We report on an environmental scan (ES) of adventure therapy (AT) literature, organizations, and ... more We report on an environmental scan (ES) of adventure therapy (AT) literature, organizations, and activities in Canada. The ES methodology involved (a) an examination of final reports related to a series of national symposiums on AT in Canada, (b) a review of academic literature related to AT in Canada, and (c) a summary of AT programs and courses offered at post-secondary institutions across Canada. Analysis of the reports from five AT symposiums revealed broad variability in terms of delegates and organizations represented and suggested that AT is practiced or endorsed by a diverse array of individuals and organizations across Canada. The literature review uncovered 113 relevant articles, book chapters, and papers with a substantial Canadian contribution. Canadian academic literature on the topic is sparse, and AT training and education opportunities at Canadian institutions are very limited. Implications for the future development of AT in Canada are shared.
Objective: Patients who are fully recovered from a concussion may still be more vulnerable in the... more Objective: Patients who are fully recovered from a concussion may still be more vulnerable in the face of subsequent concussions. This study examines symptoms associated with repeated concussions in young and otherwise healthy adults. Design: Cross sectional. Setting: Institutional study at a university setting. Participants: University students with a history of concussion. Independent Variables: Participants were grouped based on numbers of concussions. Main Outcome Measures: The impact of incremental concussion on symptom clusters in Sport Concussion Assessment Tools 5 and Spearman ranking correlation coefficients between symptom clusters. Results: One hundred thirty-five participants reported having had 1 concussion, 63 reported 2 concussions, 50 reported 3 concussions, and 43 reported 4 to 6 concussions. Total severity scores over the range of concussion number (1, 2, 3, and greater than 3) did not show a clear incremental effect. However, average scores of cognitive symptoms rose with each subsequent concussion (P ≤ 0.05). The largest incremental effect observed was that of second concussions on emotional symptom scores (t = 5.85, P < 0.01). Symptoms in the emotional and cognitive clusters were the most correlated regardless of the number of reported concussions; the correlations were lowest with symptoms associated with sensitivity to light or noise. Conclusions: The incremental rise of cognitive symptom scores with each concussion affirms the importance of cognitive impairment in concussion assessment and implies a cumulative brain vulnerability that persists even after symptom resolution. The cognitive-emotional symptom clusters may reflect underlying concussion-induced impairments in the corticostriatothalamocortical (CSTC) networks, although sensitivity symptoms are potentially attributable to different neural correlates.
Fat oxidation in cold environments and carbohydrate (CHO) use in hot environments are increased d... more Fat oxidation in cold environments and carbohydrate (CHO) use in hot environments are increased during exercise at steadystate submaximal workloads. However, the influence of cold and heat on fat and CHO oxidation curves remain unknown. We therefore examined the influence of a cold and warm ambient temperature on fat and CHO oxidation across a wide range of exercise intensities during treadmill and cycle ergometer exercise. Nine, young, healthy, male subjects completed four trials, during which they performed an incremental peak oxygen consumption (V̇O 2peak) test on a cycle ergometer or treadmill in a 4.6°C or 34.1°C environment. Substrate oxidation, maximal fat oxidation rate (MFO), and exercise intensity where MFO occurs (Fat max) were assessed via indirect calorimetry. MFO was significantly greater in the cold vs. warm during the treadmill exercise (0.66 ± 0.31 vs. 0.43 ± 0.23 g min −1 ; p = 0.02) but not during cycling (0.45 ± 0.24 vs. 0.29 ± 0.11 g min −1 ; p = 0.076). MFO was also greater during treadmill vs. cycling exercise, irrespective of ambient temperature (0.57 g min −1 vs. 0.37 g min −1 ; p = 0.04). Fat max was greater in the cold vs. warm for both treadmill (57 ± 20 vs. 37 ± 17% V̇O 2peak ; p = 0.025) and cycling (62 ± 28 vs. 36 ± 13%V̇O 2peak ; p = 0.003). Multiple, linear, mixed-effects regressions revealed a strong influence of ambient temperature on substrate oxidation. We demonstrated that exercising in a cold environment increases MFO and Fat max , predominantly during treadmill exercise. These results validate the implication of ambient temperature on energy metabolism over a wide range of exercise intensities.
