Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

Service Provider Promising Practice - Transcen’S Worklink Program: Helping Individuals Gain Work Skills Through Targeted Volunteering And Other Community Life Engagement Activities, Heike Boeltzig, Thinkwork! At The Institute For Community Inclusion At Umass Boston

ThinkWork! Publications

WorkLink is a program that enables individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) to work while receiving wrap-around day services. Having access to both types of supports -- community employment and Community Life Engagement (CLE) -- is particularly important for individuals with significant IDD, who often work fewer hours and need additional support to lead active and meaningful lives. The program was started in 1996 by TransCen, Inc., and is based in San Francisco, California. Day services not only help individuals establish and maintain meaningful community relationships, but also let them build important skills as they explore vocational goals and …

Disability, Mobility & Society [Physical Therapist Assistant Program], Clarence Chan, Debra Engel, May Tom

Open Educational Resources

Disability, Mobility, & Society is a newly developed assignment for a required level II physical therapy course (SCT 221). It is aimed to familiarize students with the psychosocial and socioeconomic challenges faced by people with physical disability/dysfunction and their immediate community. Students work in teams to develop multimedia pre-recorded video presentations based on actual clinical case studies. Each team will identify and discuss issues related to the specific pathology and impairment, and consider the medical/social/behavioral/financial implications for the individual and the society. The team must present a course of physical therapy intervention that illustrates clinical competence and professional standard of …

Mobility Limitations And Fear Of Falling In Non-English Speaking Older Mexican-Americans, Eric G. James, Phillip Conatser, Murat Karabulut, Suzanne G. Leveille, Jeffrey M. Hausdorff, Sarah Cote, Katherine L. Tucker, Bruce Barton, Jonathan F. Bean, Soham Al Snih, Kyriakos S. Markides

Health & Human Performance Faculty Publications

Objective: To determine whether older Mexican-Americans who cannot speak and/or understand spoken English have higher rates of mobility limitations or fear of falling than their English-speaking counterparts.

Design: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 1169 community-dwelling Mexican-Americans aged 72–96 years from the 2000–2001 wave of the Hispanic Established Population for the Epidemiological Study of the Elderly. Mobility limitations were defined as having a Short Physical Performance Battery score ≤9, and fear of falling by participant report of being somewhat, fairly, or very afraid of falling. We determined the rates and odds ratios, for having mobility limitations and fear of falling …

Fall Risk Reduction Using Lifestyle-Integrated Functional Exercise (Life), Kayla Comer, Tiffany Huang, Kelly Schmidt, Matthew Tong

Student Research Posters

As the population and longevity of older adults’ increases, the prevalence of falls is becoming an ever-growing issue. One in three adults aged 65 years and older experience a fall each year. Falls in older adults may lead to sedentary behavior, decreased independence, and lower quality of life. Evidence has shown that traditional exercise programs emphasizing strength and balance exercises can decrease the fall risk in older adults, but may be difficult to sustain over time. Emerging evidence suggests that exercises that are integrated into daily life may have a more lasting effect in reducing fall risk in older adults. …

Age-Related Changes In Visual Processing Speed: A Pilot Study Using The Motor-Free Visual Perception Test- 4 (Mvpt-4), Lauren Gollnick, Kassidy Ha, Stephanie Pawek, Zoe Studer, Amber Zadravecz

Student Research Posters

Evidence reveals that visual processing speed decreases with age. The Motor-Free Visual Perception Test- Third Edition (MVPT-3) has an age-normed Response Time Index that measures visual processing speed. In 2015, a new version, Motor-Free Visual Perception Test- Fourth Edition (MVPT-4), was published. The new MVPT-4 does not yet demonstrate its utility in measuring visual processing speed. The purpose of this study was to explore if differences in visual processing speed between younger adults ages 20-35 years and older adults ages 70 years and older could be detected using the new MVPT-4. Results revealed a significant difference between older and younger …

Pilot Study: Assistive Technology As A Vocational Support For Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Erin Chaffee, Christina Ho, Kevin Ng

Student Research Posters

The purpose of this pilot study was to determine the effectiveness of video-based instruction (VBI) to support completion of vocational tasks. A mixed-method approach was utilized to explore the use of VBI on a personal digital assistant with adults with autism spectrum disorder. Using two assembling cooking tasks, researchers investigated the level of independence with task completion through written instruction versus VBI. The results indicated a small non-significant increase in the level of independence with task completion during the intervention task independent of intelligence quotient (IQ) levels. Participant’s feedback of VBI was also noted as positive to help learn other …

Managing Fatigue With Technology For Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis, May Anne Gamueda, Janie Grant, America Ortega, Jordan Song

Student Research Posters

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether a mobile health application (mHealth app) will result in a decrease in fatigue and an increase in adherence to energy conservation techniques for adults with multiple sclerosis (MS).

