Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Critical Overview Of Wound Care Modalities, Keith W. Hartnett

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

The purpose of this independent study is to explore Physical Therapy modalities used in adjunct to traditional wound management. There are many factors that influence the healing rate. A basic knowledge of the body's healing process is needed in order to understand the affects modalities have on the wound.

The key to wound management is the initial and constant assessment. The patient history, subjective information, and objective measure are critical to the etiology and progression of the wound, and will be discussed.

Modalities can accelerate wound healing. Mechanical and physiological effects of the different modalities will be explored. This study …

Physical Therapy And Internal Derangement Of The Temporomandibular Joint, Kathy Johnson

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

In orthopedic literature, internal derangement is considered to be one of the main predisposing factors in the development of temporomandibular joint dysfunction and subsequent arthrosis. Internal derangement can be defined as the abnormal relationship of the articular disc to the condyle and consists of a multitude of disorders.

Physical therapy is well-recognized as an effective, conservative method of treatment for temporomandibular disorders. Early treatment to correct symptomatic internal derangement decreases the possibility of disc deformation and further joint degeneration. However, much of the physical therapy literature consists of uncontrolled case studies and focal clinical technique articles. For this reason, there …

Low Back Pain, Jeff Large

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most common disorders seen in the health care setting today. The cost of rehabilitation of LBP makes up a significant proportion of today's health care economy. Both physical and social factors have been associated with the etiology of LBP. Today's advanced diagnostic equipment has allowed the underlying pathologies of LBP to be better understood. In the past, different theories and techniques for rehabilitation have been utilized. Current rehabilitation of LBP has emphasized effective, cost-efficient prevention and education.

The purpose of this independent study is to research current theories of risk factors, pathologies …

The Use Of Lower Extremity Functional Electrical Stimulation In Spinal Cord Injured Patients, Michelle Mccrory

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating, life-altering injury that presents a variety of rehabilitative and long-term medical management challenges. Not only must the inability to ambulate, which is generally of primary concern to the patient, be addressed, but also the inherent degenerative and deconditioning effects of SCI which may ultimately lead to various secondary complications.

Recently, functional electrical stimulation (FES) has been the subject of a variety of research concerning the rehabilitation of individuals with SCI. FES is a means of activating alpha motor neurons to stimulate muscular contraction and elicit a therapeutic or functional effect.

The purpose of …

Nonoperative Treatment Of Shoulder Instability In The Throwing Athlete, Whitney A. Meier

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

An increase interest of the shoulder complex has led to additional knowledge through research and enhancement of rehabilitation for various shoulder disorders. Shoulder injuries are common for overhead sporting activities, such as pitching. The pitching mechanism combines a high level of neuromuscular coordination between the glenohumeral and scapulothoracic muscles. The intricate balance and timing of these muscles is necessary to allow full mobility and to maintain the dynamic stability throughout the entire throwing motion. Any deficiency in muscular strength or timing can affect shoulder function and potentially cause shoulder instability.

Rehabilitation and nonoperative management of shoulder pain due to instability …

A Literature Review Of Strengthening And Injury Prevention Techniques As Related To High School Athletes, Matthew Miller

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

In the U.S. an estimated 20-25 million youths participate in high school athletics yearly. Of these, nearly 30% will be forced to miss part or all of the season due to injury. It has been speculated that through proper training, many of the injuries seen may be reduced or eliminated. However, most coaches do not have an extensive anatomical and physiological background to provide athletes with these correct training techniques. Although athletic trainers have expertise in this area, they are only employed in approximately 10% of the high school systems in the U.S.

Much of the research to date on …

Functional Knee Bracing: Effects And Efficacy, Lisa A. Philion

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Functional knee braces are intended to provide stability to the unstable knee joint. The purpose of this literature review is to examine available research on functional knee braces in order to summarize their effects and efficacy.

Research indicates that the most effective brace for controlling abnormal knee motions would be a custom designed shell brace with rigid straps and a polycentric hinge. However, individual characteristics of the wearer must also be considered.

Subjective research indicates that functional knee braces improve function and provide support for the unstable knee. However, these findings do not correlate with objective findings.

