Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

Physical Therapy For Low Back Pain With A Focus On Mckenzie Method For Diagnosis And Treatment: A Case Report, Macey Berube

Case Report Posters

Low back pain (LBP) is thought to affect 80% of the population. It decreases work attendance, affects daily activity, and decreases quality of life. Physical Therapy (PT) is a noninvasive form of treatment that may include manual therapy, physical exercise, deep heat modalities, or a combination. The purpose of this case report was to review a multifaceted approach to LBP, including a focus on the McKenzie method and paired with conventional PT for a patient with a recurring episode of chronic LBP.

High Intensity Intervals And Gait Training For A Patient With Heart Failure And Parkinson Disease In A Skilled Nursing Facility: A Case Report, Kelly Fritz

Case Report Papers

Background and Purpose: Congestive Heart Failure is one of the most expensive conditions to manage medically and close to 20% of patients hospitalized for congestive heart failure are readmitted within 30 days. Fifty to seventy percent of people with Parkinson disease experience one or more falls in a 12- month period. The purpose of this case report is to describe the physical therapy management for a patient with acute congestive heart failure and Parkinson disease. Case description: The patient was an 85 year-old male with acute congestive heart failure and Parkinson disease. He received physical therapy at a skilled nursing …

The Role Of Physical Therapy Interventions For An Elderly Patient Following Surgical Fixation Of A Fracture Of The Femoral Shaft: A Case Report, Ashley Push

Case Report Papers

Background and Purpose: This case report contributes to and builds upon established knowledge about the importance of early weight bearing for patients who sustained a fracture and repair. The purpose of this case report is to document this patient’s response to skilled physical therapy in the inpatient setting, including functional mobility, gait training and therapeutic exercise to maximize the patient's functional ability prior to discharge home. Case Description: This report follows an 88-year old female who underwent open reduction and internal fixation of her right femoral shaft after sustaining a non-traumatic fracture. The patient was seen in the acute care …

Strength And Balance Training For A 29-Year-Old Female Who Sustained A Multifocal Stroke: A Case Report, Britney Simonton

Case Report Papers

Background and Purpose: While balance and strengthening are standard interventions for older patients who have sustained a stroke, there is very limited research on the most effective physical therapy rehabilitation for a young female who recently suffered a stroke. Therefore, the purpose of this case report was to investigate a comprehensive physical therapy program that included balance and strength training for a young female who recently sustained a multifocal stroke. Case description: The patient was a 29-year-old female who sustained a multifocal stroke in her left parietal, left frontal, and bilateral occipital lobes. She presented with right lower extremity weakness …

Outpatient Vestibular Rehabilitation For A Patient Three Months Post Acoustic Neuroma Resection: A Case Report, Joel Harrison

Case Report Papers

An acoustic neuroma, also known as a vestibular schwannoma, is a benign and slow growing primary intracranial tumor that originates from Schwann cells of the vestibular nerve within the inner ear. It is estimated that acoustic neuromas occur in 10-20 individuals per 1,000,000 annually in the United States. The tumor itself is often treated through surgical removal; however, the tumor and subsequent surgery frequently lead to vestibular nerve impairment. The vestibular nerve transmits sensory information to the brain from the peripheral vestibular system of the inner ear. Damage to one of the vestibular nerves may lead to vestibular dysfunction on …

Physical Therapy On The Function Of A Patient With Stage Iii Parkinson’S Disease: A Case Report, Kelly Trancygier

Case Report Papers

Background and Purpose: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is typically diagnosed in individuals over the age of 60. The patient in this case report was diagnosed at age 49 which is considered young-onset PD. PD affects 1.5% of the US population over the age of 65. Although there is no cure and the disease itself is not fatal, its effects can be very debilitating. PD typically occurs in five stages. Case Description: The patient was a 54-year-old female that presented to physical therapy with a diagnosis of PD. Initially, she presented with impaired balance, limited range of motion (ROM), impaired standing posture, …

The Effect Of A Stability And Strengthening Program On The Oswestry Disability Index In A 14-Year-Old Patient With Spondylolisthesis: A Case Report, Hormoz Maragoul

Case Report Papers

Background and Purpose: Spondylolisthesis is a condition that describes the anterior translation of the cephalad vertebral segment of the skeletal spine relative to the caudal segment. This condition comes about by forces of gravity acting through the lordotic curve of the lumbar spine. Repetitive extension movements and weakened stabilizing muscles of the trunk like the abdominals and the gluteals may also play a role in contributing to spondylolisthesis. There is an increase in incidence rate of spondylolisthesis in adolescents who participate in sports involving repetitive extension motions. The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of physical therapy …

Physical Therapy For Low Back Pain With A Focus On Mckenzie Method For Diagnosis And Treatment: A Case Report, Macey N. Berube