METHOD: Using a quantitative, exploratory, pretest and post-test design, we examined the use of the mHealth app, Pace My Day (PMD), by seven participants during one chosen task while incorporating energy conservation strategies for two weeks. Main outcome measures included Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS) and Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM).

RESULTS: There was a significant decrease in the MFIS scores indicating …

Sensory Psychophysiology, Sarah Button, Emily Minor, Kristen Christensen

Student Research Posters

Objective: Sensory processing issues can have a large negative impact on the ability to participate in daily occupations such as ADLs, access to work, school and leisure environments, and social interactions (Dunn, 2001). The evidence documenting sensory processing issues in adults is sparse. Physiological information can be used as objective evidence to support the claim that those with over-responsivity to sensations are experiencing their environment differently than the typical population. Understanding more about sensory processing in adults may lead to increased recognition of the problem and more opportunities for intervention to increase occupational participation. The purpose of this quantitative study …

Older Adults’ Experience In Owning A Guide Dog, Jeffrey Kou, Yvonne Lam, Patricia Lyons, Susan Nguyen

Student Research Posters

Low vision is an age-related condition that affects many older adults, and may create challenges in everyday activities in older adults. Guide dogs have been shown to be an effective assistive device that can help older adults within their community. Despite vast research on dog companionship, there is limited research on the facilitators and barriers of owning a guide dog among older adults with low vision. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study is to explore the facilitators and barriers of owning a guide dog as experienced by older adults with low vision participating in Guide Dogs for the Blind …

Collaborative Practices In Special Education: An Exploratory Study, Evelyn Tang, Blanka Pentek, Laura Greiss Hess, Katherine Sadoff

Student Research Posters

Professional collaboration in special education is essential for student success (Barnes & Turner, 2000). However, IDEA legislation does not guide how such collaboration should take place (Pub. L. 108–446). The Conceptual Model for Collaboration (CMC) created by Czuleger and colleagues (2016) described professional collaborative practices of a transdisciplinary team at a special education center. The purpose of this study was to examine the CMC in a broader context.

Functional Cognitive Activities For Adults With Traumatic Brain Injury: Pilot Case Studies, Karen Huang, Ashley Cook, Ajay Pala

Student Research Posters

These pilot case studies investigated the effectiveness of the Functional Cognitive Activities for Adults with Brain Injury: A Sequential Approach (FCA) in generalizing functional cognitive skills across meaningful occupations for adults with traumatic brain injury (TBI). This quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design consisted of two participants with TBI. Both participants received occupation-based intervention sessions twice a week and equaled a total of 14 sessions each. For pretest, the two participants were given three assessments to track changes with aspects of functional cognition and engagement in occupations: the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), Kohlman Evaluation of Living Skills (KELS), and Goal Attainment Scale …

Perceived Stress Levels May Impact Upper Extremity Function Among Women Treated For Breast Cancer, Mary Insana Fisher, Anne Fleischer, Kimbery Parent, Renee Roberts, Megan Mcclure, Lynn Hendricks

EKU Faculty and Staff Scholarship

Women treated for breast cancer report ongoing disability in their involved upper extremity, however, often objective measures do not appear to explain the level of perceived dysfunction. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between perceived stress level, fear of physical activity and self-reported upper extremity function among women treated for breast cancer.

Opening A Student-Run Pro Bono Occupational Therapy Pediatric Clinic, Anne H. Zachry

Faculty Presentations

This presentation described the opening of a student-run pro bono pediatric therapy clinic that provides services to children/families who are economically disadvantaged. The benefits of participation for students and clients were reviewed, and fund-raising and the development of a mission statement were discussed.

