Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Perturbation-Based Gait Training, Julia Bohlman, Ashwini Kulkarni

Undergraduate Research Symposium

Background:

Falls during walking are common in older adults and individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD) [1]. These falls are often caused by trips [2]. Injuries caused by falls can be severe, in all age groups and populations. Given the potential severity of injuries resulting from falls, it is crucial to implement interventions aimed at preventing falls. Such interventions focus on anticipatory and/or reactive mechanisms. Perturbation-based gait training (PBT) addresses both mechanisms by intentionally destabilizing participants to induce a loss of stability, triggering a motor response to regain postural stability. PBT works on the principle of specificity. While earlier studies on …

A Reflection Of Experiences Of Adults With Type 1 Diabetes In Integrated Physical Education Classes, Kalleigh West

Human Movement Sciences & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of the experiences of type 1 diabetics in integrated physical education classes. In this study, we interviewed young type 1 diabetic adults and asked them to reflect on their school-based physical education experiences. An interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) approach was adopted to guide data collection, analysis, and interpretation for this retrospective study. Eight participants (ages 19 to 32) were enrolled in this study, and semi-structured interviews focused on their physical education experiences acted as the primary data. Transcribed interview data were analyzed using an IPA approach. Three interrelated themes emerged …

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Recent Educational Foundations Requirements By The Commission On Accreditation In Physical Therapy Education For Program Directors Of Physical Therapist Assistant Programs, Sharan Dawn Zirges

Educational Foundations & Leadership Theses & Dissertations

On November 2015, the Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) published position papers for the 2016 changes to the CAPTE standards. One of these position papers discussed the changes in the 2016 standards related to the qualifications for the position of a program director (PD) for a physical therapist assistant. A specific qualification requirement was added stating “experience in educational theory and methodology, instructional design, student evaluation and outcome assessment, including the equivalent of nine academic (semester) credits of coursework in educational foundations.” The effectiveness of this additional requirement has to date not been assessed. The purpose of …

Teaching Social Determinants Of Health In Physical Therapist Professional Education Programs: Exploring Curricular Approaches And Examining An Assessment Tool, Emily Jordan Hawkins

Rehabilitation Sciences Theses & Dissertations

There is a growing emphasis and need for physical therapists (PTs) to serve not only as clinicians but also as advocates to pursue health equity. Clinical practice for preventing and rehabilitating injuries and promoting physical activity will not eliminate health disparities resulting from the social determinants of health (SDH). Leaders in the field of physical therapy have charged physical therapist professional education programs to teach future PTs to address SDH, however, as of August 2023, the Standards and Required Elements for Accreditation of Physical Therapist Education Programs does not specifically require curricular content regarding SDH. The purposes of this dissertation …

Analysis Of Continuous Gait Data Requires Temporal Alignment Of Gait Phases, Elham Alijanpour, Kathryn Riis, Daniel M. Russell

College of Health Sciences Posters

A statistical method for comparing time-continuous curves, such as the kinematics of gait cycles, is statistical parametric mapping analysis (SPM) (Pataky, 2010). According to a recent study, SPM results were sensitive to how each stride's beginning was defined (Honert & Pataky, 2021). Nonetheless, for meaningful comparisons between gait cycles, temporal alignment of phases within a stride may be required (Helwig et al., 2011). With both temporally aligned and unaligned gait data, the goal was to evaluate SPM results for different walking speeds using various gait cycle definitions. Participants in this study were 10 young, healthy adults. To figure out the …

Trust In Human-Robot Interaction Within Healthcare Services: A Review Study, Dedra Townsend, Amirhossein Majidirad

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

There has always been a dilemma of the extent to which human can rely on machines in different activities of daily living. Ranging from riding on a self-driving car to having an iRobot vacuum clean the living room. However, when it comes to healthcare settings where robots are intended to work next to human, making decision gets difficult because repercussions may jeopardize people’s life. That has led scientists and engineers to take one step back and think out of the box. Having concept of trust under scrutiny, this study helps deciphering complex human-robot interaction (HRI) attributes. Screening essential constituents of …

Core Competency-Related Professional Behaviors During Patient Encounters: A Report From The Association For Athletic Training Education Research Network, Cailee E. Welch Bacon, Julie M. Cavallario, Stacy E. Walker, Curtis Bay, Bonnie L. Van Lunen

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

Context: To enhance the quality of patient care, it is important that athletic trainers integrate the components of the core competencies (CCs; evidence-based practice [EBP], patient-centered care [PCC], health information technology [HIT], interprofessional education and collaborative practice [IPECP], quality improvement [QI], professionalism) as a part of routine clinical practice. In what ways, if any, athletic training students (ATSs) are currently integrating CCs into patient encounters (PEs) during clinical experiences is unclear.

