<p> The dance space is the warming hearth of the dancer&rsquo;s heart and the active landscape in which the moving body plays, feels, and apprehends. This practice-led research study emerged from this somatic landscape assembling itself into a work choreographed around the motif of the neuromyofascial web as the architecture of the physical body and the conservator of its emotional life. A depth psychological perspective is employed to examine the fascial web&rsquo;s influence on the retrieval of psychoactive content supporting the dance/movement therapy participant&rsquo;s individuative process. The neuromyofascial web is explored through its restorative dynamics, stabilizing the physical body and releasing transformational content within the emotional body through the informing power of authentic movement. The tensegral nature of architectural design and the biotensegrity of the neuromyofascial web are evaluated as a therapeutic complement to the activities of dance/movement therapy, expanding the application of its principal protocols. A psychophysical analysis of the methodologies employed by American modern dance pioneers reveals their instinctual reliance on the neuromyofascial web and affirms authentic movement&rsquo;s ancestral roots employed in the depth family of somatic therapies available today. Aspects of practice led research inspired a diagrammatic representation of the defining elements within kinesthetic experience and encouraged the creation of a movement manual for dance/movement therapists supporting the integration of movement and meaning. </p><p>

The aim of this study is to open up a conversation on how counselling and psychotherapy can be positioned in relation to teaching and learning. "Is therapy a form of learning for people with a facial difference?" is the question that will be explored. The underpinning ethos of the study is an emphasis on the place of humanness in the research process. From the researcher's 'interpretative lens' a paradigm is developed to situate this study's research activity. Meaning emerges in the in-between and known to those involved (ontological perspective); knowing is achieved through a relationship with another, it is an interactional subjective activity (epistemological perspective), meaning is generated through a reflexive and dialectical process (methodological perspective). To guide the research process, a methodological framework is created that is cognisant with the research paradigm. The framework comprises of two cycles of interpretation and supports the notion of a multiplicity of meanings. The research method of heuristics generates data for analysis. This method through the second cycle of interpretation is expanded to incorporate a post-heuristic perspective; where there is a shift from the modernist self at the centre of the meaning making process, to a postmodernist de-centred self that is 'subject to'. Seventeen people shared their experience of either providing therapy for people with a facial difference, or their experience or opinions of therapy for people with a facial difference (this latter group included people who live with someone with a facial difference). The findings provided evidence of how previous learning experiences can create distortions in meaning making perspectives; distortions that are barriers to learning from experience, for they provide a template for the evaluation of experience. Therapy provides an opportunity for the uncovering and working through of distortions to enable a return to learning from experience. For the person to experience their experience. Facial difference pre-therapy is a label that can define a person, post-therapy there is recognition of how the label does not need to define the person; there is a return to learning from experience. In conclusion a model is developed to enable others to open further conversations on therapy as a means to learning. A model premised on Levinas' ethical relationship and Buber's 'I-It' and 'I- Thou' relationship. Therapy as a means to learning can represent a transition from an 'I-It' (non- reflective). To an 'I-Thou' (reflective). To a responsibility to the other relationship (pre-reflective), and each transition offers the potential to return to learning from experience; to be more open to experience of the other.