Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

Influence Of Muscle Strength On Mobility In Critically Ill Adult Patients On Mechanical Ventilation, Audrey R. Roberson

Theses and Dissertations

Patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) setting are prone to develop muscle weakness and the causes are multi-factorial. Muscle strength in adult, critically ill patients on mechanical ventilation decreases with immobility. The influence of muscle strength on different muscle groups and its influence on progressive mobility in the adult, critically ill patient on mechanical ventilation has not been examined. Identifying muscle strength in this patient population can benefit overall muscle health and minimize muscle deconditioning through a progressive mobility plan. The objective of this dissertation was to describe muscle strength in different muscle groups and to describe the influence …

The Effect Of Asymmetry On Pregnancy-Related Pain In The Postpartum Period, Krista G. Meder

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Nearly 50% of women experience back pain and other lower extremity pain during pregnancy, with many reporting lasting pain postpartum. Pregnant women experience changes to their pelvis and lower extremities that do not always return to pre-pregnancy baseline. Not much is known of the lingering effects of pregnancy related asymmetry and its relationship to pain. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess asymmetries of the pelvis and lower extremities to determine whether malalignment is related to areas of pain at the low back, hip, thigh, knee, leg, and foot/ankle. Methods: Seventeen postpartum women and seven nulliparous controls were …

The Effects Of Self-Adherent Taping On Peak Inversion Angle And Eversion Moment Upon Landing During A Maximal Vertical Jump And A Depth Drop, Christopher M. Gregoire

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Ankle injuries are the most common injury in physically active adults with roughly 15% to 30% of all physical activity injuries being ankle injuries. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a self-adherent ankle taping in reducing peak ankle inversion angle and peak ankle eversion moment upon landing during a max vertical jump and depth drop compared to jumping without a prophylactic ankle stabilizer.

Twelve volunteers participated in testing procedure on two separate days. Day one consisted of orientation while day two consisted of experimental data collection. The participant’s peak inversion angle and eversion moment were …

Relationship Between Concussion Symptom Clusters And Return-To-Play Time In College Athletes With Sports-Related Concussions: 2009-2010 To 2013-2014 Disc, Adrian Joseph Boltz

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Objectives To examine the relationship between Concussion Symptom Clusters (CSCs) and return-to-play time using a representative sample of U.S. college athletes with sports-related concussions.

Background Recent evidence regarding concussion symptoms have been observed to be an important element of concussion severity, and potentially a predictor of return-to-play time. However, there is a paucity of data examining the associations between Concussion Symptom Clusters (CSCs) and return-to-play time in the U.S. college athlete population.

Methods Data from the 2009-2010 to 2013-2014 academic years (n=1670) were obtained from the Datalys Center for Sports Injury and Prevention Inc. database. Exploratory factor analytic methods were …

Return To Self: Impact Of Long Term Acquired Brain Injury Rehabilitation On Community Reintegration, Mary Rowe

Online Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to examine the outcomes of a long term brain injury rehabilitation program and its impact on community re-integration. This unique facility is licensed as a Long-Term Care Facility, able to provide longer lengths of stay to treat medical and psychological needs. All residents of this facility have a diagnosis of Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) as well as a mental illness. The mental illness may have existed prior to the brain injury, or may have arisen or worsened as a result of the brain injury.

This program combines traditional rehabilitation therapy (Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, …

Experiences Of Balance Among Novice Occupational Therapists, Mary Nell Wagner

Online Theses and Dissertations

For new occupational therapists, finding balance between the demands of work and their personal lives is challenging. The transition from student to practitioner is filled with uncertainty as new therapists try to meet the demands of working in a continuously changing environment. Research describing how new therapists define and experience balance in their own daily lives is currently missing in the literature. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the experiences of novice occupational therapists in creating occupational balance while working in the healthcare system. Six novice therapists in their first year of practice were recruited for this …

Exercise Therapy For Chronic Low Back Pain, Jeanmarie Dahl

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is currently ranked as the 13th most frequent diagnosis in family practice (DynaMed Plus, 2017). Unfortunately, the severe nature of this pain leads providers to prescribe opiates for these patients. Opiates are effective for short term pain management but they have a significant side effect profile. Other forms of management for CLBP need to be identified and utilized. The purpose of this study was to determine the role exercise therapy plays in the treatment and management of patients with chronic low back pain.