Results of biomechanical …

Shoulder Pathology In The Pitching Athlete: A Review Of Mechanics Involved In Throwing And Conservative Management, Conny C. Randolph

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

The pathological shoulder in the pitching athlete offers a unique challenge to the therapist. Most often, the injury relates to the throwing motion itself. Therefore, for the therapist to efficiently diagnose and treat this patient population, they must be familiar with the normal biomechanics associated with pitching, and be familiar with the structures that are commonly stressed or injured during various phases of the pitch.

Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to outline the normal biomechanics associated with the pitch, review common pathologies as they relate to the stresses imposed by the pitch, and discuss current concepts regarding the …

The Effect Of Therapeutic Horseback Riding Compared To Traditional Physical Therapy On Range Of Motion, Tone, Pulmonary Function, And Balance In Children With Cerebral Palsy, Rene Roze

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Therapeutic horseback riding programs have grown rapidly since 1969, when the first center opened in Michigan. Although therapeutic riding is a growing adjunctive therapy procedure, the claims that the program facilitates musculoskeletal and physiological improvements have never been objectively examined against a control group. The purpose of this independent study was to measure the effect of therapeutic horseback riding compared to traditional therapy on range of motion, pulmonary function, balance and muscle tone in children with cerebral palsy.

Twelve children underwent assessments according to the repeated measures design. Six children who received traditional therapy served as a control group, while …

Factors Related To Functional Recovery After Cns Injury, Traceylin B. Sales

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Factors that act either directly or indirectly, such as the age of the person, the time of injury, the site and size of location, mechanisms of neural repair, therapeutic intervention, and general medical and family support have been suggested to contribute to the overall motor and functional recovery of an individual. This paper is a literature review of these influential factors, with emphasis on restoration of functional skills. Overall, findings have been consistent to some degree. Generally, the more severe and dense the injury, the resulting increase in behavioral and motor deficits. Neural mechanisms of repair have been found to …

A Retrospective Look At The Use Of Manual Therapy, Susan Adele Sollom

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Manual Therapy (MT) has been used extensively since the origin of the Physical Therapy profession and includes massage, traction, exercise, stretching or compression of soft tissue, range of motion tests, manual muscle tests, palpation, joint mobilization and manipulation. Interest and enthusiasm for MT has especially grown among clinicians and educators in the last decade. However, despite its common use, research and documentation involving the efficacy and reliability of MT are extremely rare. Many techniques and concepts have yet to be justified. These concepts need to be critically tested, discussed, and revised, and the profession needs to be challenged to show …

The Efficacy Of Functional Assessments In Rehabilitation Medicine, Keith E. Swanson

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Functional assessment in rehabilitation medicine is not a new concept. Functional assessment measures have, however, experienced increased usage. Health insurance companies and clinicians are now focusing on functional outcomes in addition to objective tests.

Certain measurement criteria must be satisfied before a measurement tool may be successfully implemented into the clinical setting. Variable standardization, reliability, and validity are necessary for accurate measurement. The term function, however, deals with many variables leading to definitional difficulty.

The purpose of the functional assessment is to describe, screen and assess, and monitor. Although many functional assessments are available for clinical use, most lack scientific …

Fetal Tissue Transplantation In Parkinson's Disease: A Literature Review, Kathleen Thompson

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common progressive neurological disorder. It affects the central nervous system by depleting the basal ganglia of dopamine. To date, the standard treatment is drug therapy to replace the lacking dopamine. However, this treatment is problematic as there are many side effects to the drugs. Also, this treatment does not effect the progression of this disease. Therefore, drug therapy becomes continuously less effective in treating PD. For this reason, new forms of therapy are being researched for the treatment of advanced PD. One of the most recent therapeutic interventions is fetal tissue transplantation.

The purpose of …

Rehabilitation Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Comparison Of Traditional And Accelerated Approaches, Michael S. Wanbaugh

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Rehabilitation following Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) reconstruction has become an area of controversy in recent years. Most clinicians have used the traditional rehabilitation protocols which correlate mobility, weightbearing, and strength training with the bio-mechanical and surgical constraints of graft fixation and healing. However, a trend towards the use of accelerated protocols is more evident today. The accelerated approach stresses activity and weightbearing in the early periods of the rehabilitation process following the reconstructive surgery. The proponents of the accelerated protocol believe that earlier activity will enhance the healing of the graft without causing an increase in knee instability.

