Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

Wellness Research & Programming For Bodybuilders, Victoria Castillo, Karen Park, Kersten Laughlin

Spring 2024 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

This project explores the occupational impact on bodybuilders and wellness & program development for competitive bodybuilders. Phase one focuses on research to understand the occupational impact on bodybuilders during competition. Phase two, which focuses on program development, highlights the alignment to the objectives as they allow for the development of an educational program intended for bodybuilder coaches to help with health prevention and wellness with their bodybuilder clients.

Childhood Cancer Survivorship: Navigating A New Normal In Middle Tennessee, Karli M. Beaumont

OTD Capstone Projects

Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt in partnership with Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center offers REACH for Cancer Survivorship, a pediatric cancer survivorship clinic. REACH provides a full range of follow-up care designed to meet the physical, emotional, and practical needs of survivors and continuous surveillance of deleterious effects of cancer and its treatments. The purpose of this project was to meet population and agency needs through research of long- and late-term sequela while advocating for occupational therapy’s role in the oncology population through the proactive therapy and prospective surveillance models. The process of creating this project included synthesizing the literature, …

Occupational Impacts Of Seizures, Stephanie Nailon, Karen Park, Kelly Rodenkirch

Spring 2024 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

This research looks at the occupational impacts of seizure disorders on the adolescent population. The research study explores how their condition impacts the adolescent and family unit. The research was gathered from multiple perspectives to gain an in-depth understanding to best aid occupational therapists and health care professionals to gain a deeper understanding of areas to address when working with this population.

Comparing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (Cbt) Versus Yoga For Helping Older Adults Address High Levels Of Worry, Handout By Research Dissemination Committee, Maine, Usa

REACH: Research Evidence-to-Action for Community Health

Some older adults have high levels of worry that cause them to feel restless, tired, or tense. Two ways to treat worry are Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) and yoga.

Toying With Adapted Toys, Joshua King

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

My project is a design for an adapted toy that occupational therapists (OT) can use when working with kids. OTs are people who help others to be able to do daily tasks that they need to do to live their lives. This can look like helping a person who has been injured or has a disability to accomplish tasks like getting dressed or feeding themselves. It can also involve helping school children to improve their writing or to use assistive technology. My project started out as an idea from my mom who is an OT and was using a coffee …

Art Of Aging – A Portraiture Study, Alaina Mann

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

The process of aging can be viewed through different lenses within our society. In the past, scientists and medical professionals performed various studies to better understand and analyze different facets of aging, medicine, and health in general. Historically the arts have reflected multiple aspects of medicine and treatments while more recently, the arts have been used in a research capacity to provide different ways to represent illness, suffering, and care. This study used art-based research methods and portraiture to gather qualitative observations on the older populations within our community. Data collected included drawings, a field journal, and interviews. This study …

Destigmatizing Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Through Art And Research, Jennifer K. Fortuna

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Bill Dambrova, an artist based in Phoenix, AZ, provided the cover art for the Fall 2023 issue of the Open Journal of Occupational Therapy (OJOT). Bill’s paintings explore the intrinsic and extrinsic relationships between living things. Through the Artists + Researchers (ARx) program, Bill was teamed with Dr. Gretchen Bachman, OTD, OTR/L, MBA, CEAS, CHT, and Dr. Cindy Ivy, OTD, OTR/L, MEd, CHT, occupational therapy professors and researchers from Northern Arizona University. Their goal was to create a work of art that could disseminate research on complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). The partnership led to the creation of “Invisible War,” …

The Benefits And Implementation Of Open Science Practices In Exercise Science Research, Brendan Moore

Senior Theses

This article has the purpose of addressing the need for open science practices in the field of exercise science research. Open science is best defined as the call for greater accessibility and transparency in research (Chakravorty et al., 2022). With more accessible and transparent research, research can be conducted more thoroughly and efficiently. Additionally, the implementation of these practices would discourage many shady and unethical practices. The idea of open science is not without debate however. There are many concerns over the theft of scientific data and ideas, as well as the increased time and monetary costs associated with many …

The Editors’ Perspective: Evidence Informed Practice For Occupational Therapy Educators, Cindy Hayden, Dana M. Howell, Renee Causey-Upton

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

No abstract provided.

