Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

Interrater Reliability Of The Wolf Motor Function Test–Functional Ability Scale: Why It Matters, Susan V. Duff, Jiaxue He, Monica A. Nelsen, Christianne J. Lane, Veronica T. Rowe, Steve L. Wolf, Alexander W. Dromerick, Carolee J. Winstein

Physical Therapy Faculty Articles and Research

Background. One important objective for clinical trialists in rehabilitation is determining efficacy of interventions to enhance motor behavior. In part, limitation in the precision of measurement presents a challenge. The few valid, low-cost observational tools available to assess motor behavior cannot escape the variability inherent in test administration and scoring. This is especially true when there are multiple evaluators and raters, as in the case of multisite randomized controlled trials (RCTs). One way to enhance reliability and reduce variability is to implement rigorous quality control (QC) procedures. Objective. This article describes a systematic QC process used to refine …

Integrating Guided Motor Imagery And Cross Education Into Rehabilitation: Scientific Review And Clinical Application, Emily Bouchard

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

BACKGROUND: Guided motor imagery and cross education are two concepts that build upon motor programs. Guided motor imagery consists of imagining a specific action, thereby activating the respective motor program without an actual movement. Cross education incorporates contralateral training to activate the motor program of an action to the resting limb. These techniques yield neurological actions that can lead to improved performance outcomes when integrated into physical therapy programs. PURPOSE: This literature review investigated guided motor imagery and cross education within the scientific literature, identified and summarized evident themes and provided suggestions for incorporating these methods into rehabilitation programs. METHODS: …

Stressor-Induced Increase In Muscle Fatigability Of Young Men And Women Is Predicted By Strength But Not Voluntary Activation, Manda L. Keller-Ross, Hugo M. Pereira, Jaclyn Pruse, Tejin Yoon, Bonnie A. Schlinder-Delap, Kristy A. Nielson, Sandra Hunter

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

This study investigated mechanisms for the stressor-induced changes in muscle fatigability in men and women. Participants performed an isometric-fatiguing contraction at 20% maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) until failure with the elbow flexor muscles. Study one (n = 55; 29 women) involved two experimental sessions: 1) a high-stressor session that required a difficult mental-math task before and during a fatiguing contraction and 2) a control session with no mental math. For some participants (n = 28; 14 women), cortical stimulation was used to examine mechanisms that contributed to muscle fatigability during the high-stressor and control sessions. Study two …

Sex Differences In Human Fatigability: Mechanisms And Insight To Physiological Responses, Sandra K. Hunter

Exercise Science Faculty Research and Publications

Sex-related differences in physiology and anatomy are responsible for profound differences in neuromuscular performance and fatigability between men and women. Women are usually less fatigable than men for similar intensity isometric fatiguing contractions. This sex difference in fatigability, however, is task specific because different neuromuscular sites will be stressed when the requirements of the task are altered, and the stress on these sites can differ for men and women. Task variables that can alter the sex difference in fatigability include the type, intensity and speed of contraction, the muscle group assessed and the environmental conditions. Physiological mechanisms that are responsible …

In A 36-Year-Old Woman With Neck Pain, Will Manipulation And Mobilization Be Beneficial For Reducing Her Reports Of Neck Pain?, Holly Jonely, David A. Scalzitti

Physical Therapy and Health Care Sciences Faculty Publications

<LEAP> highlights the findings and application of Cochrane reviews and other evidence pertinent to the practice of physical therapy. The Cochrane Library is a respected source of reliable evidence related to health care. Cochrane systematic reviews explore the evidence for and against the effectiveness and appropriateness of interventions—medications, surgery, education, nutrition, exercise—and the evidence for and against the use of diagnostic tests for specific conditions. Cochrane reviews are designed to facilitate the decisions of clinicians, patients, and others in health care by providing a careful review and interpretation of research studies published in the scientific literature.1 Each article in …

Cardiac Rehabilitation Programmes For Low-Risk Patients And Leisure Athletes: A Potential Paradox, Wendy Bjerke, Stu Steinman, Vincent Cotto

