Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

Graded Motor Imagery And Pain Neuroscience Education For A Middle-Aged Patient With Chronic Low Back Pain: A Case Report, Brandon Drinan

Case Report Papers

Background and Purpose: Chronic low back pain (LBP), defined as pain that persists for three or more months, is widely considered the leading cause of physical activity limitation and work-related disability in the world. The purpose of this case report was to describe the rehabilitation for a middle-aged male with chronic LBP, emphasizing pain neuroscience education (PNE) and cortical remapping of the brain through Graded Motor Imagery (GMI), with movement being a secondary consideration.

Case Description: The patient was a 51-year-old Caucasian male who suffered a low back injury at work. This was a work-related injury covered under Worker’s Compensation. …

Physical Therapy Management Of Gross Function Loss Following Gunshot Wound To Left Hand: A Case Report, Matthew Freeman

Case Report Papers

Background and Purpose: Nonfatal gunshot emergencies occur regularly within the United States but do not often lead to patients entering outpatient physical therapy clinics for rehabilitation. The complex musculoskeletal injuries which result from gunshot wounds may require prolonged rehabilitative care to best achieve functional outcomes, but clinicians may find a gap in the current literature for guidance. The purpose of this case study is to describe the outpatient rehabilitation treatment interventions for a gunshot wound to the hand, including manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, therapeutic activity, and neuromuscular reeducation.

Case Description: The patient was a 34-year-old, left hand dominant, white male …

Physical Therapy Emphasizing Progressive Weight Bearing And Gait Training Following Chopart Amputation In A Patient With Diabetes: A Case Report, Spenser Lynass

Case Report Papers

Background and Purpose: A Chopart amputation occurs at the Chopart joint that separates the midfoot from the hindfoot and often results from infection secondary to diabetic neuropathy and peripheral vascular disease. Previous studies have examined the associated complications, including the development of equinovarus foot contracture and the corresponding mortality risk. However, little research has been done to establish optimal rehabilitation protocols following surgery. The purpose of this case report was to describe a successful initial outpatient physical therapy intervention program that focuses on progressive weight bearing and gait training for a patient with diabetes who underwent Chopart amputation. Case Description: …

Mobilizations And Strengthening For Radiating Hip And Anterior Knee Pain: A Case Report, Thai Ho

Case Report Papers

Background and Purpose: The most common joint disorder in the United States is osteoarthritis (OA). Knee OA occurs in 10% men and 13% in women aged 60 years or older. Hip instability is commonly defined as hip joint unsteadiness that may cause pain. Joint restrictions and lack of hip strength may be associated with these two conditions. However, there is limited literature on hip strengthening and mobilizations on positive outcomes with hip instability. Therefore, the purpose of this case report was to utilize hip strengthening and mobilizations interventions on a patient with hip instability and knee OA. Case Description: The …

The Challenges Of Exercise Selection For A Post-Operative Patient With Severe Deconditioning And Longstanding Neurogenic Claudication: A Case Report, Madison Lostra

Case Report Papers

Background and Purpose: Lumbar spinal stenosis is an increasingly common diagnosis due to its association with degenerative changes of the lumbar vertebrae and the advancing age of our population. This condition may lead to neurogenic claudication which often results in significant pain and disability. Due to the negative impact on quality of life, surgical intervention is often utilized to reduce symptoms. However, post-surgical management is highly variable. The purpose of this case report was to examine a rehabilitation program used to address functional limitations and reverse impairments in a patient with severe deconditioning due to neurogenic claudication as a result …

Physical Therapy Interventions Via Telehealth For A Child With Developmental Delay During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Case Report, Julie Sullivan

Case Report Papers

Background and Purpose: During the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020, telehealth became widely used as an alternative delivery method of health care services. Due to its infrequent use prior to the pandemic, there is a gap in knowledge regarding the use of telehealth services for physical therapy (PT) in the pediatric population. The purpose of this case report is to discuss the use of PT telehealth services in pediatrics while describing the PT management of a child with gross motor delays in order to enhance care management in this population.

Case Description: A five-year-old male being treated in outpatient PT transitioned …

Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation And Overground Gait Training For A Patient Following A Left Central Medullary Stroke: A Case Report, Shelby Stegemann

Case Report Papers

Background and Purpose: Central medullary stroke is a rare type of stroke that is characterized by contralateral hemiplegia sparing the face, contralateral loss of deep sensation, and ipsilateral hypoglossal paralysis. It makes up a small percentage of the types of strokes that affect nearly 795,000 Americans every year. While there has been extensive research on rehabilitation principles for the general treatment of stroke, there has been little research on rehabilitation for patients following a central medullary stroke. The purpose of this case report was to describe a multifaceted intervention program with the emphasis on proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) and overground …

