Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

Structural And Tissue-Level Adaptations Of Lumbar Intervertebral Discs In Humans With Inducible Low Back Pain Symptoms, Christian Isaiah Weber

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Low back pain (LBP) is a devastating musculoskeletal ailment that impacts majority of the global population. Up to 95% of cases are considered nonspecific where the origin is unclear. Although there is a diagnosis with these cases, there lacks specificity that would help individuals with treatment and pain management. Imaging techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are primarily utilized in the diagnosis of LBP as it illuminates internal structures of the spine. One important structure clearly identified with MRI is the intervertebral disc (IVD) that is susceptible to injury and disease. Further, diagnostic imaging is performed lying down where …

Wheelchair Propulsion For Everyday Manual Wheelchair Users: Repetition Training And Machine Learning-Based Monitoring, Pin-Wei Chen

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Upper limb pain and injuries are prevalent among manual wheelchair users and can restrict their participation and daily activities. Due to the high repetition and force in wheelchair propulsion, chronic wheelchair propulsion has been linked to the risk of upper limb pain and injury. Prevention of upper limb pain and injury is a high priority in wheelchair-related research. Decades of research in wheelchair propulsion biomechanics have led to clinical practice guidelines (CPG). Unfortunately, a decade after the publication of the CPG, CPG-recommended propulsion is still uncommon. Hence, for the first aim, a randomized controlled trial pilot study with two groups …

A Case Study On The Effects Of Functional Exercises In Improving Quality Of Life (Qol) In A Patient Diagnosed With Glioblastoma Multiforme (Gbm), Kathy Nguyen, Savonna Reed, Sepehr Rezaei, Vanessa Rindge-Silvas, Brianne Bozzella

San Marcos, Fall 2019

Background and Purpose: The estimated prevalence of primary brain tumors in the US population is 14 per 100,000. GBM accounts for 50% of primary central nerve tumors in people older than 15 years old. Approximately 12,820 deaths each year are due to primary and nervous system tumors. There is limited research on the optimal interventions and effects of physical therapy on individuals diagnosed with GBM.¹ The purpose of this case report was to determine which aspects of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health model are the most important to consider during physical rehabilitation and possible interventions that …

Occupational Therapy's Role In Maternal Mental Health Within Transition From Nicu To Home, Victoria Briltz, Becki Cohill, Susan Macdermott

San Marcos, Fall 2019

The purpose of this capstone project is to identify OT’s role in maternal mental health following the transition home from a NICU setting. This capstone project focused on mothers’ roles, routines, and environment during the transition from the NICU to home. Mothers may feel unprepared for the discharge home when their babies are ready to leave the NICU (Boykova, 2016). Occupational therapists address occupational performance through skilled interventions for women during the perinatal period; however, there is a lack of evidence guiding occupational therapy for providing services for maternal wellness (Slootjes, 2016). This capstone project will help share information, ideas, …

The Role Of Occupational Therapy For Survivors Of Human Trafficking, Margaux Mariano, Becki Cohill, Susan Macdermott

San Marcos, Fall 2019

Human trafficking involves sex trafficking, labor trafficking, and trafficking of children. The needs of survivors of human trafficking are widespread due to the traumatic experiences they face. Concerns that may arise include decreased participation in meaningful activities in an individual's life, possibly due to anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, memory loss, posttraumatic stress disorder, and social isolation. Individuals who have been subjected to human trafficking often experience occupational deprivation and occupational therapy has yet to establish its role in the recovery process for survivors. This poster presents a capstone project consisting of the process towards the development of an occupation-based, trauma-informed, …

The Effect Of Aquatic Interventions In Combination With Early Start Physical Therapy Services On Gross Motor Development In A Male Child With Down Syndrome, Roxanne Mueller

San Marcos, Fall 2019

Introduction: Aquatic therapy has been used in various patient populations as a modality to facilitate motor control and manage tonicity.^1-3 Despite the variety of literature addressing individuals with Down syndrome (DS) and aquatic therapy, there has been little described about the effects of aquatic therapy on early gross motor development in children with DS.

Purpose: The purpose of this case study is to examine whether aquatic physical therapy interventions combined with early start physical therapy influence gross motor developmental delay in a child with DS.

Case Description: The patient is a 31-month-old boy with diagnosis of …

Case Study: Efficacy Of Physical Therapy On A Patient With Cva In Normalizing Gait And Shoulder Mechanics, Jane Mongkolvipakul, Amanda Orr, Queenie Lim, Rajbir Basati, Faris Alshammari

San Marcos, Fall 2019

Background & Purpose: Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA) is known as Stroke. It is a damage to the brain due to an interruption of blood supply. Two main types of stroke are ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke. Ischemic stroke, the most common type of stroke, is due to a blocked artery and a hemorrhagic stroke is due to a leak or burst of a blood vessel. Signs and symptoms of stroke are presented contralaterally. The purpose of this case report is to demonstrate the use of PT interventions to improve shoulder function and gait mechanics in a post CVA patient.

