Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

Statins For Primary Prevention Of Variceal Bleeding In Cirrhosis: A Scoping Review, Jason Brumitt

Faculty Publications - College of Physical Therapy

Background/Objectives: Variceal bleeding (VB) is a major complication of cirrhosis, marking a progression from a compensated to a decompensated stage of the disease. Previous research has suggested that HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, commonly called statins, may have therapeutic benefits for those living with cirrhosis, though their exact benefits and role have yet to be elucidated. This scoping review evaluates the potential role of statins in the primary prevention of variceal bleeding in patients with cirrhosis, and if there exists a difference between hydrophilic and lipophilic statins for this indication. Methods: Publications from the last 10 years with primary or secondary outcomes …

Validity Of The Promis Ability To Participate In Social Roles And Activities Measure In Older Adult Health Assessment, Theresa Raudsepp

Faculty Publications - College of Physical Therapy

Objective: The International Classification of Function is often used in older adult clinical assessments. Well recognized is the high value, and difficulty, of assessing participation in social roles. The PROMIS Ability to Participate in Social Roles (APSR) measure may augment assessments enhancing our understanding of older adults’ participation in social roles. The purpose of this study was to examine whether the APSR diverges with other clinical measures suggesting it is measuring a separate construct adding new information to the clinical assessment.

Methods: A sample of convenience of older adults (n = 89) was recruited and administered clinical assessments that include …

Mindfulness Practice And Increases In Gray Matter Density, Gray Matter Volume, And Cortical Thickness: A Scoping Review, Jason Brumitt

Faculty Publications - College of Physical Therapy

Background/Objectives: Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have been linked to psychological and cognitive benefits, yet evidence for their impact on brain structure remains sparse. Neuroimaging suggests MBIs may alter gray matter volume (GMV), density (GMD), and cortical thickness (CT). The purpose of this scoping review was to investigate structural neuroplasticity following MBIs. Methods: Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, databases were searched for studies published between 2010 and 2023 that used structural MRI to assess structural brain changes in subjects after receiving MBIs. Nine studies met inclusion criteria, including five randomized controlled trials. Results: Mindfulness interventions ranged from 10 h of training to long-term practice …

The Effect Of Gratitude On The Mental Health Of Healthcare Workers As Measured By Burnout And Depression, Jason Brumitt

Faculty Publications - College of Physical Therapy

Burnout and depression have been considered long-standing issues among healthcare workers worldwide. Current interventions for managing poor mental health include exercise, medical treatments, mindfulness, and workplace changes. The practice of gratitude has shown significant improvements in mental health in the general population, and it has been proposed as a potential intervention for healthcare workers. This scoping review aimed to assess the effect of gratitude on the mental health of healthcare workers as measured by burnout and depression. The Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature and Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online databases were searched using medical subject …

Normative Data For Blazepod Lateral Shuffle Test, Dalston Duff, Hunter Fujimori, Paige Hall, Koichiro Kurosawa, Karah Smith, Jason Brumitt

Student-Faculty Research - College of Physical Therapy

The BlazePod lateral shuffle test assess lateral agility and reaction time. Despite its growing use, no published normative value currently exist for this test. This limits the ability of clinicians to interpret performance and track progress

Biomechanical Correlations Between The Pogo Hop Test And Running In Recreational Runners, Matt Klein, Brandon Kuske, Alex Gonzalez, Kealani Ontai, Jared Miller, Taylor Beachy, Jakob Lawrence, Robin Dorociak

Student-Faculty Research - College of Physical Therapy

The Problem

48.31 million Americans participated in running in 2023, with an injury incidence of 40.2% ± 18.8%

Objective biomechanical criteria for return to running (RTR) remain underdeveloped

Single-leg hop tests are among the most commonly used functional screens despite limited biomechanical validation for their correlation to running 2, 8, 10, 12, 14

The Biomechanical Rationale

Running propulsion depends on cyclical joint moments and positive power at the ankle, knee, and hip through rapid stretch-shortening cycles, a demand maximal discrete hop tests do not replicate ⁹

Repetitive single-leg pogo hopping shares the submaximal, rhythmic, cadence-dependent loading pattern of running 5, …

Influences Of Ankle Strength And Power On Gait Characteristics, Clinical Outcomes, And Social Measures Of Health In Healthy Older Adults, Tyson Barrington, Wesley Clawson, Carleigh Delapp, Kylie Hull, Brecken Rudy, Christen Johnson, Gabe Haberly, Ruth Holloran

Student-Faculty Research - College of Physical Therapy

What factors lead to satisfactory living for older adults?