The purpose …

Treatment Of Urinary Incontinence In Females: A Physical Therapist's Guide, Natalie R. Wells

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

p>Urinary incontinence is a common problem for many females in the united states. Most people with this problem believe that their main options for treatment are surgery or medications. People with incontinence, along with their attending physician, often do not realize the types of conservative therapy that are available for the treatment of urinary incontinence in females. As the understanding of urinary incontinence has increased, there has also been an increased awareness of the role of physical therapy in the conservative treatment of the problem.

The purpose of this paper is to review the literature regarding the assessment and …

A Critical Review Of The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (Hiv) Infection And The Most Common Clinical Manifestations Of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (Aids), Randy Willman

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

The purpose of this independent study is to review the viral and immunologic factors in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and present the clinical manifestations most commonly associated with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). As physical therapists, we will thus increase our knowledge base of this complex disease and understand the many opportunistic infections associated with HIV infection and the various aspects of AIDS. In addition, by having a better understanding of the disease, we may overcome our fears, improve our personal attitudes toward patients with HIV/AIDS, and improve and prolong the quality of life of individuals with the disease.

Efficacy Of Addiction Treatment In A Correctional Setting For Female Offenders As Measured By The Addiction Severity Index, Paul Robert Wiese

Dissertations

Problem. This study was designed to determine to what extent improvement following treatment for addiction was evident, and if treatment seemed causative in that outcome, for incarcerated female addicts. This study also explored the question of which treatment modality seemed most effective-- an education-only group, a comprehensive long-term treatment group, or a waiting-list control group. -- Method. The Addiction Severity Index (ASI) furnished scores on seven psychosocial areas for subjects. Hypotheses were tested with paired t tests. The means of the pre- and post-tests for the three groups were compared, as well as between group mean scores. Second, a …

Personal Meaning In The Elderly: A Heideggerian Hermeneutical Phenomenological Study, Diane Heliker

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

How To Reduce The Incidence Of Premature Births, And Their Associated Costs, Via A Fivefold Corporate Wellness Program, Carley Brunner Alves

Theses

This thesis will focus on the incidence of premature births and how to reduce the frequency and costs associated with premature delivery. The emphasis is towards the development of a wellness program within a corporation which will accomplish these objectives within its population of female employees.

Research has shown that many of these premature births could be prevented if five major factors were controlled through health education and lifestyle changes. The five risk factors that increase the possibility of delivering prematurely are: lack of exercise prior to pregnancy, alcohol intake, cigarette smoking, increased stress levels, and use of harmful drugs, …

Review Of The P53 Tumor Suppressor Gene And Its Role In Gliomas, James Dearing Christian

Theses and Dissertations

The following review of the p53 tumor suppressor gene will be discussed with particular attention to its role in human gliomas, as well as the various advances that have brought this molecule to the forefront of cancer research. A review of tumorigenesis focuses on the molecular mechanisms that convey neoplastic characteristics upon a normal cell. It is discussed how the coordinate advances in chromosome analysis and molecular techniques enabled the p53 gene to be categorized as a "tumor suppressor gene" and applied to various forms of cancer, including colorectal and lung carcinoma. The focus of the review will be on …

A Survey On The Motivational Techniques Used By Men's College Tennis Coaches, John A. Ross

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Training Profiles Of Collegiate Swimmers: A Survey Of Ncaa Division I, Ii, And Iii Coaches About Their Male Freestyle Swimmers During The 1993-94 Swimming Season, Sean M. Cabbage

Masters Theses

The lack of information about how the majority of college swimming teams train encouraged the author to conduct the following study.

A cover letter and questionnaire, regarding training methods, were sent to all 377 NCAA men's swimming coaches (Division I, II, and III) in the United States, as listed in the 1993-94 NCAA Directory. Approximately 50 percent of all surveys were returned with an equal response rate from each of the respective divisions.

