Thesis (Ph.D.)--Indiana University, School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, 2008. / Title from dissertation home page (viewed Sept. 30, 2008). Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 69-03, Section: B, page: 1604. Advisers: David M. Koceja; John W. Schrader.

Thèse (M.Sc.)--Université de Sherbrooke (Canada), 2008. / Titre de l'écran-titre (visionné le 1 février 2007). In ProQuest dissertations and theses. Publié aussi en version papier.

Thesis (D.P.T.Sc.)--University of California, San Francisco and San Francisco State University, 2009. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 71-02, Section: B, page: . Adviser: Nancy N. Byl.

This study investigated the effect of shoulder position on grip strength in 30 female students from Florida International University. A Jamar dynamometer was used to measure the grip strength in three testing positions (0,90 and 135 degrees of shoulder flexion with full elbow extension). The highest mean grip strength measurement was found at 135 degrees of shoulder flexion, followed by 0 degrees and then 90 degrees. An ANOVA indicated that there was a significant difference between at least two of the three positions. A Fisher's LSD post hoc test indicated that mean grip strength at 135 degrees of flexion was significantly higher than at 0 and 90 degrees of flexion.

The diversity of ethnic and cultural groups and the effects of language in the therapeutic relationship are timely professional issues of concern to occupational therapy practitioners. The tri-ethnic, tri-cultural South Florida area offers a natural environment where one can study how patient-therapist interactions are influenced by language barriers in a diverse society. This study examines the effects of language on the adequacy of occupational therapy services, specifically how language affects the length of the treatment program. The nature of diagnosis therapists' ethnicity, and how they impact treatment outcomes are also addressed. A sample was drawn from the occupational therapy outpatient department of a large county hospital. Data taken from patients' charts examined race, sex, age, diagnosis, and language. Number of treatment sessions and length of treatment were viewed as proxy measures for adequacy. Findings indicate that the effect of language cannot be understood aside from ethnicity. Implications for occupational therapy practice are discussed.

Le but de cette etude est d'analyser l'influence de quatre deplacements sagittaux des articulations du genou et de la cheville sur l'activite myoelectrique normalisee de certains muscles antigravitaires, et sur la position de la colonne lombaire lors de la posture debout quasi statique. Deux positions angulaires du genou et deux deplacements de la projection de la ligne de gravite (faits a partir de l'articulation de la cheville) sont analyses. La posture debout naturelle (telle que choisie par le sujet) a ete utilisee comme posture temoin et facteur de normalisation. Le deplacement de la ligne de gravite a ete mesuree par rapport a la colonne lombaire (niveau L$\sb3$) et aux membres inferieurs. Les resultats de cette etude permettent d'arriver aux conclusions suivantes: (1) Pour les postures debout qui ont ete analysees, l'EMGN des muscles para-vertebraux lombaires diminue dans la mesure ou l'ecart entre L$\sb3$ et la PCG augmente. (2) Dans une posture debout avec les genoux en hyperextension et la PCG tombant devant les malleoles externes, l'EMGN des muscles para-vertebraux lombaires est plus grande que l'EMGN dans une posture semblable avec la PCG tombant sur les malleoles externes. Elle est aussi plus grande dans une position debout avec les genoux flechis, la PCG tombant soit sur les malleoles externes, soit devant les malleoles externes. (3) Dans la posture debout avec les genoux flechis a dix degres, l'EMGN des para-vertebraux lombaires et la distance sagittale entre L$\sb3$ et la PCG ont tendance a etre semblables a celles trouvees dans une posture debout naturelle. (4) Les deplacements sagittaux de la cheville ont une influence sur le role antigravitaire des muscles tibial anterieur et droit anterieur. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

Background. Previous studies have shown that aerobic activity such as a walking program help to maintain cardiovascular fitness, body composition, and QOL in breast cancer patients undergoing adjuvant therapy. Methods. Twenty women with histologically proven stage I--II breast cancer were randomized into either an experimental or control group. The patients began the program the same week that they began their chemotherapy treatments. Ten patients participated in a supervised walking program at the Ottawa Regional Cancer Centre which consisted of walking around a track for a minimum of twenty minutes three times per week, and on their own at home a minimum of two times per week, while ten patients served as served as a control group. Cardiovascular fitness, body composition, and quality of life (QOL) were compared at the time of entry into the study and 12 weeks later. Findings. The results of the present study suggest that a 12-week walking program, in this sample of stage I--II breast cancer patients undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy, does not affect QOL or body composition. Only one measure of cardiovascular fitness was affected. The findings may have been more significant if not for the fact that 50% of the usual care group became physically active.

Cette recherche s'intéresse aux activités domestiques de 23 femmes arthritiques de 45 ans et plus. L'arthrite représente plus de 100 maladies musculo-squelettiques. L'arthrose et l'arthrite rhumatoïde sont les plus fréquentes. L'étude utilise deux instruments de mesure, soit le Homemaking Role Study Questionnaire et le A.I.M.S.-2. Le Modèle canadien du rendement occupationnel, constitue le cadré théorique. Développé par l'Association canadienne des ergothérapeutes, il affirme la relation dynamique et holistique existant entre la personne, ses occupations et son environnement. Les questions de recherche touchent à la performance des activités domestiques ainsi qu'à ses liens potentiels avec les dimensions (spirituelle, physique, affective et cognitive), les autres domaines d'occupation (soins personnels et loisirs) et l'environnement (physique, social, culturel et institutionnel) de l'échantillon. Cette étude contribue à la validation du modèle auprès des personnes arthritiques et au développement de programmes éducatifs. Elle suggère des avenues de recherche reliées aux personnes arthritiques ainsi qu'à leur évaluation.

The aim of this investigation was to determine whether application of a functional brace reduced rotational and linear tibial displacements during the performance of a One Legged Jump (OLJ). Steinmann traction pins were surgically implanted into the femur and tibia of six young normal healthy subjects having either a partial or complete anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture. Stereophotogrammetric radiographs (RSA) were taken once target markers were affixed to the pins. Angular and translation measurements were recorded using the MacReflex motion analysis system sampling at 120 Hz. A Kistler force plate was synchronised to collect ground reaction forces simultaneously at 960 Hz. Patients were required to jump for distance to sufficiently stress the ACL. Subjects were randomly assigned to start with either the braced or unbraced condition. Analysis focused on differences in magnitudes and changes in the shape of the curves between bracing conditions. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

This study examined predictors of continued pain status in a sample of injured workers presenting with acute low back pain with no previous reported injury. Self-reported pain and disability, depressive symptoms, and coping strategies were assessed at admission to a treatment program in an initial sample of 41 injured workers. At discharge, 29 subjects were available for analyses, 27 at 3-months, and 20 at 6-months post injury. Coping and adjustment variables were examined as predictors of continued pain three months following the acute episode of low back pain. A logistic regression analysis using treatment change scores (self-reported disability and depressive symptoms) significantly predicted continued pain and correctly classified 91% of cases. Analyses describing the relationship among post-treatment change variables and continued pain revealed two factors, Diverting Attention, and Active Cognitive Coping, which correctly classified 90% of the cases. Hence, psychological variables measured close to injury onset were related to subsequent adjustment. Descriptive analyses indicated that somatic focus was synchronous with the temporal gradient of pain. Specifically, somatic focus was observed to increase as the pain experience persisted. The correlation among self-reported disability and present pain intensity was greater at discharge compared to admission. These findings indicated that variables impacted upon by treatment may serve as predictors of the development of chronic pain. The role of cognitive-behavioral interventions designed to impact on psychological adjustment variables is discussed.