Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

A Home Away From Home: An Occupational Manual For Working With Refugee Populations, Katherine Erickson, Kari Kjergaard

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Problem: As of October 2016, over 65.3 million people have been displaced from their home due to civil wars and civil unrest; 21.3 million of this population are refugees and this number continues to grow (UNHCR, 2016). Due to the nature in which people become refugees and experience trauma, both physically and mentally, there is a rising need for health professionals to be culturally competent and well equipped to work with this population. The vast majority of refugee populations face barriers some of which include being forced to adapt to a new home environment, social isolation, language barriers, and ultimately …

Sexuality And Healthcare: The Perceptions Of Providers Regarding Role Delineation: Are Occupational Therapists Overlooked?, Brooke Friederichs, Olivia Isaacson

Occupational Therapy Capstones

INTRODUCTION: The responsibility to address sexual activity is not clearly delineated to one certain healthcare profession, and therefore it often goes unaddressed (Rimmer et al., 2010). In addition, there is an overall lack of literature regarding the extent to which healthcare providers understand the role of occupational therapy in addressing sexual activity.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study was to explore 1) how healthcare providers (physical therapists, occupational therapists, and registered nurses) perceive role delineation when addressing patient concerns about sexual activity 2) the level to which physical therapists and registered nurses believe sexual activity is outlined in the scope …

The Relationship Between Physical Exercise And Cognition In Children With Typical Development And Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Beron Wei Zhong Tan

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This research project sought to investigate the relationship between physical exercise and cognition in children with and without a neurodevelopmental condition. To achieve this aim, three approaches were undertaken to explore the exercise and cognition relationship. The first approach sought to understand the efficacy of exercise interventions on cognition in individuals with a neurodevelopmental disorder. The second approach was to understand the effectiveness of an exercise activity when compared to a cognitively-engaging tablet game activity on measures of implicit learning and attention in children with and without a neurodevelopmental condition. The third approach was to investigate if psychophysiological measures could …

Effect Of A Sliding Scale Vitamin D Supplementation Protocol On 25(Oh)D Status In Elite Athletes With Spinal Cord Injury, Lauren Stark, Kelly Pritchett, Robert Pritchett, Elizabeth Broad

All Master's Theses

Recent studies suggest that a substantial proportion of elite athletes with SCI (spinal cord injury) have insufficient 25(OH)D status which may be associated with decreased muscle strength. This study: 1) examined the effects of a 16-week sliding scale Vitamin D supplementation protocol on 25(OH)D concentration and 2) determined whether subsequent 25(OH)D status impacts muscle performance in elite athletes with SCI. Thirty-four members of the US Olympic Committee Paralympic program, and the Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association from outdoor sports participated. Serum 25(OH)D concentrations, lifestyle and dietary factors were assessed during the Winter and Spring. Participants were assigned a 16-week sliding scale …

An Exploration Of The Underlying Mechanisms Causing Spasticity In Young People With Cerebral Palsy, Alexis Carnes

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Background and Objective(s): Spasticity is a common symptom experienced by individuals with cerebral palsy (CP). Spastic CP is often accompanied by hypertonia. Currently, there is a limited understanding of the contributions of spasticity to hypertonia which can in turn hinder the development of new rehabilitative measure to improve these conditions. Additionally, clinical evaluation of spasticity is limited to observational techniques such as the Ashworth scale. The purpose of this study was to compare differences in passive joint torque in the upper extremity between individuals with severe, spastic CP (MACS III-V) and healthy, age-matched controls at different speeds during passive stretching. …

Influence Of 4-Week Exercise Program On Clinical And Biomechanical Measures Of Foot Function, Lacey Seidl, Josh Keefer, Miranda Walker, Austin Montgomery, Jeff Houck

Student-Faculty Research - College of Physical Therapy

The significance of foot muscle function associated with flat feet is unclear. It is reported that flat feet have significantly decreased lateral forefoot pressure during ambulation with increased midfoot contact area and increased pressure under the big toe. There are passive mechanisms in the foot that support the arch during static standing, but cannot produce energy for dynamic activity. The two most plausible explanations for energy generation of the midfoot for dynamic activity are muscle contributions or recoil of stretched soft tissue (i.e. plantar fascia and other ligaments) or a combination. No studies to date evaluate the ability of foot …