The Pediatric Pain Questionnaire and relevant medical records were used to investigate the freque... more The Pediatric Pain Questionnaire and relevant medical records were used to investigate the frequency, intensity, location, and duration of pain experienced by children with spina bifida and to examine the concordance between child self-report and parent proxy report of pain. There were 68 children with spina bifida (30 males, 38 females) between the ages of 8 and 19 years (mean age 12y 8m). Fifty-nine children (87%) were diagnosed with myelomeningocele, six (9%) with lipomyelomeningocele, and three (4%) with lipomeningocele (4%). Forty-nine children (72%) had shunted hydrocephalus. Twenty-six children (38%) ambulated full-time. Fifty-six per cent of children reported experiencing pain once a week or more often. For these children, pain occurred most frequently in the head, back, abdomen, neck, shoulders, legs, and hands. Of the 49 children with shunted hydrocephalus, 43 (88%) reported headaches; 15 of 19 children (79%) without hydrocephalus reported headaches. Children who reported more intense pain also reported more frequent pain and more pain locations. Parents were most reliable at reporting locations of their children's severe pain. Parents of younger children significantly underestimated their children's current pain and worst pain in the past 7 days. Lesion level and ambulatory status were not associated with any of the pain variables. It was concluded that children with spina bifida frequently report clinically significant, yet under-recognized and untreated pain.
Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Nov 1, 2014
To describe changes in gross motor function and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in adults ... more To describe changes in gross motor function and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in adults with cerebral palsy (CP). An 8-year follow-up survey. Participants who completed the baseline survey in 2003 were invited. The sample of adults with CP (N=54; response rate=37%) included a "younger group" (group 1; n=31; age, 23-27y; 15 women) and an "older group" (group 2; n=23; age, 33-42y; 10 women). Not applicable. The Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS), Self-Rated Health (SRH), the Health Utility Index Mark III (HUI3), and the Assessment of Quality of Life (AQoL). Eight years after the initial survey, 27% of the participants in the combined group had deteriorations on the GMFCS, 52% on the SRH, 44% on the HUI3, and 25% on the AQoL. Members of group 1 reported stable scores as they made the transition to adulthood, while many of the group 2 members experienced declines, with relative risk of 1.47 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.16-2.24) on the GMFCS, 1.36 (95% CI, 0.83-2.23) on the SRH, 1.19 (95% CI, 0.66-2.15) on the HUI3, and 3.17 (95% CI, 1.12-9.00) on the AQoL. Although much attention has focused on the transitions of persons with CP during their late teens and early 20s, this research found that deteriorations in the GMFCS levels and the HRQOL were most evident in adults in their late 20s and 30s. More detailed longitudinal studies are required to evaluate the longer-term health outcomes among persons with CP into their 30s and beyond.