Objective: To describe which professional behaviors associated with the CCs were implemented by ATSs during PEs that occurred during clinical experiences.

Design: Multisite panel design.

Setting: A total of …

Content Validation Of The Athletic Training Milestones: A Report From The Association For Athletic Training Education Research Network, Cailee E. Welch Bacon, Barton E. Anderson, Julie M. Cavallario, Bonnie Van Lunen, Lindsey E. Eberman

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

The Athletic Training Milestones were developed as a comprehensive framework to assess athletic trainers' knowledge, skill, and behavior acquisition across the continuum of athletic training practice. However, without established content validity, it is unclear whether the Athletic Training Milestones can be used effectively as a clinical evaluation and research tool to evaluate competence and performance across multiple users and sites. We conducted a highly conservative content validity index (CVI) with data from 12 content experts. Our findings revealed an extremely high overall scale CVI of 0.99, and CVI scores of the 28 individual subcompetency items assessed ranged from 0.83 to …

Cross-Education Balance Effects After Unilateral Rehabilitation In Individuals With Chronic Ankle Instability: A Systematic Review, Briana Lawry-Popelka, Sunghoon Chung, Ryan S. Mccann

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

Objective: To conduct a systematic review of existing literature on cross-education balance effects after unilateral training in the population with chronic ankle instability (CAI).

Data Sources: PubMed, SPORTDiscus, CINAHL Plus.

Study Selection: To be included in the systematic review, studies were required to have been published in English, included participants with CAI, had participants undergo a unilateral therapeutic exercise for the lower extremity, and measured balance performance of the untrained lower extremity before and after the intervention.

Data Extraction: The certainty of evidence in each included study was assessed via the Downs and Black checklist. A score of 24 to …

Characteristics Of Patient Encounters For Athletic Training Students During Clinical Education: A Report From The Aate Research Network, Cailee E. Welch Bacon, Julie M. Cavallario, Stacy E. Walker, R.Curtis Bay, Bonnie L. Van Lunen

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

Context: To enhance the quality of patient care, athletic training students (ATSs) should experience a wide variety of clinical practice settings, interact with diverse patient populations, and engage with patients that have a wide variety of conditions. It is unclear in what ways, if any, ATSs have diverse opportunities during clinical experiences.

Objective: To describe the characteristics of patient encounters (PEs) ATSs engage in during clinical experiences. Design: Multi-site, panel design.

Setting: 12 professional athletic training programs (ATPs; 5 Bachelor, 7 Master's).

Patients or Other Participants: 363 ATSs from the ATPs that used E*Value software to document PEs during clinical …

Executive Functions And Student Success During Physical Therapist Education: An Exploratory Study, Jane Roitsch, Martha L. Walker, Anastasia M. Raymer

Communication Disorders & Special Education Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Clinical reasoning relies on executive functions (EFs) that manage attention, inhibition, organization, and decision-making. Assessment of EFs may help identify students who excel at clinical reasoning, yet data showing this relationship in physical therapy (PT) education programs are lacking. The primary purpose of this exploratory study was to examine EFs in relationship to success in PT educational programs. METHODS: Thirteen third-year PT graduate students completed two EF tests which were compared to culminating scores in the program and admissions scores. RESULTS: A relationship existed between National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) and comprehensive exam results and one EF test score; …

The Influence Of Lumbopelvic Function On Perceived Ankle Function In Individuals With Chronic Ankle Instability, Sunghoon Chung, A. M. B. Suttmiller, K. R. Johnson, R. S. Mccann

College of Health Sciences Posters

Perceived functional impairments measured via patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are associated with reduced postural control ability in CAI patients. Furthermore, hip and trunk neuromuscular impairments are critical factors that can cause decreased postural stability in those with CAI. Identifying the relevance between reduced lumbopelvic function and impaired sensory-perceptual outcomes might direct clinicians to novel methods for CAI patients to improve postural control ability and perceived ankle function. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the relationship between tests of lumbopelvic function and PROs in individuals with CAI. Thirty-three individuals with CAI underwent assessment of transversus abdominis and lumbar multifidus …

The Role Mentoring Plays In The Transition To Practice Of Newly Credentialed Athletic Trainers, Stacy E. Walker, Stephanie Mazerolle Singe, Julie M. Cavallario

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

Context: Mentoring has been identified as an important method of supporting newly credentialed athletic trainers (ATs) during their transition to practice. Gaining a better understanding of this relationship could provide valuable insights that may assist employers and professional programs in developing a plan to better facilitate the transition.

