of CLBP and 29 young adults with no history of LBP participated. Clinical …

Stimulate The Senses: How The Great Outdoors Affects Mental Health, Kayleigh Hite

University Honors College

Mental health disorders and illnesses are a majority concern in societies across the globe in our current age. This paper examines the impacts and the benefits of the outdoors in relation to mental health. Various aspects of the outdoors, such as connection, nature-based therapies, and specific elements, will be addressed to see what kind of an impact the outdoors can have. Studies on these aspects will be reviewed and compared to determine if it is hugely beneficial and worth trying before starting new medications with a long list of side effects for mental health disorders. The findings have shown that …

Beyond Rehabilitation: Exploring The Field Of Occupational Therapy And The Transformative Impact Of Care, Sierra C. Fox

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

As a profession that implements unique approaches to empower people of all ages and abilities to actively participate in activities that are meaningful to them, occupational therapy is an essential service for providing holistic healthcare (Darawsheh, 2018). As an undergraduate approaching graduation, the process for applying to graduate school programs has finally begun, and it has become obvious the lack of public knowledge there is regarding the profession. Even among other healthcare professionals, there is often an inadequate understanding of the field, which can be problematic and result in patients not being referred to receive the services that may benefit …

Relation Between Cognitive Assessment And Clinical Physical Performance Measures After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, Prokopios Antonellis, Margaret M. Weightman, Peter C. Fino, Siting Chen, Mark E. Lester, Carrie W. Hoppes, Leland E. Dibble, Laurie A. King

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

Objectives

To investigate the relation between cognitive and motor performance in individuals with mild traumatic brain injury(mTBI) and examine differences in both cognitive and motor performance between adults after mTBI and healthy controls.

Design

Multi-center, cross-sectional study.

Setting

Three institutional sites (Courage Kenny Research Center, Minneapolis, MN, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, and University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT).

Participants

Data were collected from 110 participants (N=110), including those with mTBI and healthy controls, who completed cognitive and physical performance assessments.

Interventions

Not applicable.

Outcome Measures

Cognitive assessments involved the Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics to evaluate …

Restoring Meaning Through Leisure: Exploring The Benefits Of Leisure-Focused Occupational Therapy For Individuals With Neurological Diagnoses, Elizabeth Rose Stoutland

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

There are limited findings in occupational therapy literature on leisure, despite being a highly meaningful area of occupation that has implications for both physical and mental health. This poster describes an occupational therapy Capstone experience in adaptive sports and inpatient rehabilitation at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center related to leisure restoration. The student investigated the role of occupational therapy in restoring leisure and recreation for individuals with neurological conditions and achieved the following main goals: (Goal 1) to gain skills in adaptive recreation for individuals with neurological conditions, and (Goal 2) to determine how leisure exploration can be implemented in …

The Importance Of Preferred Meaningful Occupations For Children With Medically Complex Conditions, Kaylee S. Schmit

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Children with medically complex conditions experience limitations in their ability to engage in preferred meaningful occupations. Additionally, when these children are in the hospital setting, the environment poses another barrier to accessing preferred meaningful occupation opportunities. This capstone project aimed to explore how preferred meaningful occupations could be utilized with children with medically complex conditions in the pediatric inpatient setting. The literature and needs assessment indicated the need for preferred meaningful occupations to be used as a motivator and a way to target specific skills a patient wanted to regain. With the focus of occupational therapy on return to occupation …