Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Standard And Cognitive Four Square Step Test (Fsst), Renee Hoffman, Hannah Bucholz

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background/Purpose: The Four Square Step Test (FSST) measures dynamic standing balance and agility and was developed to identify older adults at risk for falls. It has a cognitive component for remembering the stepping sequence but has never been tested with an additional cognitive task. The purpose of this study was to collect normative data for the FSST and Cognitive FSST in community dwelling adults for various age groups.

Materials/Methods: Eighty-seven community-dwelling adults (55 females, 32 males) between the age 21 and 86 (48.22 years) were included in the study. Participants completed a fall risk checklist and a cognitive screen prior …

Using The Landing Error Scoring System (Less) To Predict The Risk Of Lower Extremity Injuries In Athletes, Marit Mikkelsen, Anthony Peterson, Travis Rinkenberger

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Introduction: Athletes that participate in any sport are at an increased risk of injury, especially lower extremity injury. In particular, many athletes experience anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury during competition and practice sessions. The Landing Error Scoring System (LESS) is a tool used to identify athletes with a higher potential risk for ACL injury.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to compare vertical jump landing mechanics between genders and among various sports.

Methods: Forty-one participants (21 females, 20 males) were recruited from a NCAA Division I university. Participants were from the following sports: football, volleyball, women’s soccer, and men’s …

Effects Of Pole Walking On Older Adults Following Six Weeks Of Training, Samantha Forsch, Raevyn Haugland

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Introduction: Age-related changes in adults over 60 include reduced mobility and function as well as an increase in frailty. Conventional walking has been shown to be an effective physical activity to maintain mobility and improve function and overall health and fitness. Specifically, walking speed has been identified as a crucial predicting factor for fall risk and decreased functional mobility. For this reason, clinicians considered the element of walking speed as the sixth vital sign. Pole walking has gained popularity over the years and may provide additional benefits, when compared to conventional walking, such as improved stride and step length, faster …

Association Of Generalized Joint Hypermobility And The Occurrence Of Musculoskeletal Work-Related Injury In The First Zero To Five Years Of Physical Therapy Practice: A Pilot Study, Mikelle Fetsch, Ashley Naas, Amanda Slaikeu

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background: Previous research has shown that there is greater prevalence of work-related injuries for Physical Therapists in their early years of practice. However, little evidence has focused on the correlation with the high physical strain and stress of the job to the rate of injury occurrence. Hypermobility has also been researched in regards to an increased risk of sustaining an injury, but no correlation has been found between hypermobility and work-related injury in Physical Therapists.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a correlation between hypermobility and work-related injury occurrence in the first …

The Effectiveness Of "Stepping On" In Reducing Fall Risk In The Elderly Using The 30-Second Chair Stand Test, Brianna Albrecht

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background: One-third of all adults over the age of 65 years of age falls each year. Falls cost patients financially, physically, and emotionally. Balance and strength deficits contribute to increasing an individual's fall risk. Studies have shown the efficiency of community-based exercise and education programs on reducing the risk of falling.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether participants in Stepping On experienced an improvement in balance and confidence following completion of the program. The study also evaluated the correlation between self-perceived risk of falling on the CDC Fall Risk Survey and their actual risk …

The Activities-Specific Balance Confidence Scale And Its Use In The Stepping On Program To Determine The Relationship Between Balance Confidence And Fall Risk, Erin Yankovec

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Introduction: Due to the high incidence of falls in the elderly population, there is a continued need to develop intervention strategies and prevention programs to help reduce the risk of fall related injuries. Stepping On is a 7 week program designed to reduce falls and build confidence in older adults. Participants are educated on balance and strengthening exercises along with information on home hazards, community mobility, safe footwear and equipment, coping, and many other topics to help reduce falls.

Purpose: To determine if group education and exercise classes, like Stepping On, improve balance confidence levels, if balance confidence …

Effectiveness Of The Stepping On Program In Fall Prevention Measured By The Four Stage Balance Test (Fsbt), Jenna Goecke

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Introduction: Falls are a leading cause of injury for older adults. Stepping On is one of many fall prevention programs in which individuals who have a fear of falling can participate. Stepping On is a 7 week multifactorial fall prevention program for community-dwelling adults age 65 and older. The program implements an exercise program and addresses education on mobility safety in the community and home. The program addresses how different fall risk factors impact function including diet, medication, vision, balance, and strength.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to measure pre- and post-program fall risk with the …

Effectiveness Of The Timed Up And Go (Tug) Test In Assessing Fall Risk In Community-Dwelling Elders Participating In The Stepping On Program, Megan Shanahan

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background: The Timed Up and Go (TUG) is intended to predict fall risk through assessment of balance, functional mobility, and gait in community-dwelling adults age 65 and older. The Stepping On program aims toward fall prevention through education, exercise, and shared experiences among participants. Previous evidence has displayed positive, significant results for Stepping On and the TUG, indicating use of the assessment to track participants' progress in the program.

