Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

The Physiological Demands Of A Division Iii Field Hockey Goalie: A Case Study, Kayla Brady, Sarah Miller-Richards

Student Scholar Showcase

It is essential to evaluate the physiological demands of the sport of field hockey, specifically of a division III field hockey goalie. There has been limited research on this sport, let alone on the position of goalies. Some recent studies have evaluated ice hockey goalies on their anthropometrics, upper and lower body strength, power output, and aerobic capacity. The purpose of this study was to examine the physiological demands and performance profile of a division III field hockey goalkeeper. A division III goalie went through several baseline tests including anthropometrics, resting and maximum heart rate, upper and lower one rep …

The Invisible Epidemic: A Concussion Assessment Among University Faculty And Staff, Emily R. Brown, Jacqueline D. Villanueva Arevalo

Student Scholar Showcase

Background: The present body of research is deficient, and institutions frequently lack defined return-to-learn policies for students who have incurred or been diagnosed with a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI)/concussion.

Purpose: This research study aims to determine the level of knowledge and awareness university faculty and staff currently have at a private university in the Mid-Atlantic Region.

Participants: 64 collegiate faculty and academic staff

Methods: A Cross-sectional, web-based Faculty and Staff Concussion Awareness and Knowledge survey was completed by participants, consisting of 9 demographic, 21 Likert Scale, and 1 multiple-option question.

Results: Initial descriptive and frequency statistics of the 64 …

Evaluation Of Concussion Assessment Tools For Collegiate Athletes, Jacqueline D. Villanueva Arevalo, Emily R. Brown

Student Scholar Showcase

BACKGROUND: Due to the increase in sports-related concussions in the United States, there is a rising concern about concussion assessments in collegiate athletes with regard to long term vestibular ocular motor dysfunction and post-concussion syndrome.

PURPOSE: Due to varying practices in concussion diagnosis, this systematic review analyzed three concussion diagnostic instruments, The King Devick, Screening Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT-5), and Vestibular Oculomotor Screening Tool (VOMS), to determine the most appropriate instrument(s) for reducing vestibular ocular-motor dysfunction and post-concussion symptoms in collegiate athletes.

METHODS: Nested Knowledge was used to identify articles from PubMed, Europe Pubmed Central, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases. Key search …

Recommendations For Providers To Improve Quality Of Care & Health Outcomes For Patients With Tick-Borne Diseases, Kayla G. Hugate, Jennifer Hall

Student Scholar Showcase

Background: Healthcare providers lack knowledge about tick-borne diseases related to recognition, diagnosis, treatments, and communication. With the number of ticks and types of tick-borne diseases increasing, it is vital that providers know how to effectively diagnose, manage and treat a TBD patient.

Methods: A mixed method survey was implemented in 2021 with persons diagnosed with a tick-borne disease to explore their experiences with diagnosis, management and treatment. The survey was posted on TBD social media pages and sent through email snowballing. Thematic analysis was used to code results from three open-ended questions.

Results: A total of 434 …

Post-Intensive Care Syndrome Prevention And Detection In Covid-19 Patients, Bethany Sloane Melega

Student Scholar Showcase

COVID-19 has impacts on patient health beyond the hospital. The trauma that patients, and families of patients, can experience during an admission to an intensive care unit (ICU) can last long after discharge from the ICU and the hospital in general. The psychological and physical impacts of ICU hospitalization can cause patients to experience Post Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS). PICS is the culmination of symptoms that persist after a critical illness that involve all aspects of a patient’s physical and mental well-being and can significantly affect family life and increase recovery time. Due to the strict personal-protective equipment (PPE) usage …

Animal-Assisted Therapy In The Intensive Care Unit, Amanda M. Pugh

Student Scholar Showcase

This paper will explore animal-assisted therapy used in intensive care units. Patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) are at risk for developing an array of complications called post-intensive care syndrome, which can negatively affect patients’ psychological, motor, and cognitive abilities. While the widespread use of animal-assisted therapy in the ICU is still in need of improvement, studies have shown animal-assisted therapy can improve depression and anxiety, increase motor function, and strengthen patient participation in treatment. This is significant because the benefits of animal-assisted therapy can counteract the symptoms related to post-intensive care syndrome. The studies will be analyzed, and …

Evaluation Of Resting Metabolic Rate Between Sex And Sport Type Of D3 Athletes., Alissa Anderson

Student Scholar Showcase

Introduction: Sex, muscle characaterstics, and training have been shown to affect resting metabolic rate (RMR) of elite level athletes. However, there is little known about the resting metabolic rates of non-elite Division 3 athletes.