Questions regarded team division and size, the coaches experience level and recent training changes, months of peak training during the 1993-94 collegiate season, peak training volume and …

Frequency Of Attainment Of Plateau In Maximal Oxygen Consumption In Differentially Trained Athletes, Jeffrey Michael Seda

Masters Theses

A plateau in oxygen consumption during exercise testing has been considered a requisite indicator of achievement of true maximal oxygen consumption. The wide range of reported percentages of subjects revealing a plateau (7 to 80 percent) indicates that closer analysis of factors that may influence plateau attainment is necessary. This study examined the frequency of plateau attainment in two groups of differentially trained subjects. One group (TR) of 12 males (ages 18-36) were trained runners and the other group (WL) of 12 males (ages 18-31) consisted of trained weight lifters. The subjects participated in a series of maximal exercise tests …

An Evaluation Of Pre-Intake Attention On Kept Intake Appointments In An Outpatient Setting, Lauren Roberts

Masters Theses

The present study attempted to reduce the no-show rate for scheduled intake appointments at a local CMHC through the use of two interventions. Thirty-seven subjects who called for an intake appointment were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups: an Orientation and Standard Intake Procedure or an Orientation and Modified Intake Procedure. Both treatment groups were compared to a Base Group consisting of intake appointments scheduled during the same time period the previous year. Individuals assigned to OMIP revealed a reduction in the no-show rate from 51% during baseline to 36%. Individuals assigned to OSIP did not reveal similar …

Gatekeeping Access To Emergency Departments: A Survey Of Hmo Policies, Regina Conway Phillips

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

A Review Of The Sacroiliac Joint, Mark Daugherity

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Low back pain is one of the leading causes of lost productivity at work and disability in the United States. There are many factors thought to be involved in this diagnosis. These include intervertebral disc problems, mechanical dysfunctions, muscle sprains, ligament strains, and infectious diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and tuberculosis. One area often overlooked in the diagnosis of low back pain is the sacroiliac joint. There is much controversy surrounding the function of this joint. Although some clinicians question if there is any movement at all, many manual therapists evaluate this area in their daily practice and believe that …

Motor Skills And Mental Practice: A Tool For Physical Therapy, Kari L. Drevecky

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

The purpose of this Independent Study is to review the literature concerning mental practice and its effects on motor skill performance and retention as important within the field of physical therapy. The study of mental practice as concerned with physical therapy is important as this .modality is not often included in patient treatment programs, despite its potential applications. The content of this paper will consist of. definitions, theoretical explanations, effectiveness of mental practice, and the effects of individual differences on mental practice. The primary research questions were: (1) What is mental practice? (2) How does mental practice work? (3) Does …

The Effect Of Semi-Rigid Foot Orthotics On Subtalar Joint Subluxation And Pain During Three Gait Velocities, Lynnelle A. Gelinske

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

It has been established that foot orthotics can effectively control the amount of maximal calcaneal eversion while walking. However, there are conflicting studies about the successfulness of foot orthotics in regulating rearfoot motion during running. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of standard vertical semi-rigid foot orthotics in controlling subtalar joint subluxation (ST JS) and pain during three gait velocities. The study was also completed to ascertain whether any correlations existed between 8T JS and the static lower extremity measurements of tibio-fibular varum, gastrocnemius flexibility, and navicular drop. The results of this study revealed that pain …

Subjective Functional Knee Outcomes Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstructive Surgery, Malissa K. Hauser

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

It is established in the literature that primary repair of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) deficient knee is achieved through means of reconstructive surgery. However, with continuing advances in both the surgical technique performed and, consequently, the rehabilitation program implemented following reconstruction, the need for ongoing research becomes essential in evaluating the long-term effectiveness of such changes. Currently, the longterm follow-up studies available on ACL reconstructive surgery report information through means of clinical evaluation and objective testing measures with little or no emphasis on the value of the patient's subjective responses. The purpose of this study is to determine the …

Open Versus Closed Kinetic Chain Exercise In The Lower Extremity, Christine Krantz

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

This study is a literature review comparing and contrasting the advantages of closed kinetic chain exercise over open kinetic chain exercise. It is the purpose of this study to show that open kinetic chain exercise may not be the safest or the most functional way to rehabilitate the lower extremity. It is also the purpose to show the specific advantages of using closed kinetic chain exercise over open kinetic chain exercise to protect the integrity of the ACL deficient or reconstructed knee by decreasing anterior shear forces, increasing joint compression, increasing joint proprioception, increasing muscular joint compression, and increasing the …