Developing An Auditory And Visual Cross-Modal Continuous Performance Task For Evaluating Concussion, Chris Koch, Taylor Charbonnier, Kristin Dissinger, Steven Egeberg, Matthew Johnson, Lindsey Levanen, Matthew Scott

Student-Faculty Research - College of Physical Therapy

Neurocognitive tests like the SCAT3 and ImPACT have become standard concussion assessment tools. Although these tests have adequate sensitivity, specificity, and reliability, they are unimodal in nature. Consequently, the tests do not fully assess the range of processing that can be affected by concussion (Thompson, 2012). Therefore, we developed a cross-modal continuous performance task to examine cognitive processing post-concussion. Forty-three middle school school lacrosse players, college students, and physical therapy graduate students participated in the study. Twelve of these participants had been previously diagnosed with a concussion. Participants completed a symptom checklist from SCAT3 along with other demographic information (e.g., …

Sit-To-Stand Symmetry In Individuals With Hip Pathology, Andrew J. Meszaros, Stephen Block, Jake Edwards, Brittany Jones, Elizabeth Keeler, Christina Ridley, Ashley Yates

Student-Faculty Research - College of Physical Therapy

Why study hip fracture?

• Hip fractures occur in approximately 300,000 individuals over 65 years of age and is on the rise

• 53.3% of those who fall, fall again • 50% loss of function in involved lower extremity post fracture

• 25% increased mortality rate 1 year post hip fracture

An asymmetry in force production has been found to exist between fractured/non- fractured sides during a sit-to-stand task post hip fracture, despite having adequate

capacity to perform the task symmetrically.

Houck 2011 found the asymmetry is a result of weakness in the fractured lower extremity.

Briere 2013 found the …

Promis Physical Function Scale Bookmarking And Validation, Luke Skerjanec, Amanda Tamanaha, Alex Wegner, Zane Wise, Jeff Houck

Student-Faculty Research - College of Physical Therapy

• Quick, valid and responsive outcome measure are critical for physical therapists

• The NIH’s Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) is a universal, 124 item, computer adapted system (CAT) that evaluates various health domains including physical function without a ceiling or floor effect.

• PROMIS demonstrates good convergent validity with the Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI) and Short-form 36 (SF-36) physical function subscale1 and also with ‘gold standard' International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) scale. PROMIS score can also predict poor outcomes at various follow-up lengths ranging from 3-52 weeks2.

• The modified physical performance test (mPPT) is …

Pilot Study: What Measures Predict First Time Pass Rate On The National Physical Therapy Examination?, Jamie Bayliss, Rosanne M. Thomas, Marsha Eifert-Mangine

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Background: Research investigating predictors of success on licensure examination is useful for admission criteria as well as targeted intervention for identified at risk students in physical therapy programs. Predictors of success on the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) have been explored but results are no longer current. This study assessed predictive variables including admission data, performance in identified key courses, and academic/clinical difficulty for Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) cohorts at Mount St Joseph University. Objective: Determine variables predicting success on the National Physical Therapy Examination. Design: A retrospective correlational study was done. Methods: Retrospective data of Mount St Joseph …

Developing Student Skills To Actively Engage In Feedback Conversations: A Pilot Study, Neil Tuttle, Andrea Bialocerkowski

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Students often have passive or counterproductive responses to feedback. The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate a feedback training module containing online learning and live simulation. It was hypothesized that 1) student confidence in feedback skills would increase following the module, and 2) compared with a control group who undertook the module after their clinical placement, the feedback group who undertook the module before their placement would perform better on clinical placement on the sections of the Assessment of Physiotherapy Practice related to communication, but those related to clinical skills would not be affected. Methods: …

Preparing Occupational Therapists For Treatment Of The Transgender Population: A Training Guide For Supportive Care, Nicola Grun, Lauren Trohkimoinen

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Throughout current literature, it is clear that people who identify as transgender face larger percentages of occupational injustice and deprivation than people who identify with the sex they were assigned at birth (Bar, Jarus, Wada, Rechtman, & Noy, 2016; Twinley, 2014). There is no occupational therapy specific research or client-specific programming for transgender people (Beagan, Chiasson, Fiske, Forseth, Hosein, Myers & Stang, 2013), which indicates the need for supportive care for this population. The purpose of this scholarly project is to develop a training guide to prepare occupational therapists to provide supportive care for the transgender population. The Ecology of …