Case …

Weight-Bearing Interventions To Decrease Spasticity And Improve Gait In Stroke Patients: A Case Report, Melin Nguyen, Shelby Peterson, Jessika Sun, Irene Taing, Faris Alshammari

San Marcos, Fall 2019

The purpose of this case report was to determine the success of weight-bearing interventions on spasticity reduction and improved gait patterns in a 61 year-old-male patient recovering from a chronic left hemorrhagic CVA. The patient’s primary impairments included right upper and lower extremity spasticity, circumduction gait, weakness and decreased range of motion of right extremities.

The interventions included in this patient’s treatment program included standing calf stretches, toe raises, ankle range of motion and gait training for 1 hour once a week for 4 weeks. This case report supports the application of weight-bearing through the paretic limb, which has been …

What Is Congenital Talipes Equinovarus?, Cornelia Lieb-Lundell

San Marcos, Fall 2019

An estimated 80% of clubfoot cases occur in low to middle-income countries. Incidence of clubfoot is estimated to be 1-1.5 per 1000 births, and male to female occurrence is 3:1. (1) Left untreated, this congenital anomaly becomes a “neglected clubfoot” and can result in lifelong hardships including limited ambulation related to gait deviations, pain, foot deformities and an inability to wear shoes. Without treatment, this health condition can lead to functional limitations with limited independence in activities of daily living and participation restrictions within the family and community related to decreased mobility. (2)

The intervention presented is the main components …

Developing Financial Literacy Skills For A Secondary Transition Program For Students With Learning Differences, Rose Marie Borillo, Becki Cohill, Susan Macdermott

San Marcos, Fall 2019

Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), schools are required to provide transition planning for students with disabilities and mental illness by age 16 (Eismann et al, 2017). Occupational therapists have been underutilized in secondary transition planning, despite their expertise in targeting functional abilities, comprehension, and health using activity analysis to promote skill attainment and achieve independence (Mankey 2012; Eismann et al, 2017).

At the Winston School, there was no formal transition program aside from the individual college counseling provided by a staff member. A coordinated transition program was indicated to prepare students for life after high school to …

Perspectives Of Occupational Therapists On Telehealth, Taylor Corey, Becki Cohill, Susan Macdermott

San Marcos, Fall 2019

The purpose of this project is to gain a better understanding of the provider’s perspectives about the strengths and barriers of OT services provided via telehealth. Based on the evidence that will be collected through surveys and interviews, it can help determine specific factors on whether or not therapist choose to provide services through telehealth. Centered around those perspectives of telehealth, the results can help explore more in depth on the issues and concerns therapists have when it comes to telehealth as a service delivery model.

Caregiver Perspectives On Telehealth: A Service Delivery For Occupational Therapy, Rebecca Johnston, Becki Cohill, Susan Macdermott

San Marcos, Fall 2019

Telehealth; also known as telerehabilitation, telecare, telemedicine, teletherapy, and telepractice; is an emerging healthcare service that is utilized in various healthcare facilities with a span of ages, conditions, and locations (World Federation of Occupational Therapy [WFOT], 2014). Telehealth utilizes information and communication technologies to deliver services to a patient when the healthcare provider is not in the same location (WFOT, 2014). Telehealth can provide an online platform for evaluations, consultations, monitoring, supervision, and intervention with patients and other professionals (WFOT, 2014).

Telehealth is an emerging method of delivering occupational therapy (OT) services to various populations, including: children and youth; productive …

Lifestyle Management For Individuals With Vestibular Disorders, Michelle Pock, Becki Cohill, Susan Macdermott

San Marcos, Fall 2019

Individuals with vestibular disorders have concerns that impact lifestyle including limiting activities of daily living, limiting participation in social events, difficulty driving, and difficulty working (Cohen, 2014). Occupational therapists are able to help individuals with vestibular disorders by task analyzing symptom provoking activities, assessing the impact of symptoms on occupations, providing adaptations, and providing ways to modify environments (Gronski, Neville, Kannenberg, & Cohen, 2017). While occupational therapists are qualified to provide services to sustain and improve the occupational performance of individuals with vestibular disorders, occupational therapy is not well represented in this area particularly in addressing lifestyle components for vestibular …

Application Of Occupation-Based Models To Edward Of Edward Scissorhands: Oa And Ehp Models, Amy Griswold, Kelsey Harris, Whitney Marwick, Whitney Wilbanks, Courtney Wild

