Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Incorporating Kettlebells Into A Lower Extremity Sports Rehabilitation Program, Jason Brumitt, Hui En Gilpin, Merideth Brunette, Erik P. Meira

Faculty Publications - College of Physical Therapy

The primary goal of a sports rehabilitation program is to return the injured athlete back to competition as quickly and as safely as possible. Sports physical therapists utilize a variety of exercise equipment to help an athlete restore function after an injury. An injured athlete’s therapeutic exercise program frequently includes the prescription of functional strengthening and power exercises during the later stages of rehabilitation. One piece of exercise equipment, the kettlebell, has gained popularity for its ability to allow the user to perform functional power exercises. The unique exercises that can be performed with kettlebells may have utility in sports …

Repetitive Eccentric Muscle Contractions Increase Torque Unsteadiness In The Human Triceps Brachii, Andrew Mezsaros, Masaki Iguchi, Shuo-Hsiu Chang, Richard K. Shields

Faculty Publications - College of Physical Therapy

Torque steadiness and low-frequency fatigue (LFF) were examined in the human triceps brachii after concentric or eccentric fatigue protocols. Healthy young males (n = 17) performed either concentric or eccentric elbow extensor contractions until the eccentric maximal voluntary torque decreased to 75% of pre-fatigue for both (concentric and eccentric) protocols. The number of concentric contractions was greater than the number of eccentric contractions needed to induce the same 25% decrease in eccentric MVC torque (52.2 ± 2.9 vs. 41.5 ± 2.1 for the concentric and eccentric protocols, respectively, p < .01). The extent of peripheral fatigue was 12% greater after the concentric compared to the eccentric protocol (twitch amplitude), whereas LFF (increase in double pulse torque/single pulse torque), was similar across protocols. Steadiness, or the ability for a subject to hold a submaximal isometric contraction, was 20% more inpaired during the Ecc protocol (p = .052). Similarly, the EMG activity required to hold the torque steady was nearly 20% greater after the eccentric compared to concentric protocol. These findings support that task dependent eccentric contractions preferentially alter CNS control during a precision based steadiness task.

Minimizing Injuries And Enhancing Performance In Golf Through Training Programs, Erik P. Meira, Jason Brumitt

Faculty Publications - College of Physical Therapy

Context: Golf is a popular sport, particularly in older populations. Regardless of age and skill level, golfers risk injury to the back, shoulder, wrist and hand, elbow, and knee. Because of the unique compressive, shear, rotational, and lateral bending forces created in the lumbar region during the golf swing, the primary sport-related malady experienced by amateurs and professionals is low back pain. Extrinsic and intrinsic injury risk factors have been reported in the literature. A growing body of evidence supports the prescription of strength training routines to enhance performance and reduce the risk of injury.

Evidence Acquisition: Relevant studies were …

Deep Posterior Compartment Strength And Foot Kinematics In Subjects With Stage Ii Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction, Christopher Neville, Adolph S. Flemister, Jeff Houck

Faculty Publications - College of Physical Therapy

Background: Tibialis posterior muscle weakness has been documented in subjects with Stage II posterior tibial tendon dysfunction (PTTD) but the effect of weakness on foot structure remains unclear. The association between strength and flatfoot kinematics may guide treatment such as the use of strengthening programs targeting the tibialis posterior muscle.

Materials and Methods: Thirty Stage II PTTD subjects (age; 58.1 ± 10.5 years, BMI 30.6 ± 5.4) and 15 matched controls (age; 56.5 ± 7.7 years, BMI 30.6 ± 3.6) volunteered for this study. Deep Posterior Compartment strength was measured from both legs of each subject and the strength ratio …

Achilles Pain, Stiffness, And Muscle Power Deficits: Achilles Tendinitis, Christopher C. Carcia, Robroy L. Martin, Jeff Houck, Dane K. Wukich

Faculty Publications - College of Physical Therapy

The Orthopaedic Section of the American Physical Therapy Association presents this sixth set of clinical practice guidelines on Achilles pain, stiffness, and muscle power deficits that are characteristic of Achilles Tendinitis. These clinical practice guidelines are linked to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF). The purpose of these practice guidelines is to describe evidence-based orthopaedic physical therapy clinical practice and provide recommendations for (1) examination and diagnostic classification based on body functions and body structures, activity limitations, and participation restrictions, (2) interventions provided by physical therapists, (3) and assessment of outcome for common musculoskeletal disorders.

Oasis Inter-Rater Reliability And Reimbursement: A Study Of Inter-Rater Reliability Of The Outcome And Assessment Information Set (Oasis): Its Effects On The Home Health Resource Group (Hhrg) And Reimbursement, Paul A. Shew

Faculty Publications - College of Physical Therapy

One of the outcomes of the initial Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS) is to establish a level of reimbursement through the Medicare Prospective Payment System (PPS). Several inter-rater reliability (IRR) studies have noted differences in responses to individual questions within the OASIS but little is known about how variations in scoring might affect the final reimbursement projection. In a one-way repeated measures design study, the OASIS was completed on 52 patients by both an RN and a PT within a 24-hour timeframe and the projected reimbursement rates were compared. Fifty-four percent of the outcomes of the assessment pairs were …

Patient Factors In The Selection Of Operative Versus Nonoperative Treatment For Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction, Kathryn O'Connor, Judith Baumhauer, Jeff R. Houck

Faculty Publications - College of Physical Therapy

Background: The influence of demographic, medical history, and treatment variables on the maintenance of nonoperative care or progression to operative intervention in Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfuction (PTTD) was explored. This retrospective study compared demographic, medical history and treatment variables between operative and nonoperative care in subjects with PTTD.

Materials and Methods: Charts with the ICD-9 codes (726.72, 726.90) and brace distribution records for 2005 and 2006 were used to identify subjects. From these, 166 of 606 charts included documentation of PTTD. Variables were grouped into three categories including demographics (Age, body mass index, gender and working status), medical (stage, symptom …