Promoting Interdisciplinary Collaboration Across School Contexts: A Toolkit For Occupational Therapists, Sidney Luers, Shayna Shaffer

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The purpose of this project was to create a toolkit for occupational therapists who work within the elementary school settings to promote collaboration with teachers and other school personnel. In recent years there has been an increase in children who qualify for occupational therapy services within the school, which creates a need for collaboration with occupational therapists and teachers. Kennedy and Stewart (2011) found that while occupational therapists and teachers desire a collaborative relationship, there is little evidence supporting a way to achieve effective collaboration between the professions.

An extensive literature review was conducted in order to acquire information to …

Educating Caregivers In Assisted Living Facilities (Alfs) Who Care For People With Dementia, Rodney Palmer, Ashley Palmer

Occupational Therapy Capstones

It is estimated that approximately 40-71% of residents living within assisted living facilities (ALFs) have a form of dementia or other cognitive impairment (Harris- Kojetin et al., 2016; Zimmerman, Sloana, & Reed, 2014). There is also evidence that suggests that caregivers working within ALFs have inadequate knowledge on how to care for a resident diagnosed with dementia (Hughes, Bagley, Reilly, Burns, & Challis, 2008; McKenzie, Teri, Pike, LaFazia, & Van Leynseele, 2012; Sharpp, Kayser-Jones, & Young, 2012; Zimmerman et al., 2014). The authors of this scholarly project created an instructional manual that can be used to train caregivers within ALFs …

Evolution Of Occupational Therapy Practice: Life History Of Cassady Hoff Ms Otr/L, Danielle Chartier, Amanda Callahan

Oral History Posters

This life history is one of twenty nine life history interviews which are a part of a larger project, Life Histories of Individuals Who Have Been Influential in Developing Occupational Therapy (OT) in North Dakota and Wyoming. The purpose of the project is to gather information about the history and evolution of occupational therapy (OT) practice in North Dakota and Wyoming through life histories of individuals who have been influential in developing OT in these two states. It is anticipated that the life history process will be a powerful way to gather this information. This study is intended to provide …

Life History Of Dr. Sheri Montgomery, Ort/L, Otd, Mikaela Karpen, Stacy Sigmond

Oral History Posters

This life history one of 29 life history interviews that are a part of a larger project, Life Histories of Individuals Who Have Been Influential in Developing Occupational Therapy (OT) in North Dakota and Wyoming. The purpose of the project is to gather information about the history and evolution of occupational therapy (OT) practice in North Dakota and Wyoming through life histories of individual who have been influential in developing OT in these two state. It is anticipated that the life history process will be a powerful way to gather this information. This study is intended to provide current and …

A Piece Of Evolution Of Occupational Therapy In North Dakota: Life History Of Rhoda Erhardt, Ms, Otr/L, Faota, Sidney Carlson, Alexis Tyce

Oral History Student Papers

This life history is one of 29 life history interviews which are a part of a larger project, Life Histories of Individuals Who Have Been Influential in Developing Occupational Therapy in North Dakota and Wyoming. The purpose of the project is to gather information about the history and evolution of OT practice in North Dakota and Wyoming through life histories of individuals who have been influential in developing OT in these two states. It is anticipated that the life history process will be a powerful way to gather this information. By using a life history approach, this study focused on …

Evolution Of Occupational Therapy Practice: Life History Of Sarah Nielsen, Phd, Otr/L, Sarah Schwartz, Ashley Ystaas

Oral History Student Papers

The purpose of this study was to examine the life of Dr. Sarah Nielsen through the use of a life history approach. The focus of this life history approach was Sarah's involvement in the evolution of OT practice in North Dakota. She is an active and influential individual in the OT profession as she has served various positions in the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and North Dakota Occupational Therapy Association (NDOTA), as well as a variety of committees at the University of North Dakota (UND). Sarah is currently an associate professor in the Department of OT at the UND. …

Evolution Of Occupational Therapy Practice: Life History Of Stuart Kuchel M.S., Otr/L, Michael Black, Ariel Campbell

Oral History Student Papers

Objective. This qualitative life history was completed as part of a larger sample of 29 participants aimed to gather information about the history and evolution of occupational therapy practice in North Dakota and Wyoming through life histories of individuals who have been influential in developing occupational therapy in these two states and/or nationally.

