Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

Sanctuary: Counter-Oppressive Relationships With Farmed Animals As An Ecopsychological Imperative, Kelsey Bomboy

The International Journal of Ecopsychology (IJE)

Consumers are intentionally shielded from and often misled about the process of breeding, raising, and slaughtering animals for consumption. By confining most farmed animals to warehouses in rural areas while the majority of humans are sequestered in urban areas, we have effectively created a world where humans do not have to contend with the sense of interconnectedness that arises when witnessing and being witnessed by a farmed animal. Within industrial slaughterhouses, the physical act of killing is minimized to just a fraction of the workers, so that even those who are responsible for rendering a once living being will never …

Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation Paired With Task-Specific Training For Improving Walking And Balance In Chronic Stroke: A Double-Blind, Randomised Controlled Feasibility Trial, Ashraf N.H. Gerges, Jeric Uy, Lewis Ingram, Susan Hillier, Joanne Bouckley, Ellana Welsby, Ines Serrada, Taya Hamilton, Saran Chamberlain, Brenton Hordacre

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) paired with task-specific training has shown promise for improving upper-limb motor recovery after stroke but its effects on gait and balance remain unclear. This study evaluated the feasibility and safety of taVNS paired with task-specific training and explored preliminary effects on walking and balance outcomes in adults with chronic stroke.

Methods: A double-blinded, sham-controlled trial was conducted to evaluate active versus sham taVNS paired with task-specific training (15 one-hour sessions over six weeks). Feasibility metrics included recruitment, participant experience, adverse events (AEs), and blinding effectiveness. Clinical outcomes (walking speed, endurance, gait parameters, and …

Enhancing Independence And Social Connection: The Impact Of A Tailored Exercise Program On New Residents Transitioning Into Australian Residential Care Facilities, Stacey Scott, Annette Raynor, Julie Dare, Jennifer Grieve, Leesa Costello

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Transitioning from independent living to a residential care facility often results in a significant loss of independence, autonomy, and connectedness, leaving new residents with profound feelings of loss and grief. In light of these challenges, this study explored the potential benefits of a tailored in-house exercise program for new residents. Methods: The study took place in an Australian residential care facility and included four new residents (aged 72 to 88, 75% female), who participated in a 12-week tailored exercise program led by an exercise physiologist. A focused ethnographic approach was used to obtain a comprehensive data set, drawing on …

Assessing Content Validity Of The Osteo-Taq(Aus) Using Cognitive Interviews: Cross-Jurisdictional Evidence From Uk Osteopathic Practice​​, Oliver P. Thomson, Elena Golder, Gopi Anne Mcleod, Jerry Draper-Rodi, Steven Vogel, Brett Vaughan

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: The Osteopaths’ Therapeutic Approaches Questionnaire (Osteo-TAQ) has demonstrated content, construct, and face validity across multiple jurisdictions but required cognitive validation for use in the United Kingdom (UK). Objectives: To assess the cognitive content and face validity of the Australian-adapted Osteo-TAQ (Osteo-TAQ(Aus)) with practising UK osteopaths, and to determine whether any revisions were necessary. Methods: Cognitive interviews were conducted with six (n = 6) UK osteopaths using a combination of think-aloud and verbal probing techniques, informed by the Cognitive Interview Reporting Framework (CIRF). Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analysed using team-based content analysis to identify issues of item interpretation, clarity …

Reliability And Validity Of Upper Extremity Neurocognitive Reactive Tests In Collegiate Athletes, Matthew L. Gauthier, Marisa Pontillo, George J. Davies

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

Objectives: Neurocognitive function is vital in sports, but evidence supporting neurocognitive reaction testing in upper extremity return-to-sport testing is limited. This study's purpose was to quantify measurement properties of upper extremity reactive testing in collegiate athletes, hypothesizing acceptable measurement properties for clinical use.

Design: Cross-Sectional Study.

Setting: Collegiate athletics.

Participants: Sixty-three healthy athletes (25 females, age = 20.8 ± 1.6 years, BMI = 25.6 ± 2.6 kg/m2; 38 males, age = 20.8 ± 1.6, BMI = 25.7 ± 2.6 kg/m2).

Main outcome measure(s): Successful touches and average reaction time on the Upper Extremity Reactive Closed Kinetic Chain Test (UERCKCT) and …

From Zoom To The Room: A Practical Model For Holographic Instructor Presence In Multi-Campus Dpt Education, Stacie Mae Larreau Christensen, Brad Dexter

Posters and Presentations: Physical Therapy

No abstract provided.

