Tal Jarus - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Tal Jarus

Canadian Journal of …, Jan 1, 2010

In recent decades, the health of Saudi women has been compromised by lifestyle changes associated... more In recent decades, the health of Saudi women has been compromised by lifestyle changes associated with Saudi Arabia's economic wealth. The influence of western lifestyles on the lives of Saudi women and men has become a major health focus with recommendations to improve the lifestyle of the Saudi population that are comparable to those in western cultures. This paper describes the tailoring of the recommendations of a seminal education program, namely, the Harvard University Special Report on the prevention and management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) to the needs of Saudi women. Strategies for translating the recommendations to this cultural context included home-based physical activity rather than outdoors or within the community, matching educational topics related to positive psychology with cultural quotes that encourage positive attitudes, matching relaxation exercises such as meditation with Islamic prayers, and finally, replacing healthy recipes from the Harvard mat...

Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation, Jan 10, 2015

To identify and critically appraise potential participation measurement tools for children aged 1... more To identify and critically appraise potential participation measurement tools for children aged 18 months to 17 years with power mobility (PM) needs. Searches in nine electronic databases identified peer-reviewed publications in English to January 2015, along with hand-searching included bibliographies. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement was followed with inclusion criteria set a priori. Keywords and subject headings included participation and measurement terms with descriptors of young people who are potential PM candidates. Publications describing measurement properties of English language tools were included if the items included > 85% content related to participation and described at least two participation dimensions. Two reviewers reached consensus after independently screening titles and abstracts, identifying full-text articles meeting criteria, extracting data, and conducting quality ratings. Tool descriptions, clini...

Children with learning disabilities (LD) often have difficulties applying meta-cognitive and cogn... more Children with learning disabilities (LD) often have difficulties applying meta-cognitive and cognitive skills. These difficulties may influence their ability to handle new situations and unexpected changes and to deal with complex learning contexts. This experiment was designed to investigate the effects of different levels of contextual interference on the ability of children with and without LD to learn a new motor task. Forty-eight, 7-8-year-olds practiced a mirror-tracing task under levels of either low contextual interference, or high contextual interference. Results indicated that for both groups, there were no significant differences between the practice groups. In addition, there were no significant differences between children with and without LD, except for the transfer phase in one measurement. These results may indicate that children with LD may need more assistance in transferring the new skills they learned to new situations, however, cognitive and information processi...

זאת השנה השלישית שבה מתקיים באוניברסיטת תל אביב קורס קש"ת (קידום שיתוף ותקשורת) להורים לאנשי... more זאת השנה השלישית שבה מתקיים באוניברסיטת תל אביב קורס קש"ת (קידום שיתוף ותקשורת) להורים לאנשים הסובלים ממחלת נפש. הקורס מלמד את ההורים גישה וכלים לתקשורת קוגניטיבית במשפחה ובקהילה תוך שימוש בעקרונות ההתערבות הקוגניטיבית-דינמית. מטרת הקורס להכשיר הורים ובני משפחה להבין את התנהגות ילדיהם בדרך קוגניטיבית ולהגיב אליהם באופן נשלט ומובנה ובכך להשפיע על תגובותיהם תוך אינטראקציה עמם. אחד-עשר הורים לילדים בוגרים המתמודדים עם מחלת הנפש מילאו שאלון עמדות לפני הקורס ובסיומו. המשתתפים דיווחו על שיפור ברמת הידע, באמונה ובהתנהגות שנמצאו גבוהות יותר לאחר סיום הקורס. המאמר יתאר את הרציונל ואת מהלך בניית הקורס, מבנה הקורס ותוכנו.

Physiotherapy Canada

In this final article in our series on motor learning principles in physiotherapy we discuss five... more In this final article in our series on motor learning principles in physiotherapy we discuss five potential future directions for new research regarding the effectiveness of motor learning principles in rehabilitation treatment. Following a brief review of the major principles discussed in the previous three papers (the performance/learning distinction, practice schedules, and augmented feedback), we discuss additional principles of motor learning that have received little attention int he rehabilitation literature: 1) assessments of learning; 2) mental practice; 3) modelling; 4) attentional focus; and 5) guidance.