Purpose: Therefore the purpose of this research study is to observe differences in resting metabolic rate among different types of various Division 3 athletic male and female teams.

Methods: University of Lynchburg Division 3 athletes between the ages of 18-22 were recruited to have their RMR, body composition, and anthropometrics assessed . 4 athletes were recruited from each of the following teams based on sex and …

Investigating Alternative Induction Of The S. Aureus 80a Prophage, Jody Caretti

Student Scholar Showcase

Widespread antibiotic resistance has quickly become one of the most concerning crises affecting modern medicine, especially in cases of Staphylococcal infections, which have become resistant to all ��-lactam antibiotics. As a result, research into alternative forms of treatment for bacterial infections is a top priority. Bacteriophage therapy is a popular candidate for replacing antibiotics, due to the way the viruses interact with the bacteria. The 80�� prophage integrates its DNA into Staphylococcus aureus strain 10616 via the lysogenic cycle, and replicates with the bacterial cell. When stressed, the bacteria stop replicating and the prophage stimulates the lytic cycle, activating transcription …

Comparison Of Head Impact Mechanisms And Type Of Play For Women’S Lacrosse Over 4 Years, Jessica Riquelme

Student Scholar Showcase

Context: Lacrosse is a fast growing contact sport, minimal studies have examined head impacts in women’s lacrosse.

Objective: To compare head impact mechanisms and type of play in women’s lacrosse.

Design: Descriptive epidemiology study.

Setting: Collegiate lacrosse fields.

Participants: 29 women’s lacrosse players (age=20.39±0.39 years, height=162.13+6.50 cm, mass=60.99+4.82 kg) participated over years. Intervention: Participants wore xPatch sensors during games and practices.

Main Outcomes Measures: Peak linear (PLA; g) and rotational (PRA; deg/sec²) accelerations of head impacts.

Results: Stick to head impacts occurred most often (IR=483.87, CI₉₅=397.30-570.45); whereas, head …

Comparing Men’S Soccer Head Impact Characteristics Over A Three Year Time Period, Karlie Ennis

Student Scholar Showcase

By studying head impacts over multiple seasons, injury patterns may be recognized which can lead to rule changes and other injury reduction measures. The purpose of our study was to compare head impact characteristics (impact location and mechanism) in men’s soccer over 3 years. We recruited 26 NCAA Division III intercollegiate male soccer players (age=19.64±1.25 years, height=181.70±5.80 cm, mass=76.98±10.19 kg) over 3years. X2 Biosystems xPatch sensors measured frequency and magnitude of all head impacts over a 10 g threshold. The overall male soccer player IR was 7.50/1000 athlete-exposures (CI₉₅=2.85-12.15). The most common head impact mechanism was ball …

An Anatomical And Functional Analysis Of Digital Arteries, Katie Highsmith

Student Scholar Showcase

Blood flow to the tissue of the hands and digits is efficiently regulated by vasoconstriction and vasodilation. Through a series of cadaveric dissection, we examined arteries in the hands and digits, including ulnar artery, radial artery, palmar arteries, and digital arteries, for their distribution (branching) patterns and morphological parameters (e.g., thickness, length between branches, external and internal diameters). Using data directly collected from three female cadavers as input variables to our mathematical model, we simulated vasoconstriction (-20% and -10% diameter) and vasodilation (+10% and +20 diameter) to evaluate the extent of changes in blood volume and flow within the arteries. …

Exploration Of Prostate Cancer Cells: The Significance Of Active Herv, Dakota Shepherd

