Physical Therapy Commons^™

Relationships Between Social Determinants Of Health And Pain Outcome Changes After Exercise In Adults With Knee Osteoarthritis, Klarissa Siebert

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Background: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a common musculoskeletal disease with pain as the primary symptom. KOA pain is a major contributor to disability and reduced quality of life and has been associated with social determinants of health (SDOH) variables. As for treatments of KOA pain, exercise such as stationary cycling is a first-line and recommended treatment. However, limited research has examined how SDOH influence pain outcomes following such interventions. Objective: This study investigated whether income level, education level, employment status, acculturative stress, and perceived ethnic discrimination are associated with changes in pain following a standardized cycling ergometer exercise in adults …

Effects Of Doctoral Program Education On Cardiovascular And General Health Outcomes Of Physical Therapy Students, Luzarianna Galindo, Laramie Tesillo, Carlos Quintana

DPT Capstones

No abstract provided.

Using Cognitive Dual-Task To Evaluate Individuals With Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries: A Pilot Study, Michelle Galvan, Maryam Buazza, Jacob Mendoza, Jallycia Pearson

DPT Capstones

Background: Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) presents significant challenges, with cognitive and motor deficits often persisting long after the initial injury. Current assessment methods may fail to detect subtle impairments, highlighting the need for more comprehensive evaluation techniques. This pilot study aims to investigate the efficacy of cognitive dual-task assessments in detecting subtle gait deficits associated with concussion/mild Traumatic Brain Injury (c/mTBI), with a focus on identifying which cognitive dual task would provide the most cognitive cost and afford motion capture sensors the ability to detect subtle gait changes.

Methods: Twenty-two participants without prior concussion or mTBI history underwent dual-task assessments …

Investigating The Efficacy Of Yoga Vs Traditional Physical Therapy In Chronic Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review, Courtney Andrade, Casey David, Grace Hicks-Green, Riley Young

DPT Capstones

Introduction: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a complex diagnosis causing an increase in disability and decreased quality of life. This condition is defined as having low back pain for more than three months, in which an individual experiences a decline in function due to enduring pain. Several factors contribute to CLBP including core muscle weakness and decreased motor control to allow for lumbar stability. Though CLBP can be treated in multiple ways; this systematic review (SR) investigates the treatment effects of yoga combined with physical therapy (PT) vs. PT alone to measure the disability using the Oswestry Disability Index …

Prevalence Of And Influences For Incorporating Clinically-Relevant Spanish Into Doctor Of Physical Therapy Programs, Daniela Quinones, Deyanira Verdeja Sosa, Megan Giron

DPT Capstones

Introduction. The United States has 63.7 million Hispanic/Latino individuals, and approximately 40% of Spanish speakers have limited English proficiency (LEP). Patient-provider language discordance is a major contributor towards health disparities. Hence, many health professions educators offer clinically-relevant Spanish. The primary study purposes were to: 1) identify the prevalence of Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) programs in the United States that incorporate clinically-relevant Spanish language learning in their curriculum; and 2) describe how DPT programs incorporate Spanish language learning in their curriculum.

Review of Literature. Researchers in a 2014 report identified 12 DPT programs offering Spanish; however, the current prevalence is …

Effects Of Using External Biofeedback In Improving Ankle Kinematics In Those With Chronic Ankle Instability Compared To Conventional Therapy Without External Biofeedback: A Systematic Review, Lachlan Cubbin, Kelli Kirkpatrick

DPT Capstones

I. Introduction: Lateral ankle sprains are amongst the most common injuries to occur in athletes and the general population alike. While most can recover without complications, there exists a considerable risk of recurrent injury which can result in ongoing difficulties related to pain, function, and overall quality of life. This high recurrence rate is due to excessive lateral deviations in the location of pressure-related variables in the foot. Ongoing instability of the foot, known as chronic ankle instability (CAI), results due to these abnormal gait and ankle kinematics which causes significantly greater inversion of the foot during initial contact of …

