Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

Outpatient Physical Therapy Management Of A Patient With Left Hip Femoroacetabular Impingement: A Case Study, Mark Geerdes

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose: Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) syndrome is a motion related clinical disorder of the hip in which there is premature contact between the acetabulum and the proximal femur. This case study evaluates the effectiveness of physical therapy as a first line treatment for FAI and discusses the patient outcomes based on the chosen interventions. The results can be used to better understand the most appropriate interventions for conservative FAI treatment.

Case Description: The patient was a 15-year-old male student athlete who presented to physical therapy with left anterior and lateral hip pain.

Interventions: The rehabilitation program …

Outpatient Physical Therapy Management Of A Patient With Postoperative Massive Rotator Cuff Repair, Subacromial Decompression, Distal Acromial Excision And Biciptal Tenodesis, Megan Siebert

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose. This case report describes the outpatient physical therapy treatment of a 49-year-old male patient with a left, post-operative, massive, rotator cuff repair involving the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, and subscapularis, subacromial decompression, distal acromial excision and bicipital tenodesis of the long head of the biceps. The purpose of this article is to showcase the importance of physical therapy in post-operative treatment of this patient and other patients with similar diagnosis. The criteria for patient selection included a post-surgical diagnosis with high potential for progression.

Description. The treatment of this patient involved manual therapy including soft tissue mobilization, …

Physical Therapy Management In A Patient With A Left Scapular Fracture, Left Three-Through-Eight Rib Fracture And Left Sternoclavicular Ligament Sprain, Morgan Bicker

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose. The case study describes the outpatient physical therapy management used for a patient with a left scapular fracture, left three-through-eight rib fracture, and left sternoclavicular ligament sprain following a motorcycle accident.

Case Description. A 43-yearold man with decreased left shoulder range of motion, decreased left shoulder strength, increased left upper extremity pain, and impaired functional mobility. He received ten sessions over a 13- week period. Intervention. Interventions that were documented into the patient’s plan of care included: evaluation, ASTYM, electrical stimulation, home exercise program, manual therapy, neuromuscular re-education, therapeutic activity, therapeutic exercise, and ultrasound. There were …

Outpatient Management Of Low Back And Neck Pain With Radicular Symptoms, Riley Ryan

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose. Neck and back pain are very prevalent in the world today. This pain can range mild to debilitating. The purpose of this case study is to examine the use of physical therapy for patients with neck and back pain.

Case Description. A 49 year old female with neck and back pain with radiculopathy. The patient presented with decreased cervical range of motion, kyphotic posture with rounded shoulders and forward head and was seen for a total of six weeks. (20 visits).

Intervention. The treatment of the patient involved education on posture/body mechanics/exercises, manual therapy techniques, modalities …

Analyzing The Accelerated Physical Rehabilitation Of A Patient Status Post Periacetabular Osteotomy And Femoral Derotation Osteotomy, Zachary Burtsfield

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose: The purpose of this case is to analyze the accelerated treatment of a periacetabular osteotomy in a patient who requires up to six surgical corrections to his femoracetabular joint compared to a standard treatment protocol.

Case Description: The patient was a 20 year old martial artist presenting with bilateral hip dysplasia seeking physical therapy following a periacetabular osteotomy with a femoral derotation osteotomy.

Intervention. Therapeutic exercise and neuromuscular reeducation techniques were included in treatment to improve range of motion, strength, balance, and gait.

Outcomes: The patient was able to increase range of motion and strength …

Weakness Secondary To Pneumonia/Sepsis In An Elderly Individual: A Case Study, Winter Monette

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose. Maintaining functional activity is the most important aspect for geriatric patients wishing to preserve their independence. Muscle strength decreases rapidly within the sixth and seventh decade. This is when some older individuals have difficulty with activities such as walking, balance and transfers. Additional issues such as disease, injury or inactivity can increase the speed of this decline. Although functional change is usually observed with aging, hospitalization can cause further complications to function even if the patient’s admitted condition has been resolved. The purpose of this case report is to look at the role of physical therapy in …

