Digital Commons Network^™

The Effects Of Virtual Reality Interventions On Gait And Balance In Patients With Chronic Stroke: A Systematic Review, Meghan Darrough, Stephanie Layland, Breena Kravchick

Student Research Poster Presentations 2026

Background: Chronic stroke survivors often experience long-term gait and balance impairments that impact their functional abilities and activities of daily living. Emerging interventions, such as virtual reality (VR), are being evaluated on their potential to enhance rehabilitation outcomes.

Objective: This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effects of virtual reality interventions on gait and balance in individuals with chronic stroke.

Methods: Two literature searches were performed in September 2025 and January 2026 using the CINAHL Complete, MEDLINE, and PubMed databases.

Results: Fourteen studies met the inclusion criteria and were categorized based on balance outcome measures (Berg Balance Scale, Tinetti Performance-Oriented …

The Impact Of A Wellness Program Consisting Of Meditation And Dietary Education On The Symptoms Of Parkinson’S Disease: A Protocol, Kylee Cush, Maureen Romanow Pascal, Genevieve Montanye, Arden Mccoy, Jillian Mallon, Mason Hayward

Student Research Poster Presentations 2026

Individuals with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) often experience many motor and nonmotor symptoms that impact their ability to participate in their daily life. This protocol aims to address the symptoms of PD by utilizing complementary strategies to manage chronic stress and unhealthy dietary lifestyles, both of which have been identified as risk factors for PD. This eight-week mixed-design randomized controlled trial will take place at Misericordia University, Rock Steady Boxing Old Forge, and the University of Scranton, and will utilize convenience sampling through flyer outreach. Individuals will be randomized into two groups: group one will complete a whole foods diet as …

Adsorptive Gas Sensor Response Forecasting To Enable Breath-By-Breath Analysis, Samuel Bellaire, Samir Ahmed Rawashdeh, Kirby P. Mayer, Jamie L. Sturgill

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

MOS gas sensors have proven to be useful in electronic noses, which utilize these sensors to detect volatile organic compounds in human breath to detect various lung diseases. Unfortunately, the long settling time of MOS gas sensors is ill-suited to measuring human breath, where complete breathing cycles are often shorter than 5 s. Existing studies circumvent this limitation by collecting gas samples and injecting them into a sealed chamber to react with the sensors. However, it would be convenient if breath-by-breath analysis could be conducted without the need to store breath samples. To accomplish this, we present a novel forecasting …

Exploring The Influence Of Quadriceps Peak Torque And Rate Of Torque Development On Running Mechanics After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction, Amit M. Gohil, Gregory S. Hawk, Darren L. Johnson, Christopher S. Fry, Brian W. Noehren

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

Background: After anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), chronic changes in knee joint biomechanics during higher level tasks, such as running, may negatively impact long-term knee joint health. Among the factors that contribute to these chronic changes, the influence of quadriceps strength on knee joint biomechanics during running is not well understood.   Hypothesis: Higher involved limb quadriceps strength (peak torque and rate of torque development [RTD]) and limb symmetry index (LSI) will be positively associated with greater peak knee flexion angle and peak knee extensor moment during running.   Study Design: Cross-sectional study.   Level of Evidence: Level 3.   Methods: Peak knee extensor …

Improving Early Ambulation After Cardiac Surgery Using Nurse Education And Workflow Cues: A Quality Improvement Project, Nathan Seeley

Master's Theses and Capstones

Background: Early ambulation following cardiac surgery is an evidence-based practice that promotes postoperative recovery, reduces complications, and supports earlier discharge (Cook et al., 2024; Engelman et al., 2019; Kanejima et al., 2020). Despite its recognized benefits, consistent implementation remains challenging in busy inpatient settings due to workflow demands, competing priorities, and patient-related barriers.

Local Problem: Inconsistent early ambulation practices were identified on the Cardiac Surgical Step-Down Unit, creating an opportunity to improve adherence to evidence-based postoperative mobility practices.

