Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Analysis Of Normal Human Postural Response During Stance, Christy M. Kramer

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

The purpose of this paper is to review the literature that examines normal standing postural responses including sensory input and motor response. This literature review also reviews changes in the use of sensory input and motor response which occur throughout the human lifespan. In addition, this literature review questions whether physical therapy can assist patients whose postural responses are not within ranges considered normal.

The information in this literature review should assist people within the field of physical therapy to increase their awareness of normal postural responses during stance. It should also increase the awareness among practitioners of how normal …

The Effects Of Repeat Testing On Performance Scores Utilizing The Isostation B-200, Stephanie D. Kyes

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

The purpose of this experimental study was twofold: 1) to determine if there was a significant increase in performance, or learning effect, between the first and second test sessions on the Isostation B-200 for normal subjects, and 2) if so, was there a specific percentage of increase that can be attributed as a learning effect for each age, gender, or activity level.

Twenty-two subjects (8 men, 14 women) with no prior history or treatment for low back pain were utilized in this study. All subjects were tested in two positions. First, in an upright standing position and second, in twenty …

Outcome Based Survey On The University Of North Dakota Physical Therapy Curriculum, Elizabeth L. Malae

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

According to the American Physical Therapy Association's (APTA) current Standards for Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education Programs, "Criterion A for Standard VI states: The Comprehensive curriculum plan includes an organized and sequential series of integrated student-oriented learning experiences designed to enhance attainment of terminal competencies." How can we be sure that these educational goals and objectives of achieving technical clinical competency and meeting the needs of society and the profession are being met? One method is to get feedback from the students involved in the physical therapy program by means of a survey. This study will examine the content and …

The Role Of Foot Biomechanics In Lower Extremity Pathologies, Don Martin

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Lower extremity pathologies caused by abnormal biomechanics of the subtalar joint are commonly seen in the health care setting. Certain foot types will predispose an individual to excessive amounts of subtalar joint pronation or supination during gait. Subtalar joint movement is transmitted proximally to the lower extremity during gait and excessive amounts of pronation or supination can lead to altered biomechanics in the lower extremity with development of various lower extremity injuries. The purpose of this study is to analyze the biomechanical events of the subtalar joint of the foot during gait in order to show how abnormalities in these …

A Historical Perspective Of Medical Care Coverage In The United States, Rhonda Noyes

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Reimbursement of medical services by third-party payers is becoming more contingent upon the effectiveness of services at an affordable cost. The push for cost containment brings about the need for the health care professional to have a sound understanding of medical care coverage to provide quality services at an affordable price.

The present coverage of medical care in the united States is largely dependent upon medical benefits offered by employers. In order to understand current trends in medical care coverage and the reliance on employer based coverage, this independent study explores the origins and development of the current medical care …

A Review Of The Sacroiliac Joint With Emphasis On Evaluation And Treatment, Rachele Reber

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Low back pain is a common reason for referral to physical therapy. Although the role of the sacroiliac joint in low back pain remains controversial, many physical therapists frequently evaluate and treat biomechanical lesions of the sacroiliac joint. It is important to have keen evaluation skills to pinpoint the type of sacroiliac joint lesion present. Having a good knowledge and understanding of the anatomy, movement, and function of the joint will aid the therapist to correlate the findings of the evaluation with the proper treatment regimen. The purpose of this independent study is to describe current evaluation techniques, pathological conditions, …

The History And Evolution Of Stretching, Jennifer Roberts

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Virtually every athlete engages in some form of stretching before beginning a training routine or competitive event. Stretching is an integral component of endless physical therapy treatment programs for muscle strains, ligament sprains, fibromyalgia protocols, and joint replacements to name a few. However, the physiological effect of stretching and the best method for producing the desired outcome is often questioned by coaches, athletes, and therapists.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of static stretching and ballistic stretching individually and in conjunction with modalities. Muscle physiology, the benefits of flexibility, and the psychological and physiological effects of …

Debridement Teaching Aid, Katharine E. Ward

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Physical therapists treat patients with wounds. Debridement is one area of wound care which physical therapists frequently perform. Debridement is a particularly difficult skill to learn in the classroom due to the inability to simulate authentic conditions.

