Recreational Therapy Commons^™

Effect Of A Wilderness Rafting Trip On Disability Identity With Those Who Have Physical Disabilities, Kathryn Bauer

OT Student Capstones

Background: Disability identity is a concept that can occur when one focuses their identity and purpose on their disability. This can be positive or negative and have direct effects on one’s quality of life. Several studies have found that being in the wilderness has improved one’s self-perception, community, and goals for the future. This project aims to measure, after going on a 12-day rafting trip in the Grand Canyon, if there is any change on one’s disability identity, as well as to analyze accessibility for those with physical disabilities.

Method: Six participants with physical disabilities were included. All …

Effects Of Physical Activity, Play And Mindfulness-Based Interventions On Emotional Regulation And Emotional Awareness Skills In Adults With Developmental Disabilities At A Day-Time Assistance Program, Aaron Arndt

OT Student Capstones

Background: According to literature, deficiencies in emotional regulation and emotional awareness skills are more prevalent among adults diagnosed with developmental disabilities. Limited research shows promising support that the use of noninvasive treatments such as exercise, and play can promote emotional well-being among this population. This project aims to better understand the benefits of physical activity, play, and mindfulness-based interventions on emotional regulation skills in adults with developmental disabilities who attend a day-time assistance program.

Method: This 14-week capstone project was conducted at Lauren’s Institute for Education’s Adult Day Treatment (DTA) program. The occupational therapy doctorate (OTD) student developed and implemented …

Barriers To Outdoor Recreation For Marginalized Groups At The University Of Montana, Sabine R. Englert, Beatrix Frissell, Adrienne Liebert, Sophia Rodriquez, Margaret Jensen, Rachana Harris, Abby Doss

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

Exclusion from outdoor recreation reflects legacies of oppression of marginalized communities and makes access to the outdoors not equally available. In the United States, approximately 38% of Black Americans and 48% of Hispanic Americans participated in outdoor recreation in 2020. This is compared to 55% participation among Caucasian Americans. Many other intersecting identities are actively excluded, including people with disabilities, fat populations, and members of the LGBTQIA2S+ community; furthermore, class-based hierarchies are shown through the restricted outdoor access of low-income populations.

While numerous studies show a lack of diversity in outdoor recreation, little to no research has been conducted on …

Examining The Lived Experiences Of Families With Children With Developmental Disabilities Participating In Recreational Dance Programs, Isabella Seguin

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Objective

Families with children with developmental disabilities (DDs) experience effects on family functioning and will often turn to physical activity (e.g., dance) to mitigate these effects. This research examines the lived experiences of families with children with DDs participating in recreational dance programs to understand the myriad of effects on all participants: children with DDs, families, and dance instructors.

Methods

In order to fully understand the lived experiences of participants, phenomenology was used as the theoretical orientation to guide this research. Each case (5 cases, N=19) consisted of a primary parent, a child with a developmental disability, sibling(s) (if applicable), …

“It’S About Being Healthy”; A Novel Approach To The Socio-Ecological Model Using Family Perspectives Within The Latinx Community, Bethany Korom, Meghan Malloy, Caroline Remmers, Mari Cevilla, Kelly Dione, Paula E. Papanek, Jeffrey Condit, David Nelson

Exercise Science Faculty Research and Publications

Background

The Latinx community is at risk for obesity, type 2 diabetes, and other chronic illnesses. Culturally appropriate, community facing physical activity (P.A.) and nutrition programs may provide the basis for families to improve their health status. Our objectives are as follows: 1. To investigate synergistic factors within this type of program that play a role in creating an environment for participants to learn and practice healthy behaviors. 2. To apply factors into a novel model of components that support health and wellness. 3. To design an intervention for future implementation and evaluation.

Methods

A two-year P.A. and nutrition program, …

Scuba Diving Social Identity, Type Of Experience, Sociopsychobio Health, Health-Related Quality Of Life, Self-Efficacy, Disability Level, And Personality Among People With Physical Impairments: A Mixed Methods Study, Tania Santiago Perez

All Dissertations

The most common type of disability in the US is mobility or physical impairment, occurring in one in seven adults. Globally, musculoskeletal and neurological conditions account for nearly two-thirds (65.6%) of total physical rehabilitation needs. Approaches that promote healthy community living, rehabilitation, and reduce relapse and rehospitalization among people with physical impairments are critical. Participation in recreational activities and identification with social recreational groups may promote the health, quality of life, and functional abilities of people with physical impairments, contributing to reducing their hospitalization and healthcare needs. This explanatory sequential mixed methods research study had two aims. Using the experience-type …

