Orit Shechtman, PhD, OTR/L
Emeritus Associate Professor
Department:
HP-OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
Business Phone:
(352) 273-6021
Business Email:
oshechtm@phhp.ufl.edu
About Orit Shechtman
Dr. Shechtman is an Associate Professor at the Department of Occupational Therapy. Her research is in the areas of assessments including grip strength measurement in adults and children, assessment of maximal effort and sincerity of effort, and musculoskeletal disorders. She received the American Hand Therapy Foundation’s Burkhalter Memorial Research Award in 2001 and the American Society of Hand Therapist’s Evelyn Mackin Research Grant in 2006. Dr. Shechtman’s research also encompasses driving assessment of older drivers and driving simulators. Dr. Shechtman currently teaches anatomy, kinesiology, neuroscience, and pathophysiology in the Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) Program. Dr. Shechtman had received many teaching awards including the University of Florida Teacher of the Year Award in 1997-98, the University of Florida Health Science Center’s Superior Accomplishment Award in 1999-2000, the 2005 Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Occupational Therapy Education, the 2005-2006 College of Public Health and Health Professions Teacher of the Year Award, the 2005-2006 Most Outstanding Faculty Member and the 2015-2016 College of Public Health and Health Professions Teacher of the Year Award.
Teaching Profile
Courses Taught
2018-2021
OTH6008C Neuroscience of Human Occupation
2018-2020
OTH6419 Pathophys Cond in Ot
2019-2022
OTH6423 Clin Musc Anatomy
2019-2021
OTH6242 Clinical Kinesiology
2009-2010,2013-2018,2017-2020
HSC4970 Public Health and Health Professions Senior Honors Thesis
2008-2019
HSC3801 Clinical Observation / Health Care Volunteer Work
2019
RSD7980 Research for Doctoral Dissertation
2017-2019
RSD7979 Advanced Research
2012-2018
OTH5722 Professional Devt Ot
2006-2018
OTH4412L Musculoskeletal Anatomy Laboratory
2011-2018
OTH4412 Musculoskeletal Anatomy
2006-2016,2018
OTH3416 Pathophysiology
2006-2017
OTH4418 The Nervous System and Disorders
2006-2017
OTH4418L The Nervous System and Disorders Laboratory
2009-2017
OTH5002 Founda Occupa Therapy
2009,2017
RSD6940 Supervised Teaching
2009-2016
RSD6900 College Classroom: Teaching Process and Practice
2011,2014-2015
OTH6905 Individual Work
2014
PHC6937 Spec Top Public Hlth
2006-2010
OTH4412C Musculoskel Anatomy
2009
HSC4905 Individual Study
2021
OTH6911 Capstone
Publications
2023
A Scoping Review of Grasp and Handwriting Performance in School-Age Children.
Physical & occupational therapy in pediatrics.
43(4):430-445
[DOI] 10.1080/01942638.2022.2151392.
[PMID] 36450701.
2017
The Effect of Propulsion Style on Wrist Movement Variability During the Push Phase After a Bout of Fatiguing Propulsion.
PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitation.
9(3):265-274
[DOI] 10.1016/j.pmrj.2016.06.022.
[PMID] 27390056.
2017
The effect of wheelchair propulsion style on changes in time spent in extreme wrist orientations after a bout of fatiguing propulsion.
Ergonomics.
60(10):1425-1434
[DOI] 10.1080/00140139.2017.1303084.
[PMID] 28322620.
2014
Comparison of metabolic cost, performance, and efficiency of propulsion using an ergonomic hand drive mechanism and a conventional manual wheelchair.
Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation.
95(3):546-51
[DOI] 10.1016/j.apmr.2013.08.238.
[PMID] 24016403.
2014
Wheelchair ergonomic hand drive mechanism use improves wrist mechanics associated with carpal tunnel syndrome.
Journal of rehabilitation research and development.
51(10):1515-24
[DOI] 10.1682/JRRD.2013.09.0211.
[PMID] 25856042.
2013
Does Mode of Wheelchair Propulsion Influence Interlimb Wrist Coordination?
Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise.
45(5, 1)
2013
Shoulder Pain and Interlimb Coordination During Conventional and Ergonomic Hand Drive Manual Wheeling
Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise.
45(5, 1)
2012
Identifying sincerity of effort based on the combined predictive ability of multiple grip strength tests.
Journal of hand therapy : official journal of the American Society of Hand Therapists.
25(3):308-18; quiz 319
[DOI] 10.1016/j.jht.2012.03.007.
[PMID] 22794503.
2012
Kinematics of the Shoulder Complex During Ergonomic Hand Drive Wheelchair Propulsion: Shoulder Impingement Implications
Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise.