Can clinicians utilize these factors to generate successful outcomes with their patients?

Clinicians often examine muscle strength, muscle power, balance, and gait speed to assess functional capacity

No current literature investigating the importance or correlation of these measures • Purpose: Explore the relationships between plantarflexion strength and power, gait speed, and social participation in healthy older adults

Pelvic Health Physical Therapy Education For Spanish Speakers Assessing Empowerment Through Education: Preliminary Findings, Tess Swake, Kira Negrete, Marisela Trenado-Alba, Erika Benitez, Alessandra Peraza-Aguillón

Student-Faculty Research - College of Physical Therapy

The Problem: Pelvic Floor Dysfunction (PFD) disproportionately impacts the US Latinx population, who experience up to a 1.8x higher rate of urinary incontinence, yet they face significant language and cultural barriers in healthcare.

The Gap: Current Spanish educational materials often exceed recommended reading levels, and published research on pelvic health physical therapy tailored for primary Spanish speakers is non-existent.

The Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of accessible Spanish-language materials (text, graphics, and video) in empowering patients by improving their knowledge of pelvic anatomy, common conditions, and baseline health.

Closing The Gap: How Does Same-Day Pt Access Transform Primary Care?, Lupita Alegria, Rosario Huerta-Cardenas, Seth Kobata, Madeline Melone, Champ Robertson, Rebecca Dobler

Student-Faculty Research - College of Physical Therapy

The evolution of physical therapy (PT) in a primary care setting represents a significant shift in musculoskeletal (MSK) management. While successfully utilized within the military and specific veteran health organizations, widespread adoption in the civililian sector is hindered by concerns regarding feasibility and sustainable reimbursement.

This study examines a novel implementation of primary-care PT at the Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center in Newberg, OR. By utilizing a capitated payment model—rather than traditional fee-for-service—this research seeks to determine the operational feasibility of embedded PT services and their efficacy in optimizing patient-centered outcomes.

A special thank you to the Virginia Garcia Memorial …

Does Stance Width Influence Isoperception During Lower Extremity Loading, Emily Elwell, Cade Kooch, Andrew Meszaros

Student-Faculty Research - College of Physical Therapy

Definition: Isoperceptual Manifold (IPM) is the combination of sensory inputs that covary to achieve a single perceptual goal

• → e.g. to hold a cup: perception from 3 fingers combine into a singular perceived force.

Background: IPM known to exist in upper extremities,¹ but IPM has not been examined in lower extremity (LE) loading.

Theory: IPM influenced by stance width might contribute to postural control instability^2,3

Motor Learning Of Ankle Control In People With Parkinson’S: Effects On Gait And Balance, Tessa Kitchel, Lanie Rodriguez, Riley Tishlarich, Courtney Vangiesen, Robin Dorociak, Pablo Burgos

Student-Faculty Research - College of Physical Therapy

Ankle control is crucial for balance and gait and is often impaired in people with Parkinson’s Disease (PD).

PD treatments, such as levodopa and deep brain stimulation, do not improve lower limb control or balance. ^{1, 2}

Individuals with PD still have the capacity for motor learning, even if motor performance is affected. ^{3, 4}

To date, no studies have investigated ankle training and balance in Parkinson’s Disease

Previous studies have shown that ankle training is beneficial for gait and balance in stroke. ⁵

The aim of the study is to evaluate the potential benefits of a single-joint training protocol …

Influences Of Lower Limb Strength And Rate Of Torque Development On Recovery From A Backwards Balance Loss, Allison Brist, Peyton Shimanek, Ly Vuthy, Chad Yanagisawa, Zachary Zaragosa, Lyndsay Stutzenberger, Gabe Haberly

Student-Faculty Research - College of Physical Therapy

Falls are a leading cause of hip fractures and accidental death

Backwards balance losses are particularly difficult to recover from and often result in injury

Lower body strength and rate of torque development (RTD) may influence stepping responses and balance recovery

This study examines how lower extremity peak torque and RTD affect recovery stepping following a backwards loss of balance

Patient Centered Care Course In Dpt Curriculum, Anthony Porpora, Anthony Tang, Chyanna Blackburn, Eli Porterfield, Peter Hilbert, Dominique Schwartz, Scott Burkhart

Student-Faculty Research - College of Physical Therapy

Patient-centered care refers to the collaboration between healthcare professionals and patients to recognize the patient beyond their diagnosis and grant them autonomy in healthcare-decision making.

