Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

Selection Of Post-Acute Care For Stroke Patients, Kathryn M. Gulfo, Glen Gillen, Lauri Bishop, Clare C. Bassile, Randy B. Kolodny, Joel Stein

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Significant variation exists in post-acute care for stroke survivors. This study examines referral practices of occupational and physical therapists for patients after acute stroke.

Method: Occupational therapists (OTs) and physical therapists (PTs) were surveyed either electronically or in person at a national conference. The respondents selected the most appropriate referral for each of five case vignettes. The referral choices included Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility (IRF), Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF), Long-Term Acute Care Hospital (LTACH), home with home services, or home with outpatient services. Demographic data included practice location, setting, and duration. The respondents were also asked to rate …

Occupational Adaptation As A Construct: A Scoping Review Of Literature, Lenin Grajo, Angela Boisselle, Elaina Dalomba

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: This study integrates research on practice applications of the construct of occupational adaptation with occupational therapy and occupational science literature.

Method: Using Arksey and O’Malley’s 5-step Scoping Study Framework (2005), we conducted a scoping review of 74 articles from five online databases and literature hand-searching and performed quantitative and thematic analyses.

Results: The Occupational Adaptation model (Schkade & Schultz, 1992; n = 74) and the Model of Human Occupation (Kielhofner, 2008; n = 37) were the most frequently cited literature influences. Occupational adaptation has been defined as a process (n = 49), an outcome (n = …

State Of The Journal: Past, Present, And Future, Diane Powers Dirette

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

No abstract provided.

Current State Of Commercial Wearable Technology In Physical Activity Monitoring 2015-2017, J. A. Bunn, J. W. Navalta, C. J. Fountaine, J. D. Reece

Physical Therapy

No abstract provided.

Critically Appraised Paper For “Adaptive Vs. Non-Adaptive Cognitive Training By Means Of A Personalized App: A Randomized Trial In People With Multiple Sclerosis.”, Erin Chaffee, Ty Duong, Kaylee Gothelf, Emily Minor, Kitsum Li

Occupational Therapy | Critically Appraised Papers Series

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a working-memory program to improve the cognitive status of people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Given the increasing use of technology in modern-day society, further research is required to provide evidence supporting working-memory training devices that are easily accessible for people with memory deficits.

Critically Appraised Paper For “Effects Of Dance On Motor Functions, Cognitive Functions, And Mental Symptoms Of Parkinson’S Disease: A Quasi-Randomized Pilot Trial”, May Anne Gamueda, Caroline Lee, Susan Nguyen, Ajay Pala, Blanka Pentek, Kitsum Li

Occupational Therapy | Critically Appraised Papers Series

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a systemic condition that presents not only motor but also nonmotor symptoms, as a result of dopamine deficiency in the basal ganglia. Rehabilitation typically focuses on motor deficits, however, despite the fact that nonmotor symptoms have a significant impact on quality of life. The researchers of this study investigated the effectiveness of dance on motor functions, cognitive functions, and mental symptoms of individuals with PD. They chose dance as their intervention because it has been shown to activate the basal ganglia as well as improve mood. In addition to motor function and mood, the researchers also …

The Comprehensive Pt Management Of A Patient With Chronic Low Back Pain And Lumbar Radiculopathy: A Case Report, Robin Mcguire

Case Report Papers

Background and Purpose: Low back pain is the most common health problem among older adults resulting in pain and disability. Lumbar radiculopathy is a disabling condition causing low back pain that radiates into the lower extremity along the sensory distribution of the spinal nerve root. The purpose of this case report is to describe a comprehensive physical therapy plan for a patient with chronic low back pain and lumbar radiculopathy that included: therapeutic exercises using directional preference, interferential current, and manual traction. Case Description: The patient was a 60-year-old male with lumbar radiculopathy due to nerve root compression. He presented …

Effect Of Individual Height And Testing Methods On Outcome Of The Forward Functional Reach Test, Jill Elaine Heitzman

Department of Physical Therapy Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Background: With falls a leading cause of injuries among those over age 65, early recognition of risk is imperative to reduce rising rates. The Forward Functional Reach test (FFRT) (Duncan et al., 1990) is frequently used to identify fall risk, however, the variability in cut values found in the research may be related to height and reach strategies.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine if FFRT is affected by an individual’s height and if bilateral reach to height ratio could more accurately identify fall risk.