Exploring Reapplication To Doctor Of Physical Therapy Programs Amongunderrepresented Minority And Non-Underrepresented Minority Students, Jozelyn Rascon, Miguel Fajardo, Michelle Arroyo

DPT Capstones

Introduction: Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) programs are making efforts to recruit underrepresented minorities (URMs) to create a more diverse workforce. Understanding the reapplication process may contribute to more URMs reapplying. The purposes of this study were to examine URM and non-URM DPT program reapplicants, and to identify factors that predicted acceptance or rejection when reapplying to DPT programs.

Review of Literature: Current literature exists regarding the difference between minorities and non-minorities when applying to physical therapy and medical education programs. However, the literature regarding reapplication to DPT programs is nonexistent.

Subjects: Subjects were reapplicants (N=107) who submitted a verified …

Comparison Between Active Interventions And Passive Interventions For Patients With Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Using The Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Christian Servando Quinones, Jung Gil Kim, Kenneth Heimer

DPT Capstones

Aims and Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of active interventions, such as manual therapy and gliding exercises compared to passive interventions, such as kinesiotaping, splints, and modalities utilizing the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome.

Background: A large number of people worldwide suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome, which is a type of entrapment neuropathy. Treatment includes active interventions (manual therapy and gliding exercises) and passive interventions (splinting, kinesiotaping, and modalities). The Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire is the most widely used self-administered outcome scale to measure the improvement of carpal tunnel syndrome. The effectiveness of the various …

Acquisition Of Psychomotor Skills In An Online Or Hybrid Classroom:A Systematic Review, Peyton Arneson, Braiden Burkes, Talia Cmaylo

DPT Capstones

Objective: During the COVID 19 pandemic, schools across the world have had to adapt their curricula to allow students to continue their education remotely or via hybrid classroom format. The effectiveness of online/hybrid teaching has been studied with respect to many academic skills. However, the effectiveness of this type of teaching on psychomotor skills has not yet been determined. The purpose of this systematic review was to compare healthcare students’ acquisition of psychomotor skills in an online format versus traditional classroom format.

Methods: Researchers reviewed over 100 articles using Cochrane Library, CINAHL, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases and search engines. …

Wearable Sensor Efficacy In Detecting Deviations From Normal Gait Patterns: Normative And Mock Pathologic Gait, Kacey Bisienere, Jessica Maddox, Cicely Fabiano

DPT Capstones

Purpose/hypothesis: The purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy of the Smart Wireless Motion Sensors (SWMS) in detecting deviations or abnormalities in gait between normative and traumatic brain injury (TBI) data.

Subjects: We recruited participants from the faculty and students in the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program. Inclusion criteria for participation in the study consisted of (a) current faculty and staff in UTEP’s DPT program, (b) 18 years old or older, (c) ambulatory, (d) no history of TBI or any other condition affecting gait and (e) English speaking. Participants were …

Dry Needling As An Alternative Physical Therapy Treatment For Patients With Cervicogenic Headaches: A Systematic Review, Justin Esparza, Bianca Magallanes, Alexis Mendez

DPT Capstones

Background: There has been an increase in prevalence in cervicogenic headaches (CGH) which is commonly accompanied by neck pain, decreased cervical range of motion (ROM), and other symptoms related to neck movement.

Purpose: The objective of this systematic review was to compare manipulation/mobilization versus dry needling (DN) to determine which treatment is most effective in improving pain intensity, ROM, and frequency in individuals with CGH.