Lack of research into standardized PCC curricula for effective education of healthcare professionals.¹

Improves blood pressure, benefits psychological health, reduces health care costs¹, promotes biopsychosocial model of health, recognizes influence of social drivers of health.²

Improves patient outcomes, adherence, and raises patient satisfaction.³

This study identifies student elevation of self and peers pre and post taking a patient-centered care course to determine effectiveness of course content in implementation of PCC …

Endometriosis And Adenomyosis: Physical Activity Facilitators And Barriers From A Physical Therapy Lens, Tess Swake, Lisa Dupont, Brooke Fager, Lexi Merrill

Student-Faculty Research - College of Physical Therapy

About 10% of people with female sexual anatomy of reproductive age experience Endometriosis and/or Adenomyosis.

In these chronic conditions, endometrial tissue spreads outside the uterus or into the myometrium.

Symptoms include severe pain and heavy bleeding during menstruation along with pelvic pain, fatigue, abdominal bloating or nausea.

This survey focuses on how symptoms impact participation in activities of daily life, self-efficacy, and biopsychosocial components such as depression and anxiety.

The purpose of this study is to explore the facilitators and barriers to physical activity for individuals diagnosed with Endometriosis and/or Adenomyosis.

Upper Extremity Use In Older Adults During A Floor Transfer: Biomechanical Implications And Relationships To Self-Report Measures, Ethan Klein, Daniel Farag, Isaiah Cappelen, Joshua Naughton, Evan Robinson, Lyndsay Stutzenberger, Tyler Whited

Student-Faculty Research - College of Physical Therapy

Getting up from the floor is progressively challenging with age and associated with higher morbidity and lower functional capacity1,2,3

Little is known about the associations of fear of falling (FoF) and physical activity (PA) levels on upper extremity (UE) use with getting up from the floor and the influence of UE use on the biomechanical demands of a floor transfer (FT) task

Study purpose: Determine the associations of UE use with FoF and PA levels and the effects of arm use and limb position on lower extremity kinetics

Hypotheses: Greater FoF and less PA would be positively correlated to greater …

Early Cerebral Palsy Risk Screening Through Wearable Accelerometry In Infants Under Nine Weeks, Ryan Jacobson, Pablo Burgos

Faculty Publications - College of Physical Therapy

The General Movement Assessment (GMA) according to Prechtl’s method has the best predictive value for early detection of Cerebral Palsy (CP) in infants under 5 months of age. However, access to specialists in this assessment is scarce, particularly in lower and middle-income countries. The main objective was to determine the better accelerometric features for distinguishing spontaneous movements of infants with risk factors for CP (RF), and healthy controls (HC), under 9 weeks. We carried out a cross-sectional study. General movements (GMs) were recorded in 48 infants under 9 weeks of age, 12 RF and 36 HC, using an instrumented assessment …

Influences Of Lower Limb Strength And Rate Of Torque Development On Recovery From A Backwards Balance Loss, Vadim Drake, Julie Gage, Madison Morris, Lyndsay Stutzenberger, Gabe Haberly

Student-Faculty Research - College of Physical Therapy

Falls account for the largest percentage of hip fractures and cause of unintentional death

Falls due to posterior losses of balance are the hardest to prevent and increase the risk of hip fractures

One way to prevent falls is to investigate how lower body strength impacts recovery stepping strategies

Research has not yet determined the extent to which lower body strength impacts stepping strategy during a posterior loss of balance

The purpose of this study is to determine the extent to which rate of peak torque and rate of torque development (RTD) impacts the recovery stepping response from a posterior …