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:26:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2011-02-09Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:15:06Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 bruttos_dab_me_botfm.pdf: 462681 bytes, checksum: 038e3f95141da86625e1f48b217bffe6 (MD5) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Avaliar o perfil da densidade mineral óssea (DMO) e os fatores de risco associados à osteoporose na pós-menopausa. Realizou-se estudo clínico-transversal com 431 mulheres. Idade entre 40-75 anos, atendidas ambulatorialmente em Hospital Universitário. Incluíram-se mulheres com: amenorréia>12 meses e idade ≥45 anos ou, ooforectomia ≥40 anos, com valores de DMO (coluna lombar e colo de fêmur) pelo DEXA dos últimos 12 meses. Fatores de risco avaliados: idade, idade e tempo de menopausa, tabagismo, atividade física (30min/5x/sem), artrite reumatóide (AR), uso de corticoterapia e de terapia hormonal (TH), fratura prévia, fratura materna de quadril e índice de massa corpórea (IMC=peso/altura2). Valores séricos de cálcio, fosfatase alcalina (FA) e calciúria-24h foram analisados. Empregou-se teste do Qui-quadrado (variáveis categóricas) e método de regressão logística no risco (odds ratio-OR) para osteoporose. A média de idade foi 54,1 ± 6,9 anos, tempo de menopausa 7,5 ± 5,8 anos, IMC 28,2 ± 5,3kg/m2. Encontrou-se: usuárias de TH 35,9%, exercício regular 27,3%, tabagistas 23,8%, menopausa <40anos 18,1%, fratura prévia 11,8%, fratura materna de quadril 10,7%, corticoterapia 4,8%, AR 4,0%. Pelos critérios da OMS, 106 (24,6%) mulheres apresentavam osteoporose (T-escore≤-2,5DP), 188 (43,6%) osteopenia (-1,0/-2,4DP) e 137 (31,8%) eram normais (≥-1,0DP). Detectou-se osteoporose em 12% das mulheres com idade entre 40-49anos, 21,8% 50-59 anos e 45,7% >60 anos (p<0,001). Osteoporose ocorreu em 11,8% com tempo de menopausa <5anos, 29,4% de 6-10anos, e 41% >10anos (p<0,001). Naquelas com menopausa precoce, 80% apresentaram osteopenia/osteoporose (p=0,032) e com IMC<20kg/m2, 50% osteoporóticas (p<0,001). Nenhuma associação foi observada entre DMO e valores de cálcio (p=0,174), FA (p=0,901) e calciúria (p=0,759). O risco de detectar osteoporose aumentou com idade... / To evaluate bone mineral density (BMD) profiles and their risk factors associated with postmenopausal osteoporosis. A cross-sectional clinical study was performed on 431 women aged 40-75 years and cared for at the outpatient clinic of a University Hospital. Women showing the following characteristics were included: amenorrhea >12 months and age ≥ 45 years or, ooforectomy ≥ 40 years with BMD values (lumbar spine and femur neck) by DXA of the last 12 months. Risk factors evaluated: age, age and time of menopause, smoking, physical activity (30min/5x/week), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), use of corticotherapy and hormone therapy (HT), previous fracture, maternal hip fracture and body mass index (BMI=weight/height2). Serum values of calcium, alkaline phosphatase (AP) and 24-h urinary calcium were analyzed. The Chi-square test was used for categorical variables, and the logistic regression method (odds ratio-OR) was utilized for osteoporosis risk. Mean age was 54.1±6.9 years, menopausal period 7.5±5.8 years, BMI 28.2±5.3 kg/m2. The following were found: HT users 35.9%; regular exercise 27.3%; smokers 23.8%; menopause < 40 years 18.1%; low calcium intake (<400mg/day) 55.3%; previous fracture 11.8%; maternal fracture 10.7%, corticotherapy 4.8%, RA 4.0%. According to WHO criteria, 106 (24.6%) women showed osteoporosis (T- score ≤ -2.5 DP), 188 (43.6%) osteopenia (-1.0/-2.4 DP), and 137 (31.8%) were normal (≥ -1.0 DP). Osteoporosis was detected in 12% of the women aged 40-49 years, 21.8% 50-59 years and 45.7% > 60 years (p<0.001). Osteoporosis occurred to 11.8% with a menopause period < 5 years, 29.4% from 6 to 10 years, and 41% > 10 years (p<0.001). Of the women with early menopause, 80% showed osteopenia/osteoporosis (p=0.032), and of those with BMI < 20kg/m2, 50% were osteoporotic (p<0.001). No association was observed between BMD and calcium values (p=0.174), AP (p=0.901)... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

The purpose of this study was to examine the attitudes college students have toward those with physical disabilities and what personality characteristics they attribute to physical appearance. One-hundred-one introductory psychology students at FIU were randomly assigned to one of three groups: control--no disability group, a group that viewed five slides of peers with disabilities, and a group that viewed the disability slides and heard their voices. All subjects rated the individuals' perceived personality. A one-way ANOVA revealed that those in the visual and audio disability group rated those with disabilities significantly higher in friendliness, attractiveness, and assertiveness than those who rated the individuals without disabilities. Those in the visual and audio disability group rated them higher in self-esteem than those in the visual only disability group. Since voice can have such positive effects on first impression, an occupational therapist can work on improving communication skills of those with disabilities.