44
2012
Reliability of Motion Capture Shoulder Kinematics in Wheelchair Propulsion Utilizing An Ergonomic Hand Drive
Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise.
44
2012
Using the “visual target grip test” to identify sincerity of effort during grip strength testing.
Journal of hand therapy : official journal of the American Society of Hand Therapists.
25(3):320-8; quiz 329
[DOI] 10.1016/j.jht.2011.12.007.
[PMID] 22483342.
2012
Wheelchair Propulsion Using An Ergonomic Hand Drive Mechanism Reduces Wrist Jerk Throughout Range of Motion
Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise.
44:371-372
2011
Development of an item bank for a computerised adaptive test of upper-extremity function.
Disability and rehabilitation.
33(21-22):2092-104
[DOI] 10.3109/09638288.2011.560336.
[PMID] 21401332.
2011
Driving simulator sickness: an evidence-based review of the literature.
The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association.
65(2):179-88
[PMID] 21476365.
2011
Influence of pain associated with musculoskeletal disorders on grip force timing.
Journal of hand therapy : official journal of the American Society of Hand Therapists.
24(4):335-43; quiz 344
[DOI] 10.1016/j.jht.2011.06.004.
[PMID] 21820275.
2011
Using the force-time curve to determine sincerity of effort in people with upper extremity injuries.
Journal of hand therapy : official journal of the American Society of Hand Therapists.
24(1):22-9; quiz 30
[DOI] 10.1016/j.jht.2010.07.005.
[PMID] 21050713.
2011
Validity, reliability, and responsiveness of a digital version of the visual analog scale.
Journal of hand therapy : official journal of the American Society of Hand Therapists.
24(4):356-63; quiz 364
[DOI] 10.1016/j.jht.2011.06.003.
[PMID] 21820864.
2010
A comparison of the ability of two upper extremity assessments to measure change in function.
Journal of hand therapy : official journal of the American Society of Hand Therapists.
23(1):31-40
[DOI] 10.1016/j.jht.2009.09.006.
[PMID] 19944563.
2010
Traffic violations versus driving errors of older adults: informing clinical practice.
The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association.
64(2):233-41
[PMID] 20437910.
2010
Validity and critical driving errors of on-road assessment for older drivers.
The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association.
64(2):242-51
[PMID] 20437911.
2009
Comparison of driving errors between on-the-road and simulated driving assessment: a validation study.
Traffic injury prevention.
10(4):379-85
[DOI] 10.1080/15389580902894989.
[PMID] 19593717.
2009
The Simulator Sickness Questionnaire as a Predictor of Subsequent Simulator Sickness
Gerontologist.
49
2009
Useful field of view as a reliable screening measure of driving performance in people with Parkinson’s disease: results of a pilot study.
Traffic injury prevention.
10(6):593-8
[DOI] 10.1080/15389580903179901.
[PMID] 19916131.
2008
Clinical predictors of older driver performance on a standardized road test.
Traffic injury prevention.
9(5):456-62
[DOI] 10.1080/15389580802260026.
[PMID] 18836957.
2008
Encore Presentation – Clinical Predictors of Failing a Standardized Road Test
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
56
2008
The administration and interpretation of the rapid exchange grip test: a national survey.
Journal of hand therapy : official journal of the American Society of Hand Therapists.
21(1):18-26; quiz 27
[DOI] 10.1197/j.jht.2007.07.021.
[PMID] 18215748.
2007
Evaluation of the torque-velocity test of the BTE-Primus as a measure of sincerity of effort of grip strength.
Journal of hand therapy : official journal of the American Society of Hand Therapists.
20(4):326-34; quiz 335
[PMID] 17954353.
2007
The impact of intersection design on simulated driving performance of young and senior adults.
Traffic injury prevention.
8(1):78-86
[PMID] 17366339.
2007
The impact of roadway intersection design on driving performance of young and senior adults.
Traffic injury prevention.
8(1):69-77
[PMID] 17366338.
2007
Using the force-time curve to detect maximal grip strength effort.
Journal of hand therapy : official journal of the American Society of Hand Therapists.
20(1):37-47; quiz 48
[PMID] 17254907.
2006
The use of the coefficient of variation in detecting sincerity of effort: a meta-analysis.
Work (Reading, Mass.).
26(4):335-41
[PMID] 16788253.
2005
Analysis of the statistical methods used to detect submaximal effort with the five-rung grip strength test.
Journal of hand therapy : official journal of the American Society of Hand Therapists.
18(1):10-8
[PMID] 15674782.
2005
International Older Driver Consensus Conference on Assessment, Remediation and Counseling for Transportation Alternatives: Summary and Recommendations.
Physical & occupational therapy in geriatrics.
