Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

Case Report Of A 42-Year-Old Male Affected By Plantar Fasciitis, Jenna Baumgartner

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose: Plantar fasciitis is an irritation of the plantar fascia that causes increased pain and inflammation of the area. Plantar fasciitis affects nearly 1 in 10 people in their lifetime with a high likelihood of reoccurrence. There can be multiple causes but physical therapy (PT) can be crucial for the reduction of pain and return of function. Due to high likelihood of reoccurrence, it is the goal to give patients the tools that they need to self-treat when they experience another bout of plantar fasciitis.

Case Description: The patient was a 42-year-old male who had pain in …

The Effects Of Blood Flow Restriction On Electromyography Activity Of Proximal And Distal Upper Extremity Musculature, Nicole Mazour, Lauren Savageau, Michael Leonhardt, Samuel Helgeson

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Purpose/Hypothesis: Blood flow restriction therapy (BFR) has become a popular means of strength training and intervention used by physical therapists, athletic trainers and body builders. BFR allows for high intensity resistance training at a low intensity training level. It has been shown that BFR increases muscular hypertrophy and strength due to the vascular occlusion that occurs during BFR application. When performing BFR a pressurized tourniquet cuff is applied to the proximal portion of the selected limb. Individuals complete exercise between 20-40% of their 1 repetition maximum (RM) while utilizing the BFR cuff for improvements in muscular strength. Most BFR …

Outpatient Physical Therapy Management Of A Patient With Right Hamstring Strain Injury: A Case Report, Tina M. Belgarde

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose: Hamstring injuries are the most common muscle strains in competitive sports. Insufficient rehabilitation may be attributed to a high occurrence of recurrent hamstring injuries in athletes. This case study evaluates the effectiveness of physical therapy following a Grade 2 right hamstring injury and discusses the outcomes experienced by the patient.

Case Description: The patient was a 51-year-old Caucasian female athlete who received 6 outpatient physical therapy treatments. She presented with a Grade 2 right hamstring injury after hearing a pop while competing in a tennis tournament.

Interventions: The therapy provided emphasized the use of …

Memory In Motion: Dance And Movement Therapy In Older Adults With Alzheimer's And Related Dementia, Ashley Picard

Senior Honors Projects

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia and is caused by progressive neurodegenerative changes in the brain that alters one’s memory, attention, and language. As cognitive function decreases, people with dementia experience deficits in mobility, resulting in muscle stiffness and rigidity that debilitates their personhood. Therefore, an appropriate approach that creates a stimulating, pressure-free environment to encourage those with Alzheimer’s to move can help them have a renewed quality of life, positive behavior changes, and decreased anxiety. More specifically, incorporating dance-based exercises that utilize rhythmization, cognitive integration, social inclusion, and improvisation can be a holistic and practical approach …

Viability Of Equine Assisted Activities And Therapies For Individuals With Developmental Disorders: A Systematic Review, Faith Pinson

Honors Theses

The objective of this review is to determine whether Equine-Assisted Activities and Therapies (EAAT) are a viable form of therapy for people with various developmental disorders. A viable form of therapy is one that is more beneficial than traditional forms of therapy that already exist, as traditional therapies may be generally less expensive and have plentiful research to support their use). In order to be beneficial, EAAT would need to yield improved results when either compared side by side with traditional therapy or used as a complementary therapy with traditional therapy. In this systematic review, the included studies examined the …

Immobilization And Its Effects On Functional Recovery After Spinal Cord Injury., William H. Gregory

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

Recovery, or rather the failure to recover, is a perplexing issue of spinal cord injury that is currently being investigated. This issue becomes more puzzling when investigating models in which spinal cord injury (SCI) is studied. There appears to be greater functional recovery experienced by animals within these models after injury as compared to patients in the clinical setting. While many things could contribute to this disparity, one difference that stands out when comparing the basic research model and clinical experience of SCI is the inactivity and limb disuse after the injury. This same level of immobility is rarely accounted …

Occupational Therapy In The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (Nicu) & Implementation Of The Test Of Infant Motor Performance, Juliana C. Keane