Methods: Current literature was retrieved from a search using Pubmed and EBSCO (Medline) databases. The following keywords were used to guide searches: “cervicogenic” “headache” “neck pain” “dry needling” “manipulation” “mobilization” “manual therapy”. After filtering, 10 …

Effectiveness Of Telehealth Physical Therapy Compared To In-Person Physical Therapy On Pain And Disability In Patients With Non-Specific Chronic Low Back Pain: A Retrospective Case Series, Leslie Porras, Andres Fernandez, Sebastian Garcia, Troy Belcher

DPT Capstones

Background: Physical therapy is a successful treatment option for non-specific chronic low back pain (NCLBP). Telehealth physical therapy (TPT) is a beneficial treatment option for various musculoskeletal conditions, but its effectiveness in treating NCLBP remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of TPT compared to in-person physical therapy (IPT) on pain and disability in patients with NCLBP.

Methods: Data were extracted from electronic medical records of adults with NCLBP who received care between June 1, 2020 and September 30, 2021. Patients included males or females who were 18 years or older, had NCLBP, and received …

Do Esports Gamers Differ From Non-Esports Gamers In Posture, Pain, And Range Of Motion?, Erick Sorto, Kendall Pieper, Ronald Ramon

DPT Capstones

Objective: The purpose of this research study is to compare posture, pain and range of motion (ROM) between young adult eSports gamers and non-esports gamers with similar sitting hours throughout an average week.

Methods: Subjects were recruited using social media and physical posts that included a screening survey. In total, 13 potential subjects were screened and 12 met the eligibility criteria. A total of four subjects were recruited to be assessed. Subjects were placed in either the eSports (N=2) or Control group (N=2) based on screening. Subjects were measured for ROM, posture, and pain characteristics. Independent sample t-tests and Pearson’s …

The Effects Of Therapeutic Horseback Riding On The Balance Of A Child With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Case Study, Liliana De Castro

DPT Capstones

Objective: Therapeutic riding is an emerging tool used by rehabilitation professionals to treat individuals with disabilities. Although recent studies suggest important benefits for this population, the groups represented, and the outcomes studied, in existing literature are limited. Namely, current scholarship focuses on individuals with cerebral palsy, or measures therapeutic outcomes linked to cognitive function in individuals with autism spectrum disorder. The purpose of this case study is to highlight the gross motor benefits that this intervention provided for a child with autism spectrum disorder.

Methods: The subject was a 12-year-old boy who was diagnosed with high functioning autism spectrum disorder. …

The Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic And A Physical Therapy Program On Students’ Health Outcomes, Kristin Moreno, Caitlyn Ferguson, Vanessa Garcia

DPT Capstones

Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic affected many aspects of everyday life including school, fitness regimens, and social interactions. The purpose of this study is to understand how COVID-19 affects the cardiovascular and mental health of Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students as they progress through the program.

Materials and Methods: Data collection occurred in 16 DPT students over a total of 3 visits from 2020 – 2022. Outcome measures included VO2max, Venous Occlusion Plethysmography (VOP), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). A RM-ANOVA with pairwise comparisons was utilized. Significance was set prior at an α level of …

Comparison Of Aquatic And Land-Based Rehabilitation In Post-Stroke Patients For Balance And Gait: A Systematic Review, Guillermo Mota, Halil Rodriguez, Edgar Hinojosa, Rebeca Baeza

DPT Capstones

Introduction. Cerebral vascular accidents (CVA), or stroke, can lead to impairments in strength, range of motion (ROM), balance, cognition, sensory integrity, and motor function. These several impairments all contribute to a decline in dynamic and static balance among stroke patients. Traditional rehabilitation for stroke involves land-based therapy (LB) techniques addressing impairments within each individual patient. Aquatic therapy (AQ) has also been utilized for rehabilitation in stroke and has been found to be beneficial among stroke patients. The purpose of this Systematic Review (SR) is to compare the effect of AQ and LB therapies on balance and gait. The rehabilitation programs …

The Efficacy Of Mirror Therapy On Lower Extremity Function, Gait, And Balance In Hemiparetic Individuals Post-Stroke: A Systematic Review, Van Tran, Mauricio Calvo, Valerie Fairley

DPT Capstones

Objective: Common residual impairments of the lower extremity following a stroke include hemiparesis, inability or difficulty with walking, decreased walking speed, or decreased balance with ambulation. Mirror therapy is a recognized intervention for stroke rehabilitation that aims to facilitate functional motor recovery of a paretic limb. The purpose of this review was to evaluate the effectiveness of mirror therapy in combination with conventional stroke rehabilitation interventions on lower extremity function, gait and balance in hemiparetic individuals recovering from stroke.