Objective: The purpose of this study was: 1) to determine if the Stepping On program decreases fall risk in community-dwelling elderly individuals as measured by the TUG test, 2) …

Effectiveness Of The 30 Second Chair Stand Test In Reducing The Fall Risk Of Community Dwelling Older Adults Participating In The Stepping On Program, Corissa Kruse

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Stepping On is a seven week fall prevention program that utilizes education and exercise. The purpose of this study is to see if the participants of Stepping On can show a decrease in fall risk through the use of the 30 Second Chair Stand Test (30sCST), a functional assessment tool used to assess fall risk. This study looked at a group of 14 females (M=87 y/o) at an assisted living facility, who met the program's qualifications (community dwelling individuals and ≥ 65 y/o) and attended the Stepping On program. Only eight participants were tested using the 30sCST at Week 1 …

The Effectiveness Of The "Stepping On" Program For Reducing The Incidence Of Falls In The Elderly: Measured By Four Stage Balance Test, Julia Nelson

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Introduction: The Stepping On program encompasses both a balance and strengthening exercise regimen that is targeted towards reducing falls in community-dwelling individuals over the age of 65, who have experienced a fall or are fearful of falling.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine if the Four Stage Balance Test (FSBT) is an appropriate measure of fall risk in the Stepping On program and to determine if the Stepping On program is effective at reducing fall risk, measured by improved time performance.

Methods: Eight participants, all female, ages ranging from 80-94 years old (M=87.2) completed …

The Activities-Specific Balance Confidence Scale And Its Use In Assessing Confidence In Elderly Community-Dwellers Attending The Stepping On Program, Sierra Heeren

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Introduction: Stepping On is a 7-week comprehensive fall program aimed at reducing falls for the community-dwelling elderly. Participants are educated on balance and strengthening exercises, and the influence medications, visions, inclement weather, etc. has on safety and falls.

Purpose: The main purpose of this study is to utilize the Activities-specific Balance Confidence scale (ABC) and survey results to determine if attendance of Stepping On improves balance confidence. Secondly, this research sought out to discover if increased balance confidence relates to decreased fall risk.

Methods: Participants of this were included 13 individuals initially (with one participant joining the …

Timed Up And Go (Tug) Test And Its Effectiveness In Fall Risk Screening And Assessing The Success Of The Stepping On Program In Fall Prevention, Eric Estes

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background: The Timed Up and Go (TUG) test is a functional assessment that has been proven effective at identifying individuals at a risk for falls. The Stepping On program aims toward fall prevention through education, exercise, and shared experiences among participants. With previous evidence displaying positive, significant results for Stepping On and the TUG, a utilization of this assessment to track participants' progress in the course is indicated.

Objective: The purpose of this study was 1) to determine if the Stepping On program displays a decrease in fall risk through the application of the TUG and 2) if …

Effectiveness Of Cognitive Timed Up And Go Test In Assessing Fall Risk In The Older Adult, Cory Sailer

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Introduction: Falls are a common and devastating injury for the older adult. Fall programs, such as the Stepping On program, are used to educate, strengthen, and sequentially reduce the number of falls its participant's endure. The Stepping On program is a multifactorial fall prevention program that addresses: balance and strength exercises, visual impairments, home modifications, pharmacologic effects, and even assistive devices. One aspect that has been found to be influential on fall risk is cognition, in particular executive functioning during ambulation.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to screen participants of the Stepping On program for unknown …

Stepping On: Gait Velocity And Fall Risk Assessment, Brittney Herbst

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Purpose: To identify fall risk and determine if the Stepping On program is effective at reducing the risk of falls in participants by increasing gait speed to greater than or equal to 1 m/s. Step and stride length were also compared to age related norms to determine if they correlated to fall risk. Gait speed of less than I m/s has been shown to increase the risk for falls in elderly.

Methods: Fourteen female participants over the age of 65 (mean age of 87) were recruited from a local Stepping On class conducted at an assisted living facility …

The Effectiveness Of The "Stepping On" Program For Reducing The Incidence Of Falls In The Elderly, Lisa Yonker, Jacqueline Maddock, Kathleen Breuer

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background: One in three adults greater than 65 years of age have had an accidental fall in their lifetime. In 2012, accidental falls cost the U.S. healthcare system $30.1 billion dollars. Strength, balance, and coordination deficits contribute to an individual experiencing a fall. Studies have shown that community based-exercise programs for older adults can improve strength, balance, and coordination and reduce the risk of falls.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to discover whether participant balance and confidence improved following the completion of the Stepping On program. Also, the study evaluated the effectiveness of Stepping On in …

Effect Of Frontal Plane Foot Position On Lower Extremity Muscle Activation And Limb Positioning In A Single Leg Squat, Brian Bolin

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Purpose: There is a high prevalence of ACL injury in the athletic populations, which can carry out short and long term debilitative effects. Most ACL injuries involve minimal to no contact and female athletes sustain a two to eightfold greater rate of injury than male athletes. Not much research has been conducted to see if foot position directly affects the lower extremity muscles, which could result in altered biomechanics at the knee.