With the aging population and the increase in health care costs, issues of independence and autonomy will have a greater impact on formal and informal health care. Changes in occupational functioning that accompany increased age has raised the demandfor family assistance to the elderly. It is important for occupational therapists to understand the elderly's perceptions toward autonomy and paternalism in caregiving of the elderly because it is assumed that attitudes and beliefs affect how people interact and care for the elderly. A convenience sample of 57 Icelandic elderly were surveyed regarding their attitudes toward autonomy and paternalism in caregiving of the elderly. Results indicated that Icelandic elderly held strong beliefs toward autonomy but were undecided toward paternalism. Significant differences were found between groups. Elderly living at home indicated stronger beliefs on both autonomy and paternalism compared to those living in senior housing complexes. Elderly women held stronger beliefs in autonomy in contrast to the males, who were more paternalistic, and married subjects held stronger beliefs than did single respondents.

The purpose of this study was to identify which variables predict positive functional outcomes in rehabilitation of patients after a stroke. This study was a retrospective cohort study utilizing the Uniform Data Set from the social service records, the patient information sheet, and the quality assurance records to provide medical and demographic information. Sixty-nine patient records were included in the study. Multiple regression analysis predicting total Functional Independence Measure (FIM) at discharge was significant, (p < .001). Significant predictors included total FIM at admission, length of stay, cognitive status and average hours of therapy. Higher total FIM admission scores, longer lengths of stay, higher cognitive status and more hours of therapy resulted in higher total discharge FIM scores. Mobility sub-scale FIM at discharge was significantly predicted by total FIM at admission and average hours of therapy, (p

The current study assessed the perceived severity of six job stressors and three job strains from a national sample of 300 occupational therapists. The perceived severity of these stressors and strains and their relationships were evaluated across different settings. One hundred and sixty three therapists participated in this study. The data used to assess the study's hypotheses were subjected to analyses of variance and correlational analyses. Results indicated that therapists report higher than average levels on three of the six stressor measures, moderate turnover intentions, high satisfaction levels and minor health symptoms. Analyses of variance revealed several significant differences across settings. Specifically, therapists employed in the geriatric setting perceived greater levels of three of the stressor variables and two of the strain measures when compared to their counterparts. Finally, of the eighteen possible stressor-strain relationships, seventeen were found to be statistically significant.

Three hundred and twenty four occupational therapy practitioners responded to a survey regarding their knowledge of, and interest in therapeutic horseback riding (THR). This survey addressed the research question "Why are there so few occupational therapy practitioners involved in therapeutic horseback riding?" The most frequent response cited by OT practitioners was a lack of horse knowledge followed closely by a lack of time. In addition, 181 schools offering occupational therapy programs responded to a survey which addressed the research question "Do American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) approved occupational therapy programs include therapeutic horseback riding as a treatment option in their curriculum?" The most frequent manner in which THR was included in a curriculum was through informal discussion or student presentation.

This study examined the pressure volumetric characteristics (compliance) of Jobst, Barton-Carey, and Tubigrip pressure garments for arms following repeated saturation with lubricating substances and repeated washing/drying cycles. The three treatment groups were each composed of one sleeve from each of the manufacturers. Each treatment group was subjected to 20 washing/drying cycles. In addition the sleeves in treatment groups 2 and 3 were saturated with cocoa butter and Lubiderm moisturizer respectively prior to each cycle. Circumferential measurements were taken on the proximal forearm of the sleeve at varying degrees of pressure (mmHg) using a Grafco Standard Sphygomanometer and a Gulick anthropometric tape measure. Measurements were taken initially and following every fifth washing/drying cycle. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed significant results for the main effects and some interactions at the ,01 level. Results showed that the Jobst garments stretched with moisturisers but overall were smaller than the Barton-Carey garments which showed no change with moisturizers. The Tubigrip garments stretched more than the other garments with moisturizers but showed an overall inconsistent pattern.

<p> Massive demographic changes have coincided with rise of the importance of evidence-based treatment across the health sciences and widespread awareness of the failure of psychology to address and serve the mental health needs of historically underrepresented groups. Researchers, theorists, and clinicians demand that empirically supported treatments be adapted to better address and better &ldquo;fit&rdquo; clinical needs. Based on existing approaches in the literature, this dissertation presents a four-part model of cultural adaptation of psychological interventions and reviews 101 current culturally adapted empirically supported treatments through the lens of this model. The dissertation project comprehensively describes the current state of the field in terms of the theoretical bases, processes, and outcomes of culturally adapted psychotherapy and psychosocial interventions in the context of evidence-based practice, provides suggestions, and illuminates implications for future research and practice.</p><p>