Using Social Media To Examine Disabled Veterans’ Adaptive Sports Lived Experience At The National Veterans’ Wheelchair Games, Heather Harding

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones

Considered the world’s largest annual rehabilitative wheelchair games event for Veterans in the United States, the National Veterans Wheelchair Games (NVWG or the Games), co-hosted annually by the Department of Veterans Affairs and Paralyzed Veterans of America, is a long-standing event that offers a view into how adaptive sports and recreational activities can impact Veterans with disabilities. This hermeneutic phenomenological qualitative study sought to discover if the Veteran athletes, who participated in the NVWG between 2017 and 2021, described their lived experiences through the lens of their public social media posts on Instagram, and if so, what can be gleaned …

The Effect Of Covid- 19 Pandemic Process On Social Psychology And Nature-Based Therapeutic Activities, Aysun Yalvac, Esmahan Yalcin, Murad A. Kasalak

University of South Florida (USF) M3 Publishing

Today, many scientists have stated that the use of nature-based products and activities at certain rates together with the healing effect of modern medical techniques during the epidemic that affects the whole world has health-supporting benefits. Based on these views, people's consumption of products obtained from natural resources has increased and the interest in outdoor activities in nature has increased. Due to the positive effects of these activities on mental health, socialization and rehabilitation processes, over time, it became necessary to consider these activities within the scope of therapeutic recreation applied to groups with health restrictions such as the disabled, …

Pne – Lots Of Talk, Superficial Results, Aidan Keller, Michael Ray, Taylor Baugher

Honors Projects

Objective: A narrative review (NR) of meta-analyses (MA) and systematic reviews (SR) that assess the effectiveness or efficacy of pain neuroscience education (PNE) on various outcome measures in individuals with chronic musculoskeletal (MSK) pain. Methods: This was a mixed methodology review involving systematic searches across 4 databases (PubMed, ScienceDirect, CENTRAL (Cochrane), and Google Scholar). Inclusion criteria stipulated MAs and SRs that assessed the effectiveness or efficacy of PNE on CP population. Quantitative eligibility criteria included randomized controlled trials (RCTs), adults (18+ years of age), English or Spanish speaking individuals, and reporting of chronic pain (persistent or recurrent pain lasting ≥ …

The Relationship Between Balloon Tourism And Well-Being, Serkan Bertan

University of South Florida (USF) M3 Publishing

The relationship between balloon tourism and well-being was analyzed in this study. In line with this purpose, a questionnaire was implemented on people living at Pamukkale destination. The reason for selecting Pamukkale was its importance as one of the most prominent localities with many hot air balloon activities. Structural equation model was used in this study which was conducted to determine the relation between well-being and the effects of and support for balloon tourism. The sample was determined with random sampling method. Data were analyzed through PLS-SEM method. Economic, cultural and environmental impacts were found to be positively affecting the …

Assessment Of Postural, Locomotor, And Physical Fitness Status In Individuals With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities, Alana J. Turner

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Postural control and locomotion deficits can be observed during the early years of childhood development and throughout life. For those with disabilities, these deficits can advance past the development years and into adolescence and adulthood while affecting the quality of life and daily activity. Finding interactive rehabilitative activities to delay or limit these deficits is essential for people with disabilities to improve their quality of life, inclusion, and overall movement. Adapted physical activity/sports like badminton and virtual reality could promote improvements in postural and locomotor status for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities like cerebral palsy (CP), intellectual …

The Influence Of Recreation Engagement On Adolescent Health-Risk Behaviors, Krista Thomas

All Dissertations

The number of adolescents who engage in suicidality is staggering. Adolescence is a unique developmental period where engagement in health-risk behaviors is prominent. Factors influencing engagement in suicidality are vast and occur both internally and externally in the adolescent. Substance use during adolescence has shown an association with increased suicidality. Similarly, bullying, both cyberbullying and in-person bullying, have contributed to adolescent suicidality. Alternatively, recreation engagement has yielded benefits in both psychosocial and physical health for adolescents. However, limited research has identified that engaging in recreation can minimize suicidality. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore how substance use, …

A Qualitative Study Of The Process Undergraduate Health Professions Students Utilize While Conducting A Scoping Review, Dawn De Vries, Betsy Williams

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: The purpose of this research study was to inform pedagogy on the effectiveness of journaling as a tool to gauge synthesis and application of course content to a scoping review. The research question asked is “Is reflective journaling effective in helping undergraduate health profession students understand and apply course research concepts and ideas directly to an academic project?” The researchers used a reflective journaling activity to enhance student learning and to explore student application of course lectures to a scoping literature review. Method: Students were required to complete the journaling activities as a class assignment. Four journal …