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Current literature identifies the recognizable value of occupational therapy within the NICU; however, not all NICUs utilize therapy services. The purpose of this project was to highlight the role of occupational therapy in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and implement the Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP) within this setting through a variety of goals, objectives, and produced deliverables. Als’ Synactive Theory of Development and the Person-Environment-Occupation-Performance (PEOP) Model guided this capstone project. In addition to in-depth clinical practice, education and program development were the methods utilized to achieve the project’s goals. The results of this project further support …

Promoting Sleep Hygiene For Individuals Diagnosed With Parkinson’S Disease: Occupational Therapy’S Distinct Role, Hunter O. Wookey

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Those diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease are more likely to experience sleep performance issues which significantly contribute to poorer health outcomes and earlier institutionalization (Bollu, 2017). Though the field of occupational therapy acknowledges the importance of sleep for overall health and wellbeing, the profession’s role in improving sleep outcomes is largely unexplored. The purpose of this 14-week capstone project was to promote better sleep hygiene practices for individuals with Parkinson’s disease. Additionally, this project sought to advocate for the profession of occupational therapy’s distinct role in sleep management. A variety of goals and objectives were achieved through completion of this project, …

Addressing The Needs Of Parkinson’S Disease Care Partners, Jenna Wall

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease that can affect all aspects of life, requiring individuals with this condition to require support from a care partner. The extensive support PD care partners provide impacts their health and well-being resulting in an increased prevalence of negative health outcomes. Furthermore, these care partners do not receive adequate support which only compiles the effect of caregiving. The main goals of this capstone project were the development and implementation of a 4-week PD care partner support protocol, the creation of an electronic resource, and improving community awareness about PD and PD care partner needs. …

The Relationships Among Proprioception, Balance, And Cognitive Perception Of Body Awareness In College Students, Courtney Helmick

Honors College Theses

Introduction: Proprioception is an important physiological function that is essential for activities of daily living as well as exercise and sport performance. Integration of proprioceptive signals plays a key role in both static and dynamic balance. Previously, researchers have assessed the relationship between balance and proprioception, however, the effect of cognitive perception of body awareness has not previously been included in this research. The aim of this pilot study was to explore the relationships among lower extremity proprioception, dynamic balance, and cognitive perception of body awareness in college students.

Methods: Nineteen apparently healthy college students (age 21.26 ± 1.10 years, …

Exploring Relationships And Intimacy With Adults With Intellectual And/Or Developmental Disabilities (I/Dd), Gabrielle Kennedy, Jazminne Orozco Arteaga, Thais Petrocelli

Spring 2023 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

This capstone project, Exploring Relationships and Intimacy with Adults with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities (I/DD), was completed by a Doctor of Occupational Therapy candidate at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences. The purpose of the project is to increase adults with I/DD's access to intimate partner relationships, sexual expression, and occupations related to intimacy by providing adaptive, community-centered, and meaningful resources.

The current occupational deprivation that the population experiences surrounding intimacy, sexual expression, and intimate partner relationships must be addressed to improve the population’s overall quality of life, health, and well-being. This project aims to inspire and …

The Importance Of Mood And Motivation Of An Individual In The Success Of Physical Therapy, Spencer Wagner

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Physical therapy is a health profession that helps people improve their movement and range of motion in certain body areas. Since the time it was founded, physical therapists have mainly focused on the physical health of the patient. While that is their job, they may not have been as successful because they neglected the mental health of the patient. The mindset of an individual, particularly their mood and motivation, can influence how they progress through physical therapy and how successful they are in regaining functionality in their affected body area. The purpose of this study is to determine how the …

Neonatal Therapists' Perceptions Of Using Integrated Collaborative Care In The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Sarah J. Elkington

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Occupational therapists (OTs), physical therapists (PTs), and speech-language pathologists (SLPs) who have advanced clinical knowledge in gestational and infant development can work in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) as neonatal therapists (NTs). NTs apply their developmental expertise, therapeutic use of self, and client-centered training to create individualized goals for infants and families amid a complex, critical care medical setting. Each discipline (OT, PT, and SLP) brings a unique professional perspective and their own empirical knowledge to the NICU. Researchers have made efforts to capture work trends of NTs as they relate to direct patient care; however, researchers have also recognized …