Methods: This quality improvement project used the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) model to evaluate the impact of a brief nurse-focused educational intervention on early …

Bridging Clinic To Home: The Development Of A Caregiver Education Program To Support Home Carryover Of Feeding Interventions, Rachel Adams

OTD Capstones

Abstract

Objective Caregivers of children with pediatric feeding disorders or difficulties face stressful emotions within the context of feeding. There is an identified gap in pediatric outpatient occupational therapy and the educational resources they provide to caregivers related to feeding. To address this, the capstone project aimed to develop and integrate an evidence-based caregiver education program into the capstone site’s feeding therapy model to make a more well-rounded and all-inclusive feeding therapy program. Methods Two caregiver surveys were sent out along with a staff survey to identify the needs of the site and the caregivers of the clients and to …

Empowering Women Through Surf Therapy: A Trauma-Informed Facilitation Toolkit, Ashlie Steppe

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

Women who have experienced trauma often face challenges with emotional regulation, sense of safety and daily functioning. Additionally, one in three women experience trauma throughout their lifetime and this can lead to difficulty with connection, body awareness, and engagement in meaningful activities. A local non-profit surf therapy organization was established to provide women with a supportive community and meaningful, nature-based activity to promote healing and connection. The purpose of this quality improvement capstone experience was to address and develop a sustainable trauma-informed wellness toolkit to support facilitators in delivering structured wellness activities within the program. The toolkit specifically addressed key …

Off-Label Uses Of Deucravacitinib For Inflammatory Skin Conditions: Cases And Literature Review, Alexandra Nigro, Isabel C. Silva, Benjamin Gerstein, Jasper Dayanan, Saakshi Khattri

Department Dermatology Faculty Publications

Deucravacitinib is an oral, selective, allosteric tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) inhibitor approved for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Deucravacitinib may offer a more selective approach compared to traditional Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors. Emerging data support the use of deucravacitinib in inflammatory dermatoses beyond psoriatic disease. We present our clinical experience using deucravacitinib off-label in patients with challenging inflammatory skin disease and contextualize our findings within the current literature. We report three female patients aged 31–63 years with refractory inflammatory skin conditions, including two with dermatomyositis and one with pityriasis rubra pilaris (PRP). All patients had persistent …

The Effects Of Non-Pharmacologic Interventions On Preventing Secondary Stroke: An Integrated Research Review, Ahnnabeth Everard Millis

Covenant Nurses Week 2026

No abstract provided.

A World Of Connection: Asd, Morgan M. Gayton

Entry Level Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstone Projects Class of 2026

Autism Spectrum Disorder is a diagnosis that affects many school-aged children (CDC, 2025). Autistic children can have more difficulties engaging with both their peers and their families, which can lead to a lack of social participation. A World of Connection: ASD was a doctoral capstone project centering on social participation for autistic youth. The project blended the capstone student’s expanded knowledge in performing arts with their education in Occupational Therapy to create a 4-part capstone experience. A scoping review targeting the question “what are the most effective performing arts methods to enhance the social participation of autistic children” yielded 9 …

Little Minds, Big Emotions, Marissa Fattorusso

Entry Level Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstone Projects Class of 2026

Little Minds, Big Emotions is a doctoral capstone project designed to support the development of emotional regulation skills in preschool-aged children through the areas of program development, education, and clinical skills development. Emotional regulation is an essential component of children' s participation, social interactions, and overall well-being, yet many young children experience difficulties identifying emotions and using effective calming strategies. The purpose of this capstone project was to develop and implement a developmentally appropriate, play-based emotional regulation curriculum for preschool children while also providing educational resources for caregivers. This program was implemented three days a week for 14 weeks at …

Impact Of Occupational Therapy Within The Rosenbaum Family House: How Program Development Supports Health And Well-Being For Caregivers And Care Recipients, Zaccardi P. Muniz