Case Report Papers

Background and Purpose: Low back pain (LBP) is a common diagnosis seen in physical therapy (PT). It is thought to affect 80% of the population over their lifespan, and it keeps them out of work, affects daily activity, and decreases quality of life. PT is a noninvasive form of treatment that may include manual therapy, physical exercise, deep heat modalities, or a combination. The purpose of this case report is to review the McKenzie method combined with a conventional PT program for a patient with a recurring episode of chronic LBP. Case Description: The patient was a 72-year-old male referred …

Utilization Of Task-Oriented Training To Restore Independence In A Patient With Encephalitis In The Intensive Care Unit: A Case Report, Victoria Perez

Case Report Papers

Background and Purpose: Bacterial meningitis is acute inflammation of the meninges which can result in significant morbidity and mortality. There are 15,000 to 25,000 cases of bacterial meningitis in the United States yearly and it is one of the top ten causes of infection-related deaths worldwide. Bacterial Meningitis is commonly complicated by encephalitis. The purpose of the case report is to describe physical therapy (PT) rehabilitation in the intensive care unit (ICU) with the goal of increasing the independence of the patient, diagnosed with encephalitis secondary to bacterial meningitis, to prior level of function through task-oriented training in order to …

A Comprehensive Pt Program Utilizing An Alterg Treadmill For A Patient With Lower Extremity Fractures And Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease: A Case Report, Mark Whitsitt

Case Report Papers

Background and Purpose: People with Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease have a greater risk of falls and subsequent fractures. There is a scarcity of information regarding the most effective rehab protocol for a patient with lower extremity fractures and CMT disease. Utilization of the AlterG® has been shown to promote early mobility in patients with an orthopedic diagnosis, which is also vital for CMT patients, but has not been fully investigated. The purpose of this case report was to investigate a comprehensive physical therapy program, including use of the AlterG® treadmill, for a patient with lower extremity fractures and CMT disease. Case …

Vestibular Rehabilitation For A Geriatric Patient With Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo Treatment Failure: A Case Report, Clare Roeder

Case Report Papers

Background & Purpose: Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), the most common vestibular disorder, is treated via a canalith repositioning maneuver (CRM), often providing rapid and lasting resolution of symptoms. However, 31% to 61% of patients experience residual dizziness (RD) post-treatment. For these cases, known as BPPV treatment failures, vestibular rehabilitation (VR) is recommended. Limited evidence exists for the specifics of treatment. This report documents VR of an older patient following BPPV treatment failure. Case Description: The patient was a 77 year-old male referred to outpatient physical therapy with a diagnosis of peripheral vertigo. He reported unsteadiness and dizziness during gait …

The Use Of Manual Lumbar Traction And Therapeutic Exercise In The Treatment Of A Patient With Low Back Pain: A Case Report, Kyle Rasmussen

Case Report Papers

Background: Low back pain is a common condition encountered in physical therapy practice. Manual lumbar traction and therapeutic exercise are two of the most common treatments used by physical therapists in the treatment of low back pain, but there is limited research investigating the combined effects of these interventions on low back pain. The purpose of this case report was to investigate the effects of a combined therapy approach of manual lumbar traction and therapeutic exercise as part of a compressive physical therapy plan of care for treatment of low back pain. Case Description: The patient was a 48-year-old female …

Acute Care Physical Therapy Status Post Laparoscopic Loop Sigmoid Colostomy For A Patient With Colorectal Cancer: A Case Report, Elizabeth Race

Case Report Papers

Background and Purpose: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer, with an increasing prevalence in the United States. Surgical treatment is common and the American Society of Enhanced Recovery (ASER) established fast track protocols to reduce recovery time and length of stay in the hospital. Early mobilization is a key component of these protocols. The purpose of this case report is to describe the acute physical therapy (PT) for a patient who received a laparoscopic loop sigmoid colostomy. Case Description: The patient was a 73-year-old male admitted to the hospital to receive surgery for a permanent colostomy …

The Physical Therapy Management Of A Patient With Chronic Shoulder Dislocations And Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy: A Case Report, Lindsey Umapathy

Case Report Papers

Background and Purpose: While current literature has studied the role of physical therapy interventions when treating multi-directional shoulder instability, most evidence has focused on younger athletes with no co-morbidities. There is less research on older adults with shoulder instability, and no research on the effects of a fatigue dominant progressive neuropathy, such as Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP), on the management of recurrent shoulder dislocations. The purpose of this case report is to describe the physical therapy management and recovery of an individual with chronic shoulder instability/dislocations and CIDP. Case Description: The patient was a 62-year- old female who came …

Graston Technique Used In The Treatment Of Patellofemoral Pain In An Ultimate Frisbee Player: A Case Report, Patricia Dobrowski