Comparison Of Wingate Bike Test And 1-Min Sit-To-Stand Test Utilizing Blood Lactate And Patient Report, Tyler Whited, Mary Imboden, Jeff Houck, Hannah Quinn, Peter Weiss, Tony Huynh, Garrett Cassio

Student-Faculty Research - College of Physical Therapy

For older adults, performing activities of daily living (ADLs) requires generating short bursts of energy anaerobically.1 The current gold standard for measuring anaerobic threshold (AT) is the Wingate Anaerobic Test, which requires a specialized bicycle. While many tests exist to assess fall risk and submaximal endurance, there is an absence of accessible clinical tools for measuring anaerobic threshold. Measuring AT is an important predictor of an older adult’s ability to perform ADLs safely, allowing physical therapists to tailor interventions to improve function and quality of life.

First Of It's Kind: Primary Care Pt In Pediatrics! Implementing A Walk-In Pediatric Physical Therapy Service Co-Located With Primary Care Pediatrics: A Pilot Study For Possibility, Antonia Duerre, Kierstyn Ray, Taryn Conwell, Ryan Jacobson

Student-Faculty Research - College of Physical Therapy

Pediatric primary care physical therapy does not exist, but has many potential benefits. Primary care PT has been shown to be a successful model of care for meeting needs of adult patients. Purpose: to gather qualitative and quantitative data to better understand the potential of this novel practice model upstream in pediatric healthcare.

Size-Weight Illusion During Whole-Body Loading Via Squat, Aydan Parsons, Robin Dorociak, Andrew Meszaros

Student-Faculty Research - College of Physical Therapy

What is the size weight illusion? An item of smaller volume but equal weight is heavier than a larger volume item of the same weight.

Subjective Outcome Measures And Floor Transfer Ability In Communitydwelling Older Adults, Brianna Helton, Marisa Doveri, Shelby Peerboom, Emily Thomson, Lyndsay Stutzenberger, Tyler Whited

Student-Faculty Research - College of Physical Therapy

The ability to get up and down off the floor is associated with functional independence and is not often clinically assessed. Previous research has shown that floor transfers (FT) are closely linked with falls and associated injuries, age, and the physical function of older adults. There is association between individuals self reported ability and actual ability to complete a FT. No research has assessed the association between self-report measures and actual ability to get up from the floor. Purpose: Determine the relationship between self-report measures and FT ability while evaluating the differences in these measures and the strategies used by …

Accuracy Of Sagemotion Imu-Tactor With Knee Hyperextension During Gait, Peter Beach, Peter Jang, Maddy Wagar, Andrew Meszaros

Student-Faculty Research - College of Physical Therapy

Haptic feedback refers to the external vibratory cue that is activated by data picked up by an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) that senses joint position (Figure 1). ❏ Position-driven haptic touch input can give feedback on movement in real-time (Meszaros, 2019) ❏ Original goal: to reduce knee hyperextension during gait using haptic-feedback driven by an IMU-based angle sensor (Sagemotion) ❏ Concerns arose on the validity of IMU/tactor to accurately sense joint position and past research identified a delay between IMU and joint position.

Blood Flow Restriction To Expedite Acute Concussion Recovery: A Literature Review, Eddie Dudum, Madeleine O’Hare, Madeleine O’Hare, Caleb Rauch, Ashlee Rising, Scott Burkhart

Student-Faculty Research - College of Physical Therapy

Blood flow restriction (BFR) is increasing in popularity to help patients more efficiently recover from musculoskeletal injuries. The safety of BFR is well studied1 • There are no studies to date on the use of BFR in acute concussion recovery

Associations Between Physical Performance, Activity, And Reported Ability To Participate In Social Roles In Older Adults, Theresa Raudsepp, Christen Johnson, Isabella Mansley, Kaelynn Miller-Savoy, Karlie Stewart, Molly Shields, Jeff Houck

Student-Faculty Research - College of Physical Therapy

APTA recommends that all individuals visit a Physical Therapist annually to “optimize movement, and promote health, wellness, and fitness” Geriatrics SIG developed a template for these visits for older adults Template includes outcome measures for both body functions and structure, activity domains

Does Self-Soft Tissue Mobilization Of Obturator Internus Reduce Nonrelaxing Pelvic Floor Dysfunction?, Tess Swake, Katherine Briggs, Darschelle Desronvil, Caryn Jagla, Camille Jouzeau