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Healthcare hospitality houses (HHH) are designed to accommodate patients and caregivers receiving medical treatment far from home. The Rosenbaum Family House (RFH) acts as the HHH adjacent to J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, West Virginia. The RFH offers amenities that meet the basic needs of guests; However, there is an opportunity for occupational therapy-based program development to help further assist caregivers and care recipients both inside and outside the RFH. During the doctoral capstone experience (DCE), a three-phase project was developed to support the health and well-being of guests and WVUMedicine clients through group programming, resource guide development, and …

Clinician-Led, Single-Blind, Randomised Controlled Trial Evaluating The Efficacy Of A High-Intensity Resistance And Impact Training Intervention For Improving Health-Related Quality Of Life In People With Multiple Sclerosis: Protocol For Strong-Ms, Lisa Grech, Beck, David Scott, Marc Sim, Jakub Mesinovic, Paul Jansons, Fernanda Rodrigues Fonseca, Julie Abimanyi-Ochom, Michelle Allan, Stefan Blum, Ernest Butler, William Carroll, Nigel Caswell, Peter Ebeling, Vanessa Gan, Alan Herschtal, Nevin John, Allan Kermode, Linh Le-Kavanagh, Shalika Bohingamu Mudiyanselage, Lynne Elizabeth Ohman, Mia Poposka, Alison Reece, Phoebe Sansom, Charlotte Scroggie, Christopher Todaro

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: People with multiple sclerosis (MS) engage in less physical activity and experience higher rates of osteoporosis, falls and fractures than the general population, contributing to reduced health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and increased healthcare costs. High-intensity resistance and impact training (HiRIT) has beneficial effects on bone, muscle and physical function in other populations, but its effectiveness in people with MS is unclear. Methods and analysis: STRONG-MS is a codesigned, clinician-led, single-blind, randomised controlled trial evaluating the effect of a HiRIT programme, ONERO, on HRQoL for people with MS. Secondary aims include assessing changes in bone mineral density, body composition, …

The Hidden Process Of Student Placements: Perspectives From Slp, Ot, And Pt Coordinators, Almara Jane Sidney Hutchinson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This comparative multi-case study examined the unseen processes behind clinical placement planning in allied health education. Clinical placements are essential to preparing students in speech-language pathology (SLP), occupational therapy (OT), and physical therapy (PT); however, little research has explored how Directors and Coordinators of Clinical Education (DCE/CCEs) navigate the complex decision-making involved in planning these experiences. Guided by Greco and Myers’ (2024) framework conceptualizing placement planning as an interaction between process and experience, this study explored how coordinators described their planning processes and the role of student-centeredness within them.

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 DCEs/CCEs representing SLP, OT, and …

Effectiveness Of Occupational Therapy-Inspired Educational Sessions For Mothers Accessing Women, Infants, And Children (Wic) Services, Samantha Annette Merew

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This doctoral capstone project examined the effectiveness of occupational therapy (OT)-inspired group and one-on-one educational sessions designed to support the emotional, mental, and social well-being of pregnant and postpartum mothers accessing Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) services in Onslow County, North Carolina. Grounded in the Model of Human Occupation and Cognitive Behavioral Frame of Reference, the program aimed to address gaps in holistic maternal health support, particularly among low-income and at-risk populations. Eight structured group sessions and five one-on-one sessions were developed, implemented, and evaluated, focusing on topics such as stress management, emotional regulation, self-care, role transition, and self-advocacy. A …

Efficacy And Safety Of Tai Chi For Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Shun Chen, Weiting Liu, Qinwei Fu, Mingyu Huang, Weilan Lin, Yanting Ding, Ming Li

