Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

The Role Of Occupational Therapy For Homeless Women And Women At-Risk Of Homelessness, Kelcey Storkersen

Student Capstone Papers

This paper seeks to identify the occupational barriers and needs of homeless women and women at risk of homelessness. A qualitative research study was performed to learn more about the lived experience of two women at-risk of homelessness. Themes uncovered in this study are described in order to provide more understanding and advocacy for this population. A program proposal was delivered for future fieldwork students to provide occupational therapy students at this resource center.

Efficacy Of Osteoporosis Prevention Smartphone App, Polly Ryan, Roger L. Brown, Mary Ellen Csuka, Paula E. Papanek

Exercise Science Faculty Research and Publications

Background

The Striving to be Strong study tested the efficacy of a multifaceted, theory-based, complex osteoporosis prevention smartphone application (app). We hypothesized use of the app would improve bone mineral density and trabecular bone scores.

Methods

The study was a three-group, prospective, repeated-measure, longitudinal randomized trial. Baseline sample consisted of 290 healthy women between 40 and 60 years of age. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups: “Striving,” a dynamically tailored, person-centered app; “Boning Up,” a standardized osteoporosis-education e-book; and “Wait List,” a participant’s choice of intervention in the final 3 months of the 12-month study. Participants had …

The Managemed Screening As A Tool For Discharge Planning, Manpreet Nijjar

OT Student Capstones

The ManageMed Screen was used as a tool for discharge planning from a post-acute rehab setting to reduce readmission rates. The goal was to identify barriers to medication adherence. Medication adherence is best explained as the extent to which patients follow the given instructions for prescribed medication.

The Fostering Healthy Parents Program: A Specialized Program Developed For The Foster Care Community, Kelly Cregar

OT Student Capstones

Foster children and their caregivers are underrepresented and overlooked in many aspects of their care. Lack of resources and services leave them in the dark, both financially and medically, resulting in around a 50% guardian retention rate (National Council for Adoption, 2018). Constantly being uprooted and either placed in a new home or a group home, foster children rarely achieve a feeling of belonging, leading to a plethora of health problems (Fawley-King, Trask, Zhang, & Aarons, 2017). Occupational therapists have the potential to develop programs that encourage development and progression in this demographic, as well as programs that allow for …

The Perceived Benefits Of Counseling Provided To First Responders Through The Officer Craig Tiger Act, Matthew Wittwer

OT Student Capstones

Importance: Responding to traumatic incidents can cause negative effects on first responders mental and physical health. In 2018, Arizona passed the Officer Craig Tiger Act requiring state funded departments and agencies to provide sworn firefighters and police officers with 36 licensed counseling visits following a traumatic event. Objective: This cross-sectional study looks at the perceived benefits of the Act through the perspective of the first responders. Methods: A survey was completed by 65 first responders. The survey included the Quality of Life Scale (QOLS), the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and a questioner to gather …

Neuropsychological Test Performance In Individuals With Persistent Post-Concussion Symptoms: A Data-Driven Method To Conceptualize Ot Cognitive Rehabilitation Toward Return-To-Work, Naomi Melendez

OT Student Capstones

Cognitive deficits, secondary to concussion, can impact return to work; people may be held from work due to symptoms. Common difficulties include trouble learning new tasks, or needing more time to perform job tasks. In 10-20% of cases, symptoms can persist for months, and are more likely to persist one year post-injury. Studies have examined cognitive performance after concussion with mixed results, warranting further research in cognitive deficits and cognitive rehabilitation. The OT scope of practice is inclusive of rehabilitation at the physical, cognitive, and affective domains; however, concussion cognitive rehabilitation services are under-represented in literature.

The purpose of this …

Development Of The Steppin' Up For Success Program, Darlene F. Guckenberger

Occupational Therapy Program Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

School transitions can be challenging for students, especially when students enter junior high school. Junior high school students experience significant developmental growth in the areas of autonomy, relationships, acceptance, cognitive skills, as well as physical differences associated with hormonal changes. When a student transitions into junior high school, evidence indicates possible declines in motivation, school interest, and academic achievement. Personal relationships, self-worth, and coping skills are essential for a successful transition between schools. Adolescents engage in the occupations of education, leisure, social participation, and activities of daily living. Occupational therapy is perfectly positioned as a support service within the school …