Objective: To examine which aspects of the mentoring relationship provided the most benefit during the transition to practice of newly certified ATs.

Design: Qualitative study.

Setting: Individual phone interviews.

Patients or Other Participants: A total of 13 ATs who graduated from a professional master's program, were certified from February through July 2016, …

Footwear Affects Conventional And Sumo Deadlift Performance, Kevin A. Valenzuela, Kellie A. Walters, Elizabeth L. Avila, Alexis S. Camacho, Fany Alvarado, Hunter J. Bennett

Human Movement Sciences & Special Education Faculty Publications

Barefoot weightlifting has become a popular training modality in recent years due to anecdotal suggestions of improved performance. However, research to support these anecdotal claims is limited. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the differences between the conventional deadlift (CD) and the sumo deadlift (SD) in barefoot and shod conditions. On day one, one-repetition maximums (1 RM) were assessed for thirty subjects in both the CD and SD styles. At least 72 h later, subjects returned to perform five repetitions in four different conditions (barefoot and shod for both CD and SD) at 70% 1 RM. A …

Upper Limb Rehabilitation For Amputees, Michaela Ramandanes

Virginias Collegiate Honors Council Conference

It is estimated that 75% of the 30 million people that need prosthetic devices lack access to the technologies they need. This suggests a need for solutions outside of standard healthcare models. In this work we present a solution by development of a simple, safe and accessible at-home exercise program for individuals with upper limb loss. It is intended to help amputees strengthen the muscles needed to operate body-powered prostheses when muscles have atrophied from lack of use. Extensive research identified the most effective exercises to hinder overuse injuries. The exercises were compiled and published on a website with a …

A Low-Cost Soft Robotic Hand Exoskeleton For Use In Therapy Of Limited Hand–Motor Function, Grant Rudd, Liam Daly, Vukica Jovanovic, Filip Cukov

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

We present the design and validation of a low-cost, customizable and 3D-printed anthropomorphic soft robotic hand exoskeleton for rehabilitation of hand injuries using remotely administered physical therapy regimens. The design builds upon previous work done on cable actuated exoskeleton designs by implementing the same kinematic functionality, but with the focus shifted to ease of assembly and cost effectiveness as to allow patients and physicians to manufacture and assemble the hardware necessary to implement treatment. The exoskeleton was constructed solely from 3D-printed and widely available of-the-shelf components. Control of the actuators was realized using an Arduino microcontroller, with a custom-designed shield …

Effectiveness Of Surf Therapy For Children With Disabilities, Emily D. Clapham, Linda S. Lamont, Minsuk Shim, Shabnam Lateef, Cortney N. Armitano

Human Movement Sciences & Special Education Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Few researchers have examined the effects of surf programs on children with disabilities. Due to previous research findings, surfing is being used, as the focus of physical activity intervention due to its numerous health and therapeutic benefits.

OBJECTIVE/HYPOTHESIS: The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of an eight-week surfing intervention on various physical fitness measures in 71 children with disabilities such as autism spectrum disorder, down syndrome, global developmental delays, and cerebral palsy. The study also sought to compare the differences in overall fitness levels between the surf therapy group and an unstructured pool playgroup. Researchers …

A 4-Week Multimodal Intervention For Individuals With Chronic Ankle Instability: Examination Of Disease-Oriented And Patient-Oriented Outcomes, Cameron J. Powden, Johanna M. Hoch, Beth E. Jamali, Matthew C. Hoch

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

Context Individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI) experience disease- and patient-oriented impairments that contribute to both immediate and long-term health detriments. Investigators have demonstrated the ability of targeted interventions to improve these impairments. However, the combined effects of a multimodal intervention have not been evaluated for their effects on a multidimensional profile of health.

Objective To examine the effects of a 4-week rehabilitation program on disease- and patient-oriented impairments associated with CAI.

Design Controlled laboratory study.

Setting Laboratory.

