Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

Watering Black Roots: Exploring Black Ecological Identity Development Within Nature-Based Expressive Arts Therapy, Stormy Saint-Val

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Nature-based expressive arts therapy promotes the holistic healing and recovery of individuals by interweaving the practices of ecopsychology, ecotherapy, and expressive arts therapy. These interventions have been proven to mediate ranges of symptomologies, such as anxiety disorders and PTSD. Research conducted by the U.S. National Park Services indicates that African- Americans are less likely to have a positive relationship to nature than all other racial groups. The amplification of this report without introspection of its context perpetuates racialized generalizations. This can limit a black individual’s ability to embrace their ecological identity and be receptive of nature-based expressive arts therapy interventions. …

The Effect Of Physical Therapy On Patient Self-Reported Outcomes And Perceptions Of Mobility After Lower Extremity Amputations, Gregory Amaya, Rosman Gante, Zachary Meinzer, Abbas Sadrossadat

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Background and Purpose: The number of people with limb loss is rapidly growing, partly due to an aging society and the prevalence of diabetes. Physical Therapy (PT) has been shown to improve perceived functional outcomes and quality of life in older adults and individuals with diabetes, but it is unclear why certain patients do not receive PT after amputation and whether the beneficial outcomes shown in other populations translate to individuals with limb loss. The purpose of this study was to determine whether receiving PT among patients with limb loss correlates with an improved quality of life, better mobility, and …

Lumbopelvic Muscle Performance And Morphology Differences: Implications For Low Back Pain In Individuals With Unilateral Above-The-Knee Amputation, Melissa Damele, Rachel Gross, Ronauldo Robina

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Background and Purpose: The number of people living with an amputation in the United States is rising at a rate of almost 200,000 cases a year [1]. The incidence of low back pain (LBP) in individuals with lower limb amputation (LLA) has been shown to be much greater than in the general population at 52%- 72% [2-4]. High amputation level, disuse, and abnormal movement patterns associated with prosthetic gait have been theorized to lead to decreased lower back muscle performance, contributing to the high prevalence of LBP in individuals with LLA [5-7]. However, lumbar muscle morphology and performance have not …

Modulation Of Corticospinal Excitability Using Cathodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation To Improve Walking In Individuals With Chronic Post Stroke Hemiparesis, Neil Drobitch, Kylie Henry, Sage Lyons, James Schomig

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Background and Purpose: Individuals who have experienced a pyramidal cerebrovascular accident (pCVA) often exhibit impairments to volitional control of corresponding motor tasks. Promising effects in motor response, post-application of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), have been reported in studies on individuals with the ability to achieve independent gait for 20 minutes. These studies mainly examined the effects of combined tDCS with locomotor training on lower extremity function among higher functioning individuals post-stroke. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of tDCS among individuals post-stroke who may not have independent ambulatory capabilities, focusing on motor response and less …

Rural Or Underserved Practice Interest Among Doctor Of Physical Therapy Students. Do Clinical Education Experiences Change Opinions?, Brandon Godin, Trenton Poulson, Mac Neil Moresca, Tyler Satoshige

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Background and Purpose: People living in rural and underserved areas are poorly served by our country's healthcare system. The Federal Office of Rural Health Policy reports that approximately 18% of people in the United States live in rural areas. Within the physician and nursing literature the largest reported predictor of rural practice is having a rural background. Mandated rural medical rotations during training have been shown to positively alter interest in rural practice and employment. While nursing and medical students have been thus studied, limited evidence exists for physical therapists. The objective of this study was to determine how rural …

The Moderation Effect Of Bdnf Genotype And Self-Reported Lifetime Physical Activity Habits On Postural Instability In Parkinson’S Disease, Samantha Johnson, Tyler Ormsby

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels play an important role in neuroplasticity in normal and neurologically compromised individuals. Studies suggest that BDNF levels increase in response to physical activity and are also affected by genotype. In individuals with Parkinson’s Disease (PD), it is not known if physical activity habits and BDNF genotype modulate this neuroprotective response. The purpose of this study was to determine if BDNF genotype interacts with lifetime self-reported physical activity levels to affect age of disease onset and severity of PD symptoms, specifically gait, balance, and motor dysfunction