23(2-3):103-121
[PMID] 20668642.
2005
Reliability and validity of the DynEx dynamometer.
Journal of hand therapy : official journal of the American Society of Hand Therapists.
18(3):339-47
[PMID] 16059855.
2004
Grip strength in the frail elderly.
American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitation.
83(11):819-26
[PMID] 15502734.
2003
Effectiveness of the five-handle position grip strength test in detecting sincerity of effort in men and women.
American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitation.
82(11):847-55
[PMID] 14566152.
2003
Reliability and validity of the BTE-Primus grip tool.
Journal of hand therapy : official journal of the American Society of Hand Therapists.
16(1):36-42
[PMID] 12611444.
2003
The relationship between strength, pain, and community integration in wheelchair users: a pilot study.
Occupational therapy in health care.
17(1):5-21
[DOI] 10.1080/J003v17n01_02.
[PMID] 23941186.
2002
How do therapists administer the rapid exchange grip test? A survey.
Journal of hand therapy : official journal of the American Society of Hand Therapists.
15(1):53-61
[PMID] 11866353.
2002
The effect of foot placement on sit to stand in healthy young subjects and patients with hemiplegia.
Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation.
83(7):924-9
[PMID] 12098151.
2001
Ergonomics in a hospital and a university setting: The effect of worksite analysis on upper extremity work-related musculoskeletal disorders.
Work (Reading, Mass.).
16(3):185-200
[PMID] 12441448.
2001
The coefficient of variation as a measure of sincerity of effort of grip strength, Part I: the statistical principle.
Journal of hand therapy : official journal of the American Society of Hand Therapists.
14(3):180-7
[PMID] 11511012.
2001
Using the BTE Primus to measure grip and wrist flexion strength in physically active wheelchair users: an exploratory study.
The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association.
55(4):393-400
[PMID] 11723983.
2000
The use of the rapid exchange grip test in detecting sincerity of effort, Part II: validity of the test.
Journal of hand therapy : official journal of the American Society of Hand Therapists.
13(3):203-10
[PMID] 10966140.
2000
Using the coefficient of variation to detect sincerity of effort of grip strength: a literature review.
Journal of hand therapy : official journal of the American Society of Hand Therapists.
13(1):25-32
[PMID] 10718219.
1999
Increased tail artery vascular responsiveness to angiotensin II in cold-treated rats.
Canadian journal of physiology and pharmacology.
77(12):974-9
[PMID] 10606444.
1999
Is the coefficient of variation a valid measure for detecting sincerity of effort of grip strength?
Work (Reading, Mass.).
13(2):163-169
[PMID] 12441559.
1997
Occupational therapy: current practice and training issues in the treatment of cognitive dysfunction.
NeuroRehabilitation.
8(1):31-41
[DOI] 10.3233/NRE-1997-8105.
[PMID] 24525942.
1995
Increased dipsogenic responsiveness to angiotensin II in rats exposed to cold: rate of loss after return to thermoneutral ambient temperature.
Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine. Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine (New York, N.Y.).
209(1):54-9
[PMID] 7724616.
1992
The effect of intermittent exposure to cold on the development of hypertension in the rat.
American journal of hypertension.
5(8):548-55
[PMID] 1388965.
1991
Changes in blood pressure and dipsogenic responsiveness to angiotensin II during chronic exposure of rats to cold.
Pharmacology, biochemistry, and behavior.
38(4):837-42
[PMID] 1871198.
1991
Prevention of cold-induced increase in blood pressure of rats by captopril.
Hypertension (Dallas, Tex. : 1979).
17(6 Pt 1):763-70
[PMID] 2045137.
1990
Factors affecting cold-induced hypertension in rats.
Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine. Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine (New York, N.Y.).
195(3):364-8
[PMID] 2259704.
1990
Reversibility of cold-induced hypertension after removal of rats from cold.
Canadian journal of physiology and pharmacology.
68(7):830-5
[PMID] 2383798.
Grants
Oct 2016
– Sep 2017
Aging Road User Information System 2016-2017
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: FL DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION SAFETY OFFICE
via US DEPT OF TRANS NATL HWY TRAFFIC SAFETY
Apr 2015
– Jun 2021
Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI)
Role: Project Manager
Funding: UF DIV OF SPONSORED RES MATCHING FUNDS
Contact Details
Phones:
- Business:
- (352) 273-6021
Emails:
- Business:
- oshechtm@phhp.ufl.edu
Addresses:
- Business Mailing:
-
COLLEGE OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND HEALTH PROFESSI
PO BOX 100164
DEPARTMENT OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
GAINESVILLE FL 326100164 - Business Street:
-
101 NEWELL DR RM 2115
GAINESVILLE FL 32611