Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

A Bilingual Approach To Pediatric Occupational Therapy: The Importance Of Communication Between Providers & Spanish-Speaking Families In Northwest Arkansas, Emily Ann Davidson

World Languages, Literatures and Cultures Undergraduate Honors Theses

Due to the demographic demands of Northwest Arkansas and the prevalence of disparities in health care, this study aims to assess the current practices, perceived need, and willingness to provide bilingual Spanish-English outpatient pediatric occupational therapy options in Northwest Arkansas. The hope of this study is to better inform pediatric occupational therapy providers of the growing need for bilingual services so that they may respond appropriately in order to better serve Latino and Spanish-speaking patients and their families or caregivers.

Transition In Occupations Of Refugees During Resettlement, Jacqueline-Elizabeth Cantrell, Kimberley K. Banuelos, Adam Chan, Jennifer H. Daine

Occupational Therapy | MSOT Capstone Projects

Purpose: In 2016, there were 22.5 million refugees worldwide (UNHCR, 2017). California resettled just over 5,000 of those 85,000 (Igielnik & Krogstad, 2017). Limited research has been conducted in the United States (U.S.) focusing on the refugee experience; furthermore, there is a significant gap in research regarding the impact of the refugee experience on the occupations of refugees as they transition to living in the U.S. Smith (2012) explored the adaptation of cultural weaving among Karen refugees to maintain their previous occupations and the impact of daily weaving on their lives within Western culture; however, the study focused only …

Assistive Technology And The Impact Of Occupations, Chelsea Golding, Chantelle Bond, Vhernna Fernandez, Eizelle Barrientos

Occupational Therapy | MSOT Capstone Projects

Objective: The purpose of this research was to empirically examine the occupational impact of assistive technology - AT (with a specific focus on word prediction, text to speech and speech recognition) from the perspectives of the end user, family and school personnel (e.g. teachers, therapists & specialists) across various contexts (e.g. home, school, community).

Method: Qualitative data included semi-structured interviews, audio and video recordings, and records reviews. The data was coded and analyzed using a constant comparison method to identify themes pertaining to the occupational use of AT and thusly the impact to overall occupational performance.

Findings: Six themes were …

Comparison Of Hip Range Of Motion And Arch Height Index Of Collegiate Female Dancers And Collegiate Females, Philip A. Anloague, Lauren Macnab, Brittany Pease

University of Dayton Doctor of Physical Therapy Annual Research Symposium

Dance requires athleticism and an optimal degree of stiffness and compliance to maximize performance and aesthetics. There is little research published on the utility of hip range of motion (ROM) and arch height index measures (AHI) in the female dance population.

Emg Analysis Of Lassimus Dorsi, Middle Trapezius, And Erector Spinae Muscle Activity During Spinal Rotation: A Pilot Study, Katie Holzheimer, Ross Swartz, Keely Hutchens, Joshua Still

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Purpose/Hypothesis: Spinal rotation is a very common movement that occurs multiple times each day during normal daily activities or even during certain sport performances. Since this motion is a contributing factor to back injuries, it will be important for physical therapists to consider this concept with rehabilitation programs for current back injuries as well as prevention of future injuries. The LD has attachments to many areas of the body, including the spine, humerus, scapula, and pelvis, which explains why this muscle also contributes to multiple actions at the trunk and upper extremity. Due to the attachment sites and the …

Inter-Rater And Intra-Rater Reliability Of The Repetitive Step Test In Community Dwelling Older Adults, Harold L. Merriman, Kurt Jackson, Kristin Beigel, Sara Simpson, Jennifer Smith, Jamie Wynk

University of Dayton Doctor of Physical Therapy Annual Research Symposium

Each year one in every three adults over the age of 65 experience a fall resulting in serious injury and in some instances death. In this population, fall injuries are the leading cause of death and are associated with the greatest number of nonfatal injuries and trauma hospital admissions. Since balance and muscle performance decreases as one ages, it is vitally important to assess these factors as part of a comprehensive strategy to monitor and predict fall risk. The Repetitive Step Test (RST) has previously showed the ability in community dwelling older adults to differentiate recurrent fallers from non-fallers and …

Quadriceps And Gluteus Medius Activation With Increasing Task Speed During A Lateral Step-Down, Mat Auger, Elisabeth Groeber, Nick Nolan, Morgan Stefanoff, Aswin Vijayan, Dave Werner, Allison Kinney, Joaquin A. Barrios

University of Dayton Doctor of Physical Therapy Annual Research Symposium

Clinically, slower task performance is thought to increase task demands. Interestingly, few studies have explored altering task rate on electromyographic (EMG) muscle activity, particularly in the lower extremity.