OTJR: Occupation, Participation and Health, 2000

ABSTRACT Investigated the effect of age in participants' ability to use mental practice f... more ABSTRACT Investigated the effect of age in participants' ability to use mental practice for motor skill acquisition. Participants were divided into 3 age groups: 30 children, aged 9–9.11 yrs, 30 adults, aged 21–40 yrs, and 29 older adults, aged 65–70 yrs. Each group was randomly subdivided into physical and mental-physical practice groups. The results indicated that mental practice affected the 3 age groups differently. Mental practice in the acquisition phase of a bimanual coordination task was beneficial for children and older adults only. In the retention phase, this benefit was confined to older adults. Adults in the mental-physical and physical practice groups did not differ in the performance of the acquired task. These findings indicate that at both ends of life, childhood and old age, individuals benefit more from mental practice. Mental practice was especially beneficial for older adults regarding their retention process. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)

Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy

Abstract Background: The Role Checklist assesses the number of roles a person performs, and the v... more Abstract Background: The Role Checklist assesses the number of roles a person performs, and the values ascribed to those roles. In this study, a modified version of the Role Checklist was created, which also measures role load. Objective: The purpose of this study is to examine the discriminant validity and test-retest reliability of the modified version. Method: 30 healthy women were divided into two groups: Mothers and women with no children. The original Role Checklist (RCL) and the modified version (M-RCL) were administered and compared. The modified questionnaire was administered again after two weeks. Results: Test-retest reliability was found for all but two roles, and ranged between 0.268-0.709; 0.248-0.629; and 0.336-0.648 for the past, present, and future respectively. Validity: The modified version and the original version showed strong correlation. Pearson correlations were high for the past (r = 0.923, p = 0.001), present (r = 0.1, p = 0.001), and future (r = 0.841, p =...

Journal of Child and Family Studies

Enhancing participation in age-related activities is a key goal in the education and rehabilitati... more Enhancing participation in age-related activities is a key goal in the education and rehabilitation of children with diverse disabilities. The aim of this study was to explore a multidimensional and ecological model of participation for young children. Seventy eight children with mild developmental disabilities (MDD, such as motor and visual-motor difficulties), and 110 children without disabilities, between the ages 4 and 6 years old, participated in the study together with their parents. Data were collected using standardized assessments for child capacities and newly developed questionnaires for child participation and for human and physical environmental factors. Associations were found between personal and environmental factors and the participation dimensions amongst young children, thus supporting the validity of the proposed model of participation. Moreover, the study results outline different pathways for the participation of children with and without MDD. Child factors (e....

Australian Occupational Therapy Journal

Traditional developmental models assume that the underlying capacities of children contribute to ... more Traditional developmental models assume that the underlying capacities of children contribute to their participation. In this framework, preschoolers who are referred for occupational therapy services usually undergo an assessment intended to identify capacities in certain domains. Contrary to this, newer ecological models assume that child participation is a consequence of a multidimensional interaction between personal and environmental factors. As a result clinicians are increasingly focusing their assessment on performance and participation. This study aimed to assess the correlation between children's performance skills, their capacities and participation; and to explore whether parents' observations, alongside therapist observations and standardised assessments, contribute to an enhanced understanding of child participation. Participants included 188 parents and their children, aged 4-6 years, with and without mild developmental difficulties. Data were collected using ...

The number of older adults living with lower limb amputation (LLA) who require rehabilitation for... more The number of older adults living with lower limb amputation (LLA) who require rehabilitation for improving their walking capacity and mobility is growing. Existing rehabilitation practices frequently fail to meet this demand. Nintendo Wii Fit may be a valuable tool to enable rehabilitation interventions. Based on pilot studies, we have developed "Wii.n.Walk", an in-home telehealth Wii Fit intervention targeted to improve walking capacity in older adults with LLA. The objective of this study is to determine whether the Wii.n.Walk intervention enhances walking capacity compared to an attention control group. This project is a multi-site (Vancouver BC, London ON), parallel, evaluator-blind randomized controlled trial. Participants include community-dwelling older adults over the age of 50 years with unilateral transtibial or transfemoral amputation. Participants will be stratified by site and block randomized in triplets to either the Wii.n.Walk intervention or an attention ...