Outcomes From An Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctoral Practice-Scholar Apprenticeship Program, Heather J. Williamson, Cynthia Ivy, Robert E. Wickham, Oaklee Rogers, Patricia Crist

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

The introduction of the occupational therapy doctoral (OTD) program to the field of occupational therapy (OT) education was intended to advance the field by developing future leaders, increasing advanced practice, and promoting scholarship in practice. Limited information to date is available regarding outcomes of the OTD program related to the future research potential of graduates. One such approach to promoting the scholarship of practice among OTD graduates is the use of the practice-scholar model. The practice-scholar model is designed to build research skills among OTD students to encourage their ongoing commitment to evidence-based practice through implementing their own research in …

Exploring The Occupational Impact Of Pregnancy And The Role Of Occupational Therapy During The Prenatal Period, Monica Wutzke, Karen Park, Susan Macdermott

Spring 2022 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Background: Pregnancy is a major transitional period accompanied by different physiological changes that can impact performance and engagement in meaningful and needed daily occupations. There is currently limited research that examines the transition to parenthood during the prenatal period through an occupational therapy (OT) perspective.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the impact pregnancy has on an individual’s roles, routines, and daily occupations. This study aimed to investigate this through an OT lens in order to better identify how the needs of pregnant individuals fall within the scope of OT.

Methods: Pregnant individuals participated in an online …

Investigating The Efficacy Of Application Of Taping Interventions For Individuals Suffering From Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome, Valerie Brown, Daniel Codrington, Grant Jacobs, Kurtis Kessler, Borko Rodic

Physical Therapy Student Scholarship

• Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) occurs in 25% of adolescents and adults

• PFPS is a result of biomechanical imbalances, trauma, and muscle tightness/weakness

• Anterior knee pain is the primary complaint of patients with this condition

• McConnell taping and Kinesio taping are two techniques that physical therapists often use for treatment

Purpose: • To examine the literature comparing the effectiveness of two taping techniques — McConnell and Kinesio taping, and their respective impact on reducing pain in patients with PFPS

The Effects Of Dual Tasks On Balance And Gait In Patients With Parkinson’S Disease: A Critically Appraised Topic, Kathy Dao, Emily Glass, Adrienne Maday, Stephen Mcloughlin, Borko Rodic

Physical Therapy Student Scholarship

● Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects over 10 million people globally.

● There is evidence to suggest that dual-cognitive tasks negatively impact the gait and balance of patients with PD.

● 19-38% of patients with PD will develop cognitive impairments.

● Higher level cognitive functioning dual tasks exacerbate freezing of gait episodes (FoG).

● Research shows potential improvement with dual-tasks during gait secondary to prioritization of motor task of walking.

Optimal Treatment For Adhesive Capsulitis: Corticosteroid Injections With Manual Therapy Interventions, Jaceline Dejean, Carrie Mitcheltree, Mariah Purtee, Rachel Shim, Karl Bergmann

Physical Therapy Student Scholarship

Adhesive capsulitis, also known as frozen shoulder, is defined by the restriction of active and passive glenohumeral motion in all planes that is also accompanied by shoulder pain. It is most common in women between the ages of 40-60 and presents as symptoms of pain and decreased shoulder range of motion which progressively worsen over time. With the lack of knowledge by researchers regarding the etiology of adhesive capsulitis, it raises many unanswered questions including, "Which treatment approach is best?” Different treatment approaches for this condition may include local anesthetics, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), oral steroids, steroid injections, arthroscopic surgery, …

The Effectiveness Of The Functional Movement Screen And Vertical Drop Jump Test As Screenings To Predict Non-Contact Acl Injury, Luke Cable, Bray Jackson, Matt Kirchner, Samantha Slater, Borko Rodic

Physical Therapy Student Scholarship

The purpose of this Clinically Appraised Topic (CAT) was to evaluate the predictive validity of two movement screening tools: the FMS, which evaluates kinematic control during functional movement tasks and the VDJT, which evaluates both kinetic and kinematic variables during a high impulse jump task. With both screening tools looking to identify at risk movement patterns, this CAT sought to evaluate predictive screening ability and determine which tool demonstrated superior ability to stratify non-contact ACL injury risk.