This study is intended to be a debridement teaching aid in the physical therapy classroom and/or the professional setting. Written text discusses the classification, healing, assessment, debridement, and dressing of wounds. Photographs of wounds and wound care clarify the written text.

The purpose of this teaching module is to help students and professional staff feel more comfortable with wound care and debridement upon …

Survey Of Pharmacology Education In Entry-Level Physical Therapy Programs, Daniel C. Weaver

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

The purpose of this survey research is to document the current status of education in pharmacology in the curriculum of entry-level physical therapy programs. A questionnaire was sent to the 135 entry-level physical therapy programs located in the United States and accredited by the American Physical Therapy Association. The director or faculty member responsible for pharmacology instruction in 96 (71.1 %) of the entry-level physical therapy programs participated in the five-part survey.

The questionnaire results indicate that nearly all of the program respondents (98.9%) incorporate pharmacology content into existing required courses and/or have in his or her curriculum a required …

An Analysis Of The Personalities Of A Sample Of Students At Grand Valley State University Who Consume Alcohol, Jeanette Mcdowell

Dissertations

Problem. Literature on alcohol abuse among college students suggests that drinking patterns differ according to the expectations that people have about consuming alcohol. These expectations are strongly aligned to the personality traits/characteristics of theconsumer. At Grand Valley State University, alcohol abuse on campus is a great concern. The purpose of this study was to analyze the personalities and needs of some students at the university who have been participants in the Time Out program--a program structured for those who have been involved in alcohol use and have violated the rights of others while under the influence.

Method. Three instruments, a …

The Nature Of Mentoring And Its Relationship With Role Socialization For The Academic Nurse Administrator, Anna Rambharose Vance

Dissertations

Problem. Many academic nursing organizations have a great need for leaders who can handle the complex mix of academic administration, health care facilities, and curriculum demands. These administrators are not directly trained to be professional academic nurse administrators. It was the purpose of this study to investigate the nature of mentoring as a vehicle for socializing academic nurse administrators.

Method. A survey research methodology was used to study the characteristics of the mentor-protege relationship. The Mentoring Role Socialization Survey was the instrument used for data collection. For the purpose of this study, the instrument was divided into three sections: Professional …

Prediction Of In-Hospital Delirium In Elderly Hip Fracture Patients Using Family Assessment Of Pre-Morbid Cognitive Behaviors, Ronell R. Ruhlandt

Masters Theses

The elderly are the fastest growing segment of the population in the United States. Elderly persons are at high risk for developing delirium when hospitalized. The purpose of this study was to determine if pre-morbid cognitive behaviors were predictive of in-hospital delirium in elderly hip-fracture patients. The ability to predict or diagnose delirium early could prevent complications during hospitalization and decrease the length of hospital stays. The study was descriptive correlational. Subjects were admitted to a metropolitan teaching hospital during February through August 1993, were 60 years or older, and were diagnosed with hip fracture. Admission assessments included the Cognitive …

Organizational Slack, Efficiency, And Quality Of Care In Acute Care Hospitals, Kyung Ii Youn

Theses and Dissertations

The relationship between technical efficiency and quality of care in hospitals is studied in the context of resource availability in hospital organizations. The resource availability of hospitals is conceptualized by organizational slack.

An integrated model is developed encompassing the source of organizational slack, its impact on technical efficiency and on quality of care, and its impact on the relationship between efficiency and quality. Organizational threat as an environmental factor affecting the level of slack is measured by the level of competition and regulation. Organizational slack is measured using financial and operational indicators of the hospitals. Technical efficiency is estimated by …

Rehabilitation In The State Sector: Do Job Descriptions Accurately Reflect Expected Duties?, Douglas Edward Allen

Theses Digitization Project

No abstract provided.

Loss Of The Tumor Suppressor Genes P53 And Brca1 In Prophylactic Mastectomy Cancer Patients, Garrett Griffith Losh

Presidential Scholars Theses (1990 – 2006)

More importantly, this study has shown that prophylactic mastectomy surgery is a viable and worthwhile treatment to prevent breast cancer recurrence. It is hoped that this information will increase the knowledge of breast cancer. For the same reason, this paper has attempted to explain what cancer is while describing how the genetics of a person cause or contribute to its development. Most of all, it is hoped that this paper will emphasize the severity of this disease in the United States today and tomorrow .