A literature review was conducted in order to find high quality systematic …

Health And Appearance Reasons For Weight Loss As Predictors Of Long-Term Weight Change, Joseph E. Mroz, Carol H. Pullen, Patricia A. Hageman

Journal Articles: Physical Therapy

This study investigated whether women's initial reasons (health, appearance to others, or appearance to self) for wanting to lose weight influenced their weight change over a 30-month web-based intervention. Multilevel modeling with 1416 observations revealed that only appearance in relation to one's self was a significant (negative) predictor. Women highly motivated to lose weight to improve their appearance in relation to themselves gained weight at 30 months, whereas those not motivated for this reason achieved clinically significant weight loss. Results suggest examining participants' initial reasons for weight loss as an important component of intervention failure or success.

The Neuro Clinic: A Pilot Model To Facilitate Student Clinical Development Through In-Class Patient Experiences While Meeting Community Need, Rosanne M. Thomas, Jamie Bayliss

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: To detail the implementation and assessment of a pilot model the Neuro Clinic. This is one component of a Patient Experience Model (PEM) of embedded progressive in-class patient experiences (IcPE) in a Doctor of Physical Therapy program. The Patient Experience Model, an innovative model of experiential learning, was developed to bridge the gap between didactic coursework and clinical education, facilitate progressive patient experiences and assess developing student professional and skill competence.

Methods: The Neuro Clinic was held in laboratory classroom space for six weekly sessions with consistent student: patient triads. Overwhelming patient interest indicated a need in our community …

Normative Grip Strength Values In Males And Females, Ages 50 To 89 Years Old, James R. Roush, Kaylee L. Gombold, R. Curtis Bay

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose. To develop normative reference values for grip strength of males and females between the ages of 50 and 89 years old that can be used by health care professionals in clinical settings.

Methods. This study assessed data from a sample of males and females between the ages of 50 and 89 years old who participated in the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) sponsored by the National Institute on Aging. The Health and Retirement Study collected data from 6,266 participants in a physical measures sub-study. Grip strength was assessed in a standing position with the shoulder adducted and elbow flexed …

Post-Traumatic Stress And Academic Performance Among Entry-Level Doctoral Physical Therapy Students In A Human Anatomy Cadaver Dissection Course, Sue E. Curfman, Gary P. Austin, Joyce S. Nicholas

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Background: Dissection of human cadavers can be a stressful experience for students. Purpose: The purposes of this study were twofold: 1) to determine if physical therapy students develop or experience a worsening of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms during exposure to and dissection of human cadavers; and 2) to determine if these symptoms are related to academic performance. Methods: Previous history of a diagnosis of anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder and level of prior exposure to cadavers were recorded among 26 entry-level first semester doctoral students in physical therapy (DPT) taking gross human anatomy. Their level of anxiety about working …

Utilizing Standardized Patient Feedback To Facilitate Professional Behavior In Physical Therapist Students: A Pilot Study, Mary Anne Riopel, Bini Litwin, Nicki Silberman, Alicia Fernandez-Fernandez

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Physical therapist (PT) students receive feedback on professional behavior performance from academic and clinical faculty members. Literature is lacking on the impact that verbal feedback from standardized patients (SPs) may have on physical therapist student learning of professional behaviors. The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the use of standardized patients’ feedback as a strategy for professional behavior development. Methods: A sample of convenience identified 13 doctoral physical therapist students prior to initiation of their first full-time clinical experience. Subjects were excluded if they had prior experiences with standardized patients or had completed a full-time clinical experience. …

Education On Fall Prevention To Improve Self-Efficacy Of Nursing Staff In Long Term Care: A Pilot Study, Mark D. Leverenz, Jennifer Lape

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Fall prevention is an ongoing concern in long-term care. Self-efficacy of nursing staff affects their performance levels related to fall prevention. Research concerning falls in the elderly is plentiful but there are no published studies addressing self-efficacy of nursing staff for implementation of fall prevention strategies in long-term care. The authors hypothesize that fall prevention education by an occupational therapist would be effective to improve the self-efficacy of nursing staff for implementation of fall prevention strategies and self-efficacy to prevent resident falls.

