Physical Therapy Commons^™

Using The Landing Error Scoring System (Less) To Predict The Risk Of Lower Extremity Injuries In Athletes, Marit Mikkelsen, Anthony Peterson, Travis Rinkenberger

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Introduction: Athletes that participate in any sport are at an increased risk of injury, especially lower extremity injury. In particular, many athletes experience anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury during competition and practice sessions. The Landing Error Scoring System (LESS) is a tool used to identify athletes with a higher potential risk for ACL injury.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to compare vertical jump landing mechanics between genders and among various sports.

Methods: Forty-one participants (21 females, 20 males) were recruited from a NCAA Division I university. Participants were from the following sports: football, volleyball, women’s soccer, and men’s …

Physical Therapy Rehabiliation For Lumbar Radiculopathy: A Case Report, Rebecca Lynch

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose. Lumbar radiculopathy is one of the most common orthopedic conditions. This occurs when there is damage to a nerve root in the area that it exits the spinal cord. This can be caused from a disc herniation bone spurs, trauma, or a mechanical stretching event. There is not consistent evidence in current literature regarding rehabilitation interventions for this condition.

Case Description. This case report describes a 62-year-old female presenting to physical therapy with lumbar radiculopathy symptoms. She had multiple comorbidities as well as a scheduled total knee replacement surgery. Physical therapy interventions for this patient included manual …

Accessibility And Perceived Value Of Pre-Admission Clinical Contact Hours: Physical Therapy Clinician Perspectives, Riley Wilson

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Purpose: This study analyzes the accessibility and perceived value of contact hours prior to a student's acceptance to a professional physical therapy (PT) program from clinicians' perspective. There is limited research regarding the effectiveness of pre-admission clinical contact hours in PT. The results may help the conversation on whether contact hours should be a requirement prior to acceptance into a program, and the impact the requirement may have on practicing clinicians.

Methods: This study utilized an electronic survey sent to the chairpersons or Directors of Clinical Education of 1-2 accredited programs in each state (n=48) that has a PT program, …

Acute Rehabilitation Management Of A Patient With Bilateral Transtibial Amputation: Case Study, Ashlee Wiebe

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose: This case report describes the 14-day acute rehabilitation physical therapy management of a 43-year-old male who underwent bilateral transtibial amputations. The purpose of this report is to describe the interventions utilized and the change in the patient's status following their application and also to add to the limited amount of research in this area.

Case Description: The patient had a very complicated medical history. His primary goal was to return home with his wife and children. The treatment of this patient involved transfer training, wheelchair mobility, seated balance activities, strengthening exercises, stretching, endurance activities, and extensive patient …

Emg Analysis Of Latissimus Dorsi, Middle Trapezius, And Erector Spinae Muscle Activity During Spinal Rotation: A Pilot Study, Alyssa Wagner, Brandon Forister, Zachary Huot

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Purpose/Hypothesis: Rotation of the spine is a common movement used to complete daily activities and participate in sports. As a contributing factor to back injuries, the performance of spinal rotation is an important consideration for the rehabilitation of current and prevention of future back injuries. Muscles involved in spinal rotation have been researched, though limited findings exist for one of the largest back muscles, the Latissimus Dorsi (LD). The LD muscle contributes to many movements of the trunk and limbs given its multiple attachment sites including the pelvis, ribs, scapula, and humerus. Influence of the LD on spinal rotation has …

Collaboration Of Music And Physical Therapy: A Case Study For Treatment Of Balance And Coordination Impairments Following Radiation Necrosis, Micah Hale, Paige Slemmons

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose: Medulloblastomas are a form of cancer most commonly found in children. They are normally treated through surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Radiation necrosis is a possible side effect of radiation therapy which can have devastating effects on a patient's function. Research on the effects of physical therapy interventions in treating the functional impairments which can result from medulloblastomas and radiation necrosis is limited. The purpose of this case study is to examine the effects of collaborative treatment between two student physical therapists and a student music therapist on a· patient with functional limitations due to a medulloblastoma …

Physical Therapy Treatment For A Patient With A Hip Fracture And Cognitive Impairments: A Case Report, Tracie Boehmlehner

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose: As the population shifts to include higher numbers of people in the elderly population, diseases and pathologies associated with geriatric populations will also increase. Two of these conditions are cognitive impairment and hip fractures. Hip fractures can be costly and life altering injuries. Treating patients with both of these conditions can pose a unique challenge to healthcare workers.

