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An Analysis Of Strength Training Implementation In Ballet, Claire Hoover May 2024

An Analysis Of Strength Training Implementation In Ballet, Claire Hoover

Senior Honors Theses

Ballet, a style of dance that is known for its 180-degree external rotation, extreme precision, discipline, and aesthetics, is an athletic activity that is undertaken by many young people, particularly females. Although ballet has many athletic components, recent studies have shown there are a variety of weaknesses that impact its participants, including the female athlete triad, lack of lower extremity muscular strength, risk of injury, and overtraining. According to recent research, strength training, although not historically paired with ballet, could minimize ballet dancers’ deficiencies by increasing muscular strength and reducing risk of injury and incidence of the female athlete triad. …


Blood Flow Restriction Therapy: A Review Of Physiology, Clinical Application, And Guidelines For Implementation, Nathan Schuliger Apr 2024

Blood Flow Restriction Therapy: A Review Of Physiology, Clinical Application, And Guidelines For Implementation, Nathan Schuliger

Senior Honors Theses

Blood flow restriction (BFR) therapy is an emerging clinical modality utilizing the metabolic stress of a hypoxic state to induce hypertrophic and strength adaptations in a manner allowing for reduced external loading. BFR has a variety of applications in rehabilitation settings, showing great potential for patients seeking the benefits of high intensity training without the associated degrees of mechanical stress. This literature review details the proposed mechanisms of BFR, along with various clinical applications of BFR including active and aerobic BFR. Concerns and contraindications for BFR usage are discussed regarding certain clinical populations, with risk stratification recommendations provided. Current BFR …


The Effect Of Running On The Onset And Development Of Osteoarthritis, Jordan Hekman May 2023

The Effect Of Running On The Onset And Development Of Osteoarthritis, Jordan Hekman

Senior Honors Theses

Osteoarthritis is a prominent and debilitating form of joint disease characterized by pain and deterioration of the articular cartilage and other tissues in the affected joint. Research has identified a variety of risk factors for osteoarthritis, including age, obesity, gender, previous injury, and occupation. The relationship between running and osteoarthritis is a topic of particular interest because of the prevalence of running as a simple and physiologically beneficial form of exercise. Increasing evidence suggests that recreational running has at worst no effect and at best a protective effect on joint and articular cartilage health in contrast to high-intensity professional/elite-level running …


Home Exercise Program Adherence In Physical Therapy: Application Of The Transtheoretical Model, Charis Brown Apr 2023

Home Exercise Program Adherence In Physical Therapy: Application Of The Transtheoretical Model, Charis Brown

Senior Honors Theses

Home exercise programs (HEPs) are a foundational component of physical therapy (PT). However, the majority of patients are not compliant with their HEP; they lack the motivation and habits necessary to be compliant. The transtheoretical model (TTM) is a framework for understanding the decision-making of the individual and is a model of intentional change. When properly understood and applied, the TTM can improve a physical therapist’s ability to help patients to change their behavior and to become HEP compliant. This paper seeks to address patient exercise noncompliance by educating and instructing physical therapists in the application of the TTM, which …


Therapeutic Exercise Programming For Nonspecific Low Back Pain, Kendal F. Huepper Dec 2022

Therapeutic Exercise Programming For Nonspecific Low Back Pain, Kendal F. Huepper

Senior Honors Theses

Nonspecific low back pain is a prevalent cause of injury and disability in the world today. However, most people with this condition continue to live in discomfort because they do not know how reduce their pain. Exercise is one of the many ways that those with lumbar pain can find relief. By combining a wide variety of exercises that have been shown to reduce pain while increasing strength, range of motion, activity, and functionality, this thesis attempts to create an evidence-based generalized therapeutic exercise program that those with nonspecific low back pain can utilize to live an active and healthy …


Hamstring And Quadriceps Strength Ratio In Collegiate Wrestlers, Jesse Redding Apr 2022

Hamstring And Quadriceps Strength Ratio In Collegiate Wrestlers, Jesse Redding

Senior Honors Theses

ACL injuries are a significant risk for athletes across sports. One of the sports that reports the highest rate of ACL injury is wrestling. The mechanism of injury among wrestlers appears to be unique and has limited data compared to other sports. Several nonmodifiable risk factors have been studied for ACL injury, as well as several modifiable risk factors that include BMI, muscular composition, and high-risk movements. The hamstring to quadriceps strength ratio (H:Q) is one aspect of muscular composition that has received little attention in collegiate wrestlers. The purpose of this study was to analyze the H:Q strength ratio …


The Effects Of Glute Strengthening And Hip Mobility On Patellar Tendinopathy – A Case Study, Jessica Stephenson Apr 2021