Theoretical Issues in Ergonomics Science, Sep 9, 2020
Foot-transmitted vibration (FTV) is an occupational hazard in construction, forestry and mining w... more Foot-transmitted vibration (FTV) is an occupational hazard in construction, forestry and mining which places workers at risk of vibration-induced white-foot. A universally accepted measurement protocol (MP) for evaluating FTV exposure does not exist. As such, the purpose of this study was to determine the inter-rater and intra-rater reliability of the selected FTV-MP using different research assistants (RA) to take the FTV measurements. Preliminary tests evaluating changes in measured FTV using different accelerometer mounting locations and orientations, participant standing postures, time of day of measurements and trial duration. The results of this testing, combined with results from literature using a laser Doppler vibrometer at 24 anatomical locations on the foot, developed an FTV-MP requiring the use of two accelerometers secured to the platform and two to the right foot (first metatarsal head and medial malleolus), to capture anatomical locations with the highest and lowest transmissibility. RA repeatedly attached the accelerometers to the platform and participants as previously described. Inter-and intra-rater reliability was assessed for all vibration measures using intraclass correlation (ICC) tests and three raters. ICCs revealed reliability coefficients in the range of 'good' reliability for 3 of the 4 measurement locations and moderate reliability at the ankle (r.m.s. acceleration). Relevance to human factors/Relevance to ergonomics theory Monitoring exposure to FTV for workers in mining, construction, and other industries is required to understand risk of vibration injury and to test interventions aimed at reducing exposure. A reliable protocol allows for more effective measurement of FTV exposure for workers in these industries. This research will lead to more reliable laboratory experimentation involving identification of hazardous exposure conditions, such as ineffective personal protective equipment (i.e. boots, insoles, mats), machine operation, and standing exposure times. Once further research is conducted using the FTV-MP, the protocol could be developed and implemented into a new standard for the assessment and evaluation of human exposure to FTV. With the continued mechanization of industrial
Theoretical Issues in Ergonomics Science, Mar 11, 2020
Bharti school of engineering, laurentian university, sudbury, canada; b centre for research in oc... more Bharti school of engineering, laurentian university, sudbury, canada; b centre for research in occupational safety and health, laurentian university, sudbury, canada; c laurentian research institute in aging, laurentian university, sudbury, canada; d school of human Kinetics, laurentian university, sudbury, canada
Context: Symptom checklist in Sport concussion assessment tool has been widely used in preseason ... more Context: Symptom checklist in Sport concussion assessment tool has been widely used in preseason assessment and in concussion diagnosis, but the impact of prior concussions on the graded symptoms after a new concussion has not been evaluated. Objective: This study was undertaken to examine reported symptoms associated with recurrent concussions using data of a comprehensive survey among athletes. Design: Retrospective survey and cross-sectional study. Setting: Collegiate athletes. Participants: Student athletes who sustained one or more concussions. Main Outcome Measures: Concussion history and graded symptoms of the most recent concussion at time of the survey were surveyed. The impact of prior concussions was examined over symptoms and aggregated symptoms. Results: Multiple concussions were associated with greater reporting of individual symptoms related to emotion and physical symptoms of sensitivity to light and noise: more emotional (z =2.3; p = 0.02), sadness (z = 2.4; p=0.02) , nervousness (z = 2.4; p=0.02), irritability (z = 3.6; p=0.01), sensitivity to light (z =2.6; p = 0.01), and to noise (z =2.4; p = 0.04),. The composite scores of emotional symptom and sensitivity symptom clusters were significantly higher: t = 2.68 (p < 0.01) and t= 3.35 (p< 0.01) respectively. Conclusions: The significant rises in emotional and sensitivity symptoms may be an important additive effect of concussive injury. Closer attention should be given to these symptom clusters when evaluating concussion injury and recovery.
In the Sternberg item recognition task and its variants, an individual’s mean reaction time incre... more In the Sternberg item recognition task and its variants, an individual’s mean reaction time increases with the number of items to be retained in the memory set. An increase in reaction time has also been seen when a secondary task was added. The usual interpretation for this increased reaction time is that adding cognitive load makes tasks more difficult. In a series of three experiments, we manipulated cognitive load through increases in the memory set or through a second task. In each experiment, high cognitive load was associated with higher mean response times but a reduced slope, based on the target position in a series of probes. Thus, in a Sternberg task with multiple word targets and multiple word probes, participants searched more efficiently per probe under high load than under low load. This pattern was replicated with the addition of a working memory task requiring participants to calculate a cumulative price based on the price per target word item. By considering both initial response times and reaction time slopes in large memory sets, this study provides a challenge to the traditional interpretation of cognitive load effects on search performance.
Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Oct 1, 2017
The Clubhouse follows a 5 phase vocational services program, including patient assessment, prepar... more The Clubhouse follows a 5 phase vocational services program, including patient assessment, preparation for work, placement, coaching and support, and long-term support. Main Outcome Measure(s): The primary outcome measure was vocational outcome.These included a) no job or not job ready b) job ready c) volunteer or paid job. The combined outcomes of B and C were classified as total positive vocational outcome. Results: Of the 64 adults with ABI included in this study, after program completion, 10.9% had no job or were not job ready, 28.1% were job ready, 60.9% had a volunteer or paid job, with a total positive vocational outcome of 89%. Conclusion/Discussion: This study of a consecutive group of patients with acquired brain injury, treated in the Clubhouse model, found that after completion of the program 89% were either job ready or had obtained a job. These data suggest that the Clubhouse model may be an effective intervention for patients with acquired brain injury who seek to reenter the work community.
Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education, and Leadership
A mandatory outdoor experience program (MOEP), involving a three- to four-day outdoor canoe excur... more A mandatory outdoor experience program (MOEP), involving a three- to four-day outdoor canoe excursion, has been a compulsory university course for undergraduate students for nearly five decades at a post-secondary institution in Northern Ontario, Canada. However, the experiences and perspectives of students who participated in these excursions have not been fully investigated. The aim of this study was to harness the power of storytelling by alumni to improve our understanding of the long-term impact of MOEPs. Using an innovative methodology combining computer-assisted qualitative data analysis (Leximancer) and framing theory, the links between alumni stories became evident through three main interconnected frames: people, activity, and environment. Although there are unique components of the MOEP program described by our participants, the results contribute to the retrospective literature on the critical and memorable features that students recall years after completing an outdoor ...
Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify predictors of communicative participation outcomes... more Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify predictors of communicative participation outcomes for a large cohort of preschoolers with speech and language impairments.Method: A secondary analysis of longitudinal program evaluation data from Ontario, Canada’s Preschool Speech and Language Program was done. Data available for 46,872 children 18–67 months of age (M = 41.76 months, SD = 11.92; 68% boys, 32% girls) were previously used to predict children’s communicative participation skill development in 5 levels of function. Demographic and intervention-based variables were added to the models to identify new predictors of growth.Results: Three demographic and 3 intervention-based variables were statistically significant predictors of children’s communicative participation outcomes. Clinically significant predictors included participation in an early learning environment, receipt of speech-language interventions, and the amount of time spent in intervention. These variables impacted...
Journal of occupational and environmental medicine, 2017
The aim of the study was to assess the sleep quality, quantity, and fatigue levels of Canadian wi... more The aim of the study was to assess the sleep quality, quantity, and fatigue levels of Canadian wildland firefighters while on deployment. Objective and subjective sleep and fatigue measures were collected using actigraphy and questionnaires during non-fire (Base) and fire (Initial Attack and Project) deployments. Suboptimal sleep quality and quantity were more frequently observed during high-intensity, Initial Attack fire deployments. Suboptimal sleep was also exhibited during non-fire (Base) work periods, which increases the risk of prefire deployment sleep debt. Self-reported, morning fatigue scores were low-to-moderate and highest for Initial Attack fire deployments. The study highlights the incidence of suboptimal sleep patterns in wildland firefighters during non-fire and fire suppression work periods. These results have implications for the health and safety practices of firefighters given the link between sleep and fatigue, in a characteristically hazardous occupation.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Heart rate variability (HRV) is a psychophysiological variable that is often used in applied anal... more Heart rate variability (HRV) is a psychophysiological variable that is often used in applied analysis techniques to indicate health status because it provides a window into the intrinsic regulation of the autonomic nervous system. However, HRV data analysis methods are varied and complex, which has led to different approaches to data collection, analysis, and interpretation of results. Our scoping review aimed to explore the diverse use of HRV methods in studies designed to assess health outcomes in outdoor free-living contexts. Four database indexes were searched, which resulted in the identification of 17,505 candidate studies. There were 34 studies and eight systematic reviews that met the inclusion criteria. Just over half of the papers referenced the 1996 task force paper that outlined the standards of measurement and physiological interpretation of HRV data, with even fewer adhering to recommended HRV recording and analysis procedures. Most authors reported an increase in para...