Case Description: The patient in this case study is a 78 year-old female who suffered a hip fracture secondary to a fall with a hip herniarthroplasty completed. She had many co-morbidities that are typical of an aging person such …

Accessibility And Perceived Value Of Pre-Admission Clinical Contact Hours: A Physical Therapy Academic Faculty Perspective, Andrew Nelson

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose: This study determines the usefulness of pre-admission clinical contact hours obtained by potential physical therapy students as perceived by faculty of Doctor of Physical Therapy programs. Within the last ten years there is limited research regarding the effectiveness of pre-admission clinical contact hours in physical therapy. These results can be used to determine prerequisites for physical therapy programs in the future.

Methods: An electronic survey link was sent via e-mail to program chairpersons or Directors of Clinical Education (DCE) of all accredited Physical Therapy programs, asking them to distribute the survey to their academic faculty. Two reminder …

The Effect Of Barefoot Running On Navicular And Pelvic Drop: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Alyssa Sandry, Danielle Gamel, Ryan Cook

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose: Gaining knowledge of the change in navicular drop of the foot and pelvic movement in response to barefoot running training may allow sports medicine professionals, coaches, athletes, and others in the healthcare field to decrease the amount of injuries that may be caused by these motions. Effects of a running training program with conversion from a rearfoot strike pattern (RFSP) to forefoot strike pattern (FFSP) to determine impact on navicular drop and pelvic movement is lacking in literature. Due to the increased correlation of hip movement and lower extremity injuries, the purpose of this study was to …

The Epidemiology Of Pediatric Sports And Recreational Injuries Reporting To The Emergency Department In Grand Forks, Nd, Erin Arndt, Sterling Hubbard

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

PROBLEM: Sports and recreational injuries among youth is constantly being reviewed, and ways to prevent or decrease their incidence is an ongoing goal. The purpose of this study was to examine and provide information regarding the epidemiology of sports and recreation-related injuries in the pediatric population (ages 0-19) in the Grand Forks, ND area. This study is a continuation of a previous 10-year study; adding data retrieved within this current study would combine for 15 years of epidemiological data of those that presented to the Altru Emergency Department in Grand Forks, ND.

METHODS: This retrospective study involved examining Altru Department …

Effects Of Pole Walking On Older Adults Following Six Weeks Of Training, Samantha Forsch, Raevyn Haugland

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Introduction: Age-related changes in adults over 60 include reduced mobility and function as well as an increase in frailty. Conventional walking has been shown to be an effective physical activity to maintain mobility and improve function and overall health and fitness. Specifically, walking speed has been identified as a crucial predicting factor for fall risk and decreased functional mobility. For this reason, clinicians considered the element of walking speed as the sixth vital sign. Pole walking has gained popularity over the years and may provide additional benefits, when compared to conventional walking, such as improved stride and step length, faster …

Barefoot Training: Effects On Emg Activity Of Gluteus Medius And Tensor Fascia Latae In Habitually Shod Runners, Tom Linner, Casey Murphy, Jeremy O'Keefe

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Purpose/Hypothesis: Running has been a common practice in humans since the species’ dawn. Due to its relative ease and low cost, running continues to be one of the most popular forms of exercise today. Although running provides many benefits such as disease prevention, injury prevalence in running is high. The trend of minimalist shoes and barefoot training has gained popularity over the decade as a return to a more natural form of running. Some researcher hypothesize that barefoot running can reduce injury rate by changing the biomechanics of the runner. In this study we propose a different hypothesis: barefoot running …

Treatment Of Subacromial Impingement Syndrome In A 53-Year-Old Female: A Case Study, Jarad Syrstad

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose. Subacromial impingement syndrome (SAIS) is a common shoulder pathology. The purpose of this case report is to discuss the outcomes of subsequent physical therapy after operative treatment for SAIS and the clinical decision making involved in seeking surgical intervention.

