Date of Award

4-2024

Degree Type

Capstone Project

Degree Name

Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)

Department

Occupational Therapy

First Advisor

Kara Christy

Second Advisor

Holly Grieves

Abstract

Sports vision training (SVT) is a specialized area of vision therapy focused on enhancing an athlete's visual skills for peak athletic performance. Vision training is vital for athletes because “athletic performance can be one of the most rigorous activities for the visual system” (Khanal, 2015) and is responsible for upward of 80% of the sensory input received during an athletic performance. However, it is often overlooked in traditional training regimens. Focusing on advanced clinical practice and program development, an unmet need for SVT at Origami Rehabilitation was achieved. The main goal was to create an SVT program that catered to individuals of all ages and levels of their athletic career. This type of program development was crucial for athletes with the goal of optimizing their visual abilities for training and athletic performance. In addition, an SVT program is fundamental in helping prevent sports - related head injuries and return athletes to play. Occupational therapists' extensive background in activity analysis and client - centered care, paired with the vision expertise at Origami Rehabilitation, proved vital for conducting this doctoral capstone experience (DCE). Addressing this unmet area of vision therapy allowed for growth in the community and helped to bring attention to the high prevalence of sports related head injuries among athletes.

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