Methods: A systematic search of the current literature was performed using MEDLINE, PEDro and PubMed to identify studies concerning mirror therapy …

Effectiveness Of Physical Therapy And/Or Music Therapy On Enhancing Motor Skills In Children With Asd: A Systematic Review, Julia Reagan, Lauren Zoller, Michelle Brown

DPT Capstones

Objective: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a diagnosis that encompasses severa ldevelopmental disorders which present with neurological impairments, developmental delays, and correlates to increased motor dysfunction. Research to date has shown success with the use of music therapy and physical therapy treatment in the ASD population. However, further investigation needs to be conducted to determine which of these treatment options is most effective. The purpose of this systematic review is to explore if music therapy alone, physical therapy alone, or a combination of music therapy and physical therapy elicits the greatest benefit to enhance gross motor skills in children with …

Covid-19 Restrictions Decreased Dpt Students’ Health Outcomes, Asha Marchant, Natalie Quesnel, Anja Parikh

DPT Capstones

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has presented increased constraints on physical activity leading to the adoption of more sedentary lifestyles for populations worldwide, including graduate students. The detrimental effects of a sedentary lifestyle include increasing the risk for cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular (CV) disease has conventionally been a pathology associated with older adults, but recent evidence has shown that younger individuals are developing CV issues. The COVID-19 restrictions created an additional barrier furthering graduate students’ sedentary lifestyles and possibly increasing their risk for cardiovascular disease.

Purpose: The purpose of the present study is to determine the effects of COVID-19 restrictions on The …

Comparison Of Treadmill Training For Individuals Post-Cerebrovascular Accident In Normalizing Reciprocal Gait And Improving Balance: A Systematic Review, Gregory Bell, Kayla Harrell, Alex Loya, Nora Salgado

DPT Capstones

Background. Optimizing rehabilitation techniques for patients with chronic stroke remains an ongoing effort. Previous research has yet to synthesize the effectiveness of underwater treadmill training (UTT) and body weight supported treadmill training (BWSTT) for improving common impairments in balance and gait.

Purpose. The purpose of this review was to compare the effectiveness of UTT in helping to normalize reciprocal gait pattern and improve balance compared to BWSTT in patients with chronic cerebrovascular accidents (CVA).

Data Sources. CINAHL, Medline, PubMed, and Embase databases were searched over a period of several months from October of 2020 through March of 2021.

Study Selection. …

Implicit Bias Regarding Race In Physical Therapist Students: A Mixed Method Study, Brianna Dawkins, Joseph Kennerly

DPT Capstones

Introduction: Bias is defined as a tendency to show favor for or against something or someone; bias can be implicit or explicit. When their implicit biases are left unchecked, healthcare practitioners are more likely to negatively affect patient health outcomes. The purposes of this study were to examine implicit racial bias among physical therapist students, and explore their perspectives about how cultural competency content regarding race and ethnicity could be improved in their current education program.

Methods: Thirty-three students from the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program at The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) completed a pre-Implicit Association …

Examining Grit And Social Capital In First-Generation And Continuing Generation Students In A Doctor Of Physical Therapy Program, Maria Isabel Avila

DPT Capstones

Background and Purpose: Decreasing educational disparities experienced by minorities is an important step toward improving diversity in healthcare. The purposes of this study were to identify if grit or social capital is related to Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) student success, and to identify if First Generation College Students (FGCSs) have different levels of grit and social capital compared to their Continuing Generation College Student (CGCS) peers.