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objectives: Tai Chi, a form of complementary intervention emphasizing breathing and mind-body connection, is increasingly recognized for its potential in pain management. This review aims to synthesize current evidence on the efficacy and safety of Tai Chi for chronic musculoskeletal pain management in adults. Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Data sources: AMED, EMBASE, MEDLINE, WoS, CBM, CNKI, VIP, Wanfang Databases, CENTRAL, and WHO ICTRP were searched from database inception through May 2025, with an additional supplementary search conducted in January 2026. Eligibility criteria for selecting studies: We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing Tai Chi with other interventions for chronic …

The Prevalence Of Varus Thrust: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Haonan Shen, Nicole D'Souza, Claire E. Hiller, Marnee J. Mckay, Kun Hu, Zhiyong Wang, Milena Simic

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objective: To determine the prevalence of varus thrust in adults with and without knee osteoarthritis (OA), including across clinically relevant subgroups. A secondary objective was to explore whether varus thrust prevalence varied according to age, body mass index (BMI), and knee pain severity, where sufficient data were available. Design: A systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Five electronic databases and Google Scholar were searched from inception to January 21, 2025. Studies reporting varus thrust during gait in adults, assessed using clinical observation methods, were included. Two independent reviewers screened studies, extracted data, and assessed methodological quality. Results: …

Biomechanical Correlations Between The Pogo Hop Test And Running In Recreational Runners, Matt Klein, Brandon Kuske, Alex Gonzalez, Kealani Ontai, Jared Miller, Taylor Beachy, Jakob Lawrence, Robin Dorociak

Student-Faculty Research - College of Physical Therapy

The Problem

48.31 million Americans participated in running in 2023, with an injury incidence of 40.2% ± 18.8%

Objective biomechanical criteria for return to running (RTR) remain underdeveloped

Single-leg hop tests are among the most commonly used functional screens despite limited biomechanical validation for their correlation to running 2, 8, 10, 12, 14

The Biomechanical Rationale

Running propulsion depends on cyclical joint moments and positive power at the ankle, knee, and hip through rapid stretch-shortening cycles, a demand maximal discrete hop tests do not replicate ⁹

Repetitive single-leg pogo hopping shares the submaximal, rhythmic, cadence-dependent loading pattern of running 5, …

Influences Of Ankle Strength And Power On Gait Characteristics, Clinical Outcomes, And Social Measures Of Health In Healthy Older Adults, Tyson Barrington, Wesley Clawson, Carleigh Delapp, Kylie Hull, Brecken Rudy, Christen Johnson, Gabe Haberly, Ruth Holloran

Student-Faculty Research - College of Physical Therapy

What factors lead to satisfactory living for older adults?

Can clinicians utilize these factors to generate successful outcomes with their patients?

Clinicians often examine muscle strength, muscle power, balance, and gait speed to assess functional capacity

No current literature investigating the importance or correlation of these measures • Purpose: Explore the relationships between plantarflexion strength and power, gait speed, and social participation in healthy older adults

Pelvic Health Physical Therapy Education For Spanish Speakers Assessing Empowerment Through Education: Preliminary Findings, Tess Swake, Kira Negrete, Marisela Trenado-Alba, Erika Benitez, Alessandra Peraza-Aguillón

Student-Faculty Research - College of Physical Therapy

The Problem: Pelvic Floor Dysfunction (PFD) disproportionately impacts the US Latinx population, who experience up to a 1.8x higher rate of urinary incontinence, yet they face significant language and cultural barriers in healthcare.

The Gap: Current Spanish educational materials often exceed recommended reading levels, and published research on pelvic health physical therapy tailored for primary Spanish speakers is non-existent.

The Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of accessible Spanish-language materials (text, graphics, and video) in empowering patients by improving their knowledge of pelvic anatomy, common conditions, and baseline health.