Case Description. This case report describes a 54 y/o female who participated in eight weeks of physical therapy after undergoing shoulder decompression surgery while failing conservative physical therapy prior to surgical intervention.

Intervention. Physical therapy interventions were designed to strengthen the rotator cuff and shoulder, increase range of motion, decrease pain, and improve functional activity. …

Electromyographic Activity Of Hamstrings And Quadriceps Muscle During Jumping And Landing: Pilot Study, Jayla Greene, Brecca Wahlund, Jay Mittlieder, Adam Lutz

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose. The purpose of this pilot study was to see if there was a difference in amount of electromyographic (EMG) activity in the quadriceps (vastus medialis and vastus lateralis) compared to amount of EMG activity in the hamstrings (biceps femoris and semitendinosus) in active male and female subjects during vertical jumping and landing. In addition, we looked at the amount of knee flexion that occurred in the male and female subjects shortly after landing from a vertical jump.

Methods EMG activity was recorded using a Noraxon TeleMyo DTS telemetry unit with a sampling rate of 1 kHz. EMG …

Effects Of Physical Therapy On An Elderly Patient With L5-S1 Radiculopathy: A Case Study, Mackenzie Mears

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose. Low back pain is a major disabling diagnosis for adults over 60 with 36-70% suffering from this condition. There is little research demonstrating the effectiveness of physical therapy on the outcome of older patients with a lumbar disc herniation resulting in lumbosacral radiculopathy. The purpose of this scholarly project is to use a case report to explore the effectiveness of physical therapy in elderly patients with lumbosacral radiculopathy as the result of a L5-S1 disc herniation.

Case Description. The case study reviews an 81-year-old male who presented to physical therapy with insidious onset of left …

Conservative Treatment Of A 58 Year-Old Male Referred To Physical Therapy With A Knee Sprain And Knee Osteoarthritis, Chase Pruitt

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a common condition in people over 50. Although there may be an association between acute knee injuries and knee OA later in life, the occurrence of acute knee injuries in patients with existing OA is less clear. The purpose of this case study is to evaluate the effectiveness of an impairment based therapy program in an individual with an acute knee injury and knee OA.

Case Description: This case follows a 57 year old male referred to physical therapy with an acute knee sprain and tri-compartmental knee OA. Treatment lasted 7 sessions …

A Case Report: Outpatient Physical Therapy Treatment Of A Patient With Unilateral Medial And Posterior Knee Pain And Osteoarthritis, Joseph T. Griffin

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background & purpose: Meniscus tears are commonly considered to be associated with a traumatic event, but the degenerative nature of osteoarthritis can also damage the cartilage. As meniscal tears are a common orthopedic pathology, choosing the correct treatment can be difficult and involve several factors. Current treatment options include partial or total meniscectomy, meniscal repair, or conservative management. There is growing research supporting the effectiveness in non-operative management of degenerative meniscal tears (DMT). The purpose of this case report was to investigate the non-operative management of a 47-year-old male with a unilateral DMT combined with osteoarthritis.

Case description: …

Physical Therapy Intervention In A Patient With West Nile Meningitis: A Case Approach, Kelsie Gunnufson

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose. West Nile Virus (WNV) is a neurotropic virus capable of causing damage of varying severity. WNV is commonly transmitted to humans from mosquitoes and is most prevalent in the months of August and September due to the method of transmission. The WNV can produce mild systemic symptoms classified as West Nile Fever (WNF). However, it can progress and infiltrate the nervous system, at which point the virus is categorized as neuroinvasive. One classification is West Nile Meningitis (WNM) that involves infection and inflammation of the meninges or coverings surrounding the brain and spinal cord. There is …

Collaboration Of Music Therapy And Physical Therapy: A Case Study For Treatment Of A Patient With Chronic Stroke, Matthew Aymond, Michelle Sanders

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose: Stroke is one of the leading causes of death in the United States and can cause severe, debilitating, and lasting effects. Although a fair amount of research has been performed on treatment of individuals following a stroke, few studies exist looking at the collaborative efforts of physical therapy and music therapy.

