Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

Determinants Of Balance Confidence In Community-Dwelling Elderly People, Janine Hatch, Kathleen M. Gill-Body, Leslie G. Portney

All PTHMS Faculty Publications

Background and Purpose. The fear of falling can have detrimental effects on physical function in the elderly population, but the relationship between a persons' confidence in the ability to maintain balance and actual balance ability and functional mobility is not known. The extent to which balance confidence can be explained by balance performance, functional mobility, and sociodemographic, psychosocial, and health-related factors was the focus of this study.

Subjects. The subjects were 50 community-dwelling elderly people, aged 65 to 95 years (X̄=81.7, SD=6.7).

Methods. Balance was measured using the Berg Balance Scale. Functional mobility was measured using the Timed Up & …

Effect Of Computer Keyboard Slope On Wrist Position And Forearm Electromyography Of Typists Without Musculoskeletal Disorders, Guy G. Simoneau, Richard W. Marklin, Joseph E. Berman

Physical Therapy Faculty Research and Publications

Positioning a computer keyboard with a downward slope reduces wrist extension needed to use the keyboard and has been shown to decrease pressure in the carpal tunnel. However, whether a downward slope of the keyboard reduces electromyographic (EMG) activity of the forearm muscles, in particular the wrist extensors, is not known. Subjects and Methods. Sixteen experienced typists participated in this study and typed on a conventional keyboard that was placed on slopes. Electromyographic activity of the extensor carpi ulnaris (ECU), flexor carpi ulnaris (FCU), and flexor carpi radialis (FCR) muscles was measured with surface electrodes, while the extension and ulnar …

The Benefits Of A Regular Exercise Group Program In Community Dwelling Elders With Chronic Stroke, Dessislava Dakova

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether community dwelling elders with chronic stroke who participate in a regular exercise group program demonstrate decreased fear of falls, decreased depression and improved quality of life/health status perception as compared to community dwelling elders with chronic stroke who don’t participate in such an exercise program.

Two groups of 13 English speaking community dwelling elders with chronic stroke, were selected. The first group consisted of individuals who were currently participating in the Adult Fitness Group at South Miami Hospital (SMH) and the second group consisted of former SMH patients who had not …

Children With Disturbances In Sensory Processing: A Pilot Study Examining The Role Of The Parasympathetic Nervous System., Roseann C. Schaaf, Lucy Jane Miller, Duncan Seawell, Shannon O'Keefe

Department of Occupational Therapy Faculty Papers

This study was a preliminary investigation of parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) functioning in children with disturbances in sensory processing. The specific aims of this study were to (1) provide preliminary data about group differences in parasympathetic functions, as measured by the vagal tone index, between children with disturbances in sensory processing and those without; (2) determine effect size and power needed for future studies; and (3) to lay the foundation for further examination of the relations of parasympathetic functioning and functional behavior in children with disturbances in sensory processing. Participants were 15 children, nine with disturbances in sensory processing and …

Development And Validation Of A Professional Behavior Assessment., Kristie Koenig, Caryn Johnson, Cathleen K Morano, Joseph P Ducette

Department of Occupational Therapy Faculty Papers

Allied health students must quickly socialize into a professional role as they transition from classroom to clinic. In addition to skill development, students must exhibit a host of professional behaviors that facilitate successful interaction with patients, families, and colleagues. There is a need for a valid, reliable assessment of professional behaviors that contribute to clinical competence. This study reports on the development and validation of a professional behavior assessment for occupational therapy students on a part-time clinical rotation (Level I). The Philadelphia Region Fieldwork Consortium (PRFC) Level I Student Evaluation was developed from an initial survey (n = 75) to …

Methodological Issues In Evaluating Workplace Interventions To Reduce Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders Through Mechanical Exposure Reduction, Donald C. Cole, Richard P. Wells, Mardy B. Frazer, Mickey S. Kerr, W Patrick Neumann, Andrew C. Laing, Ergonomic Intervention Evaluation Research Group

Faculty Publications and Scholarship

Researchers of work-related musculoskeletal disorders are increasingly asked about the evidentiary base for mechanical exposure reductions. Mixed messages can arise from the different disciplinary cultures of evidence, and these mixed messages make different sets of findings incommensurate. Interventions also operate at different levels within workplaces and result in different intensities of mechanical exposure reduction. Heterogeneity in reporting intervention processes and in measuring relevant outcomes makes the synthesis of research reports difficult. As a means of synthesizing the current understanding of measures, this paper describes a set of intervention and observation nodes for which relevant workplace indicators prior to, during, and …

Diagnosis And Management Of The Painful Ankle/Foot. Part 2: Examination, Interpretation, And Management, P. Sizer, V. Phelps, G. S. Dedrick, R. James, O. Mattijs

Physical Therapy

No abstract provided.