Comparative Gait Analysis Of Transtibial Amputees Versus, Charlotte Vitale

Senior Honors Projects

While individuals with lower limb prosthetics make up a very small percentage of the population, their musculoskeletal deformities impair their abilities to produce “normal” biomechanical actions. The deviations in their walking patterns can further inhibit their efficacy in other activities of basic living. Understanding the distinct kinematic comparisons during gait between lower limb amputees and able-bodied individuals is critical for those planning to enter such a field of study working with this specific population. As an aspiring specialized Physical Therapist, it is very likely that I will be assisting clients to regain a healthy walking pattern after a traumatic accident, …

Improving Cognitive Function In Persons With Dementia Through Music Therapy, Jillian Natividad

Nursing | Senior Theses

People diagnosed with dementia experience cognitive alterations that cause overwhelming challenges and lead to distinctive life changes. Declining cognitive function noticeably experienced in dementia not only inflicts difficulty with achieving independent living but increases feelings of agitation and disturbs quality of life. Advanced medical care is widely available for managing mental conditions but may not always be effective in treating cognitive changes like memory loss and confusion. Because the stages of dementia vary from person to person, medical interventions are often patient centered to effectively focus on an individual’s specific needs. With non-pharmacological methods, flexibility in adjusting to an individual’s …

Development Of A Wearable Finger Exoskeleton For Rehabilitation, Carlos Hernandez-Santos, Yasser A. Davizón, Alejandro Said, Rogelio Soto, L. C. Felix-Harran, Adriana Vargas-Martinez

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

This research work shows a new architecture of a novel wearable finger exoskeleton for rehabilitation; the proposed design consists of a one degree of freedom mechanism that generates the flexion and extension movement for the proximal, medial and distal phalange of the fingers to assist patients during the rehabilitation process, after neurological trauma, such as a stroke. The anatomy and anthropometric measures for the hand were used to define the design of the mechanism. In the analytic part, the representative equations for the forward and inverse kinematic analysis of the fingers are obtained, also a dynamic analysis is presented. The …

Complementary And Integrative Approaches For Occupational Therapy Practitioners: An Educational Experience, Wanda Kay Lauer

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Background and purpose: The use of complementary health approaches and integrative health (CHAIH) practices are on the rise in the United States. The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) supports their use as occupations, activities, or interventions to support occupations yet many occupational therapists do not feel comfortable discussing or implementing complementary approaches in their therapy practice. The purpose of this project was to develop a two-day continuing education course to provide occupational therapy practitioners with information to increase their competency and confidence in utilizing complementary and integrative approaches in practice.

Methods: A literature review was completed to determine if there …

The Benefits Of Aquatic Occupational Therapy For Children On The Autism Spectrum, Caitlin Fitzpatrick

Human Development and Family Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

The proposed study aims to identify the benefits of aquatic OT by examining the progress a child with ASD makes in motor skills, social, emotional, and physical development as well as evaluate the therapist’s ability to provide therapy, compared to therapy provided on land. It is hypothesized that providing occupational therapy in an aquatic environment for children with autism will have equal to or greater benefits as occupational therapy provided on land. Twenty-one participants were recruited from occupational therapy clinics and programs around the United States to take a survey asking questions to learn more about specific changes observed in …

Implementation Evaluation Of Blood Flow Restriction In The Clinical Setting, Madison Mccall

Honors Theses

Blood flow restriction (BFR) refers to a relatively new training/rehabilitation method consisting of a tourniquet system applied to a limb to partially inhibit blood flow to the muscles distal to the tourniquet. Though much research has been conducted concerning its use, there is little information addressing why clinicians may or may not implement it. Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) theory explains how a product or idea can spread to specific population groups, ending in adoption of it. The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) consists of a set of constructs which can be used to determine the specific factors involved in …

An Examination Of Articulatory Precision In Children And Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Elizabeth R. Josephson