The Effects Of Glute Strengthening And Hip Mobility On Patellar Tendinopathy – A Case Study, Jessica Stephenson

Senior Honors Theses

Patellar Tendinopathy is a chronic condition that effects a large number of the athletic population. There have been many treatments used for this condition, yet few of them are acceptable for an athlete placing a large amount of stress on the lower extremities. This case study examines the effects of glute strengthening and increasing hip mobility on a track and field athlete suffering from Patellar Tendinopathy. Many measures including health-related questionnaires, pain-rating scales, and performance were evaluated to determine the outcome of the treatment. After a two-week treatment time, the athlete exhibited lower pain during rest and performance, better quality …


The Importance Of Psychosocial Considerations In The Injury Rehabilitation Of Elite Athletes, Sydney Pierce Apr 2021

The Importance Of Psychosocial Considerations In The Injury Rehabilitation Of Elite Athletes, Sydney Pierce

Senior Honors Theses

The psychological and emotional impact of sustaining a long-term injury to elite athletes demonstrates the need for an improved rehabilitative approach in sports medicine. Sports medicine is a healthcare profession that requires regular interaction with other people, specifically athletes, medical training as well as knowledge of human and sport psychology. Within the current model of sports rehabilitation practices, decisions pertaining to the timeline and progression of elite athletes’ recovery are based primarily on the physical damage from injury. Unfortunately, the focus often remains solely on the physical injury, disregarding an athlete’s psychosocial responses, which limits sports medicine professionals’ ability to …


The Role Of Horticultural Therapy In The Treatment Of Refugees With Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Molly Nadeau Apr 2019

The Role Of Horticultural Therapy In The Treatment Of Refugees With Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Molly Nadeau

Senior Honors Theses

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) cites that there are an unprecedented number of refugees. As of 2017, over 68.5 million people have been forcibly displaced from their homes, with 25.4 million of this group being classified as refugees (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, 2018). Often, mental health issues arise from the trauma that they face. Recently, the use of horticultural therapy, which uses gardening and plant-based activities as a form of treatment, has shown mental health improvements in military veterans and active duty soldiers diagnosed with stress related disorders. This paper will describe the role of …


A Study Of Music: Music Psychology, Music Therapy, And Worship Music, Jessica Whittemore Apr 2019

A Study Of Music: Music Psychology, Music Therapy, And Worship Music, Jessica Whittemore

Senior Honors Theses

There are three specific fields related to music: the psychology of Music and how it affects human brain and functions, the methodology of Music Therapy and how it affects individuals undergoing treatment, and the psychological effects of Worship Music and how it can be used in music therapy. Music therapy is a growing field in which the therapeutic outcomes greatly benefit the patients. The overall purpose is to create a greater understanding of music and music therapy in order to a provide a system for introducing group worship services into music therapy to ultimately bring spiritual healing to individuals.


The Pairing Of Trigger Point Dry Needling With Rehabilitation Techniques, Karle Kotze Apr 2019

The Pairing Of Trigger Point Dry Needling With Rehabilitation Techniques, Karle Kotze

Senior Honors Theses

Trigger point dry needling is a manual treatment modality used for individuals experiencing tightness, pain, and inhibited range of motion in any region of the body. Dry needling can be described as the insertion of a blunt, microfilament non-medicated needle into the skin for the purpose of targeting specific muscles, which contain tight bands known as trigger points. When the needle is inserted into the trigger point the muscle contracts, holds tight to the needle, and elicits a neural twitch response. This ultimately causes the muscle to relax, allowing for reduction in pain and improvements in range of motion. Although …


The Links Between Motivational Techniques, Successful Physical Therapists, And Successful Rehab Clinics, Abigail Alyse Richmond Jan 2019

The Links Between Motivational Techniques, Successful Physical Therapists, And Successful Rehab Clinics, Abigail Alyse Richmond

Senior Honors Theses

There is a strong positive correlation between a successful physical therapist (PT), their clinic, and the motivational techniques used during therapy. The PT should be prepared to sit down with each patient and set short- and long-term goals to help them accomplish what they desire through therapy. Effective communication skills, practical skills and technique, individualized care, and organizational and environmental factors are the four major aspects that define patient-therapist relationships. Patient adherence to their home exercise program (HEP) is vital to a successful rehabilitation, and therefore the PT’s goal should be to help the patient understand the importance of the …


Supplemental Training And Injury Prevention In The Sport Of Ultra-Running, Jessica M. Heidebrink May 2018

Supplemental Training And Injury Prevention In The Sport Of Ultra-Running, Jessica M. Heidebrink