The Comparison Between Skilled Vestibular Therapy And Neuromuscular Reeducation Following A Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A Critically Appraised Topic, Justin Jaquette, Robert Snyder, Rachel Sullivan, Paige Waldy, Michael E. Lehr

Physical Therapy Student Scholarship

Vestibular therapy is a specialized form of physical therapy used to treat vestibular disorders or symptoms, characterized by dizziness, vertigo, and trouble with balance, posture, and vision. CDC reports from 2001-2009, the estimated number of ER visits for sports and recreational related concussions increased 62% in those 19 years old or younger, Abnormal vestibular information affects the position and movement of the head in space. Inaccurate vestibular input requires the brain to rely on the visual system which can result in fatigue and difficulty performing activities of daily living? Traditional concussion management consists of rest until complete resolution of symptoms, …

Comparison Of Cervical Spine Mobilization With Exercises To Manual Therapy At Temporomandibular Joint, Emil Bagdasarov, Amanda Crecelius, Joseph Hofer, Ruchita Patel, Borko Rodic

Physical Therapy Student Scholarship

• Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) encompasses varying degrees of pathologies associated with dysfunction, pain, and derangement of the surrounding musculature of the joint and muscles of mastication.

• Major source of chronic orofacial pain that interferes in activities of daily living and can lead to psychological factors such as anxiety, depression, and social factors

• Anatomical positioning of the TMJ with the cervical spine has led researchers towards investigating association between the two regions.

• Associated with headaches, ear-aches, and cervical posture.

• Manipulations to the spine have been widely accepted as a treatment intervention for decreasing pain and improving function/mobility …

The Effectiveness Of Grade 5 Mobilizations Vs. Grade 1-4 Mobilizations On Mechanical Neck Pain: A Clinically Appraised Topic, Andrew J. Eyster, Edgar D. Garcia, Jared W. Mccrillis, Sean D. Smith, Michael E. Lehr

Physical Therapy Student Scholarship

• From 2000 to 2010, mechanical neck pain (MNP) prevalence ranged from 30% to 50% in adults. Other data suggests that 46% to 54% of every adult will experience some form of neck pain during their lives.

• Non-thrust mobilizations (NTM) and Thrust mobilizations (TM) are among the common interventions used in manual therapy in treatment of MNP.

• The evidence accumulated for this clinically appraised topic (CAT) suggests high clinical variability among the effectiveness in NTM and TM among adults with mechanical neck pain.

The Effectiveness And Safety Of Dry Needling In The Treatment Of Lateral Epicondylitis, Courtney Purnell, Josannah Rosario, Jordan Smithberger, Helana Supsic, Karl Bergmann

Physical Therapy Student Scholarship

The purpose of our paper was to analyze existing research that discusses the effectiveness and safety of dry needling (DN) in the treatment of lateral epicondylitis (LE). Current research and clinical practice support the use of DN to treat tendinopathies. Our hypothesis is that DN combined with traditional physical therapy (PT) interventions will be the most effective intervention in treating LE. We hypothesize that it is a safe treatment if utilized appropriately by certified DN clinicians.

The Effects Of Dry Needling And Whole-Body Vibration On Jump Height And Performance In Adults: A Critically Appraised Topic, Tiffany Sam, Sammy Nguyen, Alex Taylor, Tim Miserendino, Dr. Amy Humphrey

Physical Therapy Student Scholarship

Whole-body vibration (WBV) involves oscillation of the plates to produce vibrations. It cause: rapid eccentric-concentric muscle action to enhance muscle performance due to rapid reflex and stretch-reflexes. WBV can also cause temporary positive changes to soft tissues like skeletal muscle by increasing circulation. Dry needling (DN) is an invasive skilled intervention performed by licensed physical therapists requiring a thin filiform needle through the skin to reach soft tissues like muscle or bone that causes a mild inflammatory response to improve pain and relax muscles tissue. Analysis of jump height was the outcome measure used to determine muscle performance. The purpose …

Withdrawing Without Withholding: A Quantitative Report Of Factors Indicative Of The Need For Early Rehabilitation Services After Intrauterine Drug Exposure, Brooke G. Bohanan

OTD Capstone Projects

Maternal opioid use is a proliferative epidemic leading to a widespread increase in cases of Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) and intrauterine drug exposure (IUDE). Much information has yet to be discovered regarding best practice in treatment and the long-term effects of these diagnoses. This retrospective chart review was conducted to increase awareness and achieve a greater understanding of early developmental deficits and intervention in this population. The researchers hypothesized that there are predictive factors of a later need for therapy services. Potentially influential factors and the prevalence of rehabilitation services provided after discharge from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) …

The Joy Of Cooking With Ots: A Visual Guide, Sarah Baker

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

Access to the full guide found here: https://mixam.com/share/60bf9e1ed250502f2e67534e

Occupational therapy (OT) is an allied healthcare profession that is uniquely situated at the intersection of art and science. OT seeks to improve quality of life by addressing occupations, or daily activities that are meaningful and purposeful (Nelson, 2014). In order to accomplish these goals, occupational therapists (OTs) must use design thinking through the lens of evidence-based practice. This artistic creativity paired with well-researched scientific findings mimics the visual nature of this guide, which prioritizes this need for alternative representation of the sciences.