Method. The participant was assigned by the project directors through purposive sampling. A semi-structured phone interview was conducted with the interviewer and two primary researchers. Data was coded and analyzed, which was then collapsed into categories, themes and a final assertion.

Results. The predominate categories representing the …

A Phenomenological Study Of Correctional Officers' Perceived Emotions On The Job, Heather Susan Grammatico

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Correctional officers work in a stressful environment and are regularly exposed to dangerous and emotionally charged situations. Researchers have detailed the potential negative outcomes of this occupation, yet little research has examined the extent to which correctional officers experience emotion while on their shifts, and how those emotions may translate into stress, divorce, substance abuse issues, domestic violence, and high mortality rates upon retirement. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to learn how correctional officers experience their felt and expressed emotions while at work. Data collection was done using a 15-item open ended questionnaire designed by the researcher and …

Anatomical Knowledge Retention In Physiotherapy Students: A Preliminary Assessment, M Dayal, J Owens, W Gibson, G Strkalj

Physiotherapy Papers and Journal Articles

Introduction: Anatomical knowledge and understanding are key components of physiotherapy education and practice. Traditionally, anatomy has been taught as a foundation stream within the first year(s) of physiotherapy education. This curricular model is based on the assumption that further learning in subsequent years builds upon the knowledge gained in the early stages of the program. However, the retention rate in all basic sciences has often been called into question. In anatomy, several studies suggest that anatomy knowledge endures considerable attrition, highlighting the need for the evaluation of retention rates. This paper aimed at making a preliminary assessment of the knowledge …

Prevalence, Characteristics And Management Of Headache Experienced By People With Schizophrenia And Schizoaffective Disorder: A Cross Sectional Cohort Study, J Connaughton, B Wand

Physiotherapy Papers and Journal Articles

Objective: Headache is the most common type of pain reported by people with schizophrenia. This study aimed to establish prevalence, characteristics and management of these headache.

Method: One-hundred participants with schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder completed a reliable and valid headache questionnaire. Two clinicians independently classified each headache as migraine (MH), tension-type (TTH), cervicogenic (CGH) or other (OH).

Results: The twelve-month prevalence of headache (57%) was higher than the general population (46%) with no evidence of a relationship between psychiatric clinical characteristics and presence of headache. Prevalence of CGH (5%) and MH (18%) was comparable to the general population. TTH …

Development And Psychometric Properties Of Knee-Specific Body-Perception Questionnaire In People With Knee Osteoarthritis: The Fremantle Knee Awareness Questionnaire, T Nishigami, A Mibu, K Tanaka, Y Yamashita, E Yamada, B Wand, M Catley, T Stanton, G Moseley

Physiotherapy Papers and Journal Articles

Background: Recent systematic reviews have demonstrated that pain associated with knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a complex phenomenon that involves various contributors. People with knee OA exhibit symptoms of impaired body-perception, including reduced tactile acuity, impairments in limb laterality recognition, and degraded proprioceptive acuity. The Fremantle Back Awareness Questionnaire (FreBAQ) was developed to assess body-perception specific to the back in people with chronic low back pain. The aim of this study was to develop and assess the psychometric properties of a knee-specific version of the FreBAQ-J (FreKAQ-J), determine whether people with knee pain experience perceptual impairments and investigate the relationship between …

The Reliability Of Eyetracking To Assess Attentional Bias To Threatening Words In Healthy Individuals, I Skinner, M Hubscher, G Moseley, H Lee, B Wand, A Traeger, S Gustin, J Mcauley

Physiotherapy Papers and Journal Articles

Eyetracking is commonly used to investigate attentional bias. Although some studies have investigated the internal consistency of eyetracking, data are scarce on the test–retest reliability and agreement of eyetracking to investigate attentional bias. This study reports the test–retest reliability, measurement error, and internal consistency of 12 commonly used outcome measures thought to reflect the different components of attentional bias: overall attention, early attention, and late attention.