Cultivating The Growing Self, Kelly Allen

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Khanna Blithe O. Cortes-Amores, MAOT, OTRP, clinician, assistant professor at Cebu Doctors’ University, and co-founder of The Growing Self, a mental health occupational therapy clinic in Cebu, Philippines, provided the cover art for the fall issue of The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy (OJOT). The watercolor painting, titled Peace (2017), features a dreamlike image of a serene female figure with hair that merges into the limbs and branches of a tree. A leafy green vine winds upward around her torso, becomes transparent as it partly overlays her face, and defines the crown of her head. Colorful abstract petal and earthen …

The Importance Of The New Caregiver Codes In Occupational Therapy, Jayna Niblock, Elizabeth G. Hunter, Carli Dimeo, Jackson Miller, Manali George, Allison M. Martin, Samantha M. Barefoot

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapists play a critical role in supporting caregivers, a role that continues to grow with the rising number of unpaid family caregivers. Evidence shows that occupational therapists-led caregiver interventions, ranging from skills training to problem-solving and environmental modifications, significantly improve both caregiver and client outcomes. In 2024 and 2025, new Caregiver Training Services (CTS) and Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes were introduced, enabling occupational therapists to bill and allowing for reimbursement of caregiver education directly tied to client goals. While these codes offer a transformative opportunity to formalize and fund caregiver support, their adoption has been limited because of …

An Occupational Revolution: Reclaiming What Matters, Carol Lambdin-Pattavina, Wendy B. Stav, Nicole Quint, Sandee M. Dunbar

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Intentional use of the word occupation to describe why, what, and how we do as occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants is central to maintaining our professional identity and to centering occupation in everyday practice. Throughout occupational therapy's history, using occupation, as opposed to words such as task or activity, has fallen both in and out of favor in practice and education in the United States. Some argue that task and activity, while not reflective of the nuances of the word occupation, including meaning and purpose, are more accessible to external audiences than occupation, which is often confused with …

Policy Solutions For Traumatic Brain Injury: Advancing New York State's First Tbi Special Needs Assisted Living Program, Dianne Schwarz, Natalie F. Douglas

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) presents long-term challenges that are poorly addressed by traditional assisted living and nursing home models. In New York State, individuals with moderate to severe TBI are often placed in settings unequipped to provide cognitive, behavioral, and neurorehabilitative care. This policy and advocacy paper proposes the establishment of a Special Needs Assisted Living Program (SNALP) specifically for individuals with TBI. Drawing from clinical expertise, stakeholder engagement, and a discontinued but promising pilot program, this manuscript outlines the systemic barriers to TBI-specific care, including regulatory gaps, lack of Medicaid reimbursement, and limited public awareness. The proposed model integrates …

Occupational Therapy Student Perceptions Of Sexuality And Intimacy Education: A Cross-Sectional Study, Jennifer H. Barnett, Amanda K. Giles

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Sexuality and intimacy are meaningful activities within the scope of occupational therapy (OT), encompassing valued roles and occupations that contribute significantly to a person’s health, well-being, and identity. Despite acknowledgement of their importance, many occupational therapists overlook these areas during routine assessment and intervention because of feelings of insufficient knowledge, comfort, and confidence. This study used a cross-sectional design to electronically survey 149 occupational therapy doctoral (OTD) students across their first, second, or third year of education to determine their perceptions of sexuality and intimacy education. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and qualitative data were analyzed via codebook …

Integrating Behavioral Health Practice Approaches And Occupational Therapy: Curricular Considerations, Kaylynn M. Garrison, Susan C. Burwash

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Occupational Therapy programs preparing occupational therapists to work in the field need to enhance students' education surrounding mental/behavioral health (MH/BH) needs. Thus, a curricular approach is needed that not only includes OT conceptual practice models but also those practice approaches used in MH/BH care. Creating educational experiences that include knowledge from inside and outside OT establishes theoretical foundations that better equip students entering practice to address mental health needs of their clients. Further, educators can assist students to appraise the fit between specific practice approaches and OT practice. A review of current MH/BH literature found three common practice approaches used …

Exploring Career Pathways Of The Occupational Therapy Afwc Role: A Review Of Push, Pull, And Stay Factors, Kimberley Persons, Patricia Laverdure, Elizabeth Lequieu, Elizabeth D. Deiuliis

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Academic Fieldwork Coordinators (AFWCs) are essential to occupational therapy (OT) education, yet little is known about the career pathways, retention, and attrition associated with this role. With increasing faculty turnover, understanding the factors that influence AFWC career decisions is critical. This mixed-methods study surveyed 187 OT educators across the US, including current, former, and never-serving AFWCs. A researcher-designed Qualtrics survey gathered demographic, quantitative, and open-ended qualitative data. Quantitative data were analyzed using chi-square tests; qualitative responses underwent thematic analysis. Respondents reported psychological (e.g., burnout, satisfaction), job (e.g., mentoring, administrative burden), organizational (e.g., support, workload), and leadership/team (e.g., recognition, collaboration) factors …

Optimizing Academic Success For Otd Students: A Lassi-Based Pre/Posttest Study On Intervention Effectiveness, Mica Rutschke, Dailen Castillo, Lauren Peyton

