Non-Pharmacological Pain Management Educational Capstone

Upper extremity (UE) pain affects approximately 30.7% of adults in the United States and is associated with decreased function and participation. Despite evidence supporting non-pharmacological approaches, pharmacological interventions remain commonly used. This capstone project implemented and evaluated an occupation-based educational program to promote non-pharmacological pain management among adults receiving outpatient occupational therapy for UE conditions. This 14-week project included 10 participants and utilized a mixed-methods design with pre-, mid-, and post-surveys. The program consisted of an introduction and three modules addressing therapeutic movement, physical agent modalities, and sensory regulation. Outcome measures included pain, activity engagement, medication use, confidence, and program satisfaction. Results showed variable changes in pain, engagement, and medication use. However, educational outcomes were consistently positive, with high ratings of clarity, satisfaction, and recommendation. All participants demonstrated improved understanding of non-pharmacological strategies. These findings support occupational therapy’s role in delivering education-based, non-pharmacological pain management and highlight the value of education in improving knowledge, confidence, and participation in daily activities.https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstonesspring2026/1042/thumbnail.jp

Cognition and Mental Health: Addressing the Impact of Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) on Adults

This project addresses cognitive and mental health challenges in adults with traumatic brain injuries (TBI). It developed evidence-based resources, including a clinician handbook and user-friendly survivor guidebook - using research, interviews, and observations. The materials were refined with expert feedback and support improved interventions, education, and quality of life for individuals with TBIs, and their caregivers.https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstonesspring2026/1054/thumbnail.jp

Life Skills for Individuals in a Juvenile Detention Center

This capstone project involved the development, implementation, and evaluation of a life skills program for justice-involved youth in a juvenile detention setting. Guided by a needs assessment, the program targeted financial literacy, job readiness, professionalism, and soft skills through structured sessions incorporating education, interactive activities, and group discussion. Findings from pre- and post-surveys and qualitative feedback indicated improved knowledge, confidence, and readiness for community reintegration, supporting the value of rehabilitative, occupation-based programming

The Role of Occupational Therapy in Adaptive Sports: Implementation of a Young Athletes Program in St. Johns County

This doctoral capstone project examined the feasibility and acceptability of implementing the Special Olympics Young Athletes Program (YAP) within St. Johns County, Florida, an area with limited early childhood adaptive sports opportunities. Grounded in Social Cognitive Theory and the occupation-centered program development model, the project aimed to support participation in inclusive recreation for children ages 2–7 with and without disabilities. A comprehensive needs assessment, community resource mapping, and collaboration with Brooks Rehabilitation Adaptive Sports & Recreation informed program planning and implementation. A five-week YAP pilot program was conducted, focusing on foundational motor skill development through structured, play-based activities centered on baseball. Caregiver engagement was emphasized through the development of take-home resources to promote skill carryover into daily routines. Program evaluation utilized a post-program caregiver survey to assess satisfaction, perceived benefits, and overall program feasibility. Findings indicated high caregiver satisfaction, increased awareness of adaptive sports opportunities, and perceived improvements in children’s motor skills and social participation. Environmental and logistical considerations, such as space constraints and variable attendance, were also identified. Overall, results support the feasibility of implementing YAP in St. Johns County and highlight the role of occupational therapy in promoting inclusive, community-based recreational programming for young children with disabilities.https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstonesspring2026/1030/thumbnail.jp

Program Development of Incorporating Dance Therapy Into Occupational Therapy Practice for Sensory Regulation in Autism Spectrum Disorder

The purpose of this project was to develop and implement a program to educate occupational therapists on how to effectively integrate dance therapy as an intervention to address sensory regulation in children with autism.https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstonesspring2026/1022/thumbnail.jp

Nature-Based Occupational Therapy for Enhancing Education Participation

The project developed nature-based interventions (NBI) resources to support the education participation of neurodivergent high school students. The objective was to increase students’ school participation through nature-based OT for improving emotional regulation, lowering physiological stress, and attention restoration.  Nature immersion was explored through the school\u27s OT program, as well as interdisciplinary collaboration with teachers, other services providers, and community partners. The resource guide focused on benefits, impacts, and practical implementation of NBI for the Winston School and for the broader school-based occupational therapy community.https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstonesspring2026/1060/thumbnail.jp

Play For All: Promoting Inclusivity and Providing Modifications for Kids with Disabilities within an Indoor Play Space

Children’s environments need to be enhanced to match their developmental levels (Winter & Dempsey, 1994). There is a lack of tools, play equipment, and structures specifically targeted to children with disabilities (Therrien et al., 2022). Lack of opportunities for these children can hinder their development (Mullick, 2013). This capstone intends to educate staff and parents on how to promote inclusivity by increasing their understanding of disabilities, creating accessible environments, adapting activities, and building confidence in supporting children with disabilities to participate in their occupations.https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstonesspring2026/1014/thumbnail.jp

Advancing Athletic Recovery: The Role of Occupational Therapy in Sports Medicine

This capstone project aimed to assess whether an occupation-based educational program could improve recovery engagement, self-efficacy, and quality of life in athletes following sports-related injuries. An Athlete Recovery Guidebook was designed, implemented, and evaluated within an outpatient sports medicine setting. The guidebook provided structured education on recovery routines, symptom management, and health habits, while supporting integration into daily life. Findings from pre- and post-surveys and qualitative feedback suggest improvements in recovery knowledge, confidence, body awareness, and overall quality of life following program implementation.https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstonesspring2026/1045/thumbnail.jp

Shift in Caregivers Occupations for Patients with Cerebrovascular Accidents

The purpose of this capstone is to research the impact of assuming the caregiver role for individuals recovering from a CVA on the caregivers’ occupations and their occupational balance. Acquiring this information allows for a deeper understanding of its impacts and informs the implementation of support strategies and interventions to mitigate burnout within the first year of caregiving.https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstonesspring2026/1028/thumbnail.jp

Advocacy for Access: OT\u27s Role in School-based Assistive Technology

This mixed-methods exploratory research study analyzes the experiences of school-based occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) in the implementation of assistive technology (AT). The research examines their perceptions regarding their role and the responsibilities that come with it. This study is grounded in the Model of Human Occupation (MOHO) and seeks to understand the skill level and knowledge of practitioners, motivators to advocacy efforts, and the overall systemic environment, such as supports and barriers, that impact OTP\u27s ability to acquire and implement assistive technology solutions. A mixed-method research survey was completed by 25 participants, with 3 participants also completing a 1-hour, optional semi-structured interview. Quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed utilizing Microsoft and Dedoose systems to gather descriptive statistics and analyze trends, along with thematic analysis using methods by Braun and Clarke. Findings suggest that OTPs have an important role in AT that is collaborative and grounded in advocacy. However, their ability to deliver AT-related interventions is affected by systemic barriers, including funding constraints, time constraints, high workloads, and challenging acquisition systems. Results also support the use of practical creations and low-cost alternatives to mitigate barriers and support the consistent delivery of solutions, especially in under-resourced communities.https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstonesspring2026/1061/thumbnail.jp