Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Principles Of Pediatric Burn Care: A Literature Review, J. Chris Leonard

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Principles of Pediatric Burn Care: A Literature Review is meant to provide a compact and comprehensive source of information on the therapy related care of young burn victims. This literature review will be most useful for students and clinicians of physical and occupational therapy.

Recent medical advances have improved the survival rates of children who have sustained burns; this situation demands an increased knowledge and awareness of pediatric burn therapy. The information in this literature review includes a comparison and contrast of the findings of research related to the prevention, classification, pathophysiology, and treatment options of pediatric burn care from …

The Native American Patient Population: A Guide For Physical Therapists, Carrie Luiken

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

For a physical therapist in the state of North Dakota, it is important to be knowledgeable about the Native American cultures in order to provide the best possible health care. A knowledge of the patient's culture is essential to enhance communication which will help the therapist identify the patient's needs and form a plan of care. Enhanced communication also establishes the physical therapist's credibility and trustworthiness in the eyes of the patient.

The purpose of this paper is to orient the physical therapist to some shared aspects of Native American cultures and to provide information to facilitate effective communication between …

A Comparison Of The Maximal Torque Production Of The Quadriceps Muscle During Morning And Afternoon Strength Assessment, Shawn Mccoul

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

The purpose of this study was to compare maximal quadriceps torque production in early morning hours to afternoon hours. Thirty male subjects volunteered to participate in this study and were randomly assigned to an AM or PM testing session. At least one week after the first test, the subjects completed a similar test in the opposite time slot. Each subject was positioned on the Kin-Com (Chattecx Corp., Chattanooga, 'IN) dynamometer and performed six maximal concentric isokinetic repetitions of knee extension at 600/s between the ROM of 10° and 80° of knee flexion. The AM/PM ratios indicated no significant difference between …

Efficacy Of Dynamic Shoulder Bracing In The Management Of Anterior Shoulder Instability, Kristopher S. Nelson

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

The purpose of this study was to add to the orthopaedic body of knowledge regarding the efficacy of dynamic shoulder bracing in the management of anterior shoulder instability. Two fresh-frozen cadaveric shoulders were used for testing. One shoulder was used as the "normal" shoulder, while the other was used as the "unstable" shoulder through the creation of a simulated Bankart lesion. Arthroscopic insertion of radiographic markers allowed for assessment of anterior translation of the humerus through the use of x-rays. X-rays were taken with and without shoulder braces applied with the arm in a 90°/90° position. Descriptive statistics were used …

The Use Of Baclofen In The Management Of Spasticity In Children With Cerebral Palsy, Anne E. Olson

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Cerebral palsy is one of the leading developmental disabilities amongst children. The majority of children with cerebral palsy experience some degree of spasticity. This spasticity can be very painful and disabling to the child. It can affect their posture, movements, and their mobility.

Currently, baclofen is one of the most common medications used for the treatment of cerebral spasticity. It can be administered either orally or intrathecally through an implanted pump.

The purpose of this literature review is to discuss the use of oral and intrathecal baclofen in the management of spasticity in children with cerebral palsy. Included is a …

Two Case Studies: Evaluation Of Balance Following Unilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty, Michelle Overbo

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Balance is a critical part of daily activities and essential for independent function. The purpose of this study is to determine if there is a balance difference between subjects at twelve to sixteen weeks following unilateral knee arthroplasty and normal community dwelling controls. This study measures balance ability using five functional tests from the NeuroCom Balance Master® 6.1 system. Twelve subjects between the ages of 65 and 80 were tested. The two case study subjects with total knee replacements were between 12 and 16 weeks post-operatively. The control group consisted often healthy community dwelling adults. Results showed noticeable differences between …

An Electromyographic Study Of The Effects Of Plyometric Training Shoes On The Lower Extremity, Heather Phillips