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

The speech of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been perceptually judged as less clear and articulate than the speech of their typically developing (TD) peers. Some evidence suggests that reduced articulatory precision may contribute to negative listener impressions of individuals with ASD. Using an objective, holistic measure of articulatory precision, findings from a corpus of 900 semi-structured speech samples indicate that individuals with ASD produced speech with reduced articulatory precision compared to TD peers. In both TD populations and populations with ASD, children were less precise than adults. While more research is required to substantiate these preliminary findings, …

Role Of Occupational Therapy In The Nicu And Post-Nicu Settings, Katlyn M. Schochenmaier

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

The purpose of this capstone experience was to gain advanced clinical experience and explore occupational therapy’s role in the NICU and post-NICU settings. Further focus of this capstone was on the feeding concerns and sensory development of infants following a NICU stay. This capstone project was completed at a Level IV NICU and an outpatient speech and occupational therapy clinic in a midwestern city. Theoretical models of Ayres’ Sensory Integration, Neonatal Integrative Developmental Care Model, and Biopsychosocial Model of Pediatric Feeding were used to develop and implement this capstone experience. A two-day continuing education course was completed prior to the …

Advocating For The Field Of Occupational Therapy In A Childcare Setting, Nicole K. Leinhart

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Significant physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development occurs during the first five years of life; many children spend time in the childcare setting during this crucial time of development. Appropriately meeting the needs of children is important for healthy growth and development throughout an individual’s life. Working in collaboration with the childcare staff, occupational therapists are beneficial when working with the pediatric population. With their extensive knowledge, expertise, and training in human development, as well as the physiological, psychological, social, and emotional needs of individuals throughout the lifespan, occupational therapists improve the children’s engagement and success within a childcare setting. …

Supporting The Holistic Treatment Of Adults With Upper Extremity Injuries: Bridging The Gap Between The Clinic And Classroom, Stephanie W. Mcclung

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Research continues to support the need for holistic and occupation-based treatment of patients with upper extremity (UE) injuries, therefore, occupational therapy students (OTS) would benefit from continued education supporting holistic hand therapy. Thus, the purpose of this capstone experience was to offer a capstone student with an opportunity to provide holistic hand therapy, explore and address barriers to delivering holistic therapy services, and following reflection, use the knowledge and skills gained through this experience to create supplemental educational materials to further peer education in holistic hand therapy. While providing direct patient care, the capstone student developed a better understanding of …

Empowering Occupational Therapy Practitioners Through Virtual Education On Seating And Wheeled Mobility, Jane A. Loscheider

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Background and Purpose: Seating and wheeled mobility is a complex practice area with serious secondary complications if the client does not have an optimally configured seating and mobility device. Occupational therapists receive basic education on seating and wheeled mobility, but additional education is needed for best practice. The purpose of this project was to provide education for the occupational therapy practitioner and identify if a virtual seating and mobility course could improve their comfort level working with their clients who rely on a wheelchair for occupational engagement. Methods: A literature review and needs assessment submitted by 100 occupational therapy clinicians …

Virtual Reality And Its Impact As An Intervention On Meaningful Occupations For Individuals With Mental Health Diagnoses, Alison S. Benson

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

The purpose of this capstone project was to administer occupation-based and therapeutic interventions based on virtual reality and evaluate their impact on participation in meaningful occupations by individuals with mental health diagnoses. I completed this 14-week capstone experience at the Professional Rehabilitation Consultants, an outpatient occupational therapy mental health clinic in St. Paul, Minnesota. The interventions that I tested were administered using strategies from principles of the Model of Human Occupation (MOHO) and the Recovery Model. I created intervention modules based on published instructions on the use of VR equipment and information gathered from research on the VR applications. I …

Increasing Awareness Amongst Injured Student-Athletes, Daniel Lomeli

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The NCAA states that there are around half a million college student athletes in America, and according to the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (2020) ninety percent of them will have a sports related injury some time in their career. Student-athletes compared to non-athletes are less likely to utilize resources and professional assistance (Moulton, Molstad, & Turner 1997). Due to fear of seeming weak, losing training time, judgement from peers or coaches and the appearance of needing any psychological assistance, many athletes are less likely to seek help (Brooks & Bull, 1999). Student Athletes seem to worsen their academic performance as …