Preliminary Validation Of A Mobility Obstacle Course For Persons With Mobility Impairment, Stephen F. Figoni, Christian Thompson, A. Katherine Froehlich, Dot E. Nary, Janet Marquis, Glen W. White

Kinesiology (Formerly Exercise and Sport Science)

The purpose of this study was to assess the reliability and validity of a mobility obstacle course for women with mobility impairments. Participants included 72 adult women with permanent physical disabilities including arthritis, orthopedic conditions, paraplegia, and others. The 60-m course consisted of carpeted runways and turns, ramps, a doorway, a transfer, and object manipulation. Participants completed two trials, walking or wheeling through the course as quickly as possible, safely and without running. Total course time and peak heart rate data were correlated with SF-36 health survey subscales. Overall, peak heart rate was significantly (p < .05) correlated with physical functioning (r = -.328), limitations due to physical functioning (r = .261), and pain (r = .296). Total course time was significantly correlated with physical functioning. These findings indicate very high reliability and preliminary evidence of validity.

Associations Of Knee Angles, Moments And Function Among Subjects That Are Healthy And Anterior Cruciate Ligament Deficient (Acld) During Straight Ahead And Crossover Cutting Activities, Jeff Houck, H. John Yack

Faculty Publications - College of Physical Therapy

The objective of this study was to compare knee angles and moments of healthy subjects (n/20) and subjects that were anterior cruciate ligament deficient (ACLD) (n/16) during stepping and crossover cutting activities. Subjects that were ACLD were separated into high (n/7) and low (n/9) functioning groups based on knee functioning ratings. Knee angles and moments were estimated using three dimensional motion tracking and force plate data. The results suggest that knee angle and moment data were associated with level of functioning of ACLD subjects. Primarily knee frontal and transverse plane moments distinguished the stepping and crossover cut activities. Only some …

Comparison Between Successful And Failed Sit-To-Stand Trials Of A Patient After Traumatic Brain Injury, Cynthia M. Zablotny, Deborah A. Nawoczenski, Bing Yu

Faculty Publications - College of Physical Therapy

Comparison between successful and failed sit-to-stand trials of a patient after traumatic brain injury.

Objective: To compare the peak whole-body center of mass (COM) velocities and joint angular contributions in successful and unsuccessful sit-to-stand (STS) trials in a subject with traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Design: Single-case study.

Setting: Motion research laboratory.

Participant: A 24-year-old man who was 3.5 years post-TBI.

Interventions: Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measures: Peak horizontal and vertical velocities of the whole-body COM and peak angular velocities of the ankle, knee, hip, and shoulder joints.

Results: The peak whole-body COM vertical velocity was significantly lower in the unsuccessful …

Self-Reported Giving-Way Episode During A Stepping-Down Task: Case Report Of A Subject With An Acl-Deficient Knee, Jeff Houck, Amy Lerner, David Gushue, H. John Yack

Faculty Publications - College of Physical Therapy

Study Design: Case report.

Objective: To describe the knee kinematics and moments of a giving-way trial of a subject with an anterior-cruciate-ligament– (ACL) deficient knee relative to his non–giving-way trials and to healthy subjects during a step-down task.

Background: Episodes of giving way are believed to damage joint structures, therefore treatments aim to prevent giving-way episodes, yet few studies document giving-way events.

Methods: The giving-way trial experienced by a 32-year-old male subject with ACL deficiency during a step-down task was compared to his non–giving-way trials (n = 5) and data from healthy subjects (n = 20). Position data collected at …

Communication Apprehension And Interpersonal Skills In Physical Therapy Students : A Comparative Study Of Problem-Based Learning And Traditional Curricula, Beverly D. Fein

All PTHMS Faculty Publications

Physical Therapy education has been challenged to prepare students to meet the increasing demands upon and changing needs of physical therapy practice in the evolving health delivery system. Today's practitioner needs strong interpersonal and collaborative skills for effective communication with patients, families, third party payers, community and other members of the health care team. The characteristics of problem-based learning (PBL) curricula appeared to offer greater potential for students to develop communication skills as compared to traditional curricula. Therefore, this study used available measures of communication apprehension and clinical performance of communication related behaviors to compare students educated in PBL curricula …