Occupational Embeddedness during a Reaching and Placing Task with Survivors of Cerebral Vascular Accident

Abstract

This study examined the effects of enhanced occupational embeddedness on the upper extremity movement dynamics in survivors of a cerebral vascular accident (CVA). Seventeen persons who survived a CVA participated in this repeated measures study with two conditions. The occupationally embedded (OE) condition involved three labeled soup cans; the nonoccupationally embedded (NOE) condition involved three nonrepresentational clay masses. The task consisted of moving the objects from a kitchen counter to the cabinet with each limb. Movement dynamics were recorded using an electronic goniometer that was attached to each elbow. Dependent variables were movement time, displacement, movement units, peak velocity, and percentage of movement time at which the peak velocity occurred. It was hypothesized that the OE condition would result in significantly different movement dynamics than the NOE condition. It was also hypothesized that the movement dynamics of the affected limb would be significantly different than those of the unaffected limb. During the OE condition, there were significantly fewer movement units and smaller movement times. No significance was found with displacement, peak velocity, or percentage of movement time to peak velocity. Further, there were no significant differences between the two limbs' movement dynamics. The results of this study support the concept that greater occupational embeddedness can promote enhanced motor performance. Specifically, this study suggests that occupationally embedded occupational forms can enhance performance of movement units and movement time in a reaching and placing task with individuals who survived a stroke. Additionally, OE occupational forms do not appear to influence the affected limb differently than the unaffected limb.