Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

The Biomechanics Of Music Performance, Rachel F. Bellisle, Jessika Decker

Senior Honors Projects

When first learning to play a wind instrument, beginner musicians are taught how to hold their instrument and correctly position their body. They are taught how to sit, where to put their hands and fingers on the keys, and how to hold their arms. This initial lesson on posture and hand positioning is often short, as one quickly moves on to learn the embouchure and breathing techniques that allow sound to be produced. As a musician progresses in skill, positioning is emphasized more, and they learn that it can affect their risk of strain or injury and improve their sound …

Exploring The Impact Of Community Service On Career Exploration, Self-Determination, And Social Skills For Transition-Age Youth With Autism Spectrum Disorders, Jaimie Ciulla Timmons, Agnes Zalewska, Allison C. Hall, Sheila Fesko, Thinkwork! At The Institute For Community Inclusion At Umass Boston

ThinkWork! Publications

Bleak transition outcomes for youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), coupled with the surge in incidence, has led to the need for focused and innovative transition strategies. While structured community service reveals promise, documentation of how community service experiences contribute to building employment skills for youth with intellectual/developmental disability (IDD), including those with ASD, is under-researched. The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of a community service on employment skill-building for youth with ASD. Findings from 23 qualitative interviews with a range of stakeholders showed positive perceptions in the areas of career exploration, self-determination, and social skill …

Differences In Interlimb Performance During A Repetitive Step Test In Older Adults, Harold L. Merriman, Kurt Jackson, Wesley Horn, Jake Jones, Evan Price, Jill Spicer

University of Dayton Doctor of Physical Therapy Annual Research Symposium

Each year, one out of three adults (younger than 65 years old) experiences a fall, resulting in fractures, head injuries, and even death. Falling is the leading cause of death from an injury and causes the greatest number of nonfatal injuries and hospital admissions for trauma. Since balance and muscle performance decrease as one ages, it is vitally important to assess these factors as part of a comprehensive strategy to monitor and predict fall risk. Previous data analysis of the Repetitive Step Test (RST) has shown that there is a correlation between subject performance and fall risk between non-fallers and …

Instrumented Measures Of Gait And Mobility Are Not Correlated With A History Of Falls Or Balance Confidence In Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis, Brandi Elking, Courtney Hasson, Emily Sanders, Kelsey Schlater

University of Dayton Doctor of Physical Therapy Annual Research Symposium

Individuals diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) often have an increased risk of falling. Additionally, many also have a fear of falling that all can affect balance confidence. Recent advancements in wearable sensor technology have made it possible to assess certain aspects of gait and balance in the clinical setting that were not possible previously. The information collected by sensors may be useful for identifying specific factors that contribute to falls and balance confidence in those with MS which in turn could help enhance treatment approaches.

An Item-To-Total Analysis Of The Foot Posture Index, Amanda Pallija, Brian Bohman, Paige Prenger, Emely Richardson, Joaquin Barrios

University of Dayton Doctor of Physical Therapy Annual Research Symposium

The Foot Posture Index (FPI) is a screening tool used by clinicians to assess if the foot is pronated, neutral or supinated. It is intended to quantify foot position by assigning positive values to pronated attributes and negative values to supinated attributes. Three hindfoot and 3 forefoot attributes are scored. Although the FPI is valid and reliable, individual component scores may skew the composite score. Therefore, there lies a need to investigate the internal consistency of the FPI.

A Comparison Of Arch Height Index Measures Between Collegiate Basketball And National Basketball Association Players, Philip Anloague, N Hess, L Barhorst, G Hock, A Iannarino, A Kelly, C Williams

University of Dayton Doctor of Physical Therapy Annual Research Symposium

The rate of game related basketball injuries is 2xs greater in professionals than collegiate players and the most common injuries occur in the lower extremity. Arch mechanics are often cited as a related factor and the Arch Height Index Measurement System (AHIMS) is a reliable and valid system for quantifying mobility. However, normative or comparative values for basketball athletes have not been reported.

Teaching Joint Mobilizations In Physical Therapist Assistant Programs: Implications For Instruction And Policy, Renae H. Gorman

Student Dissertations

This research answers the question: Are physical therapist assistant programs teaching the manual therapy skill of joint mobilizations? This study also gathers information regarding how the joint mobilization techniques are being instructed and assessed within the Physical Therapist Assistant programs. This information could serve as the foundation for future research regarding developing instructional and evaluation strategies for manual therapy skills. The findings of this study may also affect the physical therapist assistants in clinical performance of manual therapy. The findings are pertinent due to conflicting statements by the professional organizations and the accrediting agency of physical therapist assistant educational programs. …

High School Student Concussion Recovery Program: Teacher Involvement In Student Academic Transitions To Classroom And To Sports, Brittany Diego

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

Many symptoms of concussions can substantially interfere with the cognitive abilities, and skills students use in school. Although students may have similar symptoms, they experience concussions differently. Students returning to the classroom from a concussion often have different needs and abilities.

Research shows that a formal, individualized protocol to treat suspected concussions, both academically and physically, is vital to the successful recovery of each student. Much research is available on concussions for professional athletes, specifically related to recovery and returning to their sport. However, there is little research about high school students regarding concussions. Concussion recovery programs for high school …

The Effects Of Yoga On Balance, Strength, Flexibility, And Mindfulness In Typical Children Ages 4-9 Years, Betsy Donahoe Fillmore, Mary I. Fisher, Katie Lunsford, Justin Master, Sarahanne Pelkey, Emily Puthoff, Kristen Schulte, Brittany Snider, Jordan Villanueva

University of Dayton Doctor of Physical Therapy Annual Research Symposium

Yoga improves a variety of impairments in typical pediatric populations: cardiovascular, neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, and pulmonary conditions, balance, strength, and flexibility. Yoga improves mindfulness in adult populations, and emerging evidence shows a similar effect among pediatric populations.

Functional Performance Of Older Adults With Dementia Participating In Adult Day Service Programs, Kurt Jackson, Kimberly Edginton-Bigelow, Elizabeth Cox, Allison Gaier, Hannah Geyer, Ethan Grant, Kayla Storey

University of Dayton Doctor of Physical Therapy Annual Research Symposium

Individuals with dementia are at a high risk of functional decline and falling. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible relationship between cognition and functional performance in older adults with dementia participating in Goodwill Easter Seals adult day service programs. This data may be helpful in understanding how cognition may impact functional performance and fall risk.

Physiological Effects Of A Novel Fes Cycling Protocol On A 34-Year-Old Individual With Chronic Paraplegia, Kay Ann Simmons

Honors Theses

Background and Purpose: Individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) are at a higher risk of sedentarism and the health risks that are associated with inactivity (Gorgey, Dolbow, Dolbow, Khalil & Gater, 2015). Because this population has limited exercise options due to paralysis, a new protocol of resistance-guided, high intensity interval training functional electrical stimulation (FES) cycling was developed to allow people with SCI to utilize their paralyzed legs as opposed to their overused arms. This new protocol is important as it provides an opportunity to restore body composition to a more favorable muscle to fat ratio decreasing obesity and increasing …

Perceptions Of Iontophoresis Amongst Mississippi Athletic Trainers, Jessica E. Ringo

Honors Theses

Research in the field of modalities is growing quickly, however there is a substantial lack of evidence for the use of iontophoresis, especially in the field of Athletic Training. Due to this, the perceptions of iontophoresis have been impacted amongst clinically practicing athletic trainers. Per this survey, while Mississippi licensed athletic trainers are aware of, and have a general knowledge of how to use iontophoresis, there is a lack of uniformity amongst the parameters and pathologies, consistent with those found in the literature. Of the 37.5 athletic trainers who utilize iontophoresis in their clinical setting, none of them reported using …

Effects On Breathing Of Agonists To Μ-Opioid Or GabaA Receptors Dialyzed Into The Ventral Respiratory Column Of Awake And Sleeping Goats, Thomas M. Langer Iii, Suzanne E. Neumueller, Emma Crumley, Nicholas J. Burgraff, Sawan Talwar, Matthew R. Hodges, Lawrence Pan, Hubert V. Forster

Physical Therapy Faculty Research and Publications

Pulmonary ventilation (V̇_I) in awake and sleeping goats does not change when antagonists to several excitatory G protein-coupled receptors are dialyzed unilaterally into the ventral respiratory column (VRC). Concomitant changes in excitatory neuromodulators in the effluent mock cerebral spinal fluid (mCSF) suggest neuromodulatory compensation. Herein, we studied neuromodulatory compensation during dialysis of agonists to inhibitory G protein-coupled or ionotropic receptors into the VRC. Microtubules were implanted into the VRC of goats for dialysis of mCSF mixed with agonists to either μ-opioid (DAMGO) or GABA_A (muscimol) receptors. We found: (1) V̇_I decreased during unilateral but increased during …

Trunk And Respiratory Motor Control In Typically Developing Children And Its Implications In Children With Chronic Spinal Cord Injury., Goutam Singh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Independent sitting is a major milestone and is also a prerequisite for optimal performance of activities of daily living (ADLs). Development of sitting posture control is a dynamic process involving control of degrees of freedom of head and trunk. Traditionally, trunk has been modeled as a single unit (segment). However, recent studies have suggested that it is made up multiple spinal units, controlled by a combination of trunk muscles. During typical development, posture control of trunk is different for different trunk segments. This motor development of trunk control is a complex process due to constant interaction between the nervous system …

Living With Fragile X Syndrome: An Examination Of Family Occupations, Rebecca Schira, Samantha Alexander, Noelani Brisbane, Kaitlyn Williams

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) is the most common form of inherited Intellectual Developmental Disorder and a genetic model for Autism Spectrum Disorder. Those living with FXS face emotional, social, intellectual, and physical challenges that impact engagement in occupations, yet to date, there has been limited qualitative research examining family occupations in FXS. In this research, twelve interviews were transcribed, coded, and analyzed for common themes anchored in the Person, Environment, Occupation (PEO) model. Results indicated that while children with FXS exhibit strengths, there are certain occupations that families find difficult to engage in. A new model was created for consideration …

The Effects Of Therapeutic Listening On Bilateral Coordination, Avery Wilson, Mios Buccat, Amanda Grace Irao, Morgan Mousley, Michael Yra Munchua

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

Therapeutic Listening® is an intervention increasingly used by occupational therapists despite the lack of supporting evidence in current literature. Therapeutic Listening® is a sound-based treatment developed by Sheila Frick, OTR/L, rooted in sensory integration. The purpose of this continuation study was to compare the quality of bilateral movement in typically developing children after either listening to Therapeutic Listening® Bilateral Coordination Quick Shift or listening to white noise. This study used a randomized control pretest-posttest experimental design to analyze posture, smooth and continuous movement, effort, precision, and arm/leg movements. Specific items were further analyzed after eliminating those with a strong ceiling …

Implementing Multifactorial Education Modules With Older Adults: Individualized And Interactive Fall Prevention Education, Salvador Chavez, Jocelle Flores, Rachelle Yambao

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

Falls are a significant concern for community-dwelling older adults (OAs), with one in four OAs reporting a fall every year. Occupational therapy students collaborated with first responders of the Novato Fire District to identify gaps in fall prevention community outreach programs and found that many interventions lack an interactive or individualized approach. Based on the gap analysis and current literature, seven education modules were developed to address key risk factors including home safety hazards, polypharmacy, fear of falling, and strength and balance exercises. Thirty community-dwelling OAs participated in the education modules that were implemented at two senior community sites in …

The Duc Healthy Aging Website: Providing Online Occupation-Based Information, Haley Caruthers, Samantha Talavera, Jackeline Ulloa, Stephanie Vera

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

Access to current, evidence-based health information is an important step to the promotion of health and wellness for all age groups, including OAs. Since the virtual world is easily accessible and is being used more frequently by OAs, an effective way to convey relevant up-to-date health information is through a website devoted to the dissemination of health promotion information tailored for OAs, including tips for integrating healthy habits into their lifestyle. Dominican University of California’s (DUC) Healthy Aging website, developed in May 2014, contains relevant and evidence-based research, including activities and local community based programs that promote healthy aging on …

Resilience And Social Support Among College Students With Disabilities, Rachita Sharma

Theses and Dissertations

Since the implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, individuals with disabilities have found enhanced opportunities in various areas of living. The numbers of students with disabilities in institutions of postsecondary education have also increased in the past few decades; however, despite this increase, the degree completion rates of students with disabilities continue to lag in comparison to their non-disabled peers in colleges and universities. As such, most universities currently have a designated office or department of disability accommodations designed to provide academic accommodations for students with disabilities. Nonetheless, current rehabilitation research is lacking in knowledge regarding interventions …

Difference In Quality Of Life Between Group And Individual Exercise In A Faith-Based Sample, Everett Jackson Amburn

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

There is limited data on the quality of life of individuals who exercise in a group versus individuals who exercise alone. The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a difference in the quality life between adults who attend an exercise class and those who exercise alone. Using the WHOQOL-BREF, 27 adult females were surveyed in Central California at two Church of Latter Day Saints locations. Ten females were enrolled in a group exercise class while 17 were individual exercisers. The data was analyzed using a t-test for independent samples to determine if there is a …