San Marcos, Fall 2019

This presentation examines the character Edward Scissorhands, a young adult with hand deformities and poor social skills, through the lens of the Ecological Human Performance (EHP) Model. We propose occupational therapy interventions based off of the EHP model. Through the use of establishing social skills training, as well as adapting and modifying Edward’s hands with tips and attachments, Edward’s life could be immensely improved

Retour Et Maintien Durable En Emploi Après Un Trouble Musculosquelettique : Pistes D’Action Pour Le Superviseur, Iuliana Nastasia, Marie-France Coutu, Romain Rives, Jessica Dubé, Sarah Gaspard, Audrey Quilicot

Rapports de recherche scientifique

Les troubles musculosquelettiques (TMS) demeurent un problème majeur de santé au travail dans les pays industrialisés. Les conséquences de l’incapacité au travail représentent un fardeau important pour les travailleurs et leurs familles, mais aussi pour les organisations. Même si plusieurs études sur l’incapacité au travail soulignent le rôle important du superviseur dans le contexte de différents programmes de retour au travail, peu se sont intéressées spécifiquement au rôle de celui-ci, à ses responsabilités ainsi qu’à ses actions pour faciliter la réintégration des travailleurs qui ont eu une blessure musculosquelettique reliée au travail.

L’objectif général de cette étude est de proposer …

Occupational Therapy's Role In Maternal Mental Health Within Transition From Nicu To Home, Victoria Briltz

Student Capstone Papers

The purpose of this capstone project is to identify OT’s role in maternal mental health following the transition home from a NICU setting. This capstone project focused on mothers’ roles, routines, and environment during the transition from the NICU to home. Mothers may feel unprepared for the discharge home when their babies are ready to leave the NICU (Boykova, 2016). Occupational therapists address occupational performance through skilled interventions for women during the perinatal period; however, there is a lack of evidence guiding occupational therapy for providing services for maternal wellness (Slootjes, 2016).

Data analysis for this capstone project consisted of …

Exploration Of Emotional Intelligence, Dpt Curriculum, And Student Success, Lyndsey Vandenberg Pt, Dpt, Edd

Doctorate in Education

Positive professional performance as a physical therapist requires a combination of both cognitive and non-cognitive traits. To date, there has been little-to-no literature on how Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) programs engage, refine and enhance students’ non-cognitive traits and abilities throughout a DPT curriculum. This dissertation had five foundational research questions that examined whether there was a statistically significant correlation between Emotional Intelligence (EI) and student success throughout a DPT program. Additionally, it explored how, when and where a DPT program embedded EI constructs in the 8-semester curriculum. The study took place in a private University in the Midwest and …

Screening Of Physical Activity Levels In Older Adults At A Community-Based Health Fair: A Feasibility Study, David B. Gillette, Preeti Oza, Todd E. Davenport

Pacific Journal of Health

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of activity level screenings in community-based health fairs. Additionally, we assessed relationships between participants’ sociodemographics, health-related factors and self-reported activity levels.

Methods: Feasibility was assessed by the time required to conduct screenings and ease of integrating it into the health fair workflow. Physical Therapy students collected responses using Activities Specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC) and the Physical Activity Level (PAL) items from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Results:Screenings increased service and wait times. Participants (N=37, mean age=71.5 years) reported a mean of 4.8 fall risk factors, …

Creative Arts-Based Parents Training Program For Parents Of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Jung Eun Park

Expressive Therapies Dissertations

This study evaluated the impact of the Creative Arts-based Parents’ Training (CAPT) program. The 6-week long, creative arts therapy-based program and its impact on parental stress and sense of competence for parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) was examined. Korean Parenting Stress Index Short-Form (K-PSI-SF) and Korean-Parenting Efficacy Test (K-PET) were used as quantitative measurements. Qualitative data were also collected for the experimental group (n = 17) using questionnaires, art journaling, and a 30 min focus group interview. The control group (n = 15) only participated in quantitative measurements. There was no difference in age between …

Réadaptation Au Travail Chez Les 45 Ans Et Plus Dans Le Secteur De La Santé Et Des Services Sociaux, Carl-Ardy Dubois, Kathleen Bentein, Alain Marchand

Rapports de recherche scientifique

Au Québec, les 45 ans et plus représentent une part croissante de la main-d'œuvre du secteur de la santé et des services sociaux. Pour assurer l’équilibre nécessaire entre la demande croissante de services de santé et l’offre de main-d’œuvre dans ce contexte de changement sociodémographique, les organisations du secteur font face au défi d’optimiser la participation au travail des plus âgés. Cela exige non seulement la prise en charge efficace des situations incapacitantes au travail chez les 45 ans et plus, mais aussi la prévention de ce type de lésions et le maintien ou la réinsertion en emploi de ceux …