Kids And Canines: Pawsitively Impacting Occupational Therapy Outcomes, Jessica M. Simon

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Within the scope of pediatric occupational therapy, Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) is a new and emerging area of practice that has shown to have a positive impact in its use with pediatric clients specifically. AAT is formally defined as, “a form of therapy that includes the presence of and/or interaction with an animal to facilitate progress toward some therapeutic goal” (Hardy & Weston, 2020, p. 197). Through the completion of this Capstone, the student aimed to develop in-depth clinical practice skills related to using AAT within pediatric occupational therapy, develop professional leadership skills, and contribute meaningful research regarding the benefits of …

Sensory Integration: Improving Participation, Behavior, And Learning In Individuals With Sensory Processing Disorder, Brooklyn K. Osborne

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

This capstone project encompassed a two-fold focus on advanced clinical practice in the area of sensory integration and research on the effect of sensory integration on the family dynamic. Ayres Sensory Integration was implemented in clinical practice in order to enhance learning, behavior, and participation in individuals with sensory processing disorder and sensory concerns. The research study examined the lived experiences of parents/caregivers of children with sensory processing difficulties to understand how sensory integration has impacted their family dynamic. Qualitative phenomenological methodology was used for data collection and analysis. Sixteen parents were interviewed, and four major themes emerged including family …

The Relevance Of Sensory-Based Intervention In Improving Occupational Performance In Pediatrics, Jasmine M. Fritzemeier

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

The present capstone experience highlights sensory processing differences in relation to occupational performance. Current literature suggests varying evidence on sensory processing differences and effective interventions. This capstone utilizes GAS to measure progress toward functional goals with sensory-based intervention. Results indicate improvements for all five clients in at least one area after 5 to 8 sessions of sensory-based intervention. Improvements noted on GAS demonstrate the effectiveness of sensory-based intervention to address functional differences. The scope of practice for occupational therapy practitioners, therefore, includes sensory-based intervention to improve functional performance and well-being across several settings.

Treating Cognition Through Occupational Performance In Individuals With Neurological Disorders In Home Health, Alcina J. Park

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Neurological Disorders (ND) like Alzheimer’s Disease, is one of the leading chronic diseases in older adults (National Council on Aging, 2023). One of the most common symptoms of ND is cognitive dysfunction, which prevent individuals with NDs from pursuing their daily occupations (Liu et al., 2019). This makes the exploration of treatment that delays functional decline in NDs imperative. Occupational therapy is valued and recognized in literature, but limited research is specific to cognition in occupational performance in home health. This capstone project used cognitive therapy approaches Cognitive Stimulation Therapy, Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy, and Cognitive Training, to combat cognitive decline …

The Role Of Occupational Therapy In Meeting Mental Health Needs Of College Students In The South Dakota Regental University System, Molly J. Graesser

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

College students with mental health concerns and disabilities are at risk for poorer academic outcomes. Utilization of student support services (TRIO, disability services, and student counseling services) can mitigate these issues. However, utilization patterns and the service delivery process are not well understood in the South Dakota Board of Regents (SDBOR) system. This study aimed to investigate 1. The extent to which students utilize mental health and disability services in the South Dakota Board of Regent (SDBOR) University system. 2. How service providers deliver those services to students. Utilizing a cross sectional survey and grounded theory design, researchers found that …

Physical And Psychological Impacts Of Burn Injuries On The Pediatric Population And Their Families: An Occupational Therapy Perspective, Sadie E. Anderson

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Background: Due to the curious nature of the pediatric population, burns are a common and leading cause of non-fatal and fatal injuries among children. Following these injuries, the impacts extend beyond the physical impairments that occur and often result in long-term psychological impacts for the child and their families. With a holistic approach to care, occupational therapy is fully equipped to aid in the mitigating of these impacts. Method: Through advanced clinical practice and the development of various questionnaires, occupational therapy interventions were explored and integrated to facilitate functional outcomes and improve mental health care. Results: With the provision of …

