Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

Advanced Practice In Aquatic Therapy: Exploring Occupational Therapy In An Aquatic Environment, Brenna K. Barash

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Properties of water have been utilized as a therapeutic treatment method for the past 100 years (Becker, 2009). Aquatic-based occupational therapy services are used as an adjunct to traditional land-based occupational therapy intervention (Franken et al., 2013). The OTS developed a 14-week capstone project with assistance provided by faculty and site mentors. The purpose of this capstone project was to develop aquatic-based intervention skills and explore the use and benefits of aquatic-based occupational therapy in patient care. To facilitate appropriate outcomes, three learning objectives with numerous project deliverables were developed. In order to demonstrate competence and understanding of aquatic-based occupational …

Exploring Occupational Therapy With Athletes Using Principles Of Lifestyle Redesign® To Support Academic Success And Life Balance., Michaela M. Dendinger

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Occupational therapists have a range of skills that can benefit a variety of populations. Despite these skills, occupational therapy has limited exploration within the field of athletics. The capstone project gave insight to the services occupational therapy can provide to the student-athlete population. Through the lens of Lifestyle Redesign®, the Student-Athlete Wellness Program was created to support student-athlete academic success and life balance. Following a needs assessment an online program was developed. The program was provided to students and athletes a University in the Midwest U.S. The program attracted 21 student-athletes and five students. Limited participation in surveys provided difficulties …

Creating Inclusive Classroom Environments Through Education And Coaching, Leah Hagen

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

The aim of this capstone project was to educate teachers on inclusive practices and strategies to create an inclusive classroom environment for students with disabilities and at-risk needs. An educational workshop including eight hours of asynchronous pre-recorded modules and four one-hour synchronous sessions was created. The workshop covered the following topics: Introduction to inclusion, accommodations and modifications, assistive technology, supporting sensory needs, supporting physical needs, supporting academic and learning needs, supporting social, emotional, and behavioral needs, virtual inclusion, empowering students, and creating an inclusive classroom environment. Optional inclusive classroom coaching sessions were offered to promote implementation of inclusive practices and …

Quantifying Fear Of Falling By Utilizing Objective Body Sway And Muscle Contraction Measures, Chenfan Gui

Theses & Dissertations

Fear of falling (FOF) is a psychological condition that can lead to increased morbidity and mortality in the elder population. However, the subjective and multidimensional nature of FOF resulted in the limitations of existing FOF measurements, which could influence the quality of those studies. The present study aimed to quantify FOF by using objective center of pressure (COP) trajectories and muscle contraction of the lower extremity to compensate for those limitations. Nineteen young healthy adults (24 years ± 2.47) were recruited in the present study. Subjects were required to watch three 360-degree videos, one control video and two roller coaster …

Culminating Capstone Project: Critical Illness Myopathy, Min S. Yu

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

The capstone project was completed in the focus area of clinical practice skills at AdventHealth hospital. The objective was to educate the rehabilitation team on critical illness myopathy (CIM), a condition that was requested to be further investigated by Megan Graf, OTR/L, who served as the capstone mentor. Through an extensive search, a literature review was completed. The rehabilitation team was informed scholarly and clinically with a PowerPoint presentation. Currently there is a gap within the literature between occupational therapy and CIM. Conversely, physical therapy had a plethora of research conducted on patients with CIM

Essential Competencies For Occupational Therapy In End-Of-Life Care, Karmella Bognot

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Occupational therapists carry an abundance of expertise in helping patients and caregivers navigate the end-of-life journey. The lack of knowledge of OT’s role impacts occupational therapy utilization and service provision in hospice. It reduces opportunities for this population to increase their understanding on how to maintain quality-of-life. The more a patient is able to do lessens the burdens shouldered by the caregiver. Education on pain management and promoting comfort are typical priorities addressed; however, not enough training is focused on maximizing independence or engagement in occupations. Competencies encompass a unique set of skills, knowledge, and abilities necessary for successful performance …

Highlighting Gaps In Spinal Cord Injury Research In Activity-Based Interventions For The Upper Extremity: A Scoping Review., Namrata Grampurohit, Alison Bell, Susan Duff, M. J. Mulcahey, Christina Calhoun Thielen, Gary Kaplan, Ralph J. Marino

Department of Occupational Therapy Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Upper extremity activity-based therapy for neurologic disorders employs high-intensity, high repetition functional training to exploit neuroplasticity and improve function. Research focused on high-intensity upper extremity activity-based therapy for persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) is limited.