We report on an environmental scan (ES) of adventure therapy (AT) literature, organizations, and ... more We report on an environmental scan (ES) of adventure therapy (AT) literature, organizations, and activities in Canada. The ES methodology involved (a) an examination of final reports related to a series of national symposiums on AT in Canada, (b) a review of academic literature related to AT in Canada, and (c) a summary of AT programs and courses offered at post-secondary institutions across Canada. Analysis of the reports from five AT symposiums revealed broad variability in terms of delegates and organizations represented and suggested that AT is practiced or endorsed by a diverse array of individuals and organizations across Canada. The literature review uncovered 113 relevant articles, book chapters, and papers with a substantial Canadian contribution. Canadian academic literature on the topic is sparse, and AT training and education opportunities at Canadian institutions are very limited. Implications for the future development of AT in Canada are shared.
Objective: Patients who are fully recovered from a concussion may still be more vulnerable in the... more Objective: Patients who are fully recovered from a concussion may still be more vulnerable in the face of subsequent concussions. This study examines symptoms associated with repeated concussions in young and otherwise healthy adults. Design: Cross sectional. Setting: Institutional study at a university setting. Participants: University students with a history of concussion. Independent Variables: Participants were grouped based on numbers of concussions. Main Outcome Measures: The impact of incremental concussion on symptom clusters in Sport Concussion Assessment Tools 5 and Spearman ranking correlation coefficients between symptom clusters. Results: One hundred thirty-five participants reported having had 1 concussion, 63 reported 2 concussions, 50 reported 3 concussions, and 43 reported 4 to 6 concussions. Total severity scores over the range of concussion number (1, 2, 3, and greater than 3) did not show a clear incremental effect. However, average scores of cognitive symptoms rose with each subsequent concussion (P ≤ 0.05). The largest incremental effect observed was that of second concussions on emotional symptom scores (t = 5.85, P &lt; 0.01). Symptoms in the emotional and cognitive clusters were the most correlated regardless of the number of reported concussions; the correlations were lowest with symptoms associated with sensitivity to light or noise. Conclusions: The incremental rise of cognitive symptom scores with each concussion affirms the importance of cognitive impairment in concussion assessment and implies a cumulative brain vulnerability that persists even after symptom resolution. The cognitive-emotional symptom clusters may reflect underlying concussion-induced impairments in the corticostriatothalamocortical (CSTC) networks, although sensitivity symptoms are potentially attributable to different neural correlates.
Fat oxidation in cold environments and carbohydrate (CHO) use in hot environments are increased d... more Fat oxidation in cold environments and carbohydrate (CHO) use in hot environments are increased during exercise at steadystate submaximal workloads. However, the influence of cold and heat on fat and CHO oxidation curves remain unknown. We therefore examined the influence of a cold and warm ambient temperature on fat and CHO oxidation across a wide range of exercise intensities during treadmill and cycle ergometer exercise. Nine, young, healthy, male subjects completed four trials, during which they performed an incremental peak oxygen consumption (V̇O 2peak) test on a cycle ergometer or treadmill in a 4.6°C or 34.1°C environment. Substrate oxidation, maximal fat oxidation rate (MFO), and exercise intensity where MFO occurs (Fat max) were assessed via indirect calorimetry. MFO was significantly greater in the cold vs. warm during the treadmill exercise (0.66 ± 0.31 vs. 0.43 ± 0.23 g min −1 ; p = 0.02) but not during cycling (0.45 ± 0.24 vs. 0.29 ± 0.11 g min −1 ; p = 0.076). MFO was also greater during treadmill vs. cycling exercise, irrespective of ambient temperature (0.57 g min −1 vs. 0.37 g min −1 ; p = 0.04). Fat max was greater in the cold vs. warm for both treadmill (57 ± 20 vs. 37 ± 17% V̇O 2peak ; p = 0.025) and cycling (62 ± 28 vs. 36 ± 13%V̇O 2peak ; p = 0.003). Multiple, linear, mixed-effects regressions revealed a strong influence of ambient temperature on substrate oxidation. We demonstrated that exercising in a cold environment increases MFO and Fat max , predominantly during treadmill exercise. These results validate the implication of ambient temperature on energy metabolism over a wide range of exercise intensities.