Methods: Twelve subjects 18-30 years old participated in the study. EMG analysis measured differences of muscle contractions for the gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, biceps femoris, rectus femoris, lateral …

Effect Of Frontal Plane Foot Position On Lower Extremity Muscle Activation And Limb Positioning In A Single Leg Squat, Brady Stokes

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

PURPOSE: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries at the knee are quite common, especially in the athletic population involved in sports in which jumping, landing, and cutting activities occur frequently. Previous studies have suggested that lower extremity muscle control plays a role in preventing these injuries. This study set out to determine if foot position influences muscle activation in the lower extremity and, by extension, possibly contributes to the risk of ACL injury. This project examined the activity of lower extremity muscles and the kinematics (movement patterns) of the lower extremity in various foot positions during a single-leg body lowering action. …

Effect Of Frontal Plane Foot Position On Lower Extremity Muscle Activation And Limb Positioning In A Single Leg Squat, Elizabeth J. Kornkven

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Purpose/Background: Foot positioning during a single leg landing may affect the muscles above the ankle joint and promote positions of increased vulnerability to ACL injury. The purpose of the study was to analyze muscle activity of six muscles in the lower extremity during completion of a single leg squat on the subject’s dominant leg with the subtalar joint in 5 different positions.

Methods: Seventeen healthy males and females (ages 18‐30) performed five single leg squats in five foot positions: neutral, five degrees and ten degrees of declination, and five degrees and ten degrees of inclination. Electromyography data was collected from …

Influence Of Foot Position On Lower Extremity Muscle Activity, Hayley J. Letvin

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Being that the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is the most commonly torn ligament, much research has been performed regarding this matter. Females have been found to be more likely to tear their ACL. This may be due to strength, structural (anatomical), hormonal, and neuromuscular differences compared to men. Several studies have also been conducted to help improve preventative measures with using strengthening and neuromuscular training programs. Many speculations have been made about the precipitating factors of an ACL injury. The general consensus in regard to foot placement is that the foot is usually placed in pronation during an ACL tear. …

Influence Of Foot Position On Lower Extremity Muscle Activation, Casey Darling

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the knee is often sprained or torn in injuries resulting from jumping, cutting, or hyperextension of the knee. When the knee is put under a valgus, varus, or rotatory stress it can put strain on the ACL. Lower extremity motor control can help control the amount of varus and valgus stress on the knee. Lower extremity muscle control is involved with preventing this stress and resulting injuries. This study was performed to determine whether the position of the foot (neutral, supination, and pronation) has an effect on lower extremity muscle activity during single-leg squats. …

Effect Of Frontal Plane Foot Position On Lower Extremity Muscle Activation And Limb Positioning In A Single Leg Squat, Marissa N. Laddusaw

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Purpose/Background: This goal of this study was to reach a bottom up understanding of ACL injury occurrence. Subtalar position during single leg stance may affect the muscles associated with the knee joint and promote ACL injury. The muscle activity of six muscles of the leg, thigh, and hip were analyzed during a single leg squat with the foot on surfaces of 10 degrees decline, five degrees decline, neutral, and 5 degrees incline, and 10 degrees incline.

Methods: Seventeen healthy participants between the ages of 18 and 30 performed five rhythmically timed repetitions of single leg squats on surfaces of 10 …

Influence Of Foot Position On Lower Extremity Muscle Activation, Erin L. Wessman

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

With sports participation be it from children, teenagers, or adults; injuries will occur. In 2008-2009 an increase in high school sports participation was at an all-time high increasing to just above 7.5 million. Within this population, knee injuries ranked 3rd, with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries ranking 4th among all knee injuries. The purpose of this study was to compare muscle activation of six lower extremity muscles in five different foot positions during a single-leg squat in attempts to associate a certain foot position with an increase/decrease in muscle activation, which could then be proposed as a risk factor for …

Muscle Activity In Lower Extremity During Single-Leg Squat: Role Of Supination And Pronation, Brett J. Debele

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Introduction: Literature has consistently reported a high prevalence of ACL injury rates. A correlation between excessive subtalar joint pronation and ACL injury rates has been noted but research into plausible reasons for this relationship is limited. The purpose of this study was to establish potential cause-and-effect relationships between foot position and ACL injury risk.

Methods: This study used single leg squats with simulated foot positions and examined resulting knee joint forces from motion and lower extremity muscle activation patterns that may cause ACL injury risk. Methods: This study recruited male and female participants aged 18 to 30 from campus at …