Cerebral Vascular Accidents And Therapeutic Treatments, Allison L. Hartman

Presidential Scholars Theses (1990 – 2006)

A cerebral vascular accident (CVA) is commonly referred to as a stroke. Stroke is the third leading cause of death and the number one cause of serious disability in the United States. Approximately 550,000 people suffer a stroke each year; 150,000 of these result in death. Each stroke is unique. After a stroke, some victims will suffer severe deficits and/or permanent disability for the remainder of their lives. Yet other victims may suffer only mild, temporary deficits and may recover completely. Currently over three million Americans are living with the effects of stroke . Most of these individuals have been …

The Relationship Between Codependency, Alcoholism, And The Family Of Origin, William Ansara

Masters Theses

This study examined the relationship between the construct of codependency, family alcohol consumption patterns, degree of family dysfunction, and gender. It was proposed that codependent behaviors, feelings, and attitudes would be present in persons regardless of the reported degree of family alcohol abuse if dysfunctional patterns of relating exsisted in the family of origin. It was further hypothesised that women would evidence higher codependency scores than males in all groups. The Spann-Fischer codependency assessment instrument was use to measure subjects feelings and attitudes. Subjects were divided into four groups based on their report of family dysfunction and family alcohol consumption …

Burnout Among Master's Level Mental Health Practitioners, Brenda K. Greeson

Masters Theses

Seventy-eight master's level mental health practitioners completed survey materials including the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), the Psychologist's Burnout Inventory (PBI), and a demographic and job satisfaction questionnaire modified for this study from a 1994 study of school psychologists (Niebrugge, 1994). The random sample of community mental health centers selected to receive survey materials came from a list obtained from the Illinois Department of Mental Health (DMH). Results suggested that symptoms of burnout frequently occur among this group of clinicians, regardless of their disciplinary training. A relationship between burnout and job-related stressors (e.g., feeling a lack of control in the work …

Investigation Of The Relationship Between Language & Mathematics In Regards To Problem Solving, Heather A. Grant

Masters Theses

While previous research has established language as a component of mathematical performance (Kintsch, 1988; Simon, 1985), none have identified a relationship between language and mathematics. This study was conducted to examine the relationships between language and mathematical abilities, specifically problem solving abilities and concept knowledge.

The subjects consisted of 29 fifth-grade students selected from an elementary school in central Illinois. These students were not receiving special education services. Each subject was administered the Test of Problem Solving (Zachman, et al., 1984) to assess the subjects' ability to utilize reasoning skills and expressive language to solve situational problems; and The WORD …

Nutrition Knowledge Of Illinois High School Athletic Coaches, Donall M. Hausauer

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Medication On The Attributional Styles Of Boys With Adhd, Scott Patrick Ardoin

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

The Utilization Of Music Therapy Strategies For Increasing Prosocial Skills In Students With Behavioral Disorders, Marlene Lennia Anunson

All Graduate Projects

A representative sample of music therapy strategies was developed for use by general music teachers in elementary schools. A literature search was conducted in effective social skills training methods and music therapy techniques. The strageties developed can be used by elementary general music teachers to help improve prosocial skills in students with behavioral disorders.

Medical Disease And Low Back Pain: The Physical Therapy Evaluation, Heather Lynn Alderson

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

The heightened level of autonomy currently experienced by the profession of physical therapy demands that, in addition to identifying and managing movement dysfunctions of the musculoskeletal system, physical therapists be knowledgeable of signs and symptoms which may indicate medical disease. Individuals who present with low back pain (LBP) are commonly seen in the physical therapy clinic. While most often the source of a patient's LBP is of mechanical musculoskeletal origin, a great number of differential diagnoses classified as medical diseases also exist that are capable of precipitating low back pain. The purpose of this independent study is to: (a) outline …

The Effect Of Backward Treadmill Walking On Lower Extremity Kinetics, Scott Billing