Technology and Disability

BACKGROUND: Balance impairments are common in children with acquired brain injury (ABI) and a nee... more BACKGROUND: Balance impairments are common in children with acquired brain injury (ABI) and a need exists to explore motivating interventions with this population. Xbox Kinect is a gaming system that might assist therapists in providing meaningful rehabilitation. OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of Kinect on improving balance and motivation in one child with ABI. METHODS: Using an A-B design, the participant received traditional balance therapy for five days, followed by 15 days of Kinect rehabilitation. Balance and motivation were measured daily; function measured weekly. Baseline and intervention trend lines were visually analyzed to assess changes in balance and motivation. RESULTS: Participant was unable to follow protocol; intervention was modified to use Nintendo Wii at day 14. While Kinect data showed greater improvement in balance when compared to traditional and Wii rehabilitation, Wii showed greater improvement in dynamic balance involving the body's affected side. Mot...

Developmental neurorehabilitation, Jan 31, 2015

To identify suitable tools for measuring important elements of participation for children, aged 1... more To identify suitable tools for measuring important elements of participation for children, aged 18 months to 12 years, who need or use power mobility, and to indicate which tools should be considered for inclusion in a measurement toolkit. Parents, therapists and researchers with expertise in paediatric power mobility and participation (n = 70) completed an online modified Delphi survey, with consensus set a priori >80% agreement. Existing tools were matched against participation elements ranked most important for those in early childhood (18 months-5 years) and of school-age (6-12 years) by the panel. Six out of 13 tools demonstrated potential, meeting at least three elements each, although none addressed all elements deemed important to measure by the panel. Only the Participation and Environment Measure for Children and Youth (PEM-CY) reached consensus for inclusion in a participation measure toolkit. Further evaluation of these tools with this population is warranted.

European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicine, 2013

Virtual reality (VR) is an emerging trend in stroke rehabilitation. VR gaming consoles in stroke ... more Virtual reality (VR) is an emerging trend in stroke rehabilitation. VR gaming consoles in stroke intervention have been shown to increase motivation and enjoyment during exercise. The amount and intensity of movements elicited using these consoles are unknown. The aims of this study were: (1) to quantify the amount and intensity of movement elicited from both hands of two groups of individuals ([chronic stroke and without a disability [healthy]); (2) to determine the effect of console (Wii/EyeToy) and group (stroke/healthy) on the amount and intensity of upper extremity movement; (3) to determine the effect of console (Wii/EyeToy) and group (stroke/healthy) on the usability and VR experience. A cross-sectional design was taken. Outpatient rehabilitation setting and healthy participant's homes. Participants included ten adults with stroke and ten adults without a disability. Participants experienced two games from each console. Amount and intensity of movement was measured using ...

Research in developmental disabilities

A test was developed which enabled isolating the effects of locus of control over specific parts ... more A test was developed which enabled isolating the effects of locus of control over specific parts of the learning process, while studying its effect on the spontaneous use of mnemonic strategies. Fifty-six adults with mild or moderate mental retardation were randomly assigned to four groups that differed by both internal versus external control, and empty versus filled interval. Recall after an empty interval was significantly better than that following a filled one, suggesting the spontaneous use of mnemonic strategies. No effect was found for the locus of control variable. A longer "warm up decrement" in this population is suggested.

Health promotion international, 2014

To augment the rigor of health promotion research, this perspective article describes how cultura... more To augment the rigor of health promotion research, this perspective article describes how cultural factors impact the outcomes of health promotion studies either intentionally or unintentionally. It proposes ways in which these factors can be addressed or controlled in designing studies and interpreting their results. We describe how variation within and across cultures can be considered within a study, e.g. the conceptualization of research questions or hypotheses, and the methodology including sampling, surveys and interviews. We provide multiple examples of how culture influences the interpretation of study findings. Inadequately accounting or controlling for cultural variations in health promotion studies, whether they are planned or unplanned, can lead to incomplete research questions, incomplete data gathering, spurious results and limited generalizability of the findings. In health promotion research, factors related to culture and cultural variations need to be considered, a...