Depression Screening In Outpatient Neurology, Lakicia Foster

Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Depression is the preeminent cause of disability internationally. Support-based depression screening is a nationally recommended means of detecting and treating patients with this disabling illness. The purpose of the doctor of nursing practice (DNP) practice change project was to implement an outpatient neurology depression screening protocol so that depressed patients were identified and received intervention. The project answered whether implementation of an 8- to 12-week systematic depression screening protocol in a neurology practice increased the incidence of accurate depression identification and treatment in this patient population as compared to the 3-month prior baseline. The DNP depression screening project was based …

Are Finger Width Palpation, Tape Measure, And Caliper Reliable, Valid, And Accurate To Diagnose Diastasis Recti Abdominis (Dra)?, Tamara L. Roehling

Department of Physical Therapy Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Purpose: Diastasis recti abdominis (DRA) is a condition where the medial rectus bellies separate at the linea alba. A DRA can negatively impact posture, trunk and pelvic stability, pelvic floor muscular control, respiration, trunk movement, and abdominal viscera support. The purpose of this research is to determine whether tools used in the clinic effectively screen for DRA. Specifically, this study compared the reliability, validity, and diagnostic accuracy of finger width, tape measure, and calipermeasurements to the clinical best standard, ultrasound imaging. Additionally, the study investigates whether there is a correlation between DRA and low back pain and pelvic floor dysfunction. …

Impact Of Psychological Factors On Adolescents With Anterior Knee Pain, Mitchell Selhorst

Department of Physical Therapy Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Problem and purpose: Psychological factors impact self-report measures of pain and function among adults with anteriorknee pain (AKP), but we do not know (1) if psychological factors also impact pain, self-reported function, and objective measures of function among adolescents with AKP and (2) if a psychological intervention would affect function. The purpose of this dissertation is to determine the impact of psychological factors on pain, self-reported function, and objective measures of function in adolescents with AKP.

Methods: This dissertation was prospective, with three separate studies. Two were cross-sectional observational studies, and the third was a randomized-controlled trial. Patient questionnaires were …

Development And Validation Of The Self-Management Assessment For The Residuum And Prosthesis (S.M.A.R.T.), Daniel Joseph Lee

Department of Physical Therapy Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Background: Self-management is the process of preventing complications through meticulous self-care and vigilant self-inspection. Persons with long-term impairments or diseases must follow an effective self-management routine as part of their care regimen to reduce the risk of injury. Assessment of knowledge as it relates to self-management is standard care forpersons with chronic disease and long-term impairments. Identifying knowledge gaps allows for patient-centered educational interventions to be targeted to the person’s area of deficit. Despite the importance of self-management in persons with limb loss, there is currently no valid and reliable way to objectively assess knowledge specific to this population.

Purposes: …

Impact Of Physical Therapist Attitudes And Beliefs On The Outcomes Of Patients With Low Back Pain, Adam P. Rufa

Department of Physical Therapy Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Introduction: Physical therapist attitudes and beliefs about low back pain (LBP) have been shown to influence patientbeliefs and affect clinician behavior. The purpose of this project was to investigate physical therapist attitudes and beliefsabout LBP, identify factors that influence those beliefs, and determine if attitudes and beliefs have an impact on patientoutcomes. Methods: This study was a retrospective cohort design that included a survey of physical therapists and thecollection of patient outcomes from Focus on Therapeutic Outcomes, Inc. (FOTO). Attitudes and beliefs were measured using the Health Care Providers’ Pain and Impairment Relationship Scale (HC-PAIRS) and the Pain Attitudes and …

Impact Of Strength And Range Of Motion On Loss Of Ambulation And Functional Change Measures In Boys With Dmd, Tina Duong

Department of Physical Therapy Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an x-linked lethal progressive disorder affecting boys who are typically diagnosed due to motor delays or weakness. Key features include loss of motor function throughout the lifetime resulting in early mortality from cardiopulmonary complications in the late 2nd and 3rd decades of life. Rates of progression are variable yet sequential due to a typical pattern of motor weakness that occurs from proximal to distal muscle groups. Current standards of care include contracture management and Glucocorticosteroids (GC). Timed function tests have been used to understand and predict loss offunctional milestones such as walking, getting off the …

Effects Of Cueing On Sit To Stand Transfers In Parkinson Disease, Rebecca Ann Martin

Department of Physical Therapy Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Problem Statement: Individuals with Parkinson Disease (PD) often experience difficulty transferring from sit to stand (STS). Current evidence suggests cues which promote an external attentional focus improve gait and transfers for individuals with PD. However, this research utilizes cues which are difficult to replicate in clinical or natural environments making the findings difficult to generalize or implement. Purpose: The primary purpose of this study is to determine the effect of 3 different explicit cues on STS for individuals with PD. Additionally we sought to determine if, in this population, a relationship exists between latency of movement initiation and postural sway …