Methods: Sixty-six participants (60 and older) were recruited from a senior center …

Use Of A Telerehabilitation Delivery System For Fall Risk Screening, Robert W. Nithman

Department of Physical Therapy Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Problem: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that falls are the “leading cause of injury death and the most common cause of nonfatal injuries and hospital admission for trauma among people ages 65 and older.”1 Falls can have significant economic consequences to the individual and payer sources. To address these consequences, telerehabilitation was hypothesized to be a suitable supplement for fall screening efforts. Several sources concluded that support for synchronous telerehab was underdeveloped in the literature. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the acceptability, feasibility, reliability, and validity of telehealth-delivered fall screening among community-dwelling older …

Predictors Of Shoulder Injuries In Female Collegiate Swimmers, Eric Lee Lippincott

Department of Physical Therapy Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Competitive swimmers frequently injure their shoulders. The risk factors for shoulder injuries in competitive swimmers have not been clearly identified. The primary purposes of this study were to describe the characteristics of female collegiate swimmers at the onset of a swim season, identify the risk factors of shoulder injury in female collegiate swimmers, characterize the swim volume of female collegiate swimmers, and determine if swim volume is a predictor of shoulder injury.

A prospective longitudinal cohort multi-center design was utilized. Female collegiate swimmers [n=53, mean age=19.3+/– 1.2] from four NCAA Division II universities were recruited to participate in this study. …

Diagnostic Musculoskeletal Imaging: How Physical Therapists Utilize Imaging In Clinical Decision-Making, Hilmir Agustsson

Department of Physical Therapy Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This qualitative study describes how physical therapist experts in musculoskeletal disorders evaluate and interpret imaging studies and how they employ imaging in clinical decision-making. The informants are physical therapists who are certified orthopedic clinical specialists (OCS) and/or fellows of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists (AAOMPT). The study employed web conferencing to display patient cases, record screen-capture videos, and to conduct interviews. Informants were observed and their activity video-captured as they evaluated imaging studies and, afterwards, interviews were employed to explore the processes they utilized to evaluate and interpret the images and to discuss imaging-related clinical decision-making, including …

Shoulder Symptom Irritability: Development And Testing Of A New Construct, Stephen Michael Kareha

Department of Physical Therapy Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Background: Physical therapists regularly make decisions regarding intervention intensity based upon pathoanatomy and symptom irritability, but the reliability and validity of classifying patients by symptom irritability are unknown. Purpose: Examine the reliability and construct validity of the shoulder symptom irritability classification (SSIC) system for the purposes of determining an appropriate treatment intensity. Design: Prospective repeated-measures cross-sectional single-blinded design. Methods: 101 consecutive subjects with primary complaints of shoulder pain were assessed by a pair of blinded raters. Raters recorded the SSIC level and selected the appropriate intervention intensities for the subjects. Data Analysis: Prevalence-adjusted, bias-adjusted Kappa for ordinal scales (PABAK-OS) and …

Impact Of An Exercise Program On Stress, Fatigue, And Quality Of Life For Individuals Living With Primary Immunodeficiency Disease, Kerri Sowers

Department of Physical Therapy Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Background: There are over 300 Primary Immunodeficiency diseases (PID) that are a result of a genetic or idiopathic dysfunction of any aspect of the immune system. These conditions result in a higher frequency of infections, autoimmune conditions, or malignancies. Moderate intensity exercise is thought to help the immune system, while high intensity exercise may have a negative impact on immune function. The impact of exercise on individuals with an impaired immune system due to PID is not yet understood. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether a low to moderate intensity exercise program would have an effect …

Development And Initial Validation Of The O&M Vissit For Orientation And Mobility Specialists To Determine Service Intensity, Heather R. Munro, Shannon Darst, Rona L. Pogrund

Faculty Publications

The purpose of this study was to provide initial validation of the Orientation & Mobility Visual Impairment Scale of Service Intensity of Texas (O&M VISSIT) intended for use by orientation and mobility (O&M) specialists to determine a recommended type and amount of O&M services for students on their caseloads based on each student’s identified needs. The validity and reliability of the scale were calculated using a mixed-methods survey research design, with purposive expert sampling. The O&M VISSIT was found to be significantly valid in social and content validity and moderately valid in consequential validity. The O&M VISSIT is a moderately …