Outcomes Following Dynamic Compression Bracing For Pectus Carinatum, Charlene Dekonenko, Robert M. Dorman, Amy L. Pierce, Beth A. Orrick, David Juang, Pablo Aguayo, Jason D. Fraser, Tolulope A. Oyetunji, Charles L. Snyder, Shawn D. St Peter, G W. Holcomb Iii

Posters

We describe our experience with dynamic compression bracing for pectus carinatum patients and their satisfaction with bracing.

Complex Trauma: Counselors' Self-Efficacy And Treatment, Breeze Valenska Rueda

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this descriptive and exploratory mixed-method study was twofold: to explore counselors’ perceptions and knowledge regarding complex trauma and, assess counselors’ perceptions regarding their level of confidence when working with this population. The study determined what relevant factors were related to counselors’ perceived self-efficacy concerning complex trauma. Although complex trauma is emerging as an important issue, there is limited research regarding counselors’ experiences with complex trauma. The current study explored participants’ perceptions when providing services to individuals with prolonged and cumulative trauma and provided a greater understanding of counselors’ recognition and selfefficacy when working with this population. A …

American Sign-Language (Asl) For Audiologists, Colette Vossler-Welch

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The goal of this project is to provide a means for Audiologists, Speech-Language-pathologists and related personnel to improve their ability to communicate and connect with culturally Deaf individuals through the use of video-animated sign-language interpretations. Arguments for or against the bilingual approach of using ASL and the spoken language with regards to Deaf education will be discussed through both a personal memoir and a review of current literature. This study will also shed light upon the history of the American Deaf population, American Sign-Language (ASL) and will conclude with a training module in ASL. The training module will be available …

The Effect Of A Novel Rehabilitation Program On Walking Performance In Persons With Multiple Sclerosis, Alyssa J. Rebensburg

All NMU Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to compare if the addition of the NewGait™ device to traditional therapy in comparison to traditional therapy alone would be more effective at improving walking technique and walking performance in persons with multiple sclerosis. Eighteen patients with multiple sclerosis participated in this study. Pre- and post-testing assessed kinematic gait variables (speed, step length, step width, double limb support time), toe clearance height, ankle range of motion, balance confidence, rating of perceived exertion, and hip-ankle coordination. Participants completed an 8-week physical therapy protocol aimed to improve gait and balance with the experimental group wearing the …

The Sensoryfun! Toolkit: A Bilingual Resource For Parents & Caregivers, Nicolette D'Esposito, Yvette Lozano, Natalie Carrillo, Sarah Pashby

Occupational Therapy | MSOT Capstone Projects

A sensory diet is an occupational therapy (OT) intervention strategy. Sensory diets are specifically designed to meet a child's sensory integration needs. Sensory diets are not standardized among practitioners and there are a limited number of resources available for individuals that do not have a clinical background. The lack of easy to understand resources for parents and caregivers creates several barriers for occupational therapists working with families with children experiencing sensory processing difficulties. One barrier is that there are few resources available in Spanish. The purpose of this project was to develop a resource for parents and caregivers using educational …

Physiological Responses Of Adults With Sensory Over-Responsiveness, Catherine Anne Datu, Nicholas Wing Or, Megan Melody Valentine, Megan Jeanne Velcich

Occupational Therapy | MSOT Capstone Projects

The purpose of this research study is to identify if there are physiological response patterns associated with self-reported sensory over-responsiveness (SOR) in typical adults. SOR is the most common sensory modulation disorder and negatively affects the daily experiences of those that report SOR. The first phase of the study consisted of phone interviews where participants were screened for any potential characteristics that could affect physiological function. Then, the SRQ and AASP were used in conjunction to identify low and high SOR, typical adults. The last phase utilized the Sensory Challenge Protocol, which is both standardized and randomized, to expose participants …

Effects Of Sertraline Treatment For Young Children With Fragile X Syndrome: Family Perspectives Via Case Studies, Tracy P. Ye, Decerie A. Mendoza, Elena A. Javier, Martina C. Dualan