Quality Of Life Among Caregivers Of Individuals With 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome And Intellectual Disability, Sandra Garza Ochoa

Theses and Dissertations

Caregiving for a person with 22q11.2 chromosome deletion syndrome (22q) often entails dealing with medically life-threatening complications and is significantly compounded when the care recipient has comorbid 22q and intellectual disability (ID). The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of support, spirituality, and resiliency on the quality of life (QOL) of caregivers of individuals with comorbid 22q/ID to ascertain if these protective factors would reduce their caregiving burden. Study participants consisted of 469 caregivers of persons with 22q/ID who were recruited through 22q social advocacy groups. Correlational analyses, analyses of variance, and multiple regression analysis were used …

Attitudes And Compassion Of Student Counselors-In-Training Toward Individuals Who Are Homeless, Kristine R. Gonzalez

Theses and Dissertations

With the increased numbers of homeless individuals over the past several years, it is important to consider factors that contribute to chronic homelessness, including barriers to service delivery that impede one’s ability to exit homelessness. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the attitudes and compassion among student counselors-in-training (SCITs) toward individuals experiencing homelessness as these students represent future mental health providers who will be serving the homeless, a highly marginalized population. A total of 162 graduate students from two southwestern Hispanic-serving institutions were recruited for the study. A correlational analysis, independent t-tests, and one-way ANOVAs were conducted …

Exploring The Occupational Transition Of Leaving A Cult, Justine Thompson, Baylee R. Chelossi, Emily Osborn, Christian J. Quitoriano

Occupational Therapy | MSOT Capstone Projects

The emergence of cult groups has introduced a new population for occupational therapists to understand and support through the unique challenges they face after transitioning out of these organizations. While research within the field of psychology is robust, little is known about the occupational transition of individuals who leave cults and how occupational therapists can provide occupational science based intervention. In this study, the frameworks of Doing, Being, Becoming (Wilcock, 2002), and Belonging (Hitch et al., 2014b) were utilized to guide theme development and enrich interpretation of 11 hand-searched first-hand accounts. First-hand accounts were analyzed from multimedia sources such as …

A Qualitative Study On Long-Term Adherence To Home Exercise Programs In People With Parkinson’S Disease, Caroline Stafford, Brennan Decena, Shawn Lopez, Judith Thepkaisone

Occupational Therapy | MSOT Capstone Projects

Exercise has been found to slow the progression of Parkinson's Disease (PD) symptoms which can increase independence for daily activities and overall quality of life. In order for the benefits of exercise to continue after a program is completed, integration of the exercises into everyday life may lead to long-term adherence. Through the use of semi-structured interviews, this study investigated if increasing facilitators while decreasing barriers improves adherence to home exercise programs, leading to the establishment of exercise integrated habits in People with Parkinson’s Disease (PwPD). This study found that long-term adherence was achieved by participants. The themes related to …

Ots Delivering Culturally Sensitive Care For Dementia Family Caregivers From Diverse Backgrounds, Abraham Lai, Lucy Palacios Mendez, Darren Sarmiento

Occupational Therapy | MSOT Capstone Projects

As occupational therapists, addressing key cultural barriers that may obstruct access to dementia care and education for individuals with dementia and their caregivers from diverse backgrounds is a priority for client-centered care. Stress, racial discrimination, and distrust may exacerbate symptoms and prevalence of dementia in certain populations, such as Chinese- Americans and Latinx (Quinones et al. 2020). Immigrants’ experiences of aging and health are diverse due to belonging to different socioeconomic, ethnic, cultural, and linguistic groups and having varying levels of education and work experience (R. S. 2020). There are existing cultural differences regarding caregiving and family networks, perception and …

Life After Brain Injury - Survivor And Family Perspectives, Brandon Duenas, Gary Eng, Haleli Moalem, Miguel Regidor