Trauma Healing With The Neurosequential Model Of Therapy And Bal-A-Vis-X, Becky Johnston

Educational Specialist, 2020-current

Stigma related to childhood trauma is shifting with the help of advancements in the understanding of neurobiology and interventions that are proving to be effective for healing. There are immense costs and consequences for survivors of childhood trauma and their loved ones that were not so long ago considered irrelevant and the notion that kids bounce back from adversity was previously popular in the psychological community (Perry & Szalavitz, 2017). The broad strokes of Dr. Bruce Perry’s clinical intervention model, The Neurosequential Model of Therapy (NMT) describes a trauma-sensitive, sequential approach to changing the stress response within mental health counseling. …

Effects Of Exercise On Parkinson's Symptom Relief, Brooke Burnett

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

In this review of twenty research articles, the effects of moderate exercise therapy on the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease will be explored. Appropriate literature was located using the research question, “In older adults with a Parkinson’s Disease Diagnosis, how does moderate exercise influence the symptoms of this disease?” Twenty peer-reviewed research articles were examined for the impact of different forms of exercise on various symptoms associated with Parkinson’s. Nineteen of the articles reviewed provide substantial evidence in support of exercise therapy as a treatment option for people with Parkinson’s, and one of the articles found inconclusive evidence neither in support …

Positively Waiting: Technology As The Preferred Distractor In A Pediatric Outpatient Setting, Timothy Ernest, Victoria Maddex, Arnaldo Mejias, Lindy Davidson, Donna Ettel-Gambino

Patient Experience Journal

Visiting any pediatric outpatient clinic as a child may be considered a stressful and anxiety-inducing experience. The literature suggests that positive distractions, such as pet therapy and single-user electronic devices, may aid in reducing anxiety and maximizing patient satisfaction throughout the patient’s experience at a pediatric outpatient clinic. The aim of this pilot quality improvement project was to determine which positive distractions patients experienced and whether single-user electronic loaner devices should be provided to patients at pediatric outpatient facilities. A quantitative causal comparative approach was utilized in identifying patient exposure to key positive distraction techniques that may significantly decrease anxiety. …

The Role Of Child Life Specialists In Community Settings: Chapter 6: Prison, Genevieve Lowry

Graduate School of Education

This chapter focuses on the role of the child life specialist working with families affected by incarceration. Children and families are at increased risk due to trauma exacerbated by arrests, incarceration, and re-entry. This chapter will focus on the ways a child life specialist working in jails, prisons, detention centers, and in communities with schools, non-profits, and faith-based organizations can provide developmentally appropriate explanations, preparation, play, expressive arts, and coping, facilitating opportunities that foster relationships and understanding while promoting resilience.

Telehealth Delivery Of Acceptance And Commitment Therapy And Recreational Therapy: Supporting People With Chronic Pain During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Grace L. Roy

Honors Theses and Capstones

Chronic pain is a significant public health problem that requires person-centered and comprehensive care to address the many socioecological factors that contribute to pain. Within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth options for chronic pain management can help more people access the care that they need. The purpose of the current pilot study was to investigate the efficacy and feasibility of delivering a 6-week Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and recreational therapy intervention via telehealth for a group of seven participants with chronic pain. It was found that TeleACT-RT was associated with positive behavioral outcomes including increased psychological flexibility, …

Footwear Characteristics: Effects On Dynamic Balance In The Young And Elderly, Joseph Wallace

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Older adults suffer from an increased risk of falling, and falls make up a substantial percentage of injuries and mortality rates in elderly populations. Falls also burden health and long-term care infrastructure and can limit individual independence and overall functioning due to fear of falling. Footwear and orthotic interventions have previously been shown to affect balance in both young and older adult populations and may provide a potential avenue for improving balance and combatting fall rates. Footwear and orthotic interventions are relatively easily implemented, however there is a lack of consistency among current footwear and orthotic literature as well as …

Patient And Therapist Perceptions Of Respiratory Functioning Due To Spinal Cord Injury: Implications For Music Therapists, A'Marie Dotson

Theses and Dissertations--Music

Decreased respiratory functioning is a common symptom of spinal cord injury (SCI) and can impact individuals’ personal, professional, and social lives. In spite of this, researchers have not explored the use of music in the lives of individuals with SCIs or music’s role in their healthcare professionals’ treatment plans to improve respiratory functioning. The purpose of this qualitative study was to better understand how decreased respiratory functioning affects individuals with SCIs and healthcare professionals through a multiple case study design. Participants were two individuals with SCIs and three healthcare professionals (physical therapist, recreational therapist, and music therapist) who worked with …