Student-Faculty Research - College of Physical Therapy

The Obturator Internus (OI) is a muscle deep within the pelvis. This muscle is unique by being a muscle of the pelvic floor as well as a muscle of the hip. Currently, there’s limited research concerning the pelvic floor, especially regarding the rehabilitation of conditions related to Pelvic Floor Dysfunction (PFD), however, manual techniques addressing Obturator Internus tension are indicated as a treatment to reduce dysfunction with soft tissue mobilization. The goal of this research is to assess if self-soft tissue mobilization of the OI muscle is beneficial for active females with relaxing or nonrelaxing PFD or hip pain, and …

Changes In Rectus Femoris Strength And Size With Daily Single Leg Bfr Vs Daily Non-Bfr Training In Recreationally Active Individuals, Terrell Kopping, Dj Wilson, Kenzie Ward, Kaileigh Dietrich-Denton,, Bethany Nguyen, Jason Brumitt

Student-Faculty Research - College of Physical Therapy

Blood flow restriction (BFR) utilizes a controlled form of arterial and venous occlusion during resistance exercise.

Resistance training closer to an individual’s one repetition maximum (1RM) (e.g., 70% or higher) has been found to elicit increases in muscle strength and size.1-5

BFR training at lower loads (e.g., 20-30% 1RM) can lead to increases in muscle hypertrophy and strength without the muscle damage associated with training at heavier loads.

Finger Touch And Trunk Haptics Impact Com Control During Vr Perturbations, Ally Wong, Caitlyn Ward, Robin Dorociak, Andrew Meszaros

Student-Faculty Research - College of Physical Therapy

CDC reports that falls in the US cost $50 billion per year. Previous research has indicated that light touch is a strategy that humans rely on to maintain upright (Baldan, et al). Assistive devices are often used for increased proprioception, but requires use of both or one upper extremity. The use of a wearable haptic sway vest allows for participation in bimanual tasks while decreasing risk of falls. This is crucial for the older population to maintain functional independence.

Influences On Peak Effort During 1 Minute Sit To Stand Test, Claire Davidson, Maggie Smith, Destinee Thomas, Taylor Wright, Rebecca Dobler, Jeff Houck

Student-Faculty Research - College of Physical Therapy

The purpose of this study is to determine the influences of peak effort in participants with knee pain and/or knee osteoarthritis during a 1 minute sit to stand test, and new approaches in knee pain education. Many individuals with knee osteoarthritis (OA) may assume that engaging in physical activity could exacerbate their condition. As a result, they may refrain from participating in activities they enjoy due to concerns about worsening symptoms or the progression of OA in their knee. It has been shown in research that if we as clinicians, and other healthcare professionals shift the impairment based talk, individuals …

Commentary On “Predictors Of Length Of Physical Therapy Care For Infants With Congenital Torticollis”, Ryan Jacobson, Kathryn Knudsen, Katherine Binkerd

Faculty Publications - College of Physical Therapy

Most infants in this study were ≤3 months of age and 94% had severity grades I or II. Clinicians might prioritize accurately measuring active neck rotation using an arthrodial goniometer in younger, less severe infants, since active neck rotation deficit had the highest single-factor correlation with episode length and reflects degree of asymmetry in neck and torso strength. While the Alberta Infant Motor Scale and previous tummy/container time factors were not associated, we appreciate the efforts of the authors to address this gap in the literature.

Hopping Kinetic Differences In Masters Runners With And Without Achilles Tendinopathy, Matthew Klein, Chris Patterson, Annette Karim, Tyler Cuddeford

Faculty Publications - College of Physical Therapy

Achilles tendinopathy (AT) is the most common running-related pathology among masters runners. Previous evidence suggests there are no differences in submaximal running biomechanics between masters runners with and without AT. Evidence suggests lower extremity power deficits are common among ageing individuals and those with AT. The single-leg horizontal hop (SLHH) test isa valid and reliable lower extremity power test. The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in SLHH biomechanics between masters runners with and without AT. 32 masters runners age 50 and older with AT (60.31 ± 8.37, n = 16) and without (59.94 ±4.95 n = 16) …