All PTHMS Faculty Publications

Background: Athletes are enrolled in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programmes in small numbers and require unique diagnostic testing and training considerations. Additionally, many physiotherapists, exercise physiologists, athletic trainers and physicians lack experience treating athletes in CR due to their limited exposure to these types of patients. Content: This analysis distinguishes athletes from typical CR patients within the context of diagnostic testing, assessment, exercise prescription, and management. Several case studies present unique challenges and approaches to the rehabilitation of athletes in a CR setting. Conclusions: Athletes enrolled in CR should be treated and trained according to their abilities and goals. Combining traditional …

A Stepped-Wedge Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial For Evaluating Rates Of Falls Among Inpatients In Aged Care Rehabilitation Units Receiving Tailored Multimedia Education In Addition To Usual Care: A Trial Protocol, Anne-Marie Hill, Nicholas Waldron, Christopher Etherton-Beer, Steven Mcphail, Katharine Ingram, Leon Flicker, Terry P. Haines

Physiotherapy Papers and Journal Articles

INTRODUCTION:

Falls are the most frequent adverse event reported in hospitals. Approximately 30% of in-hospital falls lead to an injury and up to 2% result in a fracture. A large randomised trial found that a trained health professional providing individualised falls prevention education to older inpatients reduced falls in a cognitively intact subgroup. This study aims to investigate whether this efficacious intervention can reduce falls and be clinically useful and cost-effective when delivered in the real-life clinical environment.

METHODS:

A stepped-wedge cluster randomised trial will be used across eight subacute units (clusters) which will be randomised to one of four …

Psychometric Properties Of The Compulsive Exercise Test In An Adolescent Eating Disorder Population, Pam Formby, Hunna J. Watson, Anna Hilyard, Kate Martin, Sarah J. Egan

Physiotherapy Papers and Journal Articles

The objective of this study was to evaluate the factor structure, validity, and reliability of the Compulsive Exercise Test (CET) in an adolescent clinical eating disorder population. The data source was the Helping to Outline Paediatric Eating Disorders (HOPE) Project, a prospective ongoing registry study comprising consecutive paediatric tertiary eating disorder referrals. Adolescents (N = 104; 12-17 years) with eating disorders completed the CET and other measures. Factor structure, convergent validity, and internal consistency were evaluated. Despite failing to identify a factor structure, the study provided clear evidence of the multidimensionality of the measure. The total score correlated significantly …

Expert Consensus And Recommendations On Safety Criteria For Active Mobilization Of Mechanically Ventilated Critically Ill Adults, Carol L. Hodgson, Kathy Stiller, Dale M. Needham, Claire J. Tipping, Megan Harrold, Claire E. Baldwin, Scott Bradley, Sue Berney, Lawrence R. Caruana, Doug Elliott, Margot Green, Kimberley Haines, Alisa Higgins, Kirsi-Maija Kaukonen, Isabel A. Leditschke, Marc R. Nicols, Jennifer Paratz, Shane Patman, Elizabeth Skinner, Paul J. Young, Jennifer M. Zanni, Linda Denehy, Steven A. Webb

Physiotherapy Papers and Journal Articles

Introduction:

The aim of this study was to develop consensus recommendations on safety parameters for mobilizing adult, mechanically ventilated, intensive care unit (ICU) patients.

Methods:

A systematic literature review was followed by a meeting of 23 multidisciplinary ICU experts to seek consensus regarding the safe mobilization of mechanically ventilated patients.

Results:

Safety considerations were summarized in four categories: respiratory, cardiovascular, neurological and other. Consensus was achieved on all criteria for safe mobilization, with the exception being levels of vasoactive agents. Intubation via an endotracheal tube was not a contraindication to early mobilization and a fraction of inspired oxygen less than …

An Audit Of Antenatal Education Facilitated By Physiotherapists In Western Australian Public Hospitals, Judy Wilson, Richard G. Berlach, Anne-Marie Hill

Physiotherapy Papers and Journal Articles

This paper reports on the delivery of antenatal education by physiotherapists in Western Australia in 2012, including the location of antenatal education providers, number of mothers attending, qualifications of physiotherapists involved, allocation of physiotherapy hours, the content of the education, and strategies used to enhance learning in the classes. A survey was emailed to the physiotherapists in 31 hospitals with maternity services that were funded by the Department of Health Western Australia. Antenatal education facilitated by a physiotherapist was provided at 25/30 (83.3%) hospitals. Four physiotherapists had postgraduate women’s health qualifications and all the antenatal education classes provided information about …

Achilles Tendinopathy Alters Stretch Shortening Cycle Behaviour During A Sub-Maximal Hopping Task, James R. Debenham, Mervyn J. Travers, William Gibson, Amity Campbell, Garry T. Allison

Physiotherapy Papers and Journal Articles

Objectives

To describe stretch shortening cycle behaviour of the ankle and lower limb in patients with Achilles tendinopathy (AT) and establish differences with healthy volunteers.