Case Report Papers

Background and Purpose: Graston® Technique (GT) is an instrumented tool used in rehab shown to improve soft tissue injuries. While studies have shown GT to be effective with injuries such as achilles tendinitis, it has not been extensively studied in patients with patellofemoral pain. The purpose of this case report was to investigate a plan of care that included GT in a 38-year-old male ultimate frisbee athlete with patellofemoral pain. Case Description: The patient was an active 38-year-old father of four and a recreational ultimate frisbee player. His chief complaints were pain in the lateral compartment of the right knee, …

Improving Function And Fatigue For A Patient Status Post Thoracoabdominal Resection Of A Gastric Tumor And Chemotherapy: A Case Report, Michala Williams

Case Report Posters

A gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST), a type of stomach cancer, occurs when abnormal cells develop in the tissue of the gastrointestinal tract. Stomach cancer is a relatively rare carcinoma that is often not detected until later stages. The purpose of this case report was to document the physical therapy approach for a deconditioned patient due to resection of a malignant stomach tumor and both neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy.

Adult Scoliosis And Chronic Low Back Pain With Land And Aquatic Based Physical Therapy: A Case Report, Thomas Kent

Case Report Papers

Background and Purpose: Scoliosis is commonly an idiopathic condition that occurs in approximately 2-3% of the population and is defined by a lateral spinal curvature of greater than 10 degrees. Common symptoms associated with scoliosis include decreased pulmonary function and chronic spinal pain. Depending on the degree of curvature bracing or surgery may be required. The purpose of this case study is to evaluate the effects of an aquatic and land based exercise program on an adult with severe, untreated, early onset scoliosis. Case Description: The patient was a 55-year-old female with a history of scoliosis and recent onset of …

Balance & Fall Prevention Rehabilitation Program For A 77-Year-Old Patient Following A Trimalleolar Fracture: A Case Report, Kathryn Judd

Case Report Papers

Background and Purpose: Ankle fractures are one of the most common injuries amongst the elderly, with an incidence rate of approximately 174 cases per 100,000 persons per year. Balance training has been a typical component of a physical therapy (PT) program following ankle fractures. Fall prevention programs have been shown to decrease fall risk by 13% to 40%. There is limited research investigating a combined balance training and fall prevention program after an ankle fracture. Therefore, the purpose of this case report was to describe a PT program combining balance training and fall prevention strategies for an elderly patient after …

Outpatient Physical Therapy Management Of A Total Knee Arthroplasty With Severe Contralateral Knee Osteoarthritis: A Case Report, Michael Ikemura

Case Report Papers

Background and Purpose: Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee is a common cause of severe pain, disability within the community, and dependence on others. If conservative treatments fail, orthopedic surgeons often perform a total knee arthroplasty (TKA), in which damaged articular parts of the knee are resurfaced with prosthetics. To maximize physical function, the underlying cause of gait speed limitation must be determined and treated. The purpose of this case report was to examine the impairments following a TKA with concurrent severe OA of the contralateral knee, develop an effective plan of care, describe physical therapy (PT) interventions, and report the …

Physical And Psychological Outcome Measures After Multiple Foot Surgeries: A Case Report, Elizabeth Inscore, Kirsten Buchanan

Case Report Posters

The psychological effects of an injury have the potential to be more debilitating than the physical ailments themselves. Physical therapy (PT) rehabilitation programs that incorporate both physical and psychological interventions have demonstrated successful outcomes but have not been widely studied. The purpose of this case report was to investigate both the physical and psychological outcomes after a comprehensive PT rehabilitation program for a patient who sustained multiple foot and ankle injuries.

The Role Of Physical Therapy Interventions For An Elderly Patient Following Surgical Fixation Of A Fracture Of The Femoral Shaft: A Case Report, Ashley Push

Case Report Posters

In the U.S. approximately half of elderly white females will sustain an osteoporotic hip fracture. One year following surgery most elderly adults have not returned to their prior level of function. Evidence demonstrates the benefits of early weight bearing and mobility post-surgery to improve functional abilities. The purpose of this case report was to document this patient’s response to skilled physical therapy intervention in the inpatient setting, including functional mobility, gait training and therapeutic exercise to maximize the patient's functional ability prior to discharge home.