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose: Plyometric shoes have recently been introduced as an effective training tool to enhance several aspect of an athlete's ability, including vertical jump. The SkyFlex® system utilizes plyomteric training shoes in conjuction with plyometric exercises and drills to achieve maximum athletic performance. There is currently limited research to validate the manufacturer's claims of increasing vertical jump. The purpose of this study is twofold: l)To describe muscle activity during walking and jumping while wearing traditional athletic shoes and plyometric training shoes. 2)To measure the vertical jump of subjects trained with plyometric training shoes and a control group of subjects …

Low Back Pain: An Orthopedic Review Of Sacroiliac Joint Etiologic Theories, Key Diagnostic Criteria, And Effective Manual Therapy Treatment, Michael J. Ressler

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Physical therapists commonly evaluate and treat patients with referral of low back pain. There still remains great controversy whether sacroiliac joint dysfunction produces significant pathological problems. It is imperative that the therapist providing the care posses skillful knowledge in the areas of anatomy, biomechanics, evaluation, and treatment of sacroiliac joint dysfunction. These characteristics are required in order to effectively treat patients with low back pain possibly resulting from sacroiliac joint dysfunction.

The purpose of this independent study is to review existing literature with primary focus on the anatomy, biomechanics, evaluation, and efficacious manual therapy treatment of sacroiliac joint dysfunction. Primary …

A Comparison Of The Maximal Torque Production Of The Quadriceps Muscle During Morning And Afternoon Strength Assessment, Michael Rexin

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

The purpose of this study is to compare maximal quadriceps peak torque production in isokinetic strength assessment in the morning and the afternoon. Thn1y male subjects between the ages of21 and 43 volunteered for this study. The subjects were randomly assigned to either an early morning group (7:30 AM to 9 AM) or an afternoon group (2:30 PM to 5 PM). Each subject performed six maximal concentric isokinetic contractions with the quadriceps muscles after a warm up and an initial familiarization session. Data analysis was done using a t-test for paired samples and Pearson's correlation The results showed a .90 …

Two Case Studies: Evaluation Of Balance Following Unilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty, Cathy Siegfried

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

The purpose of this case study was to evaluate balance of individuals following total knee arthroplasty between 12 and 16 weeks postoperatively using the NeuroCom Balance Master® 6.1 system. Two unilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA) subjects and ten age-matched control subjects participated in the study. All subjects completed a series of five assessments including weight bearing, limits of stability, walk test, step up and over, and sit to stand on the NeuroCom Balance Master® system. Results showed differences in the sit to stand and weight bearing tests with TKA subjects bearing more weight on nonsurgical leg. TKA subjects also differed …

The Effects Of Balance Retraining Exercises On The Neurocom Balance Master® In Subjects With Multiple Sclerosis, Jill Steinmetz

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS) and is becoming an increasing concern for individuals between the ages of 15 to 50. Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, often progressive disease that may result in difficulties with vision, verbal communication, sensation, bowel and bladder function, balance, and ambulation.

The purpose of this study was to determine if significant changes occurred in static steadiness, symmetry, and dynamic stability in subjects with MS following a retraining program using the NeuroCom Balance Master® (NBM®). Ten subjects (6 females, 4 males) were placed in a control or …

Electromyographic And Motion Analysis Of The Trunk And Pelvis During The Golf Swing, James A. Vranna

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

The purpose of this study was to analyze and compare the trunk muscle activity and range of motion in male and female golfers. With the use of surface electrode electromyography and motion analysis, three male and three female Division II collegiate golfers were evaluated. The EMG activity of the erector spinae, gluteus maximus, and external oblique muscles was measured bilaterally during the golf swing. The main emphasis in analyzing the trunk range of motion was comparing relative pelvis to shoulder rotation (X-factor) throughout the swing. The researchers found definitive differences in the patterns of muscle activity and range of motion …

A Comparison Of The Maximal Torque Production Of The Quadriceps Muscle During Morning And Afternoon Strength Assessment, Denise Willardsen