Method: A pre-test post-test pilot study implementing a five-week, multifaceted, fall prevention education course was conducted by …

Systematic Review Of The Addition Of Hip Strengthening Exercises For Adults With Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome, Cara Elliott, Fraser Green, Karen Hang, Bronwen Jolliffe, Maureen P. Mcevoy

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS) is a common musculoskeletal disorder typically occurring in physically active people aged 40 years and younger, causing pain, functional deficits and lower limb weakness. Traditional treatment has been aimed at strengthening the knee, however recent research suggests the muscles around the hip also play an important role in the development and continuity of Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome.

Purpose: To investigate the effectiveness of the addition of hip strengthening exercises to standard physiotherapy treatment (knee strengthening and stretching exercises) on reducing pain, and enhancing strength and function when compared to standard physiotherapy treatment alone in adults with Patellofemoral …

Pre-Operative Education For Total Knee Replacement: A Pilot Survey, Renee Causey-Upton, Dana M. Howell, Patrick H. Kitzman, Melba Custer, Emily V. Dressler

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: The structure of pre-operative education programs used nationally for patients prior to total knee replacement (TKR) surgery has not been identified previously, thus hospitals across the United States lack a common standard for this pre-operative education to ensure best patient outcomes. The purpose of this pilot survey study was to describe the content, providers, and delivery methods currently utilized to deliver pre-operative education for total knee replacement in the United States.

Method: Data were collected using an online survey developed by the authors based on review of literature and three pre-operative programs, and was distributed through the Research Electronic …

Increasing Rehabilitation Therapists’ Confidence Utilizing Evidence-Based Interventions: Pilot Study, Stephanie Hovick, Ingrid Provident

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Evidence-based practice enables rehabilitation therapists to provide the best quality of care and outcomes for patients. However, rehabilitation therapists are often not confident in using evidence in many settings.

Purpose. The objective of this evidence-based practice project was to determine if educational small group sessions enhanced occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, physical therapists, physical therapy assistants, and a speech and language pathologist’s confidence in utilizing and applying evidence.

Method. Eleven rehabilitation therapists of multiple disciplines (occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, physical therapists, physical therapy assistants, and a speech and language pathologist) from a skilled nursing facility participated in …

Exploring Student-Led Interprofessional Education Through A Community Service Project, Lindsay Ann Doerschuk

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Purpose: The purpose of this research was to explore the effectiveness of a student-led interprofessional education (IPE) workshop in improving student attitudes and perceptions toward IPE. Students from four health science programs including Dental Hygiene, Communication Sciences and Disorders/Speech and Hearing, Health Services Administration and Occupational Therapy participated in a community service event. Students provided screenings to veteran patients including a health history intake, hearing test, and sleep screening while other students observed.

Methods: Students were asked to attend an orientation, the Vets Day IPE workshop, and a debrief session. This mixed methods approach study utilized the Readiness for Interprofessional …

Pinch Testing Positions Among Certified Hand Therapists: A Cross-Sectional Survey, Sueann R. Woods, Christa Lilly

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Background: Pinch strength is indicative of later functional hand use following injury to hand. However, we believe clinicians (and more specifically CHTs) currently do not use a consistent measurement of pinch grip, despite availability of a “gold standard” of current (2015) ASHT standards for measuring pinch grip.