Financial Impact Associated With Implementation Of The Low Back Pain Clinical Practice Guideline In Outpatient Physical Therapist Practice, Heidi Kosakowski

Department of Physical Therapy Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Dysfunction and disability arising from low back pain (LBP) affects more people than any other condition globally, and results in changes to the quality of life for many individuals. The financial burden of managing low back pain is among the highest both in the United States and globally. Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) provide recommendations on patient management strategies and have the potential to simultaneously improve patient outcomes and lower health care costs. Limited evidence exists on the impact of CPG implementation on downstream medical costs that are incurred after physical therapist care. A retrospective observational study was conducted that examined …

Neurophysiological Effects Of Dry Needling To The Thoracolumbar Junction Multifidi In Subjects With Low Back Pain And Decreased Hamstring Length, Nicole Ginette Clark

Department of Physical Therapy Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Background and Purpose: Dry needling is becoming increasingly popular in the treatment of neuromusculoskeletal conditions. The neurophysiological effect of treatment, specifically those related to the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) is considered a relevant physiological mechanism contributing to a patient’s rehabilitation. The primary purpose of this study was toinvestigate the neurophysiological effects of dry needling, as measured by sympathetic outflow and muscular flexibility. A secondary purpose of this study was to determine if changes in SNS activity correlate with clinically meaningful improvements in pain and disability. Design: This was a prospective, double-blind randomized clinical trial. Subjects: The study sample consisted of …

Correlation Of Trust And Outcomes Following Physical Therapy For Chronic Low Back Pain, Kory J. Zimney

Department of Physical Therapy Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Background: Trust is a key component for developing therapeutic alliance. Improvements in trust have been found to improve outcomes forpatients receiving psychiatric and medical physician care. Current trust measurement scales have not been utilized in a physical therapy setting and no studies have explored the relation of trust in provider to physical therapy outcomes.

Purpose: The primary goal was to explore the correlation of patient trust measured at various points within the therapeutic encounter to the change in outcome measurements after receiving physical therapy care.

Research Design and Methods: Non-experimental correlational quantitative analysis of patient trust in their physical therapist …

Does The Range Of Walking Speeds Produced By Community-Dwelling Older Adults Relate To Or Predict Function, Disability, And Community Mobility?, Michelle Germaine Criss

Department of Physical Therapy Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Background: Self-selected (SSWS) and maximum walking speeds (MWS) are frequently studied and related to multiple body systems, function, falls, and mortality. Walking at a slow speed voluntarily or measuring a range of walking speeds (WS), however, has rarely been investigated. Purpose: The aims ofthis project were to explore a proposed measure of WS adaptability called total walking speed range(TWSR), to assess the reliability and validity of slow walking speed (slowWS) as a component of TWSR, to assess if TWSR could predict function, disability or community mobility, and finally, to compare thepredictive ability of TWSR to single walking speeds. Methods: This …

Comprehensive Physical Function Measure For The Intensive Care Unit: The Use Of Rasch Analysis And Item Response Theory, Michelle Lynn Peterson

Department of Physical Therapy Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Introduction: This dissertation study provides an in-depth examination of current intensive care unit (ICU) physical function assessment measures and synthesizes these into one comprehensive measurement tool that addresses multiple areas of function.

Background: A recent systematic review identified 26 measures being used in ICU clinical research, although a subsequent systematic review revealed only 14 of those physical function assessment measures have psychometric properties evaluated specifically for the ICU setting. A robust physical function assessment measure for use in the ICU, allows for determination of efficacy of treatment, comparison of studies across settings, and broader interpretation of results.

Specific Aims: Aim …

Triaging Interventional Pain Procedures During Covid-19 Or Related Elective Surgery Restrictions: Evidence-Informed Guidance From The American Society Of Interventional Pain Physicians (Asipp), C. Gharibo, A. Sharma, A. Soin, S. Shah, S. Diwan, R. Buenaventura, D. E. Nampiaparampil, S. Aydin, S. Bakshi, K. Rajput, +13 Additional Authors

Journal Articles

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened the pain and suffering of chronic pain patients due to stoppage of "elective" interventional pain management and office visits across the United States. The reopening of America and restarting of interventional techniques and elective surgical procedures has started. Unfortunately, with resurgence in some states, restrictions are once again being imposed. In addition, even during the Phase II and III of reopening, chronic pain patients and interventional pain physicians have faced difficulties because of the priority selection of elective surgical procedures.Chronic pain patients require high intensity care, specifically during a pandemic such as COVID-19. Consequently, …