Student Scholar Showcase

The second most common cancer in men is prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is traditionally diagnosed by a digital rectal exam. Blood tests can also be used to test for PSA (prostate-specific antigen). These two methods can be used together but can sometimes provide both false negative and false positive results. A new method of testing for prostate cancer could prove to be beneficial. Previous studies have shown that active HERV sequences have been identified in some cancers, including prostate cancer. We hypothesize that the presence of active HERV in prostate cancer lines is significant. In this study, rabbit polyclonal antibodies …

Mobilization Of Calcium Across Mineralized Tissues In Yellow Perch, Perca Flavescens, Taylor Bopp

Student Scholar Showcase

Bones in many higher teleost fish, such as percids and centrarchids, lack osteocytes that function as both chemo- and mechano-sensors, and thus, are not actively involved in homeostasis of blood calcium level. Nonetheless, the vertebrae of yellow perch, Perca flavescens (P. flavescens), living in darker and low calcium (Ca) water, have demonstrated adaptive modeling and remodeling of vertebrae to be more mineralized and thus enhance transmission of the axial muscle torque into the thrust force for the C-start predator escape behavior. The prey-predator interaction is expected to occur at closer range between prey fish and predator fish in …

Comparing The Incidence Of Head Impacts Sustained In Conference Versus Non-Conference Women’S Soccer Games, Courtney Acors

Student Scholar Showcase

Context: Investigating head impacts in women’s soccer has become of increased interest due to women’s soccer having one of the highest concussion injury rates among organized sports.

Objective: To determine frequency and magnitude differences in head impacts sustained by collegiate women’s soccer players during conference and non-conference game. Design: Descriptive epidemiology study.

Setting: Soccer fields. Participants: 24 intercollegiate women’s soccer players (age=19.65±1.27 years, height=165.80±4.87 cm, mass = 64.45±7.38 kg). Interventions: Game type served as the independent variable (non-conference and conference). We measured frequency and magnitude (peak linear accelerations in g-forces and peak rotational accelerations in deg/sec2) of head impacts with …

Functional Movement Patterns And Perceived Mobility In Collegiate Lacrosse Athletes, Christopher J. Rosenborough

Student Scholar Showcase

Context: The stress on the body from sport participation may play a role in an athlete’s ability to function throughout a season. The primary objective of this study was to examine the effects of a non-traditional lacrosse fall season on functional movement patterns for both males and females. Our second objective was to observe how collegiate lacrosse athletes perceived mobility.

Methods: Fifty males (age=19.38+1.24 years, height=182.63+6.16 cm, mass=82.37+8.46 kg) and 22 females (age=19.68+1.17 years, height=165.10+6.88 cm, mass=64.09+8.72 kg) who participated on National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III lacrosse teams volunteered to participate. Independent variable was time (pre, post). …

The Perception Of Head Impacts Sustained By Collegiate Baseball Catchers: A Pilot Study, Caleb Johnston

Student Scholar Showcase

Repetitive subconcussive head impacts have been studied in a variety of contact sports and have been found to impair performance in football, soccer, hockey, and lacrosse athletes. To our knowledge no one has investigated the frequency of head impacts in the sport of collegiate baseball. To date, athlete perceived number of head impacts and actual head impacts recorded during participation have not been compared. A sample of 3 baseball catchers from one National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III baseball team were studied.Our results indicated perceived game impacts did not differ from actual game impacts (t₂=1.76, P=.23; …

The Effects Of Soft Tissue Flossing On Hamstring Flexibility And Lower Extremity Power, Zack Maust

Student Scholar Showcase

Flossing includes wrapping a latex band around a joint or muscle group providing compression and partially occluding blood flow followed by performing exercises. Flossing is hypothesized to improve flexibility by dissipating myofascial adhesions. The purpose of this study was to determine if applying a floss band to the thigh would increase hamstring flexibility as well as lower extremity power. Our study included 21 active individuals(8 male, 13 female, 22.62±2.99 years, 171.52±9.08 cm, 73.57±11.37 kg).The participant first warmed up on a stationary bike, followed by hamstring flexibility measurement of supine hip flexion. After the flexibility test, we used a single-leg vertical …

