Other Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

Parental Perceptions Of Water Safety Among Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders, Amanda Casey Ph.D., Jennifer Blok, Katherine Vaughan, William O'Dwyer

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are twice as likely to die from unintentional drowning compared to same-age children without ASD emphasizing the importance of water-safety skills and knowledge. Yet little research has been published on perceptions of water safety for this population. The objective of the study was to investigate parental perceptions of water safety amongst children with ASD. An online questionnaire focusing on parental perceptions of water safety was distributed to parents of children with ASD associated with autism support groups across Canada. Forty-nine parents completed the self-report questionnaire with items related to demographics, swimming proficiency and lessons, …

Medical Student Understanding Of The Pm&R Specialty, Disability, And Post-Acute Care, Stephanie Tow

Research Days

No abstract provided.

The Partial Immersion Aquatic Approach Using Adjustable Weight Bearing To Improve Posture And Sitting Balance Adaptation For Children With Severe Cerebral Palsy, Niv Shelef

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

The innovative ‟Partial Immersion” Aquatic Therapy Approach was developed to enhance balance and posture during sitting adaptation for children with severe cerebral palsy who exhibit deficiency in those skills on land. Stable balance during sitting posture is one of the preconditions for hands function in activities of daily living. Aquatic skills learned during aquatic therapy were then transferred to a land environment. Therapy included the use of a treatment chair that enabled adjustable weight bearing in a series of 30 mm steps. A mixed-methods design employing a multiple case study approach (n=5) including quantitative and qualitative methods investigated the effectiveness …

Effects Of Liquid Viscosity And Food Texture On Swallowing Sounds, Chun Feng

Theses & Dissertations

Cervical auscultation (CA) is a technique of monitoring swallowing performance according to swallowing acoustic signals utilizing a stethoscope or other measurement devices such as a microphone and an accelerometer. In the past few years, doctors have utilized the stethoscope to identify the swallowing sounds, which resulted in an inability to accurately diagnose the aspiration/penetration in patients with dysphagia when compared to the gold standard. A digital CA assessment records swallowing acoustic signals and extracts the specific features from the recordings. It has been proven that digital CA as a promising portable and low-cost tool can be used for identifying patients …

Swim Instruction For Individuals With Developmental Coordination Disorder, Susan J. Grosse

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

Almost every swim teacher has encountered an individual who had difficulty learning to swim, whose movements appeared dissimilar from peers, or who needed to repeat swim course instructional levels many times. That individual might have had difficulty with sport activities, handwriting, and been clumsy in gross and fine motor tasks. Difficulty with coordination and control of movement may suggest a diagnosis of developmental coordination disorder (DCD). Individuals experiencing DCD may feel left out, inadequate, unhappy, frustrated, and embarrassed by his or her ineptness. These feelings may result in an individual withdrawing or refusing to join in and participate in physical …

Staff Training In Aquatics For Individuals With Disabilities: The Quest, Susan J. Grosse

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

Trained instructors in general programs have the ability and resources to initiate and follow through with developing water safe individuals who are capable swimmers. Specific staff training to prepare individuals to facilitate aquatic participation for individuals with disabilities is currently extremely limited. The purpose of this article is to examine the barriers to specialized staff training in aquatics for individuals with disabilities, to suggest necessary staff training content, and to propose topics for further research in the area of staff training. Seeking development of quality staff training programs for those working in aquatics for individuals with disabilities is the quest.

The Effects Of Bilingualism In Post-Stroke Aphasia Patients: Clinical Implications Within The United States, Kristen Bennett

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The consistent increase of cultural diversity and immigration within the United States over the last fifty years has contributed to a societal shift towards a growing bilingual population. The growth of this population has generated a need to evaluate current assessment and treatment plans for bilingual post-stroke aphasia patients within the United States to ensure that these individuals are receiving effective healthcare. This study aims to investigate the current knowledge gap surrounding appropriate methods of assessing and treating bilingual post-stroke aphasia patients within the United States and suggest potential approaches based on existing research. In order to synthesize information regarding …

Are All Instrumental Activities Of Daily Living Equal? A Pilot Study On The Performances Of Adults With Acquired Brain Injury, Crystal Lee, Samantha Schauer, Amy Tam, Yareli Vargas

Occupational Therapy | MSOT Capstone Projects

Aim: To determine if a relationship exists among performances of different instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) in adults with acquired brain injury (ABI).