Subjects: Participants were 1st, 4th, and 7th-semester students in the 9-semester DPT Program at The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) in summer 2020.

Methods: This was an exploratory, non-experimental study employing …

Does Exergaming Improve Physical And Mental Health Outcomes For Individuals Living With Severe Mental Illness Compared To Traditional Treatment: A Systematic Review, David González, James Walther

DPT Capstones

Background: Physical activity improves physiological and psychological health outcomes. Increased research has been dedicated to the effect of physical activity through active video game play. Limited studies have explored active video game play in people diagnosed with severe mental illness (SMI). The term “exergaming” is relatively new but describes the current body of research studies that employ active video game play in lieu of traditional exercise. This review focuses on finding the most current available evidence exploring the effects of physical activity through exergaming on the physical and psychiatric health outcomes of people with SMI.

Methods: Articles across 6 databases …

Ultrasound Imaging Can Surrogate Mechanical Skinfold Calipers Assessing Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue And Body Fat Mass When A Standardized Protocol Is Used, Angel Rodriguez, Sebastian Lopez

DPT Capstones

Purpose: The purpose of this study is two-fold: 1) to determine the agreement between ultrasound (US) imaging and mechanical skinfold (SF) caliper measurements using a standardized protocol and 2) to determine the agreement between SF caliper and US imaging inestimating total body fat mass and percent body fat mass using anthropometric formulas for body composition.

Methods: The present study has a repeated measures design where 2 independent testers measured 8 SFs using a mechanical caliper and US imaging, respectively, on 49 volunteers (24 males and 25 females). Anthropometric protocol followed the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry’s (ISAK) standardization …

Efficacy Of 4-D Smart Wireless Motion Sensors For Analysis Of Gait: A Pilot Study, Juan Torres, Jonathan Britton

DPT Capstones

Background: Wearable technology has become a widely utilized method of objective data collection in healthcare. Several barriers currently exist that are limiting their clinical utility. 4-D Smart Wireless Motion Sensors (4-D SWMS) have been developed to offer a less obtrusive wireless sensor that can be used in a variety of settings. The addition of machine learning to captured motion sensor data has the ability to improve classification accuracy in the analysis of gait.

Purpose: The purpose of this pilot study is to determine whether the 4-D SWMS are sensitive enough to accurately differentiate normal gait parameters in healthy individuals.

Methods: …

Effects Of Neuromuscular Interventions Utilizing External Biofeedback Apparatuses On The Risk And Incidence Of Second Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries: A Systematic Review., Marisa Olmo, Rebecca Sharp

DPT Capstones

STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is a common orthopedic condition with an estimated rate of 20,000 to 600,000 injuries in the US per year, with higher incidences in athletic and female populations. The rate of re-injury following surgical ACL repair (ACLR)ranges between 13.8-33.3%. Current clinical practice guidelines for ACLR rehabilitation cite inconclusive evidence for definitive outcome measures that accurately determine successful return to sport (RTS). There is a need to establish more effective avenues of rehabilitation interventions to decrease the rate of reinjury, particularly in female athletes. Recent evidence suggests interventions utilizing external biofeedback apparatuses …

Acute Hemodynamic Responses In Women Older Than 40 Years Old Following Resistance Training With Blood Flow Restriction Compared To Resistance Training Alone: A Systematic Review, Larissa Castro, Roger Castro, Michelle Constante, Seles Lerma

DPT Capstones

Introduction: Blood flow restriction (BFR) is a novel training method that has gained recent popularity given the benefits and similar results to resistance training (RT) with lower intensities. The authors of this systematic review sought to determine the acute hemodynamic effects of BFR plus RT compared to RT alone in women over 40 years old.

Methods: The databases searched included Pubmed, EBSCO (Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINHAL), SPORTDiscuss, Medline, Academic Search Complete) and Cochrane. Keywords utilