Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

Identifying The Enablers And Barriers To Community Participation Amongst Older Adults, Nicole Papageorgiou

Theses : Honours

The older adult population in Western Australia (WA) has significantly increased over the last decade and continues to grow, highlighting the importance of maintaining their health, wellbeing and independence. This may be achieved by facilitating active ageing, enabling older adults to continue to live meaningful and fulfilling lives, contribute positively to society, and lower the demand on costly health and human services. Conversely, a lack of social engagement and community participation may hinder healthy ageing and lead to social isolation, which is adversely related to the quality of life and health status of older adults. Occupational participation is critical to …

Construct Validity Of The Developmental Test Of Visual-Perception Third Edition (Dtvp-3) In Western Australian Primary School Children, Kirsten Clarke

Theses : Honours

Visual perception is the ability to identify, organise, make meaning of and provide sense to what is seen in the world in which we live. Visual perceptual skills continuously develop in primary school children as seen in academic performance. If visual perceptual difficulties are unaddressed, the cumulative academic result can be detrimental throughout life. Thus, visual perceptual difficulties must be identified using tests that possess sound measurement properties to allow for early intervention. The purpose of the research was to determine the construct validity of the Developmental Test of Visual Perception Third Edition (DTVP-3). The DTVP-3 was designed and standardised …

A Comparative Acoustic Examination Of Infant Cries: Children At High Risk Versus Low Risk For Autism Spectrum Disorder Development, Ildiko Eva Bruz

Theses : Honours

Background: Early interventions for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) have shown positive gains in children who enter therapy at a young age. However, commencement of early intervention is often hindered by challenges with diagnosis. Due to the complex nature of ASD, the age of detection can range from 2 years old into adulthood. This highlights the need for methods of early detection. Previous research has found infants at risk for ASD to present atypical cry characteristics, possibly as a result from damage to the brainstem. In particular, measures of fundamental frequency appear to be the most sensitive to …

Early Intervention Of Parent-Infant Interactions In Preterm Infants: A Systematic Review, Stacey Osborne

Theses : Honours

Every year approximately 15 million babies are born preterm. These infants are at an increased risk of language, and other developmental delays due to their immature brain development and higher incidence of brain abnormalities. They also have poorer health outcomes in the early stages of life which may go on to hinder successful parent-infant interactions. Successful parent-infant interactions are important for infant developmental outcomes such as language, cognition and behaviour. While interventions targeting the promotion of positive interactions have been found to have positive effects in a number of populations to date, interactions involving preterm infants have not been explored. …

Weight-Bearing Asymmetry In Individuals Post-Hip Fracture During The Sit To Stand Task, Janet A. Kneiss, Tiffany N. Hilton, Josh Tome, Jeff R. Houck

Faculty Publications - College of Physical Therapy

Background: Individuals post hip fracture decrease force on the involved limb during sit to stand tasks, creating an asymmetry in vertical ground reaction force. Joint specific differences that underlie asymmetry of the vertical ground reaction force are unknown. The purpose of this study was to compare differences in vertical ground reaction force variables and joint kinetics at the hip and knee in participants post-hip fracture, who were recently discharged from home care physical therapy to controls.

Methods: Forty-four community-dwelling older adults, 29 who had a hip fracture and 15 elderly control participant’s completed the sit to stand task on an …

Promoting Social Interaction Skills To Influence The Transition To Employment For Youth With Autism Spectrum Disorders, Jennifer Susan Lange

Honors Theses and Capstones

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) affect one in 68 children in the United States and are characterized by deficits in social interaction. Decreased social interaction skills limit youth with ASDs’ ability to obtain and maintain a job. Acquisition of needed social interaction skills must occur during high school years as part of youths’ transition program. The Therefore, the purpose of this qualitative study was to consider ways to facilitate social interaction to influence the transition to employment. The specific aims of the study were to explore strategies currently used to facilitate social skills, identify social skills currently targeted, and identify other …

Respiratory Therapists As Physician Extenders: Perceptions Of Practitioners And Educators, Shane Keene, Kristen L. Mchenry, Randy L. Byington, Mark Washam

ETSU Faculty Works

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to determine the perceptions of practicing respiratory therapists (RT) and respiratory care educators regarding the role of RTs serving as physician extenders. Methods: The survey instrument was an electronic questionnaire that consisted of 17 questions. Participation was voluntary and participants were selected through random and convenience sampling techniques. Results: Of 506 respondents, 234 were respiratory care educators. Overwhelmingly, the respondents held the Registered Respiratory Therapist credential (92.7%). Respondents were about equally split among three education levels: 31.7% associate degree, 31.7% bachelor’s degree, and 27.3% master’s degree. Of the respondents 62.45% had considered pursing …

Can The Nintendo Wii Be Used As A More Effective Method Of Rehabilitation Than Traditional Physiotherapy Exercises For Patients With Knee Reconstruction Surgery?, Samantha Snyder

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not the Nintendo Wii can be used as a more effective method of rehabilitation than traditional physiotherapy exercises for patients with knee reconstruction surgery?