Effects On Recovery And Neuroplasticity In Brain Injury Patients, Rebekkah Mclellan

Student Scholar Showcase

Abstract

According to the Centers for Disease Control, approximately 1.7 million people sustain a Traumatic Brain Injury each year, making the topic of brain plasticity and patient recovery an important area of study. An added element is understanding whether biological, social, and environmental factors can impact the recovery and plasticity of the patient’s brain.The purpose of this literature review was to evaluate if the environment surrounding an individual who has sustained a brain injury affects their recovery and neuroplasticity. The databases used for the scope of this review included LC OneSearch, Medline, EBSCOhost, and Google Scholar. Keywords included brain injury, …

Effects Of The Environment On Recovery And Neuroplasticity In Brain Injury Patients, Rebekkah Mclellan

Student Scholar Showcase

According to the Centers for Disease Control, approximately 1.7 million people sustain a Traumatic Brain Injury each year, making the topic of brain plasticity and patient recovery an important area of study. An added element is understanding whether biological, social, and environmental factors can impact the recovery and plasticity of the patient’s brain. The purpose of this literature review was to evaluate if the environment surrounding an individual who has sustained a brain injury affects their recovery and neuroplasticity. The databases used for the scope of this review included LC OneSearch, Medline, EBSCOhost, and Google Scholar. Key words included brain …

Perceived Stress And Perceived Empathy Reported By Athletic Training Students, Lauren Harris

Student Scholar Showcase

Context: Previous research has been conducted on perceived stress related to perceived empathy within the medical field. About 40% of nurses have self reported occupational burnout, 25% of physicians have multiple factors related to burnout, and over half of psychologists have admitted that they practiced while being distressed to the point of affecting their clinical practice.1,1316 However, there is limited research on how perceived stress affects empathy within athletic training students.

Objective: To examine the perception of stress and the level of empathy towards patients by athletic training students.

Design: Case report.

Setting: Online survey.

Participants: Seventeen professional level athletic …

Sirna Knock-Down Of Vav1 In Breast Cancer Cells: Effects On Pi3kinase And Akt, Tajai Sion-Milligan

Student Scholar Showcase

One in eight women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer. Approximately 25-30% of these breast tumors will overexpress Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (HER2), associated with a worse prognosis and decreased survival rate. Stimulation of HER2 results in activation and production of many signaling molecules, ultimately resulting in increased cell division. Two of the downstream molecules activated are PI₃Kinase and, further downstream, the molecule Akt. Typically, overproduction and/or overactivation of PI₃Kinase can lead to oncogenesis. A molecule that may have a significant role in PI₃Kinase formation is VAV1. VAV1 …

The Effects Of Core Stabilization Training On The Performance Of Functional Tasks In Firefighters, Emily Maxwell

Student Scholar Showcase

The purpose of this study was to observe if core stabilization training plays a significant role in firefighter time-to-completion during a functional performance test. A within subjects study design was used in which subjects (n=13, mean ± SD age and body fat 33.7 ± 7.4 years, 25.79 ± 6.55 percent, respectively) completed two performance tests (pre and post core training), comprised of 7 firefighter-specific exercises performed while wearing a 22.68 kg weight vest to mimic typical firefighter equipment. Between testing sessions, subjects were prescribed specific core stabilization exercises to perform on their own 3+ days a week for a total …

Anesthesia "Hand Off" Process For Patients At High Risk For Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Terry Yeager

Student Scholar Showcase

No abstract provided.