Methods: A two-group correlational design was used to examine the relationship among performances in cooking, medication management, and financial management in nine adults with ABI who returned to driving and nine adults with ABI who did not return to driving. The Executive Function Performance Test (EFPT) measured initiation, organization, sequencing, judgment and safety, and completion.

Non-Pharmaceutical Methods For Pain Management: An Occupational Therapist’S Perspective On Chronic Pain, Alison L. Brown

Student Capstone Papers

Typically pharmaceuticals are the first intervention for chronic pain but in a world where there is an opioid crisis, and chronic pain rates rising, is there more to be done? A non-pharmaceutical approach to chronic pain management can be addressed through occupational therapy. Occupational therapists are specialized to handle these types of interventions. This capstone provides evidence to support the use of aquatic therapy, adaptive equipment, adaptive strategies, fitness-based programs, and ergonomics for a non-pharmaceutical approach in occupational therapy.

Occupational Therapy's Role In Matching Handlers And Assistance Dogs With Occupational Needs, Jyoti K. Tatla

Student Capstone Papers

In the past two decades, there has been an increase in the use of assistance dogs to improve health, function, and companionship (Walther et al., 2017). Although assistance dogs offer a variety of benefits for individuals with different needs, matching a person with a suitable dog is not always successful the first time. Optimal matches can be achieved by adding occupational therapy to strengthen the evaluation process.

The two major purposes of this project were: 1) to observe and assess the current matching process of assistance dog programs and 2) identifying occupational therapy’s role in aiding the evaluation process. This …

The Urban/Rural Divide In Access To Medication-Assisted Treatment For Opioid Use Disorder In Utah, Debasree Dasgupta, Erin Fanning Madden, Sandra H. Sulzer, Timothy Light, Michelle Chapoose, Suzanne Prevedel

All Current Publications

Death by drug poisoning is the leading cause of death due to injury in the state of Utah (UDOH, 2014). From 2013-2015, Utah ranked seventh in the nation for drug overdose deaths, the majority of which were opioid-related (CDC, 2018a). In 2017, the age-adjusted mortality rate from drug overdose in Utah was 15.5 per 100,000, putting the state above the national average of 14.9 per 100,000 (CDC, 2018b). Opioid overdose death rates in most of rural Utah far exceeds rates across the urban counties of the state. The higher rates of deaths in rural Utah is indeed concerning. Evidence indicates …

Training Evaluation For Introductory Ocean Lifeguard Instruction: A Practical Example From California, William A. Koon, Ryan M. Gates, Jack Futoran

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

Ocean lifeguards have several responsibilities that require precise training. California State Parks is one of the largest providers of open water lifeguard services in the United States, and trains approximately 200 new lifeguards per year. As part of our lifeguard training section’s quality improvement efforts, we conducted a training needs assessment to help determine how well our introductory ocean lifeguard training curriculum prepared lifeguards to perform job related tasks upon successful completion of the training program. We surveyed both first year and seasoned lead lifeguards on operational needs, training gaps, and specific subject areas. We identified several areas where our …

Lymphatouch™ As A Preparatory Method For Chemo-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy And Radiation-Induced Fibrosis: A Case Study, Abigail Harris

OTD Capstone Projects

Quality Improvement: Aims to explore the ability to expand the services offered at the Nashville Breast Center and potentially provide improved health-related quality of life for patients in the survivorship stage of breast cancer. Case Study: To assess the LymphaTouch ™ device for use in treating Chemo-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy and Radiation-Induced Fibrosis.