OBJECTIVE: To summarize high-intensity activity-based interventions used in neurological disorders for their current or potential application to SCI.

METHODS: The scoping review included articles from MEDLINE, CINAHL, Cochrane CENTRAL, and OTseeker with the criteria: non-invasive activity-based interventions delivered atleast three times/week for two weeks, upper extremity functional outcomes, 13 years or older, English language, and neurological disorders three months post onset/injury.

RESULTS: The …

Supporting Caregivers And Survivors Of Stroke In Their Journey Through Stroke Recovery Via Telehealth Services, Keri Kamphoff

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Supporting Caregivers and Survivors of Stroke in their Journey through Stroke Recovery via Telehealth Services

Background: Strokes are a prevalent condition around the world that cause chronic functional deficits. Survivors of stroke and their caregivers in the community report limited social participation, decreased involvement in favored occupations, worse health outcomes, and increased rates of anxiety and stress. Occupational therapists have the skills to provide education and support for this population through community programs using telehealth.

Methodology: This project was completed at the American Stroke Foundation (ASF), which was operating virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Webinars, caregiver support groups, daily …

The Benefits Of Utilizing A Sensory Room In A Pediatric Outpatient Setting, Mackenzie L. Wand

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

The purpose of this Capstone project was to develop a sensory room in an outpatient setting to support child-led sensory integration. The Capstone experience was completed at Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato, Minnesota in an outpatient setting. The project was geared towards working primarily with the pediatric population with a diagnosis of Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The main learning objective was creating the sensory room which included creating a list of equipment for the room and setting up the room once the items were delivered. Another main learning objective was creating binders to provide …

Further Understanding The Efficacy Of Music-Based Cognitive Remediation Therapy For Patients With Traumatic Brain Injury, Sruthi Nanduri

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Objective

To further assess the efficacy of music-based interventions in patients with traumatic brain injury and its therapeutic application to cognitive, motor and sensory deficits due to neurological sequalae

Introduction

- Traumatic brain injury is a direct result of an external force disabling neurological and neurophysiological functioning

- Sensory, motor, emotional, language and cognitive functioning impaired

- Treatment is usually cognitive remediation therapy (CR)

- In correspondence, music enhances cognitive performance via neural plasticity

- Current literature shows preliminary evidence of the positive results of music in parallel with CR

Service-Learning And Case-Based Learning’S Impact On Student’S Clinical Reasoning : A Repeated Measures Design Study, Gordon B. Tsubira

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Clinical reasoning is crucial for the occupational therapy profession to thrive in an ever-changing healthcare environment but is seldom isolated for explicit instruction and outcome measurement in course curricula. A single-factor repeated measures design study was conducted to compare the impact of didactic case-based learning and experiential service-learning on the development of the clinical reasoning of students at a midwestern public university’s entry-level master of occupational therapy program. The participants were sixteen graduate occupational therapy students who had completed their foundation-level courses.

Participants explored modes of clinical reasoning in occupational therapy for eight weeks (the first half of the semester), …

Doctoral Capstone Experience In Program Development - Valley Rescue, Kyra P. Brown

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

Homelessness is an increasing problem with various implications on individual’s physical, mental, and occupational wellness (Tsang et al., 2013). Occupational therapy is positioned to provide holistic, client-centered, and trauma-informed care to those experiencing homelessness (Salsi et al., 2017). While residents at Valley Rescue Women and Children’s Center (Valley Rescue) have access to a variety of services, occupation-based education and interventions are extremely limited. This paper describes the completion of a capstone experience at Valley Rescue, with a focus in program development and advocacy. Residents of the shelter expressed interest in education on mental health and wellness and occupational engagement. Throughout …

The Therapeutic Benefits Of Attunement Through Lindy Hop, Sarah Trowbridge

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Dance/movement therapy (DMT) was developed as a tool to aide in therapeutic healing. A foundational aspect of DMT is attunement, the emotional/kinesthetic connection between two people that allows for meaningful and healing bonds to emerge. Lindy Hop is a partnered dance that fosters an environment of attunement, as it is accessed both subconsciously and consciously. This research explores Lindy Hop as a possible method of therapeutic treatment. The literature indicates the physiological need for attunement and how safety plays a key role in strengthening senses of self-identity, nervous system development, and worldview. Four experienced Lindy Hoppers were recruited to engage …