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Many physical therapy diagnoses require minimal anterior loading of the knee in their rehabilitation protocols. These include, but are not limited to, tibial plateau fractures, patellofemoral pain, patellar fractures, quadriceps tendinitis, and status post anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. In the clinical setting, backward walking (BW), or "retro-walking," is often used during the rehabilitation of such diagnoses. We propose backward walking will initiate greater hamstring recruitment due to the kinematics and kinetics of this gait pattern and thereby result in less anterior knee stress. It is the purpose of this research project to determine if hamstring recruitment can increase in a …

An Investigation Of Differential Diagnosis Of Patellofemoral Pain Syndromes, Shannon Marie Buckmier

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Dysfunction of the patellofemoral joint has long been a topic of discussion and debate for caregivers of patients with this syndrome. Various diagnosis related to the patellofemoral joint of the knee have been reported. Patellofemoral pain refers to the clinical presentation of pain in the anterior region of the knee. It is one of the most common musculoskeletal complaints in children, adolescents, and adults. It is a major source of pain and dysfunction in both genders, but is more common in females.

The purpose of this literature review is to help distinguish between several differential diagnosis included as part of …

The Continuum Of Care For The Traumatic Brain Injured, Maile M.K. Collado

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Physical therapists play an important role in the rehabilitation and management of the traumatic brain injured (TBI) patient. Physical therapy is accomplished through therapeutic strategies, intervention techniques, and recommendations for placement and discharge. Many times P.T. services are discontinued for various reasons, two of which are loss of reimbursement or the perception that the patient no longer requires P.T. services. Many times, however, services are discontinued due to a lack of awareness of available services.

There is limited research available that follows the TBI patient along the continuum of care towards reintegration into society .. Thus, the purpose of this …

Guidelines And Benefits For Exercising The Elderly, Nita Farbo

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

The population of elderly individuals is continually growing due to advancements in medicine and technology. Several physiological and psychological changes occur throughout the aging process. Regular physical activity is an effective therapy for slowing the aging process and preventing many of the conditions that occur with aging, such as hypertension, coronary artery disease, obesity, diabetes, depression, and anxiety. In addition, the active individual is more independent and functional in his or her activities of daily living compared to the person who remains sedentary. Older individuals who maintain functional levels of flexibility, strength, and cardiovascular endurance are rarely candidates for nursing …

Management Of Spasticity: A Review Of Two Methods Of Medical Intervention, Andrea Grock

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Spasticity is an entity with which physical therapists are quite frequently faced. It is a common phenomenon among individuals who have sustained central nervous system damage. Spasticity is "associated with a wide variety of neurological diagnoses and may have benefits as well as negative qualities. The negative effects can lead to multiple complications which interfere with functions of every day living. Management of spasticity becomes necessary when it ~causes complications or interferes with function. There are several modes of intervention, including conservative physical therapy approaches and/or medical approaches.

The purpose of this independent study is to review two medical methods …

The Effects Of Family Dynamics On Pediatric Intervention, Michelle L. Jung

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

The family unit in America is becoming extremely diverse in its composition, perceptions, and capabilities. It is this diversity which challenges professionals to perceive and interact with each family as an unique entity. Most importantly, though, is the influence of family dynamics on the outcomes of therapeutic interventions for children with disabilities. Since the passage of Public Law 99-457, the focus of intervention has moved from treatment of the individual child to services involving the family as a single functioning unit. . Services are then provided to the child and family, as the family needs influence the child's growth and …

Total Quality Management In Physical Therapy: A Primer For Physical Therapists In Search Of Quality, Brian C. Kittelson

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Total quality management (TQM), a management system first successfully utilized in the manufacturing industry, has gained much popularity in the healthcare industry over the past few years. Books, articles, conferences, workshops, and video tapes that teach health care executives how to utilize TQM in their organizations abound. Unfortunately, resources which specifically apply the TQM philosophy and tools to the practice of physical therapy are few. The purpose of this project is to provide a resource that introduces the philosophy, methods, and tools of TQM with applications to the physical therapy setting.

Chapter one briefly discusses the general history of TQM …