Restoring Functional Mobility In A 51-Year-Old Male Post Intramedullary Limb Lengthening Surgery Following Helicopter Crash: A Case Report, Shawn Novella

Case Report Papers

Background and Purpose: The annual incidence of femoral shaft fractures is about 10 per 100,000. When these injuries prompt bone to be resected, limb lengthening surgery may be utilized. However, the surgery takes a toll on the patient’s postoperative functional mobility. There is limited information regarding specific home health rehabilitation programs post surgery. The purpose of the report was to investigate the effect of a comprehensive home health PT program on the patient’s LE functional mobility, post bilateral limb lengthening surgery. Case Description: The case report details a 51-year-old male patient’s traumatic bilateral femoral fractures, osteomyelitis, and intramedullary limb lengthening …

The Creation Of An Algorithm To Assist Survivorship Clinics Identify The Rehabilitation Needs Of Cancer Survivors: An Administrative Case Report, Joseph Connor

Case Report Papers

Background and Purpose: Approximately 40% of cancer survivors have unmet rehabilitation needs. Cancer survivors not receiving rehabilitation care may be due to survivorship clinics struggling to identify which of their survivors are appropriate for rehabilitation. The purpose of this case report was to review the literature and create an algorithm that could assist survivorship clinics with rehabilitation referrals.
Case Description: A survivorship clinic in Maine was attempting to address the lack of a rehabilitation screening process. A survey done by the clinic showed that approximately 40% of their survivors used rehabilitation services. To address this lack of a screening process, …

Restoring Functional Mobility For A Patient Following A Comminuted Patella Fracture Status Post Open Reduction Internal Fixation: A Case Report, Elaina Cosentino

Case Report Papers

Background and Purpose: The patella serves an important role in the protection and biomechanics of the knee joint. A fracture of the patella typically requires surgery and immobilization, which can have detrimental impacts on functional mobility. The purpose of this case study was to document a rehabilitation program following a comminuted patella fracture status post open reduction internal fixation (ORIF).
Case Description: The patient was a 62-year-old female who sustained a comminuted patella fracture following a traumatic fall down the stairs, and underwent ORIF to her right patella. She was prescribed a straight knee immobilizer for eight weeks leaving her …

Inpatient Rehabilitation For A 75-Year-Old Female Following A Left-Sided Pontine Infarct: A Case Report, Marisa Flores

Case Report Papers

Background and Purpose: Although cerebrovascular accidents (CVAs), or strokes, occur often in the United States, only 7% of those strokes affect the pons, an area of the brainstem that provides life-sustaining functions. Due to the rarity of pontine strokes, there is insufficient evidence supporting successful interventions that yield functional benefits for patients admitted to inpatient rehabilitation units (IRU). The purpose of this case report was to examine gait, balance and functional mobility interventions on the restoration of mobility and functional independence of a patient within an IRU.
Case Description: The patient was a 75-year-old female 3 days status post a …

Return To Golf In A 71-Year-Old Female After A Mako Robotic-Arm-Assisted Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty Surgery: A Case Report, Katelyn Austin

Case Report Papers

Background and Purpose: Knee osteoarthritis is the most common joint disorder in the elderly. The prevalence of unicompartmental knee arthroplasties (UKAs) increases by 30% each year. Benefits of UKA’s are quicker recovery times and an overall less invasive procedure compared to a total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Robotic-arm-assist surgery has been shown to increase the accuracy of implant positioning compared to traditional surgical techniques. The purpose of this case report was to look at the impact of physical therapy (PT) on outcomes and return to golf in a patient following a Mako robotic-arm-assisted UKA. Case Description: The patient was a 71-year-old …

Updated Poster Presentation Abstract (N = 58) From 2020 Combined Sections Meeting Of The American Physical Therapy Association: How Well Do Clinical Walking Measures Predict Natural Walking Behavior In Parkinson Disease?, James T. Cavanaugh, Cristina Colon-Semenza, Tammy Deangelis, Ryan P. Duncan, Daniel Fulford, Martha Hessler, Michael Lavalley, Timothy Nordahl, Lisa Quintiliani, Kerri S. Rawson, Marie Saint-Hilaire, Cathi A. Thomas, Jenna A. Zajac, Gammon M. Earhart, Terry D. Ellis

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

Declines in the amount and intensity of natural walking behavior in people with Parkinson disease (PD) may precede declines in motor behavior, gait, and balance. Physical interventions targeting walking behavior in PD may have the greatest impact on slowing the progression of disability. Despite a lack of supporting evidence, however, clinicians may be more likely to rely on quick performance measures of walking speed, capacity, and balance to make inferences about a patient’s walking health, rather than direct measures of natural walking behavior. Our primary purpose, therefore, was to examine the extent to which clinical walking measures might predict natural …