Senior Honors Theses

By definition, ultra-marathon running is a sport that covers any distance above the 26.2-mile marathon distance in a single race. The mountains of Virginia host many ultra-marathon races that attract endurance runners from all over the nation to participate. Training is an essential component of running an ultra. Although there is not one specific way to train for an ultra, there is research that correlates the success of the top ultra-runners and their training preferences regarding supplemental training and injury prevention. To gain a more complete understanding of how to prepare for a successful ultra-marathon, an online survey was created …


Spinal Cord Trauma: An Overview Of Normal Structure And Function, Primary And Secondary Mechanisms Of Injury, And Emerging Treatment Modalities, Daniel Morin May 2018

Spinal Cord Trauma: An Overview Of Normal Structure And Function, Primary And Secondary Mechanisms Of Injury, And Emerging Treatment Modalities, Daniel Morin

Senior Honors Theses

The structures of the spinal cord and vertebral column are designed to provide flexibility, while still providing ample protection for the spinal cord deep within. While it does offer remarkable protection against most routine trauma, the spinal cord is still vulnerable to high-force etiologies of trauma and may become damaged as a result. These events are referred to as primary injury. Following the initial injury, the body’s own physiological responses cause a cascade of deleterious effects, known as secondary injury. Secondary injury is a major therapeutic target in mitigating the effects of spinal cord injury (SCI), and much research is …


To Heal, Escape: Using Theatre Arts To Promote Holistic Health In The Clinical Setting, John Filegar Nov 2017

To Heal, Escape: Using Theatre Arts To Promote Holistic Health In The Clinical Setting, John Filegar

Senior Honors Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to provide an argument for the implementation of theatre arts therapy in the clinical setting. The effects of traditional art therapies involving visual arts, expressive arts, and music on the holistic health of the patient in the clinical setting have been thoroughly researched and understood. However, the extent of the influence of theatre arts therapy on the holistic health of individuals in the clinical setting lacks sufficient evidence and therefore cannot be compared to the influence of traditional art therapies on the holistic health of individuals in the same setting. Following an overview on …


The Psychological And Physical Rehabilitation Of Amputees, Victoria Ramos Apr 2016

The Psychological And Physical Rehabilitation Of Amputees, Victoria Ramos

Senior Honors Theses

Since physical therapy requires constant interaction with other people, it is a career that requires not only medical knowledge, but knowledge of the human psychology as well. A physical therapist may be well versed in recovery techniques, but how will he or she get the patient motivated if the patient is not motivated to begin with? Every person is different. Rehabilitation of amputees is a delicate process that requires significant work over an extended time period. Many factors are involved during the preoperative phase, as well as the postoperative phase. However, by being aware of the patient’s mental status and …


The Effects Of Obesity On Human Ambulation: A Lower Joint Analysis, Laura Gilbert Apr 2014

The Effects Of Obesity On Human Ambulation: A Lower Joint Analysis, Laura Gilbert

Senior Honors Theses

The effects of obesity on the body are complex and numerous especially when combining the effects on an already multi-faceted and multi-systems action such as human ambulation. This study summarizes a wide range of research performed, which investigated the effects of obesity on human ambulation. The effects are broken down into categories including osteoarthritis, replacement surgery, center of mass, stepping cycle, muscular activation, and specifics of the hip, knee and ankle joints as well as foot changes. The overwhelming majority of studies have found obesity to negatively impact ambulation by shifting center of mass (COM), increasing metabolic cost, decreasing cadence …


The Fenzian Unit: Applications To Physical Therapy And Beyond, Jeshua Paul Spadino Mr. Apr 2014

The Fenzian Unit: Applications To Physical Therapy And Beyond, Jeshua Paul Spadino Mr.

Senior Honors Theses

The field of physical therapy includes many different treatment options in the form of exercises and modalities. The development of a low electrical stimulation signal through the Fenzian unit has provided a new outlook on healing. This device gives information to and receives information from the central nervous system (CNS) through electro-biofeedback and is separated into its own category of modalities. The device can be used to treat a wide range of ailments, all with no adverse effects. This makes it a promising tool in the medical field. It is currently being validated as an authentic medical device through clinical …


Incidence And Prevention Of Injury Of The Anterior Cruciate Ligament In Females, Arielle E. Gillie Apr 2011

Incidence And Prevention Of Injury Of The Anterior Cruciate Ligament In Females, Arielle E. Gillie

Senior Honors Theses

According to the American College of Sports Medicine, women are two to eight times more likely to sustain an anterior cruciate ligament injury than men at the same level of performance. This high incidence of women with an ACL injury is thought to be due to a number of gender differences. This study examines the research that has been conducted to determine the reason for the disproportionate incidence of anterior cruciate ligament in female population. The study encompasses anatomical structure of the knee joint, structural differences in the male and female knee, hormonal influences, biomechanical influences, neuromuscular influences, and strategies …