Closing The Gap: How Does Same-Day Pt Access Transform Primary Care?, Lupita Alegria, Rosario Huerta-Cardenas, Seth Kobata, Madeline Melone, Champ Robertson, Rebecca Dobler

Student-Faculty Research - College of Physical Therapy

The evolution of physical therapy (PT) in a primary care setting represents a significant shift in musculoskeletal (MSK) management. While successfully utilized within the military and specific veteran health organizations, widespread adoption in the civililian sector is hindered by concerns regarding feasibility and sustainable reimbursement.

This study examines a novel implementation of primary-care PT at the Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center in Newberg, OR. By utilizing a capitated payment model—rather than traditional fee-for-service—this research seeks to determine the operational feasibility of embedded PT services and their efficacy in optimizing patient-centered outcomes.

A special thank you to the Virginia Garcia Memorial …

Does Stance Width Influence Isoperception During Lower Extremity Loading, Emily Elwell, Cade Kooch, Andrew Meszaros

Student-Faculty Research - College of Physical Therapy

Definition: Isoperceptual Manifold (IPM) is the combination of sensory inputs that covary to achieve a single perceptual goal

• → e.g. to hold a cup: perception from 3 fingers combine into a singular perceived force.

Background: IPM known to exist in upper extremities,¹ but IPM has not been examined in lower extremity (LE) loading.

Theory: IPM influenced by stance width might contribute to postural control instability^2,3

Motor Learning Of Ankle Control In People With Parkinson’S: Effects On Gait And Balance, Tessa Kitchel, Lanie Rodriguez, Riley Tishlarich, Courtney Vangiesen, Robin Dorociak, Pablo Burgos

Student-Faculty Research - College of Physical Therapy

Ankle control is crucial for balance and gait and is often impaired in people with Parkinson’s Disease (PD).

PD treatments, such as levodopa and deep brain stimulation, do not improve lower limb control or balance. ^{1, 2}

Individuals with PD still have the capacity for motor learning, even if motor performance is affected. ^{3, 4}

To date, no studies have investigated ankle training and balance in Parkinson’s Disease

Previous studies have shown that ankle training is beneficial for gait and balance in stroke. ⁵

The aim of the study is to evaluate the potential benefits of a single-joint training protocol …

Influences Of Lower Limb Strength And Rate Of Torque Development On Recovery From A Backwards Balance Loss, Allison Brist, Peyton Shimanek, Ly Vuthy, Chad Yanagisawa, Zachary Zaragosa, Lyndsay Stutzenberger, Gabe Haberly

Student-Faculty Research - College of Physical Therapy

Falls are a leading cause of hip fractures and accidental death

Backwards balance losses are particularly difficult to recover from and often result in injury

Lower body strength and rate of torque development (RTD) may influence stepping responses and balance recovery

This study examines how lower extremity peak torque and RTD affect recovery stepping following a backwards loss of balance

Patient Centered Care Course In Dpt Curriculum, Anthony Porpora, Anthony Tang, Chyanna Blackburn, Eli Porterfield, Peter Hilbert, Dominique Schwartz, Scott Burkhart

Student-Faculty Research - College of Physical Therapy

Patient-centered care refers to the collaboration between healthcare professionals and patients to recognize the patient beyond their diagnosis and grant them autonomy in healthcare-decision making.

Lack of research into standardized PCC curricula for effective education of healthcare professionals.¹

Improves blood pressure, benefits psychological health, reduces health care costs¹, promotes biopsychosocial model of health, recognizes influence of social drivers of health.²

Improves patient outcomes, adherence, and raises patient satisfaction.³

This study identifies student elevation of self and peers pre and post taking a patient-centered care course to determine effectiveness of course content in implementation of PCC …

Endometriosis And Adenomyosis: Physical Activity Facilitators And Barriers From A Physical Therapy Lens, Tess Swake, Lisa Dupont, Brooke Fager, Lexi Merrill

Student-Faculty Research - College of Physical Therapy

About 10% of people with female sexual anatomy of reproductive age experience Endometriosis and/or Adenomyosis.

In these chronic conditions, endometrial tissue spreads outside the uterus or into the myometrium.