The Use Of Functional Movement Screening Tests To Determine Injury Risks In Collegiate Soccer Athletes, Hannah Olds

Student Scholar Showcase

The Functional Movement Screening (FMS) was designed as a tool to identify compensatory movement patterns, often used with athletes. The purpose of this study was to find the relationship between FMS scores and injuries throughout the course of a Division III men’s and women’s Varsity soccer season. The effect of intervention with corrective exercises in improving total composite scores was also assessed. A pretest-posttest randomized control group design was used in which subjects (n=28, 50% male) completed the FMS Tests. FMS testing was performed 8 weeks apart. During the 8 weeks, subjects tracked injury occurrences and treatment subjects completed exercises …

Physical Therapy Service-Learning In A Second World Country: What Are The Benefits?, Molly L. Koeneman, Katie B. Palmer, Jessie Bass

Student Scholar Showcase

Social responsibility and service are key initiatives within the physical therapy profession and within the Lynchburg College Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program. Service-learning opportunities are offered in the DPT program within the country of St. Lucia on a yearly basis. The primary focus of this presentation is to evaluate the impact of this type of experiential learning on both students and the local community. During the 2018 service trip, the Minister of Special Education of St. Lucia provided special insight to our contribution to the special education schools in St. Lucia, which indicates the trip provides beneficial and sustaining …

Lc Dpt Service Trip To St. Lucia: Following The Progress Of A 7 Y/O Boy Over 3 Years From Non-Ambulatory To Running With Peers, Brooke Panfil, Ainsley Reed

Student Scholar Showcase

In January of 2016, the Lynchburg College Doctor of Physical Therapy program formed the first group of 10 students and 2 professors that traveled to the island of St. Lucia to provide much-needed physical therapy services to the children in special education schools. During the initial visit, several students had the opportunity to work with a 5-year-old boy named Mark who had just learned to stand and presented with behavioral issues and lacked fine-motor skills. After spending only a couple hours with Mark, the students came up with a plan and some recommendations for Mark’s teachers with hopes to improve …

Being Observant: How Studying Michelangelo Can Improve Pt Practice, Andrew Lloyd, Erica Zachrich

Student Scholar Showcase

The field of physical therapy is swiftly transitioning from a formulaic biomedical model to a patient-centered biopsychosocial model, requiring clinicians to view their patients as a whole instead of as a sum of their parts. Integration of this concept into graduate health science education is variable across professions and amongst the same professional programs. Lynchburg College’s Doctor of Physical Therapy Program is pioneering an experiential learning course for graduate-level PT programs. “The Art of Anatomical Dissection: From Ancient Rome to the Renaissance” will transport students to the land of Da Vinci and Michelangelo, to study how the innovations of these …

The Effects Of Core Stabilization Training On The Performance Of Functional Tasks In Firefighters, Emily Maxwell

Student Scholar Showcase

The purpose of this study was to observe if core stabilization training plays a significant role in firefighter time-to-completion during a functional performance test. A within subjects study design was used in which subjects (n=13, mean ± SD age and body fat 33.7 ± 7.4 years, 25.79 ± 6.55 percent, respectively) completed two performance tests (pre and post core training), comprised of 7 firefighter-specific exercises performed while wearing a 22.68 kg weight vest to mimic typical firefighter equipment. Between testing sessions, subjects were prescribed specific core stabilization exercises to perform on their own 3+ days a week for a total …

Defining Relationships Between Medication Adherence, Medical Mistrust, And Self-Medication, Mikayla Carlton

Student Scholar Showcase

The purpose of this research is to delve into the topics of medication adherence, medical mistrust, and resulting or concomitant self-medication in order to define relationships and suggest solutions. There seems to be a relationship between greater medical mistrust and lower levels of medication adherence, as well as patients’ likelihood to self-medicate. Lack of medication adherence contributes to chronic disease and an increase in spending toward treatment both by the patient and the health-care industry over time. Medical mistrust has the potential to negatively influence medication adherence as it may prevent people from even seeking treatment. Self-medication may result from …

Sensory Integration In Saint Lucian Schools: A Case Study, Megan Lively Spt, Ashley Danielsen Spt, Leigha Schimmoeller Spt

Student Scholar Showcase

In January 2018, the Lynchburg College Doctor of Physical Therapy program sent a group of ten first- and second-year students to St. Lucia to provide therapy services to children in need across the island in five different special education schools. The group has been able to work hand-in-hand with the Ministry of Education in St. Lucia for the past three years in order to make a positive impact on the special education students and teachers. As the group did their evaluations this year, we noticed a trend that most of the students we worked presented with sensory integration dysfunctions and …