Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

“Adulting” The Life Transition Program For The Typically Developed Highschool Population, Gabriella Bologna

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Opioid Use And Harm Reduction, Elise Bourassa, David Lee, Jason Rogers, Christian Silverthorne

Thinking Matters Symposium

Calls for various harm reduction approaches to the opioid epidemic are increasing in activist communities (Chapkis, 2020; Kennedy-Hendricks et al., 2019; Sederer & Marino, 2018). Given that harm reduction approaches, if implemented, will be provided by people in various helping professions, the current study investigates the relationship between choice of human service-focused college major and level of support for harm reduction interventions for people who use opioid drugs. A quantitative survey that aims to measure knowledge and perceptions of harm reduction strategies has been disseminated to students in social work, counseling, public health and nursing departments at the University of …

The Effects Of Glute Strengthening And Hip Mobility On Patellar Tendinopathy – A Case Study, Jessica Stephenson

Senior Honors Theses

Patellar Tendinopathy is a chronic condition that effects a large number of the athletic population. There have been many treatments used for this condition, yet few of them are acceptable for an athlete placing a large amount of stress on the lower extremities. This case study examines the effects of glute strengthening and increasing hip mobility on a track and field athlete suffering from Patellar Tendinopathy. Many measures including health-related questionnaires, pain-rating scales, and performance were evaluated to determine the outcome of the treatment. After a two-week treatment time, the athlete exhibited lower pain during rest and performance, better quality …

Patient And Provider Perspectives Regarding Criteria For Patient Prioritization In Two Specialized Rehabilitation Programs, Julien Déry, Angel Ruiz, François Routhier, Marie-Pierre Gagnon, André Côté, Daoud Ait-Kadi, Valérie Bélanger, Marie-Eve Lamontagne

Patient Experience Journal

To increase fairness and equity in access to rehabilitation services, a strategy emerging from the literature is patient prioritization. Selecting explicit prioritization criteria is a complex task because it is important to simultaneously consider the objectives of all stakeholders. The of this study was to compare service users’ and service providers’ perspectives regarding patient prioritization criteria in two rehabilitation programs. We conducted a multiple case study in two rehabilitation programs, i.e., a driving evaluation program and a compression garment manufacturing program. We sent a web-based survey asking two groups (patients and providers) to individually produce a set of criteria, then …

The Impacts Of Occupational Therapy And Assistive Technology In The Lives Of Alzheimer's Patients, Hannah Wilson

Honors Theses

Occupational therapy and the assistive devices that are recommended provide an outlet to a better quality of life for individuals with Alzheimer’s as well as increases safety and independence in the individual. Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects an individual’s memory, physical functioning, safety, and cognition. As the disease progresses, it decreases an individual’s level of independence in their environment and often calls for outside care to successfully complete the daily skills and activities needed to age successfully. The practitioners that work with individuals who have Alzheimer’s aim to improve the completion of activities of daily living …

Zero Balancing In The Chiropractic Practice, Michele Doucette Dc

Journal of Transformative Touch

Discovering the profound gifts of the leading-edge structural and energetic manual therapy Zero Balancing (ZB), and adding it to my chiropractic and nutrition practice, has unified my personal growth with the sustainability of my professional practice. Much of humanity is starving for wholeness, authenticity, and meaningful connection with ourselves, others, and something greater. Chiropractors are well positioned to be leaders in a true evolution of healthcare, especially if, as we continue to explore the various branches of our therapeutic repertoires, we stay connected to our vitalistic roots that are now more supported than ever by new findings in the fields …