Methods: This cross-sectional survey (N = 175, 35% response) was designed to determine whether CHTs adhere to the standardized testing position for palmar pinch strength as recommended by the ASHT.

Results: Results determined that only 5.7% (n = 10) of the CHTs surveyed complete the entire ASHT standardized testing …

Moving Past Homelessness: A Program For Success, Benjamin Becher, Jaime Johnson

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Homelessness is a pervasive problem in the United States, and lack of job searching and work skills contribute to the situation (Helfrich, Chan, & Sabol, 2011). Although there are programs available that provide services to the homeless population, these programs typically do not extensively address work-related needs (Herzberg & Finlayson, 2001; Roy et al., 2017). A literature review was conducted using numerous databases and an informal interview was conducted with a key stakeholder at Seton House, a transitional housing program for homeless single parents. With this information, a program was developed to address vocational needs for the homeless, titled Work …

The Experience Of Being A Male Occupational Therapy Practitioner At Varying Points In The Career: A Qualitative Study, Zachary Bohn, John Leclerc

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Problem Statement: The experience of being a male in a female-dominated profession has not been well researched or documented through either an inductive or deductive lens in regards to how this social context affects the male occupational therapist’s ability to function in his professional role. Subsequently, there are a dearth of guideposts and evidence that male occupational therapy students and practitioners have to understand the influence of their gender in the profession from a professional development standpoint.

Purpose: The purpose of this research study was to understand the experience of being a male occupational therapist amidst the female-dominated …

Secondary Stroke Prevention And Support: An Occupational Therapy Program, Kaitlyn Bosch, Jamie St. Germain

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Many individuals in the United States experience a recurrent stroke and evidence suggests that strokes, primary and secondary, could be prevented through lifestyle modifications. The objective of the scholarly project was to develop an occupational therapy (OT) led secondary stroke prevention program to address modifiable risk factors for stroke. A literature review was conducted to identify research to support development of this program. Based on the review of literature and through the use of the Model of Human Occupation, The Secondary Stroke Prevention and Support: An Occupational Therapy Program was designed to address competence in the occupational role of managing …

Occupational Justice Concerns For Muslim Refugees In The United States, Emily Adams, Megan Peterson

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Background: Individuals are being displaced at alarming rates and many are from countries with a Muslim majority. Countries are beginning to study the effects of trauma and displacement on quality of life for refugees. The United States however, is lacking in studies involving health care, quality of life, and occupational justice concerns with Muslim refugees.

Objectives: To identify the experiences of Muslim refugees resettling in the United States and the resulting occupational justice issues, using Occupational Perspective of Health (Wilcock & Hocking, 2015) as an overarching theory.

Methods: Participants were obtained through convenience and snowball sampling. Participants …

A Group Protocol For Individuals With High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder: Transitioning Into College, Annika Eckholm, Karol Santistevan

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: The numbers for young adults with a disability transitioning to college are increasing yearly (U.S. Department of Education, National Center of Education Statistics, 2016). Changes and transitioning to the college context is particularly challenging for individuals with high functioning autism (HFA) (Elias & White, 2017; Wehman et al., 2014). The purpose of this scholarly project was to develop a group protocol as a resource for young adult students with HFA to transition successfully in a college setting.

Methodology: A literature review was conducted on topics relating to individuals with HFA, success and barriers to college, effective interventions …

Promotion Of The Village Model In Rural Areas: An Educational Guide, Caitlin Herdrick, Samantha Kraus

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Background: The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that the adult population will double the population of Americans aged 65 years or older during the next 25 years to 72 million (2013). The increasing age of baby boomers will have a significant impact on healthcare resources and available housing options. This will have a drastic effect on rural dwelling elderly individuals and their access to the healthcare and other resources. Many aging individuals want to remain in their homes, communities, and social circles. Remaining in one's home is more cost effective, compared to skilled nursing and assisted living facilities …

Aquatic Therapy For Occupational Therapy Education And Practice, Emily L. Lablanc, Megan L. Lauck