Patients or Other Participants Twenty adults (5 males, 15 females; age = 24.35 ± 6.95 years, height = 169.29 ± 10.10 cm, …

Response Shift After A 4-Week Multimodal Intervention For Chronic Ankle Instability, Cameron J. Powden, Matthew C. Hoch, Beth E. Jamali, Johanna M. Hoch

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

Context The accurate evaluation of self-reported changes in function throughout the rehabilitation process is important for determining patient progression. Currently, how a response shift (RS) may affect the accuracy of self-reported functional assessment in a population with chronic ankle instability (CAI) is unknown.

Objective To examine the RS in individuals with CAI after a 4-week multimodal rehabilitation program.

Design Controlled laboratory study.

Setting Laboratory.

Patients or Other Participants Twenty adults (5 men, 15 women; age = 24.35 ± 6.95 years, height = 169.29 ± 10.10 cm, mass = 70.58 ± 12.90 kg) with self-reported CAI participated. Inclusion criteria were at …

Physiological Tremor In Handgun Aiming And Shooting Tasks, Kyle J. Kellran

Human Movement Sciences & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

When holding an outstretched limb or aiming at a target, humans produce small involuntary fluctuations that may hamper performance. Current strategies for minimizing the impact of tremulous oscillations predominantly include both extrinsic and intrinsic support. The aim of the current dissertation is to better understand the parameters of physiological tremor associated with handgun aiming with the end goal of improving shooting accuracy. Experiment 1 focused on handgun aiming and the influence of different arm posture adopted during aiming. Experiment 2 expanded upon the findings of experiment 1 by comparing tremor during finger pointing, handgun aiming, and handgun shooting. Experiment 3 …

The Effect Of An Interprofessional Registered Nurse-Physical Therapist Team On Reducing Prescribed Opioid Dependence In Patients With Chronic Lower Back Pain, Amber Chesney, Stephanie Jan, Amanda Pedrazoli, Brandon Simmons, Kaylene Woods, Nicole Yeats

OUR Journal: ODU Undergraduate Research Journal

Long-term prescribed opioid use for chronic pain is shown to reduce recovery potential and increase risk for dependence, which is contributing to the nationwide opioid crisis. There is a need for an innovative, multidisciplinary approach to address prescription opioid dependence. We propose implementation of a community-based interprofessional registered nurse-physical therapist team (IRNPTT) focused on reduction of opioid dependence in adult patients with chronic lower back pain.

Somatosensory Deficits In Post-Acl Reconstruction Patients: A Case-Control Study, Johanna M. Hoch, William O. Perkins, Jonathan R. Hartman, Matthew C. Hoch

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

Introduction: Diminished cutaneous detection thresholds have been identified in patients with multiple orthopedic conditions, and these phenomena may occur in postanterior cruciate ligament reconstructed (ACLR) patients. The purpose of this study was to determine if differences in lower extremity cutaneous detection thresholds exist in post-ACLR patients when compared with healthy controls. Methods: Fifteen individuals who were post-ACLR and 15 individuals who had no history of knee injury participated. Light touch cutaneous detection thresholds were assessed at 4 locations on the foot and ankle (first metatarsal, fifth metatarsal, medial malleolus, and lateral malleolus). Nonparametric statistics examined group differences between the …

The Effects Of Low-Intensity Therapeutic Ultrasound On Measurable Outcomes: A Critically Appraised Topic, Sarah Daniels, Gabriela Santiago, Jennifer Cuchna, Bonnie Van Lunen

Nursing Faculty Publications

Therapeutic ultrasound (US) is a popular modality among health care professionals and is used to treat a variety of musculoskeletal conditions. A new technology has been established to allow for the miniaturization of the US unit. Patients receive treatment with the device secured to them, eliminating the portability constraint of traditional US units. Early studies suggest that this portable unit can deliver low-intensity acoustic energy achieving the same temperature increase and pain relief that come from traditional US units, in a more versatile and patient-friendly manner. Clinical Question: What effects does low-intensity therapeutic ultrasound (LITUS) have on measurable outcomes? Summary …

Gait Speed And Confidence Levels In Persons Using 1 And 2 Canes While Walking A 4-M Course, Marion A. Lisenby

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

This is the first article that the researcher is aware of that compares walking speed and confidence levels with 1 cane versus 2 canes. An observational study was conducted with 30 participants who had difficulty walking. Gait speed was assessed on a 4-m course with the participants using 1 cane, then 2 canes. Of 30 participants, 28 walked faster and demonstrated improved confidence with 2 canes. Use of 2 canes with gait might be a technique that people want to consider to improve confidence or to improve walking speed, or improve both.