Aquatic Therapy Interventions And Disability: A Recreational Therapy Perspective, Jason Scott, Angela Wozencroft, Vincenzo Nocera, Kelsey Webb, Jodi Anderson, Avery Blankenburg, Darrien Watson, Sophie Lowe

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

Aquatic therapy interventions are critical for individuals with disabilities and the role of the therapist is just as critical for successful and effective interventions. The field of therapeutic recreation trains students to develop and implement evidence-based facilitation techniques including the use of aquatic therapy to assist in helping clients achieve a change in functional status. This review of the literature examined the impact of aquatic therapy interventions on a variety of disabilities including osteoarthritis, multiple sclerosis, Cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorder, and mental health from a recreational therapy (RT) perspective. This review provides a variety of information on the positive …

Effectiveness Of An Intensive Drowning Prevention Program And Skills Retention By Children With And Without Disabilities, Anna L. Forde Otd, Otr/L, Ctrs, Emily A. Zeman Otd, Ms, Otr/L, Lynn Clarke

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

This study examined the effectiveness of a drowning prevention program and the retention of swimming and water safety skills for 3-14 year-old children with and without disabilities. The intensive program, SWIM Central, used a top-down approach to teach 6 swimming and water safety skills during 10, 30-minute sessions. A post-participation parent survey results suggested that children ages 3-14 with and without disabilities who had previously participated in SWIM Central retained swimming and water safety skills to a similar degree. The current swim skill assessments showed that there was not an overall difference in swim skill performance in the presence of …

2019/2020 Lrsp: Ricardo Andres Pimentel, Ricardo Andres Pimentel

Library Research Scholars Program

Decades of constant wars have produced millions of military personnel returning home after their stints protecting their country. Though many of these military members are able to fully reintegrate into society, a significant minority return with psychical and psychological difficulties. Included in this vast list of difficulties is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This disorder is particularly endemic to military populations, and although numerous treatment modalities are available to veterans with PTSD, they are not all effective for every individual. Thus, numerous grassroots and private organizations have been working to pair veterans with service dogs for the treatment of PTSD. …

Champ's Triathlon Training Program, Rachael Sollman

OTD Capstone Projects

Champ's Triathlon Training Program was created to provide an adaptive fitness opportunity to the community of Nashville, TN. This program was specifically targeting children 8 to 15 years old diagnosed with Down's Syndrome and Cerebral Palsy, Gross Motor Function Classification Scale levels I, II, and III. Champ's Triathlon Training Program was an extension of the Champ's Tri My Best Triathlon hosted by a team of therapists and Vanderbilt's Pediatric Clinic, including Kelley Newman. The program aimed to increase the participants' strength, flexibility, and endurance through triathlon related activities such as running/walking, swimming, and biking. Outcomes of the program were to …

Review Of Cerebral Palsy: The Various Intervention Techniques, Taylor Jo Schultz

Honors Thesis

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that results from a disruption in the development in the infantile or fetal brain. It affects over 17 million people worldwide. The goal of this review paper is to provide an in-depth literature review behind the causes, diagnosis, associated disorders of CP as well as the treatment interventions that would lead to a comprehensive treatment plan for CP patients. There are many possible causes of CP, contrary to the popular belief that CP is only caused by hypoxia or ischemia at birth. Diagnosis requires determining the motor function, part(s) of the body affected, …

Perceived Effectiveness Of Stem Cell Injections In Adults With Joint Injuries, Delaney Marie Merrill

Senior Theses

Introduction: Osteoarthritis plagues around 27 million Americans. Stem cell injections are a new method of treatment that could potentially cure this by regenerating cartilage in joints. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the perceived effectiveness of stem cells at regenerating cartilage in joints, specifically the knees, hips, and shoulders. Methods: Participants were recruited via social media, forums, and from healthcare clinics that offer stem cell treatments. They were asked to complete a survey focusing primarily on the treatment protocol and how the injured joint felt post-stem cell injection. Frequencies were calculated to describe problematic joints, treatment history, …

Comparison Of Pre- And Post-Operative Shoulder Muscle Emg Profiles In Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty Patients, Emily Lau, Sreten Franovic, Noah Kuhlmann, Eric C. Makhni Md, Stephanie Muh Md

Medical Student Research Symposium

Background: Deltoid muscle function is central in reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) function; however, there is limited information available regarding changes in deltoid activity before and after surgery. Few tests exist to evaluate specific muscle metrics pre and post operatively. Surface Electromyographic (EMG) is non-invasive and allows for observation of motions with multifaceted analysis of movement with minimal patient demand. Understanding the changes in shoulder muscle activation, namely in the deltoid, in patients pre and post-RTSA can further advance understanding of the procedure and rehabilitation efforts.

Methods: Nine individuals were recruited for this study: all patients underwent RTSA by a …