Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

The Effect Of Light Touch On Balance Control During Overground Walking In Healthy Young Adults., A R Oates, Janelle Unger, C M Arnold, J Fung, J L Lanovaz

Physical Therapy Publications

Balance control is essential for safe walking. Adding haptic input through light touch may improve walking balance; however, evidence is limited. This research investigated the effect of added haptic input through light touch in healthy young adults during challenging walking conditions. Sixteen individuals walked normally, in tandem, and on a compliant, low-lying balance beam with and without light touch on a railing. Three-dimensional kinematic data were captured to compute stride velocity (m/s), relative time spent in double support (%DS), a medial-lateral margin of stability (MOS_ML) and its variance (MOS_MLCV), as well as a symmetry index (SI) …

Moving From Parent "Consultant" To Parent "Collaborator": One Pediatric Research Team's Experience., Doreen Bartlett, Lisa A Chiarello, Tina Hjorngaard, Barbara Sieck Taylor

Physical Therapy Publications

We share our experiences as academic physical therapists and parents of young people with cerebral palsy working together as a research team, describe and critically review how our working relationship has evolved and propose further enhancements to realize our shared vision. This manuscript is informed by a call for “family-centered research,” transcripts of face-to-face meetings held over a period of 11/2 days, the INVOLVE document and our experiences over almost a decade, as well as other related literature. Authentic collaborative research partnerships between academic researchers and parents embodying trust, mutual respect and shared social responsibility take time and effort to …

Understanding Participation Of Children With Cerebral Palsy In Family And Recreational Activities., Mohammed S Alghamdi, Lisa A Chiarello, Robert J Palisano, Sarah W Mccoy

Physical Therapy Publications

AIMS: The primary aim of this study was to determine the effect of age, sex, gross motor, manual ability, and communication functions on the frequency and enjoyment of children's participation in family and recreational activities. The secondary aim was to determine the relationships between motor and communication functions and participation.

METHODS: Participants were 694 children, 1.5-12 years old, with cerebral palsy (CP) and their parents across the US and Canada. Parents rated children's frequency and enjoyment of participation using the Child Engagement in Daily Life measure. Parents and therapists identified children's level of function using Gross Motor Function Classification System …

Parents' Experiences And Perceptions When Classifying Their Children With Cerebral Palsy: Recommendations For Service Providers., Natalie V Scime, Doreen J Bartlett, Laura K Brunton, Robert J Palisano

Physical Therapy Publications

AIMS: This study investigated the experiences and perceptions of parents of children with cerebral palsy (CP) when classifying their children using the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS), the Manual Ability Classification System (MACS), and the Communication Function Classification System (CFCS). The second aim was to collate parents' recommendations for service providers on how to interact and communicate with families.

METHODS: A purposive sample of seven parents participating in the On Track study was recruited. Semi-structured interviews were conducted orally and were audiotaped, transcribed, and coded openly. A descriptive interpretive approach within a pragmatic perspective was used during analysis.

RESULTS: …

Construction And Validation Of The Fatigue Impact And Severity Self-Assessment For Youth And Young Adults With Cerebral Palsy., Laura K Brunton, Doreen J Bartlett

Physical Therapy Publications

Purpose: The Fatigue Impact and Severity Self-Assessment (FISSA) was created to assess the impact, severity and self-management of fatigue for individuals with cerebral palsy (CP) aged 14-31.

Methods Used: Items were generated from a review of measures and interviews with individuals with CP. Focus groups with healthcare professionals were used for item reduction. A mailed survey was conducted (n=163/367) to assess the factor structure, known-groups validity and test-retest reliability.

Results Obtained: The final measure contained 31-items in two factors and discriminated between individuals expected to have different levels of fatigue. Individuals with more functional abilities reported less fatigue (p< 0.002) and those with higher pain reported higher fatigue (p< 0.001). The FISSA was shown to have adequate test-retest reliability, ICC(3,1)=0.74 (95% CI 0.53-0.87).

Conclusions …

The Attentional Demands Of Ambulating With An Assistive Device In Older Adults With Alzheimer's Disease, Susan W. Hunter, M Montero-Odasso

Physical Therapy Publications

Ambulation with a mobility aid is a unique real-life situation of multi-tasking. These simultaneous motor tasks place increased demands on executive function in healthy young and older adults, but the demands have not been evaluated in people with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Mobility problems are common among adults with AD, leading to provision of a mobility aid to optimize independent activity. The study objectives were: (i) to determine the dual-task cost (DTC) associated with the use of a mobility aid in straight and complex path walking, and (ii) to evaluate the association between executive function and ambulation with a mobility aid …

Development, Implementation, And Outcomes Of An Acute Care Clinician Scientist Clinical Placement: Case Report., Sarah Wojkowski, Janelle Unger, Magda Mccaughan, Beverley Cole, Michelle E Kho

Physical Therapy Publications

Purpose: This article presents the development, implementation, and outcomes of an innovative clinician scientist (CS) placement for a 2nd-year, entry-level MSc(PT) student at McMaster University. Client Description: All physiotherapy students participating in the third 6-week clinical placement at McMaster University were eligible to apply for one CS placement. A placement description and expectations were developed collaboratively by the clinical site and the MSc(PT) programme before placement matching. Intervention: A shared supervisory model between one acute care physiotherapist and a critical care CS was developed to provide supervision in both clinical and research-related activities during the placement. Measures and Outcomes: The …

Interhemispheric Pathways Are Important For Motor Outcome In Individuals With Chronic And Severe Upper Limb Impairment Post Stroke, Kathryn S. Hayward, Jason L. Neva, Cameron S. Mang, Sue Peters, Katie P. Wadden, Jennifer K. Ferris, Lara A. Boyd

Physical Therapy Publications

Background: Severity of arm impairment alone does not explain motor outcomes in people with severe impairment post stroke.

Objective: Define the contribution of brain biomarkers to upper limb motor outcomes in people with severe arm impairment post stroke.

Methods: Paretic arm impairment (Fugl-Meyer upper limb, FM-UL) and function (Wolf Motor Function Test rate, WMFT-rate) were measured in 15 individuals with severe (FM-UL ≤ 30/66) and 14 with mild-moderate (FM-UL > 40/66) impairment. Transcranial magnetic stimulation and diffusion weight imaging indexed structure and function of the corticospinal tract and corpus callosum. Separate models of the relationship between possible biomarkers and motor outcomes …

Clinician's Commentary On Patterson Et Al., Sue Peters

Physical Therapy Publications

No abstract provided.

Are We Armed With The Right Data? Pooled Individual Data Review Of Biomarkers In People With Severe Upper Limb Impairment After Stroke, Kathryn S. Hayward, Julia Schmidt, Keith R. Lohse, Sue Peters, Julia Bernhardt, Natasha A. Lannin, Lara A. Boyd

Physical Therapy Publications

To build an understanding of the neurobiology underpinning arm recovery in people with severe arm impairment due to stroke, we conducted a pooled individual data systematic review to: 1) characterize brain biomarkers; 2) determine relationship(s) between biomarkers and motor outcome; and 3) establish relationship(s) between biomarkers and motor recovery. Three electronic databases were searched up to October 2, 2015. Eligible studies included adults with severe arm impairment after stroke. Descriptive statistics were calculated to characterize brain biomarkers, and pooling of individual patient data was performed using mixed-effects linear regression to examine relationships between brain biomarkers and motor outcome and recovery. …

The Comprehensive Professional Behaviours Development Log, Deb Lucy, Doreen J. Bartlett, Tianna D. B. Deluzio

Physical Therapy Publications

No abstract provided.