Occupational Therapy And Physiotherapy Education And Workforce In Anglophone Sub-Saharan Africa Countries, Augustine O. Agho, Emmanuel B. John

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

Background: Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries are faced with the challenge of educating a critical mass of occupational therapists (OTs) and physiotherapists (PTs) to meet the growing demand for health and rehabilitation services. The World Federation of Occupational Therapy (WFOT) and World Confederation of Physical Therapy (WCPT) have argued for the need of graduate-level training for OTs and PTs for decades. However, very few studies have been conducted to determine the availability of OT and PT training programs and practitioners in SSA countries.

Methods: Initial data were collected and compiled from an extensive literature search conducted using MEDLINE and PubMed to …

The Effect Of Magnification Loupes On Posture During Instrumentation By Dental Hygienists, Emily Anne Ludwig

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of dental magnification loupes on posture during instrumentation. Methods: A convenience sample of twenty-seven righthanded dental hygienists with no history of injuries or disabilities of the head, neck, and trunk regions was enrolled. Baseline posture calibration was taken. Accelerometers were placed on four locations of the head and trunk (occipital pole of head, cervical vertebrae: C5, thoracic vertebrae: T5, lumbar vertebrae: L1) to measure changes in posture. Accelerations in three axes were recorded (anterior/posterior (AP), medial/lateral (ML), vertical (VT)). Mean accelerations of the three axes were used to compute …

The Effects Of Instrument Handle Design On Forearm Muscle Activity During Scaling By Dental Hygienists, Jessica Rae Suedbeck

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of 4 different commercially available instrument handle designs (A. 16 grams and 12.7 mm diameter; B. 23 grams and 11.1 mm diameter; C. 21 grams and 7.9 mm diameter; D. 18 grams and 6.35 mm diameter) on the muscle activity of four forearm muscles during a simulated scaling experience. Methods: A convenience sample of 27 dental hygienists used a Columbia 13/14 curet with four different instrument handles to scale artificial calculus. While scaling, each participant’s muscle activity was measured using surface electromyography (sEMG). Participants completed an end user opinion …

Measures Of Functional Performance And Their Association With Hip And Thigh Strength, Roger Kollack, Bonnie L. Van Lunen, Stacie I. Ringleb, James M. Oñate

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

Context: Insufficient hip and thigh strength may increase an athlete's susceptibility to injury. However, screening for strength deficits using isometric and isokinetic instrumentation may not be practical in all clinical scenarios.

Objective: To determine if functional performance tests are valid indicators of hip and thigh strength.

Design: Descriptive laboratory study.

Setting: Research laboratory.

Patients or Other Participants: Sixty-two recreationally athletic men (n = 30, age = 21.07 years, height = 173.84 cm, mass = 81.47 kg) and women (n = 32, age = 21.03 years, height = 168.77 cm, mass = 68.22 kg) participants were recruited.

Intervention(s): During session 1, …

Health-Related Quality Of Life In Physically Active Individuals With A History Of Injury, Megan N. Houston

Human Movement Sciences & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

Individuals around the globe engage in physical activity for personal interest or general health and fitness. Although participation in regular physical activity is important for general health it also brings with it the risk of injury. Ankle sprains, anterior cruciate ligament tears, and concussions are just a few of the injuries sustained by physically active individuals with long-term implications. With the number of physically active individuals on the rise, sports-related injuries are of growing concern.

Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is a personal evaluation of everyday functioning and well-being. A variety of injuries and health conditions associated with physical activity …

Future Directions Of Evidence-Based Practice In Athletic Training: Perceived Strategies To Enhance The Use Of Evidence-Based Practice, Cailee E. Welch, Dorice A. Hankemeier, Aimee L. Wyant, Danica G. Hays, William A. Pitney, Bonnie L. Van Lunen

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

Context: The shift to a culture of evidence-based practice (EBP) in athletic training is a necessary step in both the optimization of patient care and the advancement of athletic trainers (ATs) as health care professionals. Whereas individuals have gained knowledge in this area, most ATs still are not practicing in an evidence-based manner. Exploring perceived strategies to enhance the use of EBP will help to determine the best approaches to assist ATs in applying EBP concepts to practice to improve patient care.

Objective: To explore beneficial strategies and techniques ATs perceived would promote successful implementation of EBP within athletic training …