Patellar Tendon Morphology In Trans-Tibial Amputees Utilizing A Prosthesis With A Patellar-Tendon-Bearing Feature, Jessica Kellogg, Kelly Teter, Michelle Evers

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Purpose/Hypothesis: A patellar-tendon-bearing (PTB) bar is a common prosthetic design feature used in individuals with trans-tibial amputations. As the patellar tendon in the knee of residual limb is subjected to the perpendicular compressive force not commonly seen in normal tendon loading, it is possible for tendon remodeling and degeneration to occur over time; however, there is limited data to support this idea. The primary purpose of this study was to use ultrasound imaging to compare the morphological differences between tendons of the residual and intact limb in unilateral trans-tibial amputees who utilize a prosthesis with a PTB feature. We hypothesized …

Intra- And Inter-Rater Reliability Of A Ballet-Based Dance Technique Screening Instrument, Jessie Lesar, Zachary Shaver, Ivetta Lassey

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Background: To execute the aesthetic demands of dance while utilizing proper biomechanical body position, a dancer needs the ability to maintain lumbopelvic stability, external rotation of the femur, and alignment of the knee, foot, and ankle. The ability to identify technique deficits can guide preventative programs that may reduce injury risk and frequency. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate intra- and inter-rater reliability of the ballet-based Dance Technique Screening Instrument by physical therapists (PTs) and student PTs (SPTs) with prior dance medicine or dance experience. Subjects: Twenty-eight adult subjects served as raters which included licensed PTs and …

Neurodynamics Under Different Walking Speeds In Individuals With Chronic Post-Stroke Hemiparesis, Corey Ackley, Kiley Aki, Joshua Arias, Jassie Trinh

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Background and Purpose: Stroke is the leading cause of long-term disability in adults worldwide. The ability to return to walking is often a main goal of rehabilitation in individuals with chronic post-stroke hemiparesis. To increase walking speed, non-neurologically impaired individuals produce greater ankle propulsion force at push-off with greater ankle dorsiflexion angles in swing phase with no change in ankle muscle co-contraction index in the swing phase. It remains unclear if individuals post-stroke would adopt similar neuromuscular strategies. Therefore, our aim was to examine the effect of altered walking speeds on propulsion force at push-off, ankle dorsiflexion angle during swing, …

Physiotherapy Is Associated With Improvements In Gait And Balance In Individuals With Cognitive Impairment: A Retrospective Analysis, Steven Jackson, Elbert Chen, Jason Phan

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

BACKGROUND: Evidence suggests that individuals with cognitive impairment (CI) exhibit significant motor impairments; however, these motor impairments receive little treatment attention compared to more prominent CI. Moreover, there is a lack of evidence about physiotherapy (PT) in individuals with CI. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine if PT was effective at improving gait and balance in individuals with Alzheimer disease (AD), vascular dementia (VaD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). METHODS: Retrospective data of 173 individuals with CI conditions and an initial evaluation for PT were extracted from electronic records from January 2016 …

Impact Of Clinician Experience And Positive Language On Subject Expectation Of Cervical Spine Manipulation Effects, Joshua Wood, Jonah Mawae, Stephen Elmer

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Background and Purpose: Acute neck pain is a worldwide epidemic that physical therapists treat with cervical spine manipulation (CSM). While the mechanical and neurological effects of CSM are important, it is possible that the patient’s perception of the therapist’s skill level may also play a role in patient outcomes. Along with the patient’s perception of the practitioner, evidence suggests that patient expectation for intervention efficacy may also alter patient outcomes. The implication is that special consideration must be taken when practitioners choose their words when describing both themselves and their interventions. The purpose of this study is to examine if …

Adapting The Lifestyle-Integrated Functional Exercise Program For Medically Underserved Older Adults, Yi-Ling Hu