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

The purpose of this study was to compare maximal quadriceps torque production in morning hours (AM) to maximal quadriceps torque production in afternoon hours (PM). Thirty healthy male subjects between the ages of 19 and 45 were tested during an AM and a PM session on the Kin-Com dynamometer. A trial of six concentric isokinetic contractions of the right quadriceps were tested at a speed of 60° Is. The maximal peak torque measurements were compared between the AM and the PM sessions to establish the accuracy of results taken at differing times of the day. No significant difference in strength …

The Effects Of Balance Retraining Exercises On The Neurocom Balance Master® In Subjects With Multiple Sclerosis, Biana Zearley

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS) and is becoming an increasing concern for individuals between the ages of 15 to 50. Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, often progressive disease that may result in difficulties with vision, verbal communication, sensation, bowel and bladder function, balance, and ambulation.

The purpose of this study was to determine if significant changes occurred in static steadiness, symmetry, and dynamic stability in subjects with MS following a retraining program using the NeuroCom Balance Master® (NBM®). Ten subjects (6 females, 4 males) were placed in a control or …

Sexual Dysfunction With Stroke, Scott R. Ziegler

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

A cerebral vascular accident (CVA) or stroke is one of the most common traumatic diseases in the world today that can lead to death or long-term physiological or psychological disability. The level of disabling features that each person experiences following a CVA can range from barely noticeable signs to the extreme loss of functional ability. Sexual functioning in stroke survivors is an area in the rehabilitation program that has often been overlooked or neglected. Available information and research regarding sexual dysfunction in stroke survivors are also very limited.

The purpose of this study is to examine the problem of sexual …

Effect Of Asymmetrical Loading And Walking Time On Surface Emg Activity Of The Lumbar Paraspinal Muscles, Michael Aenis, Angela Bueche, Brian Trembly

Masters Theses

BACKGROUND A high incidence of back pain is associated with carrying loads asymmetrically and is believed to be influenced by the amount of weight involved and the distance carried. PURPOSE (1) To study the effects of asymmetrical loading on lumbar paraspinal muscle activity. (2) To document ratings perceived exertion (RPE) for carrying an asymmetrical load. METHODS Electromyography (EMG) readings were obtained at the L2/L3 paraspinal level of 12 males and 12 females. All subjects completed three randomized 9-minute trials consisting of walking on a treadmill while carrying an asymmetrical load of either 0, 10 or 20% of their body weight. …

Emg Measurements Of Paraspinal Muscles And The Implications Of Adapting Hand Placement Protocols When Using Passive Extension Exercises, Mark Randell, Geoff Willson

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a significant difference in the EMG activity of the paraspinal musculature, based on the width of hand placement used in the McKenzie prone press-up position.

EMG recordings were taken using surface electrodes placed on the lumbar paraspinal musculature of thirty normal, volunteer subjects. These recordings were taken while the subject was in the prone press-up position. This was repeated three times with different widths of lateral hand placement. The resultant EMG recordings were normalized using a recording from a maximal effort of an isometric contraction. The mean EMG recording …

The Effect Of Nutritional Supplementation And Exercise On Subjective Pain And Function In People With Osteoarthritis Of The Knee, Anna Power, Dan Scheffer

Masters Theses

Nutritional Supplementation of glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate are being promoted in the treatment of osteoarthritis. Recent research has indicated that gelatin was found effective. Moderate exercise is also being advocated. The purpose of this eight week double blind study was to examine the effects of the inexpensive nutritional supplement gelatin, in the form of Knox Nutrajoint, and exercise on pain and functional activity in 49 subjects with osteoarthritis in one or both knees. Subjects were randomly assigned to one of four groups: placebo, placebo plus exercise, gelatin supplement plus exercise and exercise. Exercise consisted of a progressive walking program. …

Validation Of The "Timed Up And Go" Test As A Functional Mobility Assessment Tool In The Pediatric Population, Susan Carman, Christina Rook, Cathy Ruprecht