This visual guide focuses on the interconnectivity of culture, …

Advancing The Scientific Understanding Of Spiritual Care For Trauma In Combat Veterans And First Responders, Megan Broecker

OTD Capstone Projects

REBOOT Recovery is an organization that serves military service members, first responders, and their families through a 12-week faith-based trauma healing course. REBOOT is data driven and is continuously researching the short term and long term effects of the program on its participants. The purpose of this capstone project was to support REBOOT's past and current research studies and to develop content for all types of trauma incurred by the general population.

Master’S And Doctoral Occupational Therapy Students’ Perceptions Of Research Integration In Their Programs, Jeffrey Sargent, Ashley Wermers, Lauren Russo, Kristin Valdes

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

This is a pilot study with the intent of identifying occupational therapy doctorate (OTD) and master’s (MOT) students’ perceptions of research in their coursework. A cross-sectional study was conducted through a survey of OTD and MOT students. The Student Perception of Research Integration Questionnaire (SPRIQ) was emailed to graduate occupational therapy programs in the United States. An unpaired single tailed t-test was used to compare the mean scores between the MOT and OTD student responses for each scale and subscale. Two hundred and twenty-six students filled out the questionnaire. Both the OTD and MOT students had a favorable perception …

Growth, Globalization, And Quality Peer Review For The Journal Of Occupational Therapy Education, Renee Causey-Upton, Dana M. Howell, Cynthia L. Hayden

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

No abstract provided.

Student Perceptions Of Research In An Occupational Therapy Doctoral Program: A Cross-Sectional Survey, Kristin A. Valdes, Stephanie Dalton, Deandra Modeste, Jacqueline J. Moskalczyk, Troy Olmo, Jacklynn M. Smith

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Student perceptions of research in graduate programs play a role within the Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) curriculum and how future clinicians value Evidence Based Practice and research. The Student Perception of Research Integration Questionnaire (SPRIQ) was utilized to examine students’ perceptions of research in their graduate coursework. Participants included in this study were all students enrolled in an occupational therapy doctorate program. All items were scored on a 5-point Likert scale. Mean scores were calculated for each item on the respondents’ submissions. The items were further categorized into subscales. The mean score of all items of the SPRIQ was 4.44 …

Transforming Trauma: Resilience And Healing Through Our Connections With Animals, Philip Teseschi, Molly Anne Jenkins

Purdue University Press Book Previews

Have you ever looked deep into the eyes of an animal and felt entirely known? Often, the connections we share with non-human animals represent our safest and most reliable relationships, offering unique and profound opportunities for healing in periods of hardship. This book focuses on research developments, models, and practical applications of human-animal connection and animal-assisted intervention for diverse populations who have experienced trauma. Physiological and psychological trauma are explored across three broad and interconnected domains: 1) child maltreatment and family violence; 2) acute and post-traumatic stress, including military service, war, and developmental trauma; and 3) times of crisis, such …

Bridging The Gap Between Academia And Practice: Possibilities For Research Collaboration And Funding, Anne H. Zachry

Faculty Presentations

Preparing a successful small grant proposal involves research, planning, preparation, and determination, but obtaining funding for a creative project is not unrealistic. Practitioners are in the trenches on a daily basis, and many likely have novel ideas and relevant questions, especially when it comes to interventions. These intervention questions are important, with the American Occupational Therapy Association reporting that more studies are needed to investigate and support occupation-based intervention. By developing partnerships, educators, practitioners, and students can engage in small scale projects to further the knowledge base in the field of occupational therapy.

The Editors’ Perspective: Reflecting On Two Years Of The Journal Of Occupational Therapy Education, Renee Causey-Upton, Cynthia L. Hayden, Dana Howell

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

No abstract provided.

Evolution Of Occupational Therapy Practice: Life History Of Elizabeth Skidmore, Phd, Otr/L, Faota, Facrm, Emily Annen, Seira Goddard

Oral History Posters

Objective: 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 to gather this information.

Method: A detailed, semi-structured interview was conducted at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences. The interview took approximately 120 minutes to complete, followed …