Project Description
Occupational therapy can play a vital role in promoting occupational performance and participation for individuals who have been diagnosed with a concussion (Acord-Vira et al., 2021). Occupational therapy primarily focuses on how an individual’s occupations are affected and ways to overcome these barriers to increase occupational performance and participation. Occupational therapists can play a more significant role for concussion management by advocating interdisciplinary team members, including athletic trainers, physicians, and physical therapists, on the importance of occupational therapy and additionally, prioritizing the extent of occupational participation over minimizing symptoms to return to sports. This project aims to promote occupational performance and participation for individuals with a concussion by advocating for occupational therapy services.
Mission Statement
To advocate for occupational therapy services for individuals with a concussion diagnosis to promote occupational performance.
Vision Statement
A future where concussion management is prioritized to increase occupational performance.
Area of Focus
Clinical Practice, Education, and Advocacy
Practice Area
Health & Wellness, Rehabilitation & Disability
Literature Review
- Occupational therapists are essential in providing holistic rehabilitation and returning to self-care, work, and leisure activities for current and post-concussion patients (Finn & Waskiewicz, 2015).
- Occupational therapists can identify strategies with clients to maximize engagement in occupations and optimize perceived quality of life (Finn, 2019).
- Although there is limited research on occupational therapy and concussion management, there is evidence supporting that occupational therapy can be a vital service in managing concussions (Finn, 2019).
- Occupational therapists can work with individuals to develop compensatory strategies to reduce physical and cognitive exertion when completing their everyday tasks (Reed, 2011).
Needs Assessment
- College students who sustain concussions typically do not include an occupational therapist in their concussion management. There is a need for occupational therapy intervention with students who have sustained a concussion to facilitate continued success in academics (Acord-Vira et al., 2021).
- According to Finn (2019), occupational therapist’s scored lower on the concussion knowledge assessment than other healthcare professionals, including physical therapists, speech and language pathologists, physicians, and athletic training.
- Finn (2019) found that occupational therapists do not feel confident in treating patients who have experienced concussions due to the inexperience of treating concussion patients daily.
- At Midwest Concussion Clinic, there are currently no resources that educate patients on concussion management when looking at their occupational performance
Primary Site
The Midwest Concussion Clinic is a state-of-the-art concussion diagnosis and rehabilitation clinic located in Fort Wayne, IN. Providing researched-driven and individualized care for patients all ages, the Midwest Concussion Clinic prioritizes diagnosing and treating concussions.
- Initial Evaluation: Identify, diagnose, educate
- Concussion Rehab: Research-driven, customized therapy
- Specialized Recovery: Post-concussion symptom treatment
Second Site
Huntington University has provided support and encouragement throughout the doctoral capstone experience.
Project Members
Project Leader
Project leader is responsible for developing, implementing and completing the necessary deliverables for the doctoral capstone experience. Additionally, the project manager is responsible for collaborating with all project members to provide continuous updates and maintain engagement among all members.
Expert Mentor
The expert mentor will provide guidance and support throughout the doctoral capstone experience. Additionally, he will provide his expertise with concussion rehabilitation and will be available bi-weekly to address concerns and questions. The expert mentor works in conjunction with the project leader, faculty mentor, and the doctoral capstone coordinator.
Faculty Mentor
The faculty mentor provides guidance and expertise in the focused area of an OT’s role in concussion management. The faculty mentor will review the mission/vision statement, purpose, goals/objectives, deliverables, and monitor successful completion. Additionally, she will be available for bi-weekly meetings to discuss progress and concerns.
Project Outcomes
This DCE project had a total of three required deliverables.
Deliverable #1: Occupation-Based Resources
Throughout the 14-week, occupation-based resources were developed based on patient deficits and concerns with their occupational performance. These resources will be available to the Midwest Concussion Clinic.
Deliverable #2: Case Studies
Case studies were created throughout the DCE based on post-concussion patients seen at the Midwest Concussion Clinic. The goal of the case studies was to provide insight on the various ways concussions can develop and the occupational deficits that can occur following a concussion. HIPAA guidelines were adhered to throughout the creation all of the case studies.
Deliverable #3: Continuing Education Unit
Continuing Education Unit's (CEU) were completed to increase knowledge on concussion management and rehabilitation.