The Pediatric Pain Questionnaire and relevant medical records were used to investigate the freque... more The Pediatric Pain Questionnaire and relevant medical records were used to investigate the frequency, intensity, location, and duration of pain experienced by children with spina bifida and to examine the concordance between child self-report and parent proxy report of pain. There were 68 children with spina bifida (30 males, 38 females) between the ages of 8 and 19 years (mean age 12y 8m). Fifty-nine children (87%) were diagnosed with myelomeningocele, six (9%) with lipomyelomeningocele, and three (4%) with lipomeningocele (4%). Forty-nine children (72%) had shunted hydrocephalus. Twenty-six children (38%) ambulated full-time. Fifty-six per cent of children reported experiencing pain once a week or more often. For these children, pain occurred most frequently in the head, back, abdomen, neck, shoulders, legs, and hands. Of the 49 children with shunted hydrocephalus, 43 (88%) reported headaches; 15 of 19 children (79%) without hydrocephalus reported headaches. Children who reported more intense pain also reported more frequent pain and more pain locations. Parents were most reliable at reporting locations of their children's severe pain. Parents of younger children significantly underestimated their children's current pain and worst pain in the past 7 days. Lesion level and ambulatory status were not associated with any of the pain variables. It was concluded that children with spina bifida frequently report clinically significant, yet under-recognized and untreated pain.
Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Nov 1, 2014
To describe changes in gross motor function and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in adults ... more To describe changes in gross motor function and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in adults with cerebral palsy (CP). An 8-year follow-up survey. Participants who completed the baseline survey in 2003 were invited. The sample of adults with CP (N=54; response rate=37%) included a &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;younger group&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; (group 1; n=31; age, 23-27y; 15 women) and an &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;older group&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; (group 2; n=23; age, 33-42y; 10 women). Not applicable. The Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS), Self-Rated Health (SRH), the Health Utility Index Mark III (HUI3), and the Assessment of Quality of Life (AQoL). Eight years after the initial survey, 27% of the participants in the combined group had deteriorations on the GMFCS, 52% on the SRH, 44% on the HUI3, and 25% on the AQoL. Members of group 1 reported stable scores as they made the transition to adulthood, while many of the group 2 members experienced declines, with relative risk of 1.47 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.16-2.24) on the GMFCS, 1.36 (95% CI, 0.83-2.23) on the SRH, 1.19 (95% CI, 0.66-2.15) on the HUI3, and 3.17 (95% CI, 1.12-9.00) on the AQoL. Although much attention has focused on the transitions of persons with CP during their late teens and early 20s, this research found that deteriorations in the GMFCS levels and the HRQOL were most evident in adults in their late 20s and 30s. More detailed longitudinal studies are required to evaluate the longer-term health outcomes among persons with CP into their 30s and beyond.