Strength And Balance Training For A 29-Year-Old Female Who Sustained A Multifocal Stroke: A Case Report, Britney Simonton, Kirsten Buchanan

Case Report Posters

Stroke is defined as a decrease in blood supply to the brain, and most often occurs in older adults. In the United States, approximately 795,000 people sustain a stroke annually. Risk factors for a stroke include high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, and high cholesterol. Stroke is the leading cause of disability in the United States. Although research has shown that a balance and strength training program is beneficial for older adults who have sustained a stroke, there is limited research showing if these benefits also hold true for younger patients who have had a stroke. The purpose of this case …

The Use Of Manual Lumbar Traction And Therapeutic Exercise In The Treatment Of A Patient With Low Back Pain: A Case Report, Kyle Rasmussen

Case Report Posters

The prevalence of low back pain (LBP) has been increasing in the United States. Manual lumbar traction and therapeutic exercise are two common treatments by physical therapists (PT) for LBP, but there is limited research investigating the combined effects of these treatments on low back pain. The purpose of this case report was to investigate the combined effects of these treatments on LBP.

Nutritional Supplement Practices Of Professional Ugandan Athletes: A Cross-Sectional Study, Haruna Muwonge, Haruna Muwonge, Robert Zavuga, Peninnah Kabenge, Timothy Makubuya

Educator Preparation & Leadership Faculty Works

BackgroundThe use of nutritional supplements (NS) places athletes at great risk for inadvertent doping. Due to the paucity of data on supplement use, this study aimed to determine the proportion of Ugandan athletes using nutritional supplements and to investigate the athletes’ motivation to use these supplements.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in which an interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from 359 professional athletes participating in individual (boxing, cycling, athletics) and team (basketball, rugby, football, netball, and volleyball) sports. The data were categorized, and a Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis.ResultsOf the 359 athletes, 48 (13.4%) used nutritional supplements. …

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) …

Developing Effective Online Training Tools For Maine Adaptive Sports And Recreation, Chelsea Paul, Emily Gall, Kristina Jamo, Shannon Bergeland

Research Report Posters

Maine Adaptive Sports & Recreation (MASR) is an adaptive sporting program that relies on volunteers to instruct participants of varying abilities. In order to effectively instruct, volunteers should firmly understand the health condition their participant has. Previously, MASR lacked a formal curriculum to educate their volunteers. The aim of this research project was to create online learning modules & determine whether a massed or distributed learning schedule resulted in better long term retention and confidence. MASR volunteers were placed into two non-randomized groups of eleven. Six video training modules were created to educate volunteers on the most common conditions encountered. …

Effects Of Lower Extremity Aerobic Exercise And Conditioned Pain Modulation On Evoked Shoulder Pain, Logan Lumpkins, Craig Wassinger

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Background: Emerging evidence suggests that aerobic exercise and conditioned pain modulation may be advocated in treating patients with musculoskeletal pain. The effects of lower extremity aerobic exercise and conditioned pain modulation on evoked shoulder pain are not known.

Purpose: To determine the acute effects of lower extremity aerobic exercise and conditioned pain modulation on outcomes of evoked shoulder pain from pain pressure threshold measurements.

Study Design: Repeated measures.

Methods: Thirty (30) healthy volunteers were tested over the course of two sessions. Session 1 consisted of collecting pain pressure threshold measurements over the infraspinatus before and immediately following a conditioned pain …

Exercise, Cognition, And The Aging Process Among Active, Competitive, And Sedentary Middle-Aged And Older Adults, Katherine Adams

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

Purpose This study aimed to compare the cognitive measures of reaction time and dual-task performance among recreationally active, master athletes, and sedentary older adults aged 50 years or older. Methods 59 late middle-aged and older adults between the ages of 50 to 88 years old participated in reaction time and dual-task tests of which consisted of multiple trials on the same day. Subjects were placed either into the recreationally active, masters athlete, or sedentary activity level group based on the Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity (RAPA) form. For the gait speed with associated dual-task component, subjects walked 10-meters at two …

Using Virtual Reality To Improve Sitting Balance, Alice Kay Barnes

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

This thesis focuses on using virtual reality (VR) to enhance sitting balance and core strength. It is a study in how to create a VR exercise program which is interesting enough to keep players/patients motivated, but comfortable to play and not overwhelming to the senses. The software used for this study was written with the hope that a later version of it might be used with occupational/physical therapy patients one day. For this master’s thesis, the initial testing has been done with healthy volunteers. The software incorporates what developers know thus far about designing for VR, and it is hoped …

The Role Of Balance And Neck Strength In Youth Concussion, Chris Koch, Jenny Neudorfer, Peter Heuberger, Tel Winegar, Calvin Lee, Jarrett Fegel

Student-Faculty Research - College of Physical Therapy

Concussion: A concussion is a trauma-induced alteration in mental status that may or may not involve loss of consciousness; this can include a direct blow to the head or a blow to the body resulting in the head and brain moving quickly back and forth (1).

Current Screen: Current concussion screen consists of: symptom checklist, cognitive assessment known as Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT), and Balance Errors Scoring System (BESS) (2).

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine an assessment to screen an individual’s risk of sustaining a sport-related concussion.

Hypothesis: We hypothesized the SCAT 4, BESS, Four …