Occupational Therapy | MSOT Capstone Projects

Current research on children with Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) lacks inclusion of qualitative outcomes on the child’s daily occupational performance. Standardized measurements are frequently utilized and provide useful information, however, can be less sensitive to change (Berry Kravis et al., 2013) and miss capturing family perspectives and improvements within meaningful occupations. This research incorporates family perspectives via semi-structured interviews to promote an in-depth understanding about FXS and its impact on child and family occupations in addition to standardized assessment scores through in-depth case study analysis. This study used a mixed method research design examining four male participants who were given …

A Sensory-Based Program To Enhance Occupational Performance For Dementia, Ivy Annahi Torres-Flores, Jacob Gantan, Heather Anne August, Naomi Grace Wong

Occupational Therapy | MSOT Capstone Projects

Dementia is a neurological disease, causing behavioral and cognitive symptoms, that progressively impairs an individual’s ability to engage in meaningful activities. Progressive deterioration associated with dementia impacts occupational performance and independence and quality of life. Sensory based interventions, such as drumming groups, have been hypothesized to be a non-pharmacological intervention for individuals with dementia. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of a sensory based intervention program, in this case participation in a drumming group, on functional engagement during self-feeding for individuals with dementia. Researchers gathered data over the course of two days using the Functional Behavior …

Autism And Occupation: Video Modeling For Maker Activities, Hannah Gibeson, Kelly Yerby, Molly Smith, Brittany Yung

Occupational Therapy | MSOT Capstone Projects

Understanding the lived experiences of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) using video modeling (VM) while engaging in Maker activities is an essential part of occupational therapy research. Participants in this study were four individuals with ASD recruited from a project-based studio located in San Rafael, CA, and one staff member. The qualitative portion of this study analyzed the lived experiences and perspectives of the individuals with ASD and their service provider through qualitative semi-structured interview methods. The quantitative portion of this study analyzed the effectiveness of VM for Maker activities during the activity of making a box using a …

The Impact Of Fall Efficacy On Occupational Performance In Community-Dwelling Older Adults, Michelle Fong, Araya Moua, Erin Denola, Merit Franklin

Occupational Therapy | MSOT Capstone Projects

Falls are a major health concern in the older adult (OA) population. While there is research on falls and their prevention, research on how low fall efficacy (FE) impacts the occupational engagement of the OA population is limited. FE is defined as the confidence a person has in his/her ability to complete a task without falling (Tinetti & Powell, 1993). A qualitative study was conducted using a phenomenological approach to explore the lived experiences of OAs with low FE and the impact on occupational performance. Participants who scored ≤ 6 on the Modified Fall Efficacy Scale (MFES) engaged in a …

Exploratory Application Of A Sensory Activity Schedule In Head Start Preschool, Marian Perez, Elaine Wong, Michelle Perryman

Occupational Therapy | MSOT Capstone Projects

Objective: The objective of this research is to determine whether the implementation of sensory activity schedule in a preschool classroom can increase the on-task behaviors of the students.

Methods: Three students were recruited to participate in a quantitative multiple single subject design with qualitative follow-up study. The participants performed sensorimotor activities before circle time and were monitored for frequency of their off-task behavior using a time sampling frequency data collection. Afterwards, the head teacher was interviewed to discuss the experience.

Results: Off-task behavior decreased from baseline on all three children, which supports the efficacy of sensory activity schedule in reducing …

Occupational Responses Of Older Adults Following Partner Loss, Carol Huang, Jane Song, Peter Behr, Stephanie Sterner

Occupational Therapy | MSOT Capstone Projects

Spousal loss has been frequently identified as a life stressor that can greatly impede one’s ability to age at home. The purpose of this study is to identify the occupational changes that commonly result after this event and their impacts on one’s ability to age in place. This study utilized a qualitative phenomenological research design. Eight participants were recruited from an educational program for older adults and were interviewed using a semi-structured interview format. Researchers transcribed and coded all interviews to determine emergent themes. Two major categories of themes were found: occupational and intrinsic responses. The areas of occupation that …

Dating For College Students In The San Francisco Bay Area, Justin Pring, Cristina Cummings, Gabriela Saucedo, Cathy Lynn Gonzales

Occupational Therapy | MSOT Capstone Projects

Dating is a widely practiced occupation by many individuals, especially the emerging adult, college student population. The primary objective of this research study was to develop a greater understanding of San Francisco (SF) Bay Area college students’ perception, practice, and occupational impact of dating. Phenomenological interviews were conducted with seven college students living in the SF Bay Area. Three themes emerged: the dating process, internal and external factors that influence dating, and personal growth from dating experiences. The data revealed that the emerging adult, college student population values dating and believes it can significantly impact their own development. However, this …