Case Description: This case follows the 13-week interdisciplinary care of an 83-year old female patient with chronic impairments following a cerebrovascular accident suffered approximately 2 years prior.

Interventions: Following an initial evaluation, the patient performed 11 one-hour treatment sessions over an 11-week period. …

The Effect Of Socket Tightness In Femur Stability In A Hifi Socket, Mary Bachman, Alicia Beckel, Amanda Belyaks

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose: The introduction of the High-Fidelity (HiFi) interface was developed to help increase the intimacy of the prosthetic interface by using a series of alternating zones of tissue compression and release. The purpose of this study was to utilize motion analysis to measure the stability of the femur in individuals with trans-femoral amputation that utilize the HiFi socket for ambulation.

Methods: The subject was a 62 year old Caucasian female. She had a trans-femoral amputation 35 years prior due to a diagnosis of cancer located in the bone of her femur. Data collection was done with …

Association Of Generalized Joint Hypermobility And The Occurrence Of Musculoskeletal Work-Related Injury In The First Zero To Five Years Of Physical Therapy Practice: A Pilot Study, Mikelle Fetsch, Ashley Naas, Amanda Slaikeu

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background: Previous research has shown that there is greater prevalence of work-related injuries for Physical Therapists in their early years of practice. However, little evidence has focused on the correlation with the high physical strain and stress of the job to the rate of injury occurrence. Hypermobility has also been researched in regards to an increased risk of sustaining an injury, but no correlation has been found between hypermobility and work-related injury in Physical Therapists.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a correlation between hypermobility and work-related injury occurrence in the first …

Effects Of Walking Poles On Posture And Gait, Kate Darnell, Tatum Hall, Sadie Hefta, Jessica Lynch, Jenna Sagedahl, Nicole Salfer

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

INTRODUCTION: Walking poles have become increasingly popular not only as a tool for exercising, but also as an assistive device. Physical Therapists use them to assist patients with balance during ambulation. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to look at the effects of walking poles on gait speed and posture. METHODS: This study included 60 community ambulators between 21-74 years old (19 males and 41 females), seen for a single session. Participants were fitted for walking poles and given a 3-minute warm-up period to become comfortable with them. A 10 Meter Walk Test (10 MWT) was …

An Epidemiological Study Of Pediatric Sports And Recreational Injuries Reporting To The Emergency Room In Grand Forks, Nd, Carly Bertsch, Lucas Dolan

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

PROBLEM: The purpose of this research study is to evaluate the emergency room records from Altru Health System in Grand Forks, ND from 2011-2015 to find trends in pediatric injuries from the ages of 0-19. The justification for the study is to provide Grand Forks with information about the frequency and distribution of pediatric sports and recreational injuries. No injury surveillance system has been implemented to monitor youth injuries, but his study is a continuation of a previous 10-year study and the combining of the two time frames would result in a 15-year compilation of data. By using descriptive data …

A Case Report: Physical Therapy Management Of A 25-Year-Old Female Experiencing A Whiplash Injury And Low Back Pain, Carmen Stanhope

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose. There is a prevalence of whiplash mechanism injuries affecting the cervical spine following motor vehicle accidents. The approximate incidence in Western societies for whiplash associated disorder is 1 case for every 1,000 people in the population. The purpose of this case study is to describe the physical therapy examination, evaluation, diagnosis, prognosis, and interventions used in the treatment of a patient with whiplash associated disorder.