Healthy participants completed a preferential-looking eyetracking task that involved the presentation of threatening (sensory words, general threat words, and affective words) and nonthreatening words. We used intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) to measure test–retest reliability …

Safety And Feasibility Of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (Tdcs) Combined With Sensorimotor Retraining In Chronic Low Back Pain: A Protocol For A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial, A Ouellette, M Liston, W Chang, D Walton, B Wand, S Schabrun

Physiotherapy Papers and Journal Articles

Introduction Chronic low back pain (LBP) is a common and costly health problem yet current treatments demonstrate at best, small effects. The concurrent application of treatments with synergistic clinical and mechanistic effects may improve outcomes in chronic LBP. This pilot trial aims to (1) determine the feasibility, safety and perceived patient response to a combined transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and sensorimotor retraining intervention in chronic LBP and (2) provide data to support a sample size calculation for a fully powered trial should trends of effectiveness be present.

Methods and analysis A pilot randomised, assessor and participant-blind, sham-controlled trial will …

A Survey Of Clinicians Regarding Respiratory Physiotherapy Intervention For Intubated And Mechanically Ventilated Patients With Community‐Acquired Pneumonia. What Is Current Practice In Australian Icus?, L Van Der Lee, A Hill, S Patman

Physiotherapy Papers and Journal Articles

Rationale, aims, and objectives: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a common cause for intensive care unit (ICU) admission resulting in high morbidity and mortality. There is a paucity of evidence regarding respiratory physiotherapy for intubated and mechanically ventilated patients with CAP, and anecdotally clinical practice is variable in this cohort. The aims of this study were to identify the degree of variability in physiotherapy practice for intubated adult patients with CAP and to explore ICU physiotherapist perceptions of current practice for this cohort and factors that influence physiotherapy treatment mode, duration, and frequency.

Method: A survey was developed based on common …

The Development And Impact Of Heterotopic Ossification In Burns: A Review Of Four Decades Of Research, Rachel Kornhaber, Nichola Foster, Dale Edgar, Denis Visentin, Elad Ofir, Josef Haik, Moti Harats

Physiotherapy Papers and Journal Articles

Introduction: Heterotopic ossification (HO) is the formation of lamellar bone within connective and other tissue where bone should not form and is a rare complication after burn injury. However, it leads to severe pain and distress, marked reduction in joint range of motion (ROM), impaired function and increased hospital length of stay. The pathophysiology, incidence and risk factors of HO remain poorly understood in burns and other traumas and the management, controversial. The aim of this comprehensive review, therefore, was to synthesise the available evidence on the development and treatment of HO after acute burn injury.

Methods: The review was …

Incidence And Prevalence Of Falls In Adults Living With An Intellectual Disability Living In The Community: A Systematic Review, Portia Ho, Shane Patman, Caroline Bulsara, Jenny Downs, Max Bulsara, Anne-Marie Hill

Physiotherapy Papers and Journal Articles

Review question/objective: The objective of this review is to synthesize the best available evidence to determine the incidence and prevalence of falls in adults with intellectual disability living in the community.

Gait Speed And Confidence Levels In Persons Using 1 And 2 Canes While Walking A 4-M Course, Marion A. Lisenby

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

This is the first article that the researcher is aware of that compares walking speed and confidence levels with 1 cane versus 2 canes. An observational study was conducted with 30 participants who had difficulty walking. Gait speed was assessed on a 4-m course with the participants using 1 cane, then 2 canes. Of 30 participants, 28 walked faster and demonstrated improved confidence with 2 canes. Use of 2 canes with gait might be a technique that people want to consider to improve confidence or to improve walking speed, or improve both.

Occupational Therapy And Physiotherapy Education And Workforce In Anglophone Sub-Saharan Africa Countries, Augustine O. Agho, Emmanuel B. John

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

Background: Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries are faced with the challenge of educating a critical mass of occupational therapists (OTs) and physiotherapists (PTs) to meet the growing demand for health and rehabilitation services. The World Federation of Occupational Therapy (WFOT) and World Confederation of Physical Therapy (WCPT) have argued for the need of graduate-level training for OTs and PTs for decades. However, very few studies have been conducted to determine the availability of OT and PT training programs and practitioners in SSA countries.

Methods: Initial data were collected and compiled from an extensive literature search conducted using MEDLINE and PubMed to …