Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Neuromuscular Response To A Single Session Of Whole-Body Vibration In Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Pilot Study, Huaqing (Virginia) Liang, Gena Henderson, Jianhua Wu

Physical Therapy Faculty Research

Background Whole-body vibration (WBV) is a relative new intervention paradigm that could reduce spasticity and improve motor function in children with cerebral palsy (CP). We investigated neuromuscular response to a single session of side-alternating WBV with different amplitudes in children with CP.

Methods Ten children with spastic CP aged 7–17 years at GMFCS level I-III participated in this pilot study. Participants received two sessions of side-alternating WBV with the same frequency (20 Hz) but different amplitudes (low-amplitude: 1 mm and high-amplitude: 2 mm). Each session included six sets of 90 s of WBV and 90 s of rest. Before and …

Effect Of Predictability Of The Magnitude Of A Perturbation On Anticipatory And Compensatory Postural Adjustments, Tippawan Kaewmanee, Huaqing (Virginia) Liang, Alexander S. Aruin

Physical Therapy Faculty Research

Balance maintenance in response to a perturbation could be affected by the predictability of the magnitude of the body disturbance. We investigated anticipatory (APAs) and compensatory (CPAs) postural adjustments in response to perturbations of predictable and unpredictable magnitudes. Twenty young adults received series of perturbations of small or large magnitudes the order of which was varied. Electromyographic activity of six leg and trunk muscles and displacements of the center-of-pressure (COP) were recorded. The muscle onset time, integrals of muscle activity, and COP displacements in the anterior–posterior direction were analyzed during the APA and CPA phases. The results indicated that when …

Older Adults Retain The Ability To Predict External Perturbations Using Auditory Cues Only, Huaqing Liang, Tippawan Kaewmanee, Alexander S. Aruin

Physical Therapy Faculty Research

To maintain balance and prevent destabilization, humans utilize anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs) prior to the postural perturbations based on predictions and past experience. APAs involve the activation and inhibition of the trunk and leg muscles and a shift of the center-of-pressure (COP) position. The generation of APAs majorly relies on the availability and accuracy of visual information. However, our previous work showed that young adults could rely on an auditory cue only to generate APAs for an external perturbation similar to that when the visual information was available. Older adults generally have diminished APAs and consequently diminished postural control when …

Young Adults Can Learn To Predict Unexpected Posterior Perturbations Using An Auditory Cue, Huaqing Liang, Tippawan Kaewmanee, Alexander S. Aruin

Physical Therapy Faculty Research

To reduce the effect of an expected postural perturbation, central nervous system uses anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs), which include the activation and inhibition of the postural muscles and a slight shift of the center-of-pressure (COP) position. The generation of APAs majorly relies on the availability of visual information, and is learned through past experience. Hence, such protective mechanism to maintain balance is not implemented when perturbation comes from one’s back unexpectedly. Our previous work showed that young adults could rely on an auditory cue only to generate APAs for a front perturbation similar to that when vision was available. So …

The Role Of An Auditory Cue In Generating Anticipatory Postural Adjustments In Response To An External Perturbation, Huaqing Liang, Tippawan Kaewmanee, Alexander S. Aruin

Physical Therapy Faculty Research

Anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs) are usually generated to minimize the potential postural disturbance induced by predictable external perturbations. Visual information about a perturbation is important for the generation of APAs, but whether people can rely on auditory information to generate APAs is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of an auditory cue in generating APAs when visual information is not available. Fifteen young adults participated in the study. They received external perturbations a) with visual information but no auditory information available, b) without neither visual nor auditory information, c) with both visual and auditory information …

Knee Joint Kinematics Of The Pendulum Test In Children With And Without Down Syndrome, Diego M. Ferreira, Huaqing Liang, Jianhan Wua

Physical Therapy Faculty Research

Background: The Wartenberg pendulum test is a common clinical test that is used to measure stiffness about the knee in persons with and without disabilities such as cerebral palsy and Down syndrome (DS). Adults and adolescents with DS show fewer number of swing cycles and a lower relaxation index than healthy controls. However, it is not clear if children with DS show a similar trend compared to typically developing (TD) children.

Research question: Was the knee joint kinematics different between children with and without DS during the pendulum test?

Methods: Thirteen children with DS and 13 TD children participated in …

Examination Of Student Learning Outcomes During A Musculoskeletal Spine Assessment Course: Hybrid Blended Model Versus Traditional Classroom Delivery In A Doctor Of Physical Therapy Program, David J. Denton

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This study explored content delivery comparisons concerning a hybrid blended model versus a traditional lecture model in a Doctor of Physical Therapy Program. There is a gap in the physical therapy literature describing the intricacies of distance, online, and hybrid models used in doctoral education. Thirty students were randomly selected out of a hat to be placed into one of two groups with an n=15. The course chosen in the study was a clinical decision-making segment based on assessment and examination of level of the spine. Group 1 was instructed only using traditional methods of live in person lecture and …

Effects Of Ankle Angular Position And Standing Surface On Postural Control Of Upright Stance, Fawaz A. Alwadani, Huaqing Liang, Alexander S. Aruin

Physical Therapy Faculty Research

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of ankle angular position and standing surface type on static upright balance. Ten young adults stood on a force platform or on a firm wedge that induced 15° of either dorsiflexion or plantarflexion. In addition, a piece of foam was placed on top of the force platform and on the wedge. The center of pressure distance and velocity in the anteroposterior and mediolateral directions were calculated. Significantly larger magnitudes in most of the investigated variables were seen while standing with ankles in the dorsiflexion when compared with standing with the …

Improvement In Overground Walking After Treadmill-Based Gait Training In A Child With Agenesis Of The Corpus Callosum, Gena Henderson, Matthew Beerse, Huaqing Liang, Diego Ferreira, Jianhua Wu

Physical Therapy Faculty Research

Background: Agenesis of the corpus callosum (ACC) is a rare congenital brain defect that produces a wide variety of cognitive and motor impairments. Literature regarding the response of pediatric populations with ACC to physical rehabilitation is scarce. Treadmill-based gait training (TT) has been shown to improve walking ability in some pediatric populations but has not been investigated in children with ACC.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a novel treadmill intervention paradigm on the gait parameters of a child with ACC.

Design: A single-participant design with 2 phases was used.

Methods: The settings were …