JAVS Fall 2022

gclid=CjwKCAjw9uKIBhA8EiwAYPUS3Ncv9ntYCG6 WDUi7_kdr5ncBsBhMwQiNiMA0wSzQEPH6sqyhw CZYyRoCIYIQAvD_BwE. 2 Musicians often don’t realize that occupational therapists can specialize in a variety of areas, including vision. For more information on the role of Occupational Therapy in vision training, go to: https://www.aota.org/About Occupational-Therapy/Professionals/PA/Facts/low vision.aspx. 3 Note from Kayleigh: We started working together fall of 2018, and I focused on combining down regulating Pilates and somatic movements with vestibular and visual exercises. This included work in different positions, different relationships to gravity, as well as adding in head movements to challenge the semi-circular canals of the vestibular system. Dan had also noted some visual challenges, so I started introducing some of the visual exercises I had learned, including saccades, gaze fixation, Vestibulo-ocular reflex drills, and more. 4 For research on vision therapy after concussions: Gallaway, Michael; Scheiman, Mitchell; Mitchell, G. Lynn,“Vision Therapy for Post-Concussion Vision Disorders,” Optometry and Vision Science: January 2017, Volume 94 Issue 1, 68-73; (place second citation here); Some of these visual skills we addressed were gaze stabilization, saccades, accommodation, and VOR. Gaze stabilization is the ability to follow a movie target with both eyes without the head moving, such as following the baton of a conductor. A saccade refers to having two visual targets and having both eyes move from one target to the other in synchrony. This is an essential visual skill for reading music. Accommodation refers to your ability to see objects up close and then adjust to see objects further away, within quick succession. This is due to movement of the ciliary muscles as well as a flattening of the retina. Lastly, the vestibular-ocular reflex refers to the ability of the eyes to stay focused on a visual target as the head moves. I learned about these skills through my training in Z health, a neurocentric approach to fitness. For more information, go to www. zhealtheducation.com. 5 A Brock string is a tool used to work on convergence and divergence, or the ability for eyes to move inwards together or outwards together. The string is placed in front of the nose and has a few beads on it. The other end of the string is held or attached to another object,

and the individual moves both eyes to the different targets. There is currently a clinical trial on the use of the Brock String in post-concussion rehabilitation: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04076657. 6 The ball we used is called a Brain speed ball, made by Trent McEntire, but it can also be replicated with a tennis ball or other ball with letters and numbers written on it with a sharpie: www.trentmcentirepilates.com. 7 Gallaway, Michael*; Scheiman, Mitchell†; Mitchell, G. Lynn‡ Vision Therapy for Post-Concussion Vision Disorders, Optometry and Vision Science: January 2017 - Volume 94 - Issue 1 - p 68-73. 8 Recent studies have suggested that regular aerobic activity can help in post-concussion syndrome recovery: Lawrence DW, Richards D, Comper P, Hutchison MG (2018); e aerobic exercise earlier in the recovery process is associated with faster recovery following acute sport concussion: PLoS ONE 13(4): e0196062. https://doi. org/10.1371/journal.pone.0196062. 9 The Buffalo Concussion Treadmill Test is a treadmill based protocol to assess one’s tolerance of exercise and to establish a differential diagnosis of other post concussion symptoms. A medical practitioner will administer the test. Haider, Mohammad N et al. “The Predictive Capacity of the Buffalo Concussion Treadmill Test After Sport-Related Concussion in Adolescents.” Frontiers in neurology vol. 10 395. 24 Apr. 2019, doi:10.3389/fneur.2019.00395; Mucci, Viviana, Cornelia Meier, Mario Bizzini, Fausto Romano, Daniel Agostino, Alessandra Ventura, Giovanni Bertolini, and Nina Feddermann-Demont, “Combined Optokinetic Treatment and Vestibular Rehabilitation to Reduce Visually Induced DIZZINESS in a Professional Ice Hockey Player After Concussion: A Clinical Case,” Frontier, January 1, 1AD, https://www.frontiersin.org/ articles/10.3389/fneur.2019.01200/full.

Journal of the American Viola Society / Vol. 38, No. 2, Fall 2022

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