British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2014

ABSTRACT Studies examining risk factors for sport injury in elementary school children are few. T... more ABSTRACT Studies examining risk factors for sport injury in elementary school children are few. The risk of sport injury in special populations including Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has not been previously examined. To examine risk factors for sport injury in elementary school students (ages 9-12), including special populations (DCD and ADHD). Cross-sectional study. A survey was sent home with students in 26 randomly selected Calgary (Canada) elementary schools. Children ages 9-12 years (n=540). The primary risk factors of interest were probable DCD (pDCD) and ADHD. Other risk factors considered included age, sex, ethnicity, highest level of parent education, stressful life events (previous year), receiving coaching in at least 1 sport, and body mass index. Injury definitions included any sport injury in the previous year and sport injury in the previous year requiring medical attention. Based on univariate Poisson regression (adjusted for exposure hours and cluster) the risk of all sport injury in the previous year in typically developing children did not differ from children with either pDCD (n=150, Incidence Rate Ratio (IRR=1.02 [95% CI 0.7-1.5]) or ADHD (n=87, IRR=0.94 [95% CI 0.58-1.55]). Children with ADHD were at a greater risk of sport injury requiring medical attention compared to those without ADHD (IRR: 1.82 [95% CI 1.23-2.68]). No other risk factors were identified based on univariate analysis. Children (9-12 years) with pDCD and ADHD were at a similar risk of sport injury in the previous year as typically developing children. Children with ADHD were at an 82% greater risk of sport injury requiring medical attention than children without the disorder. This study will inform the development of injury prevention strategies for future studies in elementary school targeting children with ADHD.

Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 2014

Clinicians recognize that client motivation is key to optimizing rehabilitation; however, they ar... more Clinicians recognize that client motivation is key to optimizing rehabilitation; however, they are limited in its assessment by a paucity of motivation measures. This paper presents the preliminary psychometrics of the Pediatric Motivation Scale (PMOT) designed to measure motivation from a child&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s perspective. Content validity of the PMOT was measured through expert feedback (n = 12), and field testing ocurred with 41 children, 21 in rehabilitation and 20 healthy. Pearson product-moment correlations were used to analyze subscale correlations, test-retest reliability, and convergent validity with the Pediatric Volitional Questionnaire (PVQ). Internal consistency was measured using Cronbach&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s alpha. Preliminary psychometric evaluation indicates strong internal consistency for PMOT total (α = .96) and subscales (α = .79-.91). The PMOT and PVQ moderately correlated in the rehabilitation subsample (r = .71, p &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; .01); no correlation was found in the healthy subsample (p &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; .05). Test-retest reliability was excellent (r = .97). This study provides preliminary psychometric evidence of the PMOT for children undergoing rehabilitation. These pilot findings warrant ongoing scale development.

Rehabilitation Research and Practice, 2014

Objectives. To identify the virtual reality (VR) interventions used for the lower extremity rehab... more Objectives. To identify the virtual reality (VR) interventions used for the lower extremity rehabilitation in stroke population and to explain their underlying training mechanisms using Social Cognitive (SCT) and Motor Learning (MLT) theoretical frameworks. Methods. Medline, Embase, Cinahl, and Cochrane databases were searched up to July 11, 2013. Randomized controlled trials that included a VR intervention for lower extremity rehabilitation in stroke population were included. The Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale was used to assess the quality of the included studies. The underlying training mechanisms involved in each VR intervention were explained according to the principles of SCT (vicarious learning, performance accomplishment, and verbal persuasion) and MLT (focus of attention, order and predictability of practice, augmented feedback, and feedback fading). Results. Eleven studies were included. PEDro scores varied from 3 to 7/10. All studies but one showed significant improvement in outcomes in favour of the VR group (P &amp;amp;amp;lt; 0.05). Ten VR interventions followed the principle of performance accomplishment. All the eleven VR interventions directed subject&amp;amp;amp;#39;s attention externally, whereas nine provided training in an unpredictable and variable fashion. Conclusions. The results of this review suggest that VR applications used for lower extremity rehabilitation in stroke population predominantly mediate learning through providing a task-oriented and graduated learning under a variable and unpredictable practice.