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Falls are a growing public health problem among the aging population. Structured exercise programs are effective in preventing falls, and many have been implemented for community-dwelling older adults in the U.S. However, low adherence rates for structured exercise are reported consistently for this population. The need to translate alternative evidence-based exercise programs the diverse older adult population is important. One promising alternative program, the Lifestyle-integrated Functional Exercise Program (LiFE), can significantly reduce falls but has not yet been implemented for diverse older adults residing in the US. To initiate the translation of LiFE, we targeted older adults residing in medically …

The Importance Of Cultural Humility In Occupational Therapy, Jessika Reberg

Honors Theses

The demographics of the US have changed over the years due to a rise in the number of immigrants in the United States. Despite the rise of immigrants, and the cultural diversity they bring, healthcare disparities remain in the United States for various culture groups. The aim of this paper is to provide an analysis of how increased cultural humility can mitigate healthcare disparities. Health care disparities effect minority groups regarding access to care and quality of care. The development of cultural humility can help mitigate disparities because it promotes self-awareness, reflection, and engagement in an on-going learning process. Implicit …

Letter From President-Elect, Brian Huck

Journal of Sports Medicine and Allied Health Sciences: Official Journal of the Ohio Athletic Trainers Association

The JSMAHS is proud to present Volume 5 Issue 1 of the journal. This issue comes in conjunction with the OATA Annual Symposium and Meeting Poster Presentations. Please enjoy this innovative research and letter from your President-Elect, Brian Huck.

Surgical Interventions For The Treatment Of Chiari Malformation Type I, Noah Pennypacker

Journal of Sports Medicine and Allied Health Sciences: Official Journal of the Ohio Athletic Trainers Association

Please enjoy Volume 5, Issue 1 of the JSMAHS. In this issue you will find Professional and under graduate research abstracts, case reports, and critically appraised topics.

Thank you for viewing this 5^th Annual OATA Special Edition.

Collegiate Football Athlete Presents With Nontraditional Case Of Rhabdomyolysis And Secondary Finding Of Ureterocele, Kelly Ferian, Dane Eberle, Jake Woodruff, Elizabeth Walters, Karyn Gentile, Tricia Hamad

Journal of Sports Medicine and Allied Health Sciences: Official Journal of the Ohio Athletic Trainers Association

Please enjoy Volume 5, Issue 1 of the JSMAHS. In this issue you will find Professional and under graduate research abstracts, case reports, and critically appraised topics.

Thank you for viewing this 5^th Annual OATA Special Edition.

Socialization Into Athletic Training Student Leadership, Rachel Reinhart, Erika Smith-Goodwin

Journal of Sports Medicine and Allied Health Sciences: Official Journal of the Ohio Athletic Trainers Association

Please enjoy Volume 5, Issue 1 of the JSMAHS. In this issue you will find Professional and under graduate research abstracts, case reports, and critically appraised topics.

Thank you for viewing this 5^th Annual OATA Special Edition.

The Presence Of Cross Education Within The Body- An Evaluation Of Contralateral Grip Strength, Taylor E. Priest, Erika Smith-Goodwin, J. Brett Massie

Journal of Sports Medicine and Allied Health Sciences: Official Journal of the Ohio Athletic Trainers Association

Please enjoy Volume 5, Issue 1 of the JSMAHS. In this issue you will find Professional and under graduate research abstracts, case reports, and critically appraised topics.

Thank you for viewing this 5^th Annual OATA Special Edition.

A College Athlete's Return From Severe Aplastic Anemia, Cole Miller, Alex Walker

Journal of Sports Medicine and Allied Health Sciences: Official Journal of the Ohio Athletic Trainers Association

Please enjoy Volume 5, Issue 1 of the JSMAHS. In this issue you will find Professional and under graduate research abstracts, case reports, and critically appraised topics.

Thank you for viewing this 5^th Annual OATA Special Edition.

Healthcare Satisfaction Of Sexual Minority Athletes In The Athletic Training Setting, Sarah Nance, Kristine Ensign

Journal of Sports Medicine and Allied Health Sciences: Official Journal of the Ohio Athletic Trainers Association

Please enjoy Volume 5, Issue 1 of the JSMAHS. In this issue you will find Professional and under graduate research abstracts, case reports, and critically appraised topics.

Thank you for viewing this 5^th Annual OATA Special Edition.