Design

Between-subjects case-controlled.

Methods

Fifteen patients with AT (mean age 41.2 ± 12.7 years) and 11 healthy volunteers (CON) (mean age 23.2 ± 6.7 years) performed sub-maximal single-limb hopping on a custom built sledge-jump system. Using 3D motion analysis and surface EMG, temporal kinematic (lower limb stiffness, ankle angle at 80 ms pre-contact, ankle angle at contact, peak ankle angle, ankle stretch amplitude) and EMG measures (onset, offset and peak times relative to contact) were …

Illusory Touch Temporarily Improves Sensation In Areas Of Chronic Numbness: A Brief Communication, Benedict Martin Wand, Samantha Eve Stephens, Effie Ida Marquita Mangharam, Pamela Jane George, Max Bulsara, Neil Edward O'Connell, G Lorimer Moseley

Physiotherapy Papers and Journal Articles

Background. Creating the visual illusion of touch can improve tactile perception in healthy subjects. Objective. We were interested in seeing if creating the illusion of touch in an insensate area could improve sensation in that area. Methods. Fourteen people with chronic numbness participated in a randomized crossover experiment. The 4 conditions were the following: (a) stimulation over the unaffected limb with mirror visual feedback (experimental condition), (b) stimulation over the affected limb with mirror visual feedback, (c) stimulation over the unaffected limb without mirror visual feedback, and (d) stimulation …

Moving In An Environment Of Induced Sensorimotor Incongruence Does Not Influence Pain Sensitivity In Healthy Volunteers: A Randomised Within-Subject Experiment, Benedict Wand, Lareina Szpak, Pamela J. George, Max Bulsara, Neil Edward O'Connell, G. Lorimer Moseley

Physiotherapy Papers and Journal Articles

Objectives: It has been proposed that in the same way that conflict between vestibular and visual inputs leads to motion sickness, conflict between motor commands and sensory information associated with these commands may contribute to some chronic pain states. Attempts to test this hypothesis by artificially inducing a state of sensorimotor incongruence and assessing self-reported pain have yielded equivocal results. To help clarify the effect sensorimotor incongruence has on pain we investigated the effect of moving in an environment of induced incongruence on pressure pain thresholds (PPT) and the pain experienced immediately on completion of PPT testing.

Methods: Thirty-five healthy …

Exploring The Role And Skill Set Of Physiotherapy Clinical Educators In Work Integrated Learning, Susan Edgar, Joanne Connaughton

Physiotherapy Papers and Journal Articles

Clinical educators are under increasing pressures in the workplace to provide quality education of healthcare students within varying supervision frameworks. Along with facilitating the teaching of clinical skills, clinical educators play a support role for students and so require more than expert clinical abilities in their vital position linking institutions and the healthcare environment. Twelve physiotherapy clinical educators attended one of two focus groups exploring their opinions on the role and skill set of clinical educators in work-integrated learning (WIL).Clinical educators described their role, their skills, challenges they faced supporting the needs of students, as well as future training requirements. …

Movement Restriction Does Not Modulate Sensory And Perceptual Effects Of Exercise-Induced Arm Pain, Markus Hubscher, Simon Tu, Tasha Stanton, G Lorimer Moseley, Benedict M. Wand, John Booth, James H. Mcauley

Physiotherapy Papers and Journal Articles

BACKGROUND:

Movement restriction has been proposed as an important modulator of changes in sensory and perceptual function and motor imagery performance that are observed in musculoskeletal pain syndromes. There are no empirical data to support this view.

PURPOSE:

The primary objective of this experiment was to determine the effects of movement restriction on local and widespread sensory, perceptual and motor imagery changes after exercise-induced muscular pain. Further objectives were to investigate whether changes in sensory perception are correlated with pain intensity and tactile acuity or motor imagery performance.

METHODS:

In forty healthy volunteers, delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) of the …