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study is to determine the concurrent validity of the Timed Up and Go (TUG) as an assessment of functional mobility in the pediatric population. The TUG scores were correlated with the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI). Eighteen subjects with a variety of cognitive and physical disabilities, aged 6 to 7 years, were recruited. A one-tailed Spearman’s Rank Correlation Coefficient was used to analyze the scores. A weak inverse relationship between the TUG and PEDI scores (r_s = -0.386, p = 0.075) was found when the scores from all participants were analyzed. A moderate inverse …

Physical Therapist Characteristics And Practices That Affect Patient Willingness To Comply With Home Exercise Programs, Greg Angell, Andrea Glaspie, Melinda Winters

Masters Theses

Home exercise programs are a vital part of sustaining physical therapy treatment effectiveness and encourages the patient to become an active participant in their care. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between compliance with therapeutic home exercise programs (HEP) and the patient’s perception of a physical therapist’s characteristics such as appearance, demeanor, role modeling behaviors, and humanistic traits. 250 survey questionnaires were distributed to seven outpatient physical therapy clinics in west Michigan with a 49.6% return rate. The results of this study demonstrate physical therapist personality traits and clinical practices were perceived by patients to be …

The Direct And Indirect Patient Benefits Of Orthopedic Physical Therapy Specialization, Amy Lynne Dipman

Masters Theses

This research surveyed 25% of Orthopedic Certified Specialists to determine the direct and indirect patient benefits resulting from the American Physical Therapy Association specialization process. The newly developed questionnaire included questions pertaining to demographics, professional activities, and professional opinions regarding specialty certification. The results showed a statistically significant relationship between the number of PT’s on staff at a facility and the amount of therapist mentoring. Overall, only 50% of the therapists subjectively reported improved patient care secondary to specialization. The qualitative data showed that many therapists reported providing high quality care prior to specialization. Patients are receiving direct and indirect …

An Electromyographic And Video Motion Analysis Study Of Elite Sprinters At Varying Speeds And Inclines, Carrie Anderson

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Every athlete trains with the hopes of being bigger, stronger or faster than the competitor. Athletes are eager to jump on the "bandwagon" of new training techniques that claim to produce the results the athlete seeks. One such training technique is sprinting on a treadmill at high speeds and inclines. The purpose of this study is to describe muscle activity and joint motion while running on a treadmill at different speeds and inclines.

Six males between the ages of 21 and 27 years of age ran at 20 miles per hour and 0% grade and at 13 miles per hour …

Advisors' Knowledge Of Requirements For Admission To The Physical Therapy Program At Grand Valley State University, Laura Irrer, Elizabeth Knight, Joel Vander Wall

Masters Theses

The purpose of the study was to identify the accuracy and extent of knowledge among G.V.S.U. academic advisors and the sources used to obtain information regarding the physical therapy (P.T.) admission process. Surveys were distributed to 45 advisors of pre-P.T. students. Nineteen surveys were returned and six respondents were chosen for an interview. Interpretations of the data were made using a qualitative coding system.

The authors found the advisors were inaccurate in their knowledge of the weighting of G.P.A . and interview and the role that physical appearance and leadership plays in the admission process. Advisors were accurate in the …

The Effects Of Prosthesis Use Versus Non-Use On Forward Reach Distance In Children Ages 5 To 15 With Unilateral Upper Extremity Amputation As Measured By The Functional Reach Test, Mary E. Weber, Scot G. Smith

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible differences in maximal forward reaching distance in children with unilateral upper extremity amputations while wearing and not wearing a prosthesis using the Functional Reach (FR) test. Trends were noted between FR scores of these children and children without disabilities.

Four children, ages 5-8, completed the FR test using the intact arm under two conditions, “prosthesis-off” and “prosthesis-on”. A paired, two-tailed t test (a = .05) was used to determine the statistical significance of the means of differences in FR scores between the two conditions.