Influences Of Sleep Disturbances And Mild Traumatic Brain Injury On Gait Performance Among College Student-Athletes, Narjes Asgari

Health and Kinesiology Theses

Sleep disturbances from stress are common among college students. In addition, student-athletes in contact sports (e.g., football and soccer) are at a higher risk of receiving a mild traumatic brain injury(mTBI). Stress-related sleep disturbances and mTBI may provoke cognitive and brain changes associated with gait abnormalities. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the association between stress, sleep disturbances, mTBI, and gait performance among college student-athletes. Twelve college student-athletes from men’s and women’s soccer teams who indicated a history of mTBI (experimental group) and twenty-eight college students without a history of mTBI (control group) were recruited and asked …

Collapsible Prosthetic Shower Leg, Amanuel Matias, Mahsa Ebrahim

Honors Thesis

The purpose of this capstone project is to build a collapsible prosthetic shower leg that can provide a transtibial amputee with reliable support while showering. Phil Tamoush, an 83-year old transtibial amputee, was the inspiration for this work. Phil’s constant travel for his arbitration work leaves him without the option to bring along his usual shower leg due to the additional space it takes up in his travel bag. There are currently no commercially available prosthetic shower legs that can collapse into a condensed unit, so this capstone project explores an unexplored field for which there is a significant need. …

Menstrual Dysfunction As The Leading Clinical Marker For The Future Development Of The Female Athlete Triad: A Meta-Analysis, Sydney Hotz

Health and Kinesiology Theses

The Female Athlete Triad is a diagnosable medical condition that is under researched and very prevalent in female sports today. The development of the Female Athlete Triad, or any of its components, can negatively impact many aspects of a female athlete’s life. If clinical markers could be identified that indicate future development of the Triad, it could potentially help prevent occurrence of the condition and greatly reduce the number of female’s that have to suffer from it. Menstrual dysfunction could be the leading clinical marker for the future development of the Triad. This meta-analysis seeks to explore the possible association …

Health And Wellness Competencies For An Entry-Level Doctorate Occupational Therapy Course, Teresa Liccardo

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (2018) standards state that the entry-level occupational therapy curriculum must prepare students to practice in a broad range of practice settings, including new and emerging areas of occupational therapy. Health and wellness remain an emerging and not widely populated area of occupational therapy despite the growing research on its importance. Stancanelli (2020) stated that “with the expected growth of health care in the community and the expected increase in the older adult population, occupational therapy students need to be prepared to practice in the community and address health promotion and wellness needs of …

Program Development At A Nonprofit Organization For Individuals With Intellectual Disabilities, Victoria E. You

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

There are over six million individuals in the United States alone with developmental, or intellectual disabilities (ID). ID is defined by the American Association of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (2021) as significantlimitations in both intellectual functioningand in adaptive behavior, which covers many everyday social and practical skills. This type of disability originates before the age of 22. Historically, members of this population have fewer opportunities for engagement than their typically developing peers. This can be for a variety of reasons, including limited funding, the public’s lack of education on ID, and even ableism. Ableism is defined as “discrimination or social …

The Relationship Of Rehabilitation Therapy Clients And Grit: A Pilot Study, Kamilla Kisch

Honors Theses

Client experience is an important consideration in physical and occupational therapy (known as rehabilitation therapy.) The personality trait of grit has been studied in many different settings and populations and could have an impact on rehabilitation therapy clients’ perceptions and experiences. The purpose of this study is to identify the relationship between scores on Dr. Angela Duckworth’s Grit Scale (that identifies the presence and strength of grit) and perceptions of experiences by rehabilitation therapy clients. Seven males and twelve females (age: 56.78 ± 15.83) participated in this study. The Grit Scale was used to assess participants’ grit. Multiple-choice questions were …

Functional Rehabilitation And Strength Training-Focused Interventions For An Achilles Tendon Rupture And Repair: A Case Report, Anna Murphy

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose. Current literature identifies a lack of consensus regarding specific rehabilitation protocols following acute Achilles tendon ruptures. This case report highlights the rehabilitation of a patient following an Achilles rupture and surgical repair, who underwent a physical therapy treatment program, focusing on interventions to increase function, strength, and return to activity.

Description. The patient is a 64-year-old male, evaluated in the clinic four weeks following a status-post left Achilles tendon repair surgery, and presented with left ankle pain, decreased left ankle range of motion and decreased left ankle strength. The treatments and interventions used for this …