Additional Project Outcomes
Athletic Training Chat Podcast
The Athletic Training Chat podcast invited student to discuss their doctoral capstone project on occupational therapy's role with concussion management. Throughout the podcast, the student was able to advocate for occupational therapy and provide insight on the importance occupational therapy can play with concussion management and rehabilitation.
Adaptive Equipment and Assistive Technology Resource Binder
Many patients reported difficulty with performing their daily occupations including showering, dressing, eating, functional mobility, etc. Student created a resource binder to provide to patients with a list of equipment or assistive technology. Below each listed item is a picture, price range, where they can purchase them, the purpose of the device, and when it would be appropriate to use.
Social Media Experience
Throughout my time at Midwest Concussion Clinic, I was granted access to social media accounts to advocate and educate on the importance of concussions and rehabilitation.
Areas of Focus
Clinical Practice
- Provided hands-on assistance with post-concussion patients throughout their evaluation and rehabilitation.
- Able to observe an EEG take place to gather data on the patients changes in brain activity.
- Observed vestibular and vision therapy and how to grade these therapies depending on the patients response.
- Engaged in conversations with patients on the importance of various occupations such as sleep, social participation, and ADLs. Provided education on strategies to return to prior level of function with desired ADLs.
- Communicated with various interdisciplinary members regarding post-concussion patients.
Education
- Provided education on an occupational therapists scope of practice to the co-founder.
- Educated patients on adaptive equipment and assistive devices when addressing their occupational performance deficits and provided them handouts regarding a binder of accessible assistive devices and adaptive equipment.
- Developed occupation-based resources to provide to patients when experiencing a decrease in their occupational performance.
- Created a series of case studies and Dr. Linder allowed one case study to be the "mock patient" for the OTD 741 - Occupational Performance: Older Adults class.
Advocacy
- Advocated for occupational therapy's role in concussion management throughout the Athletic Training Podcast. This podcast allowed the student to advocate what occupational therapy is and the importance of having an interdisciplinary approach to concussion management.
- Described the meaning of occupational therapy to patients and their family members and the importance occupational therapy can play in day-to-day life. Several patients were unfamiliar with occupational therapy. Providing them with insight into the profession and the importance an occupational therapist can play with concussion management
- Advocated for the importance of a referral to occupational therapy for upper extremity pain and discomfort to co-founder. Most UE pains from car wrecks, falls, domestic violence, etc. were referred to PT prior to the start of the DCE.
Doctoral Capstone Experience Reflection
The doctoral capstone experience allowed for both personal and professional growth in the understanding of concussion management. Throughout the experience, the need for occupational therapy in concussion management was identified. This experience provided endless knowledge on concussions, concussion rehabilitation, and the decrease in occupational performance patients face when experiencing a concussion.
Shaping Future Practice
- Knowledge gained throughout the capstone experience regarding concussions and rehabilitation provided a better understanding of the role occupational therapy can play. This capstone can hopefully pave the way for occupational therapists to be more involved in the concussion management team.
- In-depth knowledge on concussions, visual therapy, vestibular therapy, etc. can allow the student to become a more well-rounded practitioner in the future and have advanced knowledge on a very controversial topic.
Contact Information
Email: Gormanj@huntington.edu or jalynngormanOT@gmail.com
References
- Acord-Vira, A., Davis, D., & Lilly, C. (2021). Occupational performance limitations after concussion in college students. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 75(5), 1-6. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2021.043398
- Finn, C. (2019). An Occupation-Based Approach to Management of Concussion: Guidelines for Practice. Open Journal of Occupational Therapy (OJOT), 7(2), 1–15. https://doi. org/10.15453/2168-6408.1550
- Finn, C. (2019). Occupational therapists’ perceived confidence in the management of concussion: Implications for occupational therapy education. Occupational therapy international, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/9245153.
- Finn, C., & Waskiewicz, M. (2015). The role of occupational therapy in managing post-concussion syndrome. Physical Disabilities, 38(1), 1-4. https://doi.org/10.23880/aphot-16000167
- Reed, N. (2011). Sport-Related Concussion and Occupational Therapy: Expanding the Scope of Practice. Physical & Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics, 31(3), 222–224. https://doi.org/10.3109/01942638.2011.589719
Credits:
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