Transitioning To Housing First: Perceptions Of The Role Of The Rehabilitation Counselor In Serving Homeless Individuals With Disabilities In Puerto Rico, Ana Vanessa Serrano Garcia

Theses and Dissertations

Since the 1980s, the federal government has developed strategies to eradicate homelessness in the US and its territories. The introduction of evidence-based practices like the Housing First Model helped decrease the number of people living homeless. Still, it continues to be a public health problem, especially among chronically homeless individuals, defined broadly as people with disabilities and substance abuse problems experiencing homelessness. Rehabilitation counselors are professionals specialized in serving individuals with disabilities. However, their role in programs identified as Housing First was unclear.

Thus, the study aimed to identify service providers' views, opinions, knowledge, and experiences about the role of …

A Cross-Content Validation: Sosi-M & Bot-Sf, Eleanor Brewer, Emily Yuen, Alyssa Asuncion, Taylor Hanson, Mariella Villanueva

Occupational Therapy | MSOT Capstone Projects

This thesis paper examines a new assessment, Structured Observations of Sensory Integration- Motor (SOSI-M), and it’s concurrent validity against the well-validated Bruininks- Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency Second Edition (BOT-2). This research study answers the question of “Do the scores from SOSI-M correlate with scores from the BOT-2 in a sample of children 5 to 14 years of age?”. The participants for this study are school-aged children between the ages of five to fourteen years old, all genders, English-speaking, ambulate without assistance or use of orthotic devices, and have motor and sensory abilities sufficient in order to complete both motor …

Supporting Dining Occupations For Dementia Residents In Skilled Nursing Facilities, Esther Yu, Nooshin Moslehi, Vickie Nguyen, Aileen Quach, Cierra Passey, Julia Lee

Occupational Therapy | MSOT Capstone Projects

Dementia Friendly Dining provides skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) with a practice guideline and training resources for caregivers. The program is informed by existing research on environmental modifications, both physical and social, to enhance the occupations of feeding, eating, and dining for individuals with dementia (IwD) in SNF settings. The physical and social environment has a significant effect in supporting the dining experience for IwD and their caregivers (Keller et al., 2015; Hung et al, 2016; Palese et al., 2018), but many facilities have not integrated physical and social modifications, creating a gap in practice. Therefore, an evidence-based dining program that …

Relationship Between Sensory Integration And Occupational Participation For School-Aged Children, Natalie Piwinski, Jordan Hoss, Rebecca Velasco, Victoria Jess

Occupational Therapy | MSOT Capstone Projects

Given the wide-spread use of sensory integration intervention for the pediatric population in occupational therapy practice, it is necessary to explore the connection between sensory integration and children’s participation in daily occupations. Although there is a wide breadth of knowledge examining the impact of sensory integration intervention, there is currently a gap in the literature establishing the underlying relationship between sensory integration and children’s occupational participation. This study recruited 22 children, ages 5-12 to examine the relationship between sensory integration and occupational participation by utilizing two parent report measures: Sensory Processing Measure (SPM) and Participation & Environment Measure- Children and …

Adaptive Video Gaming In The Classroom, Lauren Ferrell, Daniela Mari Recinto, Desarae Finck-Fugazi, Christine Angela Manalang, Noémie Von Kaenel

Occupational Therapy | MSOT Capstone Projects

Background: Limited resources exist to support adaptive gaming in school programming using Microsoft® Xbox Adaptive Controller for children. On the other hand, there is abundant evidence supporting motor, cognitive, and social benefits to gaming in rehabilitation.

Objectives: The goal of this program development project was to create a virtual gaming toolkit to support the interdisciplinary team’s use of adaptive gaming during school programming.

Methods: Through our needs assessment and collaboration with our community partner, we discussed the parent and caregiver need for guidance in order to use the Microsoft® Xbox Adaptive Controller and facilitate gameplay with peers. Through an extensive …

Imposter Phenomenon: The Occupational Experiences Of First-Generation College Students, Jamie Zabat, Jacqueline Salas, Yashi Severson, Kevin Chavez, Krysta Gastelum, Javier Gomez

Occupational Therapy | MSOT Capstone Projects

Background: First-generation college students (FGCS) represent an underserved population navigating through higher education and therefore receive less support. There is a current gap in the literature that overlooks the interactions of occupational experiences, imposter phenomenon (IP), and first-generation college students. The purpose of this study is to use grounded theory to observe the impact of IP among FGCS enrolled in a four-year university in California.