Brain Encoding Of Saltatory Velocity Through A Pulsed Pneumotactile Array In The Lower Face, Rebecca Custead, Hyuntaek Oh, Yingying Wang, Steven M. Barlow

Center for Brain, Biology, and Behavior: Faculty Publications

Processing dynamic tactile inputs is a primary function of the somatosensory system. Spatial velocity encoding mechanisms by the nervous system are important for skilled movement production and may play a role in recovery of sensorimotor function following neurological insult. Little is known about tactile velocity encoding in mechanosensory trigeminal networks required for speech, suck, mastication, and facial gesture.

High resolution functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to investigate the neural substrates of velocity encoding in the human orofacial somatosensory system during unilateral saltatory pneumotactile stimulation of perioral and buccal hairy skin in 20 neurotypical adults. A custom multichannel, scalable …

The Influence Of Divided Attention On Walking Turns: Effects On Gait Control In Young Adults With And Without A History Of Low Back Pain, Jo Armour Smith, James Gordon, Kornelia Kulig

Physical Therapy Faculty Articles and Research

The cognitive control of gait is altered in individuals with low back pain, but it is unclear if this alteration persists between painful episodes. Locomotor perturbations such as walking turns may provide a sensitive measure of gait adaptation during divided attention in young adults. The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in gait during turns performed with divided attention, and to compare healthy young adults with asymptomatic individuals who have a history of recurrent low back pain (rLBP). Twenty-eight participants performed 90° ipsilateral walking turns at a controlled speed of 1.5 m/s. During the divided attention condition they …

Rehabilitation Of An Injured Golden Eagle (Aquila Chrysaetos): A Case Study, Fida Muhammad Khan, Fakhar-I- Abbas, Abu Ul Hassan Faiz

Journal of Bioresource Management

Habitat destruction and anthropogenic activities cause wild birds to migrate towards urban areas in search of food and sometimes nesting in high-roof buildings, where they are caught by local people using different techniques and are further used for hunting or recreational purposes. An injured Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) was found entangled in bushes near the vicinity of Balkasar Research Complex, Chakwal, Pakistan. After complete physical examination, a wound on the right wing and closed leg fracture was diagnosed. The successful treatment was done by anti-parasitic and anti-bacterial drugs with careful monitoring. Splint was adjusted after aligning the fractured …

Linking Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Between The World Wars: The R. Tait Mckenzie Legacy., John F. Ditunno, Jr

Department of Rehabilitation Medicine Faculty Papers

Spinal cord injury (SCI) medicine emerged after World War II due to mass casualties, which required specialized treatment centers. This approach to categorical care, however, was first developed during World War I, led by pioneers R. Tait McKenzie and George Deaver, who demonstrated that soldiers disabled by paralysis could return to society through fitness/mobility, recreational and vocational training. McKenzie, a Canadian and the first professor of physical therapy in the US, influenced Deaver and military physicians in Britain, Canada, and the U.S. with his achievements and publications. Although early mortality from SCI was high, advances in the treatment of skin …

Culture Of Mobility, Beth Colborn, Dpt, Helene Daly, Msn, Rn, Kathleen Hilbert, Rn, Msn, Cm, Gordon R. Reeves, Md, Jessica Shank, Pt, Mpt, Elizabeth Singh, Dpt, Lisa Wus, Dnp, Rn, Crnp, Pccn-Cmc

Department of Rehabilitation Medicine Posters

Objectives

•Create an interdisciplinary approach to patient mobility and functional independence

•Provide education and support to lead a culture of mobility

•Develop a system that reduces immobility related adverse outcomes and promotes overall patient well-being

•Utilize evidence based practice to create a program that will decrease variation in patient care in order to optimize hospital based outcomes

Orthotic Scar Management For Hands., Lisa Lepage Otr/L

Department of Medicine

No abstract provided.

Impacts Of Exercise On Functional Ability Of Recovering Gbs Patients: An Integrative Literature Review, Yasmin Sheriff

Grace Peterson Nursing Research Colloquium

This integrative literature review aimed to investigate the impacts exercise has on functional ability of GBS patients in recovery.