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: With injuries, diseases and various conditions occurring daily among millions of Americans, the need for therapeutic intervention is steadily growing, as indicated by The American Occupational Therapy Association (2017a). Aquatic therapy is a unique practice that may be utilized across multiple healthcare professionals to benefit clients with a variety of conditions. Occupational therapists are qualified to perform aquatic techniques with clients in the pool; however, aquatic therapy is rarely utilized in occupational therapy practice (Franken, Mische Lawson & Santalucia, 2013). The problem may be derived from the lack of knowledge from occupational therapy students and entry-level practitioners regarding …

Experiences Of Occupational Therapists Working In Rural Areas Of Minnesota And North Dakota, Sarah Hanson, Jessica Magee

Occupational Therapy Capstones

There is limited research regarding the experiences of occupational therapy practitioners working in rural areas of the United States. The purpose of this phenomenological, qualitative study was to gain an understanding of the experiences of occupational therapy practitioners working in rural areas of Minnesota and North Dakota. Many of the occupational therapy practitioners working in these states encounter experiences that are unique to the rural context. These experiences help to form an occupational therapy practitioner’s professional identity. The Professional Identity Model (Tornebohm, 1991) was utilized to further understand the impact of the rural context on a practitioner’s professional identity. The …

The Perspective Of Counselors On Occupational Therapy At A Residential Camp For Children With Disabilities, Erika Moderow, Hailey Tollefson

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Introduction: By attending summer camps, children with disabilities have the opportunity to retain skills they acquire during the school year in services including occupational therapy (Marr & Dimeo, 2006); however, the perception of occupational therapy services at these camps is limited. Not all children who receive therapy services during the school year are eligible for services in the summer, which means that occupational therapy at summer camps is an opportunity to prevent deterioration of skills in those not otherwise eligible (North Dakota Department of Public Instruction, 2016).

Methodology: A qualitative phenomenological research study was conducted to look at …

The 12-Steps Of Alcoholics Anonymous: A Guide For Occupational Therapists, Jena Roeber, Jillian Schaeffer

Occupational Therapy Capstones

A 2016 survey conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) found that 15.1 million people ages 12 and older had alcohol use disorder. An estimated 2.2 million people 12 years old or older in 2016 received specialized treatment in the past year, which represents about 10.6 percent of the people in need of treatment (SAMHSA, 2016). Occupational therapy offers a unique role that can be utilized in the treatment of individuals with alcohol use disorder. Wasmuth, Crabtree, and Scott (2014) suggest that occupational therapy can be unique in substance use rehabilitation as real-life activities in natural …

Effects Of Functional Electrical Stimulation Cycling Versus Cycling Only On Walking Performance And Quality Of Life In Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis: A Randomized, Clinical Pilot Study, Lori Hochman

Department of Physical Therapy Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Background: Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) stimulates peripheral nerves via electrical current to evoke muscle contractions and when combined with lower extremity cycling (LE), creates patterned leg movements. Previous studies demonstrated FES cycling is safe and effective in the spinal cord injury and stroke populations with improvements seen in walking speed, muscle mass, and bone density. Few studies have applied FES cycling to a neurodegenerative disorder, such as multiple sclerosis (MS). The aim of this study is to assess the effect of an 8-week training program using FES cycling, compared to Cycling Only, in people with MS (PWMS). Methods: Using a …

Definition, Assessment And Treatment Of Visual Dependence, Shu-Chun Lee

Rehabilitation Practice and Science

Effective orientation and balance are based on the integration of visual, vestibular, and proprioceptive sensory inputs. Vision plays a significant role in spatial orientation and posture maintenance; however, a static tilted frame or dynamic rotating visual disturbance can affect orientation and balance. Visual dependence (VD) is a term used to describe people who overly rely on visual information. Individuals with VD have difficulty in resolving situations wherein visual information is complex or inaccurate. They show greater postural instability and complain of incidences of dizziness and vertigo in sensory conflicting conditions, such as walking along the pavement or the aisle of …