Method: This research is a qualitative study using thematic analysis grounded theory. Data was collected through a screening survey and follow-up interview via video chats and in-person sessions, and a live transcription software …

Adaptive Gaming As An Occupation: Motor Phenomena And Lived Experiences, Christina Floyd, Melanie Blaisdell, Madeleine Pope, Audrey Metzger, Donna Chen Tubig, Lauren Andaya, Christine Vincent

Occupational Therapy | MSOT Capstone Projects

Purpose: This qualitative study examined the lived experience and motor phenomena that occur in people with disabilities during the occupation of video gaming. Historically, the occupation of video gaming, also referred to as gaming, has not been inclusive of individuals with disabilities due to the design of traditional video gaming controllers. Typical gaming controllers require fine motor control, finger dexterity, and in-hand manipulation to grasp and use the controls on the device. Although, many people with disabilities do not have the fine motor skills required to access these devices, creating a barrier for this population to engage in …

Electroencephalography Resting-State Networks In People With Stroke, Dylan B. Snyder, Brian D. Schmit, Allison S. Hyngstrom, Scott A. Beardsley

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Introduction

The purpose of this study was to characterize resting-state cortical networks in chronic stroke survivors using electroencephalography (EEG).

Methods

Electroencephalography data were collected from 14 chronic stroke and 11 neurologically intact participants while they were in a relaxed, resting state. EEG power was normalized to reduce bias and used as an indicator of network activity. Correlations of orthogonalized EEG activity were used as a measure of functional connectivity between cortical regions.

Results

We found reduced cortical activity and connectivity in the alpha (p < .05; p = .05) and beta (p < .05; p = .03) bands after stroke while connectivity …

An Adventure Therapy Mountain Bike Program For Middle School Students: A Pilot Study, Cian L. Brown

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Adolescence is a time of significant physical, mental, emotional, and social development marked by numerous transitions and challenges. Middle school is one of the earliest and perhaps first times of significant social and physical transition that impacts early adolescent development. As a result, schools are becoming a primary care setting for children and families to identify and address mental health needs. However, only 2% of school mental health services are provided by licensed professionals. Therefore, schools and service providers continue to seek out comprehensive modalities that can efficiently provide preventative and responsive interventions to students beyond individual and school counseling …

The Effectiveness Of The Schroth Method In Treating Idiopathic Scoliosis In Pre-Adolescent, Adolescent And Adult Patients: A Retrospective Chart Review, Dave Bancuk, Jacob Nutter, Jessica Ramos

Masters Projects

INTRODUCTION: Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) is a spine condition affecting 1-3% of the adolescent population in the United States. Of this group, approximately 0.5% require surgical intervention to correct the curvature.This results in approximately 29,000 surgeries performed in the United States each year on adolescents to treat AIS. This represents a considerable financial burden along with the risk of surgical complications, so exploring conservative alternatives to surgical treatment is a worthwhile area of research. The literature is lacking on the conservative treatment of scoliosis regarding the Schroth Method as a primary intervention. The purpose of this study was to determine …

Development Of A Novel Cognitive-Motor Dual Task Assessment Battery In Neurodegenerative Disease, Jason Longhurst

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Automaticity --- the ability to perform a task with directing attentional resources to its completion --- is commonly reduced among individuals with neurodegenerative diseases. These automaticity deficits result in impaired functional and daily activities and are sensitive to subtle, subclinical impairments. However, current measurement of automaticity by dual task paradigms is methodologically limited. In order to gain insight into the current state of the literature regarding cognitive-motor interference in symptomatic and prodromal neurodegenerative disease, the author of this dissertation conducted a scoping review (Chapter 1). To address the methodological limitations of current measurement of automaticity, a new measurement tool was …