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three English language primary studies, published after 1999.

DATA SOURCES: Two randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and one case study with no comparison group were found using PubMed. These studies analyzed Nintendo Wii intervention in patients that underwent knee reconstructive surgery in need of rehabilitation.

OUTCOME MEASURED: The outcome measured was improvement in balance through use of the Activity-Specific Balance …

Body Image Differences Between University Students’ Major Of Study, Alissa C. Parsons

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Body image is a psychological feeling, which varies greatly based on factors including age, sex, and exercise participation. Body image is a critical factor to consider; positive body image is important in the prevention of health-related problems. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate if body image differences exist among students (Exercise Science and Engineering majors) at The University of Akron. This comparative study examining students, representative of educational background, was to explore if students’ major study of focus affected body image. METHODS: A 14-item survey using the Body Image States Scale (BISS), with questions related …

Role Of The Physical Therapist In Reducing Postoperative Complications In Type 2 Diabetics, Angela M. Formanik

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This article examines current research on the topic of reducing postoperative complications in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic condition with rapidly increasing prevalence. Patients with type 2 diabetes are twice as likely to undergo surgery for comorbid conditions compared to individuals without the disease (Zantidis, Iliadis, & Didangelos, 2011). Aside from higher instances of surgical intervention, type 2 diabetic patients experience a higher rate of perioperative complications compared to individuals without the disease (Holt, 2012). Concurrent conditions such as peripheral neuropathy and hyperglycemia put diabetic patients at a higher risk of surgical complications …

Puzzling Your Puzzler, Samantha Brown

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The following is summarizing a proposed experimental study based on current literature review and research to evaluate a new interventional therapy for the treatment of concussion compared to current therapeutic practices.

Background and Purpose: Concussions have become a major concern in the medical field in recent years. Several research studies have been conducted to learn the signs and symptoms regarding concussions. Recent literature has found that the signs and symptoms of a concussion are similar to those of patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Treating Alzheimer’s disease has changed in recent years. Research has found that mental rehabilitation, also known as …

The Challenges And Perceptions Of Raising A Child Who Uses Aac: A Review Of The Literature, Rachel M. Mikolay

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The purpose of this review was to examine the perceptions of parents and caregivers on raising a child who uses augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Factors and overarching themes in existing literature affecting parent’s perceptions were examined and condensed in this review. Seven research studies were chosen for analysis. A variety of common perspectives were found in the research and the conclusions relating to caregiver challenges and thoughts on AAC were categorized, including four thematic categories: problems with the AAC system; barriers to learning AAC; societal, family, and professional influences; and differences among individuals who use AAC. Information gained in …

The Effects Of Sustainability As A Positive Attribute On Equine Therapy Design: An Interdisciplinary Study, Andria Sinclair

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Interdisciplinary studies have brought benefits to introducing new solutions to the traditional environment and traditional therapies. Sustainability in relation to design has been suggested in 2006, by the Center for Building Performance and Diagnostic (CBPD) at Carnegie Mellon University to incorporate daylight, solar, heat and ventilation of the natural environment combined with the innovations of current technologies (Whitmore, 2011). This paper will look at how sustainability plays a key role of benefits including those that are health associated with equine therapy design and its relationship to the patient, or end user. Interdisciplinary research in the therapeutic value of equine-human bonding …

The Effects Of Instructional Strategies On Adherence To A Flexibility Program And Physiological Outcomes, Taylor M. Graham

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Health care professionals construct exercise prescriptions for clients and patients to complete on their own. Exercise specialists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and exercise physiologists are all considered health care professionals for this study. Furthermore, the importance of flexibility and stretching is commonly overlooked. The purpose of this research study was to compare whether or not different instructional techniques affect adherence to a stretching routine, and if followed were improvements gained in quadriceps and hamstring flexibility. Thirty-one students from The University of Akron between the ages of 18 and 37 with an average height of 66.7 inches and average weight of …