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Graduate students frequently experience heightened anxiety that can interfere with academic performance, well-being, and persistence in graduate programs. This pilot study explored the effectiveness of a targeted academic intervention for Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) students using the Learning and Study Strategies Inventory (LASSI) as a pre/post assessment tool. Ten first-year OTD students completed the LASSI at program entry and again after participating in a faculty-led intervention focused on growth mindset and anxiety management strategies. The intervention included a lunch-hour educational session on evidence-based techniques, such as mindfulness, test-taking skills, cognitive reframing, and stress regulation. Faculty advisors also used individualized LASSI …

Deliberate Practice In Occupational Therapy Education: A Conceptual Model For Professional Growth, Suzanne Marasco, Matthew A. Witenstein

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

In response to national calls for a more representative health care workforce, this conceptual paper proposes the Model of Deliberate Occupational Therapy Practice (MDOTP), which aims to enhance pedagogical strategies related to supporting, engaging, and leveraging students’ unique cultural and experiential assets. Grounded in the scholarship of integration, authors draw from three theoretical frameworks, Funds of Knowledge, Therapeutic Use of Self, and Street-Level Bureaucracy, to provide a robust foundation for refining psychosociocultural approaches in occupational therapy education. After describing the MDOTP, a subsequent set of Guiding Principles (encourage reflective practice, development of the professional self, incorporate community-based learning, and promote …

School-Based Executive Function Guideline (Sb-Efg): A Practice Guideline For Executive Function Assessment And Intervention In School-Based Practice, Ida Koraitem, Amanda Sarafian, Lenin Grajo

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Executive functioning (EF) is comprised of various cognitive skills, such as working memory, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility, which monitor and guide goal-directed behavior and set a foundation on which healthy development may occur. Although the impact of EF skills on school participation has increasingly been recognized over the years, there are limited occupational therapy models that help occupational therapists integrate EF intervention into school-based practice. Children with limitations in EF have unique needs and challenges that impact school participation; therefore, it is imperative that occupational therapists address EF in school-based practice. This author- developed practice guideline discusses essential elements …

The Empower Model: A Framework For Fostering Neurodivergent Occupational Participation And Supporting Neurodiversity-Affirming Occupational Therapy Practice, Bryden Carlson-Giving

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Neurodivergent occupations are ways of embodying life and experiencing the world that speak true to their neurotype; they are vivid, complex, and need to be fostered by the occupational therapy profession. Though the neurodiversity movement is garnering increased attention in the profession, the medical model of disability remains the dominating lens influencing occupational therapy services. Neuronormativity remains the ideal form of participation, which can lead to occupational therapists manifesting occupational marginalization with their neurodivergent clients. To date, there is a lack of practical frameworks supporting occupational therapists in integrating neurodiversity-affirming and anti-ableist principles into everyday occupational therapy practice. This paper …

Occupational Therapy For Ostomy Patients In Acute Care: A Case Series, Carolina Orozco, John V. Rider, Pamela Morales

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Ostomy surgery, which diverts stool or urine through an abdominal stoma, significantly impacts individuals’ physical and psychosocial functioning. Skilled education and training are required to promote independence in ostomy self-care. Occupational therapists are uniquely equipped to address these needs through holistic, person-centered approaches.

Method: This retrospective descriptive case series examines the integration of occupational therapy services, including ostomy-specific evaluation and intervention, for three patients in an acute care hospital.

Results: Three cases, varying in age, diagnosis, and functional status, demonstrate individualized occupational therapy interventions targeting activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, and health management, emphasizing ostomy …

Interventions For Lgbtq+ Youth: A Scoping Review To Support Occupational Therapy Practice In The United States, Ricardo D. Ramirez, Iris Nosek, Alexandrea Guiritan, Annalise Valente, Francinne Fotopoulos, Jennifer Westrick

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Youth in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, and other dissident genders and sexualities (LGBTQ+) community face extensive health disparities and dynamic political landscapes. Occupational therapy (OT) has potential to support LGBTQ+ youth; however, there is limited guidance for occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants seeking to implement evidence-based interventions with this population. Therefore, the purpose of this scoping review was to examine interventions within the scope of OT to support LGBTQ+ youth.

Method: We used Arksey and O'Malley’s framework to guide this scoping review and searched five databases: PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Google Scholar. Using …

Autism And Air Travel, Joceline Rodriguez, Riley Rynders, Mckenzie Guth, Divya Sood

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Autistic children frequently encounter several difficulties during travel, especially in airport environments. This research study aimed to investigate the perceptions of parents of autistic children, as well as airport and airline staff, regarding the support available and barriers these children encounter during air travel.

Method: A qualitative descriptive design was used, involving data collection through interviews with two distinct groups of participants: airport and airline staff (n = 4) and caregivers of autistic children (n = 5).

Results: Caregiver participants shared that having access to quiet spaces, sensory rooms, and more readily available information on accommodation …