Symptoms include severe pain and heavy bleeding during menstruation along with pelvic pain, fatigue, abdominal bloating or nausea.

This survey focuses on how symptoms impact participation in activities of daily life, self-efficacy, and biopsychosocial components such as depression and anxiety.

The purpose of this study is to explore the facilitators and barriers to physical activity for individuals diagnosed with Endometriosis and/or Adenomyosis.

Upper Extremity Use In Older Adults During A Floor Transfer: Biomechanical Implications And Relationships To Self-Report Measures, Ethan Klein, Daniel Farag, Isaiah Cappelen, Joshua Naughton, Evan Robinson, Lyndsay Stutzenberger, Tyler Whited

Student-Faculty Research - College of Physical Therapy

Getting up from the floor is progressively challenging with age and associated with higher morbidity and lower functional capacity1,2,3

Little is known about the associations of fear of falling (FoF) and physical activity (PA) levels on upper extremity (UE) use with getting up from the floor and the influence of UE use on the biomechanical demands of a floor transfer (FT) task

Study purpose: Determine the associations of UE use with FoF and PA levels and the effects of arm use and limb position on lower extremity kinetics

Hypotheses: Greater FoF and less PA would be positively correlated to greater …

Implementation Of A Pressure Injury Prevention Bundle To Reduce Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injuries In The Intensive Care Unit, Xibo Lan

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

Purpose

The goal of this quality improvement project was to utilize the SKINSAFE pressure injury prevention bundle during 12 weeks of implementation to increase evidence-based pressure injury prevention practices adherence and decrease risk of hospital-acquired pressure injury (HAPI) in the intensive care units (ICU).

Background

ICU patients experience high risk for hospital acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) secondary to immobility and device related pressure. Initial adherence to SKINSAFE bundle was 55-56%. There was inconsistent use of heel offloading devices, wound photography and documentation. Prevention bundles were affected by staffing fluctuations and leadership turnovers.

Methodology

The Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle for this project included …

Electromyography Of The Coracobrachialis—Construct Validity And Implications For Rehabilitation Of Anterior Shoulder Dislocation, Alon Rabin, Timothy L. Uhl, Ido Druckmann, Zvi Kozol, Yossi Ruah, Dani Rotman, Dan Stein

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

Background: The coracobrachialis (CB) is an important anterior shoulder stabilizer, yet no study has previously reported its electromyography (EMG). The purpose of this study was to validate a novel technique for surface EMG (sEMG) of the CB.   Methods: Thirty-two (21 females) healthy individuals participated in this cross-sectional study. A surface landmark for recording the CB was identified within the medial aspect of the proximal arm using real-time ultrasound imaging and cadaver dissection. The EMG from this landmark as well as from the biceps brachii (BB) were simultaneously recorded during shoulder horizontal adduction (SHAd) (a CB-dominant test), and during elbow flexion …

Planning A Clinical Practice Guideline Revision For A Core Set Of Outcome Measures In Adults Undergoing Neurologic Physical Therapy, Part 1: Assessing Dissemination And Scholarly Uptake, Jennifer Moore, Jane E. Sullivan, Marghuretta D. Bland, Wendy Romney, Elizabeth Anderl, Zeynep Gulen Erkoc, Kristen Potter

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

Introduction

Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) facilitate evidence-based decision-making and standardising care, yet their dissemination and scholarly uptake vary widely. The Core Set of Outcome Measures for Adults With Neurologic Conditions Undergoing Rehabilitation CPG (Core Set) has been broadly referenced within neurologic physical therapy. As the next revision approaches, understanding its scholarly influence, citation patterns, and published feedback is essential. This study evaluated the dissemination and use of the Core Set across the peer-reviewed literature and identified areas for refinement.

Methods

A medical librarian conducted comprehensive searches of Web of Science, CINAHL, and Scopus to identify peer-reviewed English-language articles citing the …