A Clinical Practice Guideline For The Management Of Patients With Acute Spinal Cord Injury: Recommendations On The Use Of Methylprednisolone Sodium Succinate, Michael G. Fehlings, Jefferson R. Wilson, Lindsay A. Tetreault, Bizhan Aarabi, Paul A. Anderson, Paul M. Arnold, Darrel S. Brodke, Anthony S. Burns, Kazuhiro Chiba, Joseph R. Dettori, Julio C. Furlan, Gregory W. Hawryluk, Langston T. Holly, Susan Howley, Tara Jeji, Sukhvinder Kalsi-Ryan, Mark R. Kotter, Shekar N. Kurpad, Brian Kwon, Ralph J. Marino, Allan R. Martin, Eric M. Massicotte, Geno J. Merli, James W. Middleton, Hiroaki Nakashima, Narihito Nagoshi, Katherine Palmieri, Andrea C. Skelly, Anoushka Singh, Eve Tsai, Alexander R. Vaccaro, Albert Yee, James S. Harrop

Department of Rehabilitation Medicine Faculty Papers

Introduction: The objective of this guideline is to outline the appropriate use of methylprednisolone sodium succinate (MPSS) in patients with acute spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods: A systematic review of the literature was conducted to address key questions related to the use of MPSS in acute SCI. A multidisciplinary Guideline Development Group used this information, in combination with their clinical expertise, to develop recommendations for the use of MPSS. Based on GRADE (Grading of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation), a strong recommendation is worded as “we recommend,” whereas a weaker recommendation is indicated by “we suggest.” Results: The main conclusions …

Type And Timing Of Rehabilitation Following Acute And Subacute Spinal Cord Injury: A Systematic Review, Anthony S. Burns, Ralph J. Marino, Sukhvinder Kalsi-Ryan, James W. Middleton, Lindsay A. Tetreault, Joseph R. Dettori, Kathryn E. Mihalovich, Michael G. Fehlings

Department of Rehabilitation Medicine Faculty Papers

Objectives: The objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the literature to address the following clinical questions: In adult patients with acute and subacute complete or incomplete traumatic SCI, (1) does the time interval between injury and commencing rehabilitation affect outcome?; (2) what is the comparative effectiveness of different rehabilitation strategies, including different intensities and durations of treatment?; (3) are there patient or injury characteristics that affect the efficacy of rehabilitation?; and (4) what is the cost-effectiveness of various rehabilitation strategies? Methods: A systematic search was conducted for literature published through March 31, 2015 that evaluated …

Infection Prevention Strategies In Cardiac Rehabilitation [1]—A Behavioral Intervention For Patients [2], Wendy Bjerke

Exercise Science Faculty Publications

Background: Healthcare Acquired Infections (HAI) result in over 100 thousand deaths each year with one third of these deaths preventable via behaviors such as hand washing among health care providers in inpatient settings. Less research has been conducted in outpatient exercise settings such as cardiac rehabilitation (CR) among patients. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of HAI prevention strategies in a CR setting among patients. Methods: Observations of the frequency of hand washing among CR patients pre and post four HAI strategies including provision of HAI education and signs, hand washing demonstrations, a HAI prevention …

The Effectiveness Of Cervical Traction And Exercise In Decreasing Neck And Arm Pain For Patients With Cervical Radiculopathy: A Critically Appraised Topic, Shelby Baez, Johanna M. Hoch, Timothy L. Uhl

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

Clinical Question:

Is there evidence to suggest intermittent cervical traction with cervical and scapular strengthening exercises is more effective in decreasing neck and arm pain when compared with cervical and scapular strengthening exercises alone in nonoperative patients with cervical radiculopathy?

Clinical Bottom Line:

There is currently inconsistent, high-quality evidence that suggests that the use of intermittent cervical traction in addition to strengthening exercises is more effective at decreasing pain in nonoperative patients with cervical radiculopathy when compared with strengthening alone. Future research should continue to examine long-term outcomes associated with cervical radiculopathy patients who use intermittent cervical traction as an …

Patient Education Using The Cognitive Apprenticeship Model: A Study For Rehabilitation Specialists, Paul M. Dye

Student Dissertations

Quality patient education has long been a concern for both patients and health care providers. While many clinicians support the importance of patient education, it is not known which theoretical education model supports best practice. The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of the Cognitive Apprenticeship Model (CA) when compared to traditional patient education. There were 34 individuals receiving therapy who volunteered to be in a treatment group that received patient education using the CA model. There were 24 individuals who were assigned to a control group who received traditional patient education.