Case Description. This case study describes the clinical presentation, physical therapy intervention, and outcomes of a young adult female following a rear end motor vehicle accident (MVA). The patient presented …

Barefoot Training: Effect On Lateral Pelvic Drop And Emg Activity Of Gluteus Medius And Tfl, Hailey Brinkman, Anna Yanchek, Esley Thorton

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Purpose/Hypothesis: Exercise has been widely accepted for its key role in disease prevention and promotion of healthy lifestyle. Due to its relative ease and low cost, running continues to be one of the most popular forms of exercise today. Although running can have a significant impact on disease prevention, injury prevalence in running is high. Barefoot running is a relatively new form of exercise that has gained popularity amongst the running community. However, enhancing muscular activity at the hip is a rehabilitation strategy, which may reduce lower extremity injury. Research investigating the hip muscle activity and movement with barefoot …

The Co-Treatment Of Physical Therapy And Music Therapy And Its Effect On Parkinson's Disease: A Multidisciplinary Approach, Kayli Muckenhirn, Laura Whiteley

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background. A multidisciplinary approach combining physical therapy and music therapy can improve functional mobility in individuals with Parkinson's Disease.

Objective. The authors studied whether a multidisciplinary approach of PT and MT would reduce the primary symptoms associated with PD.

Methods. In a single subject design, one patient participated in the following interventions; seated activities, task-specific training, balance and posture, pre-gait activities, and gait activities. The patient was evaluated on the first, mid-term, and last days of treatment. Evaluations included the Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-39 (PDQ-39), Freezing of Gait Questionnaire (FOGQ), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Timed-Up-and-Go (TUG), Five Times …

Impact Of A Community-Based Rock Steady Boxing Program For People With Parkinson's Disease: A Pilot Study, Katerina Hoime, Rachel Klein, Jamie Maciejewski, Molly Nienhuis

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Purpose/Hypothesis: High-intensity physical exercise has been shown to be beneficial in managing motor and nonmotor symptoms of Parkinson's Disease (PD). Exercise may also have global effects on factors that influence brain health and cognition. Programs that incorporate goal-based motor skill learning have shown promise in being more effective than aerobic exercise alone. People with PD have a need for ongoing, continuous, community-based exercise programs that are engaging and accessible. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a community-based exercise program, Rock Steady Boxing, on improving quality of life and physical mobility skills in people with …

Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Of Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair: A Case Study, Braden Benson

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose. A rotator cuff tear is a common cause of pain and disability among older adults and can lead to a decreased ability to perform daily functions. The purpose of this case report is to look at a single patient's rehabilitation following arthroscopic repair of a rotator cuff tear utilizing therapeutic exercise, neuromuscular re-education, and manual therapy techniques.

Case Description. The patient was a 69-year-old, Caucasian male who was referred to physical therapy for evaluation and treatment following left shoulder arthroscopy for rotator cuff tear and sub-acromial decompression. The patient complained of increased pain and decreased …

Emg Of Serratus Anterior, Upper, Middle, And Lower Trapezius During Glenohumeral Abduction In A Participant With Scapular Dyskinesia: A Case Study, Daniel Garcia, Trevor Roppel, Mekenzie Scheresky, Shane Omdahl

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Introduction and Purpose. The purpose of this case study was to examine the differences in muscle activation between the upper trapezius, middle trapezius, lower trapezius and serratus anterior in a participant with scapular dyskinesia.

Methods. EMG activity was recorded using a Noraxon TeleMyo DTS telemetry unit with a sampling rate of 1 kHz. EMG data was recorded during three different speeds of shoulder abduction. Four scapular muscles were monitored bilaterally during the experiment. The muscles that were monitored included the upper trapezius, middle trapezius, lower trapezius and serratus anterior. The subject was also captured on video using the NiNox 125/250 …

Emg Analysis Of Latissimus Dorsi, Erector Spinae, And Middle Trapezius Muscle Activity During Spinal Rotation: A Pilot Study, Hunter Huberty, Jacob Klingbeil, Michael Miller, Michael Utt

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Purpose/Hypothesis: Rotation of the spine is a common movement used for completing daily activities and participating in sports. As a contributing factor to back injuries, the performance of spine rotation is an important consideration for the rehabilitation and prevention of future back injury. Muscles involved in spine rotation have been researched, though limited findings exist for one of the largest back muscles: Latissimus Dorsi (LD). The LD muscle contributes to many movements of the trunk and limbs given its multiple attachment sites including the pelvis, scapula, ribs and humerus. Influence of the LD on spine rotation, however, has not …