Supporting Play Exploration And Early Developmental Intervention Versus Usual Care To Enhance Development Outcomes During The Transition From The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit To Home: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial, Stacey C. Dusing, Tanya Tripathi, Emily C. Marcinowski, Leroy R. Thacke, Lisa F. Brown, Karen D. Hendricks-Muñoz

Physical Therapy Publications

Background

While therapy services may start in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) there is often a gap in therapy after discharge. Supporting Play Exploration and Early Development Intervention (SPEEDI) supports parents, helping them build capacity to provide developmentally supportive opportunities starting in the NICU and continuing at home. The purpose of this single blinded randomized pilot clinical trial was to evaluate the initial efficacy of SPEEDI to improve early reaching and exploratory problem solving behaviors.

Methods

Fourteen infants born very preterm or with neonatal brain injury were randomly assigned to SPEEDI or Usual Care. The SPEEDI group participated in …

The Anatomy Of The Carpal Tunnel And Hand Function Of Musicians, Emily Ann Lorenzen

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Musicians spend hours perfecting their trade, often leading to overuse injuries of the hand; of specific concern to musicians is carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). This study evaluated the median nerve cross-sectional area and hand function of musicians and non-musicians. Patients completed the upper extremity and CTS specific function questionnaires. The median nerve cross-sectional area, and the width of the carpal tunnel were measured on ultrasound image. The median nerve cross-sectional area was greater in musicians than the non-musician group. The width of the carpal tunnel did not differ between the groups. Musicians showed higher levels of hand dysfunction than the …

Evaluation Of A Community-Based Program That Integrates Joyful Movement Into Fall Prevention For Older Adults, Celeste Carlucci, Julie Kardachi, Sara M. Bradley, Jason Prager, Katarzyna Wyka, Nimali Jayasinghe

The School of Health Sciences Publications and Research

No abstract provided.

Can Patient Reported Outcomes Guide Therapy Needs In Foot And Ankle Patients?, Jeff Houck, Jillian Santer, Judith Baumhauer

Faculty Publications - College of Physical Therapy

Introduction/Purpose: The patient acceptable symptom state (PASS) is a validated question establishing if patients activity and symptoms are at a satisfactory low level for pain and function. Surprisingly, ~20% of foot and ankle patients at their initial visit present for care with an acceptable symptom state (i.e. PASS yes). These patients are important to identify to prevent over treatment and avoid excessive cost. It is also unclear what health domains (Pain Interference (PI), Physical Function (PF), or Depression (Dep)) influence a patients judgement of their PASS state (i.e. why they are seeking treatment). The purpose of this analysis is to …

Human Trafficking, Alyssa Noosbond

Global Issues in Public Health

Human trafficking is a major problem not just somewhere around the world but possibly in your own neighborhood. Human trafficking is a non-communicable disease that is caused by a person being in a vulnerable position whether they are in a foreign country, leaving a place of poverty, leaving for political reasons, or for an overall change to better their life. With human trafficking being a $150 billion industry, there are unfortunately 20.9 million victims with 26 percent being children, 55 percent of the people being trafficked are women and girls leaving 45 percent to be men and boys. Women and …

A Scoping Review Of Biopsychosocial Risk Factors And Co-Morbidities For Common Spinal Disorders, Bart N Green, Claire D Johnson, Scott Haldeman, Erin Griffith, Michael B Clay, Edward J Kane, Juan M Castellote, Shanmuganathan Rajasekaran, Matthew Smuck, Eric L Hurwitz, Kristi Randhawa, Hainan Yu, Margareta Nordin

Physical Therapy Collection

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this review was to identify risk factors, prognostic factors, and comorbidities associated with common spinal disorders.

METHODS: A scoping review of the literature of common spinal disorders was performed through September 2016. To identify search terms, we developed 3 terminology groups for case definitions: 1) spinal pain of unknown origin, 2) spinal syndromes, and 3) spinal pathology. We used a comprehensive strategy to search PubMed for meta-analyses and systematic reviews of case-control studies, cohort studies, and randomized controlled trials for risk and prognostic factors and cross-sectional studies describing associations and comorbidities.

RESULTS: Of …