Self-Efficacy, Cultural Competence, And Perception Of Learning Environment In Traditional And Interprofessional Education Physical Therapy Curricula, Laura Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Interprofessional education (IPE), a concept that brings students from different health care professions together in the learning process, has been adopted by some physical therapy (PT) schools as an alternative to traditional PT-only curricula. Both approaches have the goal of improving patient outcomes for an increasingly diverse population. There was a void in the research comparing IPE and traditional curricula in PT education. Grounded in the theoretical frameworks of adult and social learning theory, the purpose of this study was to examine differences in students' self-efficacy, cultural competence, and perceptions of the learning environment based on curricular type and prior …

Midcareer Women Leaving Information Technology: An Examination Of The Phenomenon, Susan F. Way

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Midcareer women are leaving the information technology (IT) career field at a much higher rate than are men. This attrition has contributed to a decreasing percentage of women in the IT field, hindering the creativity, innovation, and productivity that can result from a diverse workforce. This phenomenological study addressed a gap in the current research by examining the lived experience of women who have left the IT field. The conceptual frameworks of the study included Rhodes and Doering's integrated career change model based on traditional turnover theory, a model of gender and power in careers by Ragins and Sundstrom, and …

Choice Of Human–Computer Interaction Mode In Stroke Rehabilitation, Hossein Mousavi Hondori, Maryam Khademi, Lucy Dodakian, Alison Mackenzie, Cristina V. Lopes, Steven C. Cramer

Physical Therapy Faculty Articles and Research

Background and Objective. Advances in technology are providing new forms of human–computer interaction. The current study examined one form of human–computer interaction, augmented reality (AR), whereby subjects train in the real-world workspace with virtual objects projected by the computer. Motor performances were compared with those obtained while subjects used a traditional human–computer interaction, that is, a personal computer (PC) with a mouse. Methods. Patients used goal-directed arm movements to play AR and PC versions of the Fruit Ninja video game. The 2 versions required the same arm movements to control the game but had different cognitive demands. With …

Growing Up In Ireland: Factors Impacting Sleep Patterns Of Preterm Infants, Joanne Fallon

Theses and Dissertations

GROWING UP IN IRELAND: FACTORS IMPACTING SLEEP PATTERNS OF PRETERM INFANTS

By Joanne Fallon MS, OT, PhD

A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Virginia Commonwealth University

Virginia Commonwealth University, 2015.

Major Director: Shelly J. Lane, PhD, Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy

Preterm infants represent the largest child patient group in the European Union (EU), accounting for 5.5-11.4% of all births (European Foundation for the Care of Newborn Infants, 2011b). Preterm birth is defined as birth prior to 37 weeks gestation. Infants born late preterm (34-36 weeks) are considered more …

Do Restorative Home Care Programs Increase Independence In Adls And Iadls In Older Adults Receiving Home Health Services?, Adrienne Angeles, Shanee Ben-Haim, Amy Smith-Schwartz, Kitsum Li

Occupational Therapy | Critically Appraised Papers Series

There has been a worldwide shift from viewing aging as a dependent stage of life to one that increasingly encourages independence and a more active lifestyle for older adults. In Australia, where this study was conducted, restorative care that embraces active aging was not yet considered an essential component of home health care on the national level. However, restorative home care has been gaining more recognition as increasing importance is placed on independence and self-management in older adults.

The researchers of this study explored whether older adults’ participation in restorative home care programs reduced the need for ongoing personal care. …

For Low-Income Adults Who Experience Trouble With One Or More Activities Of Daily Living (Adl) Or Two Or More Instrumental Activities Of Daily Living (Iadl), Does The Community Aging In Place: Advancing Better Living For Elders (Capable) Improve Performance Of Adls And Iadls?, Noelle Bakken, Lauryn Banovitz, Abigail Lafrenz, Kitsum Li

Occupational Therapy | Critically Appraised Papers Series

The growing population of older adults has created a societal shift, with many older adults preferring to stay in their homes for a longer period of time. This trend, known as aging-inplace, may provide greater independence and autonomy to older adults compared with those living in nursing homes. However, physical and cognitive changes associated with age may affect the ability to safely perform activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). This study examined performance in ADLs and IADLs, fall efficacy, and quality of life in 40 low-income, community dwelling adults aged 65 and older. Participants …