No statistically significant difference was found …

Perceived Concerns Surrounding The Utilization Of Physical Therapy Aides In Michigan, Jill Bydalek, Greta Swasey-Hadlock

Masters Theses

Utilization of support personnel to perform physical therapy treatments has been a controversial topic in the physical therapy profession for many years. As Managed Care and other health care changes emerged, physical therapists have been pressured to cut costs while maintaining productivity. The use of non-licensed personnel became common place to meet these demands. The purpose of this study was to investigate five research questions. First, to what extent do physical therapists delegate patient treatment and utilize physical therapy aides in Michigan? Secondly, does aide utilization differ based on: the ways in which aides are identified to patients, various settings …

A Study Of Licensed Physical Therapists' Knowledge Regarding Current Legislative Issues, Jennifer Moine, Alexis Snyder, Susannah Steele

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine the amount of knowledge licensed physical therapists have regarding certain legislation at the state and federal levels. Potential relationships between degree of knowledge and therapist characteristics such as age, number of years in practice, and professional membership were also examined. A survey instrument was mailed to a random sample of licensed physical therapists in the state of Michigan.

Results indicated that licensed physical therapists who were members of a committee within the APTA, or held office in the organization had significantly more knowledge than physical therapists who did not (alpha=0.05). Being a …

Examination Of The Reliability And Validity Of Rancho Los Amigos Observational Gait Analysis, Heather Groth, Sarah Novak

Masters Theses

The Rancho Los Amigos Observational Gait Analysis system (Rancho OGA) is a standardized approach utilized to assess gait impairment for various diagnoses. Physical therapists, orthotists, and physicians utilize Rancho OGA for clinical decision making and recommending treatment interventions for gait disability. This study examined the reliability and concurrent validity of Rancho OGA from gait files obtained from the GVSU/Mary Free Bed Center for Human Kinetic Studies. Comparisons were made between computerized 3-D gait analysis and Rancho OGA data from videotaped records of cerebral palsy gait to determine the level of agreement utilizing the Kappa statistic and percent agreement. Results indicated …

Paraplegic Functional Ambulation With Long Leg Braces And Upper Extremity Support: Predicting Long Term Usage Patterns Utilizing The Functional Independence Measure, Karin Copenhaver, Matthew Sherman

Masters Theses

Individuals with a spinal cord injury (SCI) are frequently taught to ambulate with long leg braces and upper extremity support during their post-acute rehabilitation. In many cases this training fails to carry over once these individuals return to their homes after their rehabilitation course has ended. Subsequently, these individuals rely on their wheelchair as their primary mode of ambulation. Is ambulation training an expropriate intervention for patients in these cases? The purpose of this study was to investigate whether utilization of the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) may serve as a predictor of long term functional ambulation with long leg braces …

The Relationship Between A Functional Throwing Performance Test And Strength Of Various Scapular Muscles, Karen L. Bos, Kellie S. Gehrs, A. Louise C. Hester

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between the strength of the upper trapezius, middle trapezius, lower trapezius, and serratus anterior, and overhead throwing accuracy in 52 female collegiate softball players. The correlation between manual muscle testing (MMT) and hand-held dynamometry (HHD) was also examined. The Functional Throwing Performance Index (FTPI) was used to measure throwing accuracy. Spearman’s correlation analysis demonstrated no correlation between the strength assessments and throwing accuracy, as measured by the FTPI. Moderate correlations were found between MMT and HHD strength assessments of the lower and middle trapezius and serratus anterior muscles. A poor …

Research Based Practice Among Members Of The Michigan Physical Therapy Association, Sarah M. Bennett, James D. Courter, Rachel E. Hastings

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the extent to which research based practice (RBP) is employed by Michigan Physical Therapy Association Members by assessing attitudes toward research, level of research involvement/scholarly pursuit, and reasons for using or not using treatment interventions.

Three hundred and thirty questionnaires were distributed by mail to a random sample of Michigan Physical Therapy Association Members. A total of 133 questionnaires were used for analysis. Descriptive frequencies were calculated for each section of the questionnaire. Chi-square and Fischer's Exact tests were used to examine significant relationships.

Respondents in the present study overwhelmingly supported (~90%) …