Theoretical Issues in Ergonomics Science, Sep 9, 2020
Foot-transmitted vibration (FTV) is an occupational hazard in construction, forestry and mining w... more Foot-transmitted vibration (FTV) is an occupational hazard in construction, forestry and mining which places workers at risk of vibration-induced white-foot. A universally accepted measurement protocol (MP) for evaluating FTV exposure does not exist. As such, the purpose of this study was to determine the inter-rater and intra-rater reliability of the selected FTV-MP using different research assistants (RA) to take the FTV measurements. Preliminary tests evaluating changes in measured FTV using different accelerometer mounting locations and orientations, participant standing postures, time of day of measurements and trial duration. The results of this testing, combined with results from literature using a laser Doppler vibrometer at 24 anatomical locations on the foot, developed an FTV-MP requiring the use of two accelerometers secured to the platform and two to the right foot (first metatarsal head and medial malleolus), to capture anatomical locations with the highest and lowest transmissibility. RA repeatedly attached the accelerometers to the platform and participants as previously described. Inter-and intra-rater reliability was assessed for all vibration measures using intraclass correlation (ICC) tests and three raters. ICCs revealed reliability coefficients in the range of 'good' reliability for 3 of the 4 measurement locations and moderate reliability at the ankle (r.m.s. acceleration). Relevance to human factors/Relevance to ergonomics theory Monitoring exposure to FTV for workers in mining, construction, and other industries is required to understand risk of vibration injury and to test interventions aimed at reducing exposure. A reliable protocol allows for more effective measurement of FTV exposure for workers in these industries. This research will lead to more reliable laboratory experimentation involving identification of hazardous exposure conditions, such as ineffective personal protective equipment (i.e. boots, insoles, mats), machine operation, and standing exposure times. Once further research is conducted using the FTV-MP, the protocol could be developed and implemented into a new standard for the assessment and evaluation of human exposure to FTV. With the continued mechanization of industrial
Theoretical Issues in Ergonomics Science, Mar 11, 2020
Bharti school of engineering, laurentian university, sudbury, canada; b centre for research in oc... more Bharti school of engineering, laurentian university, sudbury, canada; b centre for research in occupational safety and health, laurentian university, sudbury, canada; c laurentian research institute in aging, laurentian university, sudbury, canada; d school of human Kinetics, laurentian university, sudbury, canada
Context: Symptom checklist in Sport concussion assessment tool has been widely used in preseason ... more Context: Symptom checklist in Sport concussion assessment tool has been widely used in preseason assessment and in concussion diagnosis, but the impact of prior concussions on the graded symptoms after a new concussion has not been evaluated. Objective: This study was undertaken to examine reported symptoms associated with recurrent concussions using data of a comprehensive survey among athletes. Design: Retrospective survey and cross-sectional study. Setting: Collegiate athletes. Participants: Student athletes who sustained one or more concussions. Main Outcome Measures: Concussion history and graded symptoms of the most recent concussion at time of the survey were surveyed. The impact of prior concussions was examined over symptoms and aggregated symptoms. Results: Multiple concussions were associated with greater reporting of individual symptoms related to emotion and physical symptoms of sensitivity to light and noise: more emotional (z =2.3; p = 0.02), sadness (z = 2.4; p=0.02) , nervousness (z = 2.4; p=0.02), irritability (z = 3.6; p=0.01), sensitivity to light (z =2.6; p = 0.01), and to noise (z =2.4; p = 0.04),. The composite scores of emotional symptom and sensitivity symptom clusters were significantly higher: t = 2.68 (p < 0.01) and t= 3.35 (p< 0.01) respectively. Conclusions: The significant rises in emotional and sensitivity symptoms may be an important additive effect of concussive injury. Closer attention should be given to these symptom clusters when evaluating concussion injury and recovery.
In the Sternberg item recognition task and its variants, an individual’s mean reaction time incre... more In the Sternberg item recognition task and its variants, an individual’s mean reaction time increases with the number of items to be retained in the memory set. An increase in reaction time has also been seen when a secondary task was added. The usual interpretation for this increased reaction time is that adding cognitive load makes tasks more difficult. In a series of three experiments, we manipulated cognitive load through increases in the memory set or through a second task. In each experiment, high cognitive load was associated with higher mean response times but a reduced slope, based on the target position in a series of probes. Thus, in a Sternberg task with multiple word targets and multiple word probes, participants searched more efficiently per probe under high load than under low load. This pattern was replicated with the addition of a working memory task requiring participants to calculate a cumulative price based on the price per target word item. By considering both initial response times and reaction time slopes in large memory sets, this study provides a challenge to the traditional interpretation of cognitive load effects on search performance.
Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Oct 1, 2017
The Clubhouse follows a 5 phase vocational services program, including patient assessment, prepar... more The Clubhouse follows a 5 phase vocational services program, including patient assessment, preparation for work, placement, coaching and support, and long-term support. Main Outcome Measure(s): The primary outcome measure was vocational outcome.These included a) no job or not job ready b) job ready c) volunteer or paid job. The combined outcomes of B and C were classified as total positive vocational outcome. Results: Of the 64 adults with ABI included in this study, after program completion, 10.9% had no job or were not job ready, 28.1% were job ready, 60.9% had a volunteer or paid job, with a total positive vocational outcome of 89%. Conclusion/Discussion: This study of a consecutive group of patients with acquired brain injury, treated in the Clubhouse model, found that after completion of the program 89% were either job ready or had obtained a job. These data suggest that the Clubhouse model may be an effective intervention for patients with acquired brain injury who seek to reenter the work community.
Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education, and Leadership
A mandatory outdoor experience program (MOEP), involving a three- to four-day outdoor canoe excur... more A mandatory outdoor experience program (MOEP), involving a three- to four-day outdoor canoe excursion, has been a compulsory university course for undergraduate students for nearly five decades at a post-secondary institution in Northern Ontario, Canada. However, the experiences and perspectives of students who participated in these excursions have not been fully investigated. The aim of this study was to harness the power of storytelling by alumni to improve our understanding of the long-term impact of MOEPs. Using an innovative methodology combining computer-assisted qualitative data analysis (Leximancer) and framing theory, the links between alumni stories became evident through three main interconnected frames: people, activity, and environment. Although there are unique components of the MOEP program described by our participants, the results contribute to the retrospective literature on the critical and memorable features that students recall years after completing an outdoor ...
Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify predictors of communicative participation outcomes... more Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify predictors of communicative participation outcomes for a large cohort of preschoolers with speech and language impairments.Method: A secondary analysis of longitudinal program evaluation data from Ontario, Canada’s Preschool Speech and Language Program was done. Data available for 46,872 children 18–67 months of age (M = 41.76 months, SD = 11.92; 68% boys, 32% girls) were previously used to predict children’s communicative participation skill development in 5 levels of function. Demographic and intervention-based variables were added to the models to identify new predictors of growth.Results: Three demographic and 3 intervention-based variables were statistically significant predictors of children’s communicative participation outcomes. Clinically significant predictors included participation in an early learning environment, receipt of speech-language interventions, and the amount of time spent in intervention. These variables impacted...
Journal of occupational and environmental medicine, 2017
The aim of the study was to assess the sleep quality, quantity, and fatigue levels of Canadian wi... more The aim of the study was to assess the sleep quality, quantity, and fatigue levels of Canadian wildland firefighters while on deployment. Objective and subjective sleep and fatigue measures were collected using actigraphy and questionnaires during non-fire (Base) and fire (Initial Attack and Project) deployments. Suboptimal sleep quality and quantity were more frequently observed during high-intensity, Initial Attack fire deployments. Suboptimal sleep was also exhibited during non-fire (Base) work periods, which increases the risk of prefire deployment sleep debt. Self-reported, morning fatigue scores were low-to-moderate and highest for Initial Attack fire deployments. The study highlights the incidence of suboptimal sleep patterns in wildland firefighters during non-fire and fire suppression work periods. These results have implications for the health and safety practices of firefighters given the link between sleep and fatigue, in a characteristically hazardous occupation.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Heart rate variability (HRV) is a psychophysiological variable that is often used in applied anal... more Heart rate variability (HRV) is a psychophysiological variable that is often used in applied analysis techniques to indicate health status because it provides a window into the intrinsic regulation of the autonomic nervous system. However, HRV data analysis methods are varied and complex, which has led to different approaches to data collection, analysis, and interpretation of results. Our scoping review aimed to explore the diverse use of HRV methods in studies designed to assess health outcomes in outdoor free-living contexts. Four database indexes were searched, which resulted in the identification of 17,505 candidate studies. There were 34 studies and eight systematic reviews that met the inclusion criteria. Just over half of the papers referenced the 1996 task force paper that outlined the standards of measurement and physiological interpretation of HRV data, with even fewer adhering to recommended HRV recording and analysis procedures. Most authors reported an increase in para...
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Papers by Bruce Oddson