While not all of the …

The Effects Of Frequent Smartphone Use On Children’S Upper Posture And Pulmonary Function, Asma Alonazi

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Children are experiencing an increase in sedentary lifestyle as a result of the rising utilization of technology, i.e. smartphones. With the prolonged use of smartphones, increased concerns have been raised regarding constant neck flexion, neck movements limitation, and decreases in pulmonary function due to potential changes in spinal posture. Therefore, the purpose of this research thesis was to evaluate changes in craniovertebral angles (CVA), cervical range of motion (ROM), and pulmonary function among boys and girls 8 to 13 years of age who use smartphones. A cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 50 participants (24 boys and 26 …

The Effects Of Wearing Headscarves On Cervical Spine Proprioception And Range Of Motion, Samiah Alqabbani

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Background: Wearing the headscarf is a part of an essential religious practice by females in Islamic cultures. Regular wear of the headscarf might have an influence on cervical proprioception and range of motion (ROM). The cervical spine is unique in providing multidirectional movement as well as providing the sense of awareness of movement of the head and neck in space. Impairments in cervical mobility and proprioception have been reported in subjects with whiplash-associated disorder as well as subjects having neck pain. Objectives: 1) To determine the effects of wearing the headscarf on cervical spine ROM and joint position error …

A Clinical Practice Guideline For The Management Of Patients With Acute Spinal Cord Injury: Recommendations On The Type And Timing Of Rehabilitation, Michael G. Fehlings, Lindsay A. Tetreault, Bizhan Aarabi, Paul Anderson, Paul M. Arnold, Darrel S. Brodke, Kazuhiro Chiba, Joseph R. Dettori, Julio C. Furlan, James Harrop, Gregory Hawryluk, Langston T. Holly, Susan Howley, Tara Jeji, Sukhvinder Kalsi-Ryan, Mark Kotter, Shekar Kurpad, Brian K. Kwon, Ralph J. Marino, Allan R. Martin, Eric Massicotte, Geno J. Merli, James W. Middleton, Hiroaki Nakashima, Narihito Nagoshi, Katherine Palmieri, Anoushka Singh, Andrea C. Skelly, Eve C. Tsai, Alexander R. Vaccaro, Jefferson R. Wilson, Albert Yee, Anthony S. Burns

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

Introduction: The objective of this study is to develop guidelines that outline the appropriate type and timing of rehabilitation in patients with acute spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods: A systematic review of the literature was conducted to address key questions related to rehabilitation in patients with acute SCI. A multidisciplinary guideline development group used this information, and their clinical expertise, to develop recommendations for the type and timing of rehabilitation. Based on GRADE (Grading of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation), a strong recommendation is worded as “we recommend,” whereas a weaker recommendation is indicated by “we suggest. Results: Based on …

Efficacy And Safety Of Methylprednisolone Sodium Succinate In Acute Spinal Cord Injury: A Systematic Review, Michael G. Fehlings, Jefferson R. Wilson, James S. Harrop, Brian Kwon, Lindsay A. Tetreault, Paul M. Arnold, Jeffrey M. Singh, Gregory W.J. Hawryluk, Joseph R. Dettori

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

Study Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Objective: The objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review to assess the comparative effectiveness and safety of high-dose methylprednisolone sodium succinate (MPSS) versus no pharmacological treatment in patients with traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods: A systematic search was performed in PubMed and the Cochrane Collaboration Library for literature published between January 1956 and June 17, 2015. Included studies were critically appraised, and Grades of Recommendation Assessment, Development and Evaluation methods were used to determine the overall quality of evidence for primary outcomes. Previous systematic reviews on this topic were collated …

A Clinical Practice Guideline For The Management Of Acute Spinal Cord Injury: Introduction, Rationale, And Scope, Michael G. Fehlings, Lindsay A. Tetreault, Jefferson R. Wilson, Brian K. Kwon, Anthony S. Burns, Allan R. Martin, Gregory Hawryluk, James S. Harrop

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

Acute spinal cord injury (SCI) is a traumatic event that results in disturbances to normal sensory, motor, or autonomic function and ultimately affects a patient’s physical, psychological, and social well-being. The management of patients with SCI has drastically evolved over the past century as a result of increasing knowledge on injury mechanisms, disease pathophysiology, and the role of surgery. There still, however, remain controversial areas surrounding available management strategies for the treatment of SCI, including the use of corticosteroids such as methylprednisolone sodium succinate, the optimal timing of surgical intervention, the type and timing of anticoagulation prophylaxis, the role of …