Occupational Therapy | MSOT Capstone Projects

Background: Acquired brain injuries (ABI) is an umbrella term for mild to severe injuries on the brain with different etiologies, such as traumatic brain injuries (TBI) caused by an external force like a motor vehicle accident, or a non-traumatic brain injury (NTBI) results from an internal force, such as a stroke or aneurysm (Oyesanya, 2017). Current practice trends anchored in traditional rehabilitation models provide the most services and interventions for brain injury survivors (BIS) within the first year post injury. Yet, ABI can have lifelong occupational engagement impacts and there is limited research focused on the brain injury survivor’s (BIS) …

Measuring Outcomes Of Occupational Therapy Facilitated In Natural Settings With Young Children, Amie Smith, Deepak Dale, Brinda Saini, Zoe Peters, Amanda Laccone

Occupational Therapy | MSOT Capstone Projects

To date, there is limited evidence to support the effectiveness of Occupational Therapy (OT) services delivered outside in nature. This study explored the benefits of OT intervention in Natural Settings (NS) for children by examining development in the areas of self-regulation, social skills, sensory processing, confidence, and motor skills. A quantitative, quasi-experimental pre-test/post-test design was used in this study. Researchers partnered with a local outpatient OT clinic that offers an 8-week outdoor program. Seven children and their parents were recruited and participated in the study. A modified version of the COPM and two BOT-2 subtests, along with a novel log …

Promoting Cultural Arts Access Through Sensory-Friendly Theatre, Chanelle Bautista, Alyssa Cho, Jazmine Cunanan, Ariana Marino, Miko Ramos

Occupational Therapy | MSOT Capstone Projects

Children with sensory processing differences have “reduced participation in recreational and community activities compared to children with both typical development and other developmental disabilities” due to their difficulties with social communication, and strict social settings (Giserman-Kiss et al., 2020). Sensory-friendly theatre programs aim to dismantle social participation barriers for individuals with sensory processing differences by creating a relaxed theatre experience that includes preparatory materials, environmental modifications, and specialized training (Umeda, 2017). We implemented a pilot sensory-friendly performance of Willy Wonka, Jr. in collaboration with youth actors at the Throckmorton Theatre in Mill Valley, CA on February 13th, 2022. Approximately 80 …

The Feasibility Of A Large-Amplitude Aquatic-Based Exercise Occupational Therapy Program For Individuals With Early Parkinson’S Disease, Brigitte Baker

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Purpose: The purpose of this research was to determine if a 4-week aquatic-based, large-amplitude exercise program would increase strength and coordination for occupational performance in areas of activities of daily living (ADLs) and mobility in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) stage I-II, functional mobility as measured by Timed Up and Go test, and quality of life as measured by PDQ-39 in relation to occupational engagement.Methodology: Recruitment was through capstone placement site, Hands on Rehab, 7921 Professional Circle, Huntington Beach, CA 92648, in which a signed EAA was on file. Informed Consent was reviewed by the student-clinician as well as the …

Development And Usefulness Of An Advocacy Toolkit To Promote Systems-Level Advocacy Among Occupational Therapy Students In Nevada, Mary Angela Mendoza Terencio

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Advocating at the systems level to influence legislation and regulation can protect, promote, and progress the occupational therapy profession. This quality improvement project aimed to create and evaluate an advocacy toolkit for professional students in Nevada. The toolkit was developed under the guidance of a team of advocacy experts and leaders. Twenty-five students were recruited through convenience sampling to evaluate the toolkit. Data was collected through a one-group pretest-posttest qualitative improvement design to capture changes in awareness of Nevada-specific regulatory and legislative information, attitudes toward advocacy efforts, and the toolkit’s usability. Comparisons between the pre- and post-toolkit surveys were analyzed …

The Effect Of Running On The Onset And Development Of Osteoarthritis, Jordan Hekman

Senior Honors Theses

Osteoarthritis is a prominent and debilitating form of joint disease characterized by pain and deterioration of the articular cartilage and other tissues in the affected joint. Research has identified a variety of risk factors for osteoarthritis, including age, obesity, gender, previous injury, and occupation. The relationship between running and osteoarthritis is a topic of particular interest because of the prevalence of running as a simple and physiologically beneficial form of exercise. Increasing evidence suggests that recreational running has at worst no effect and at best a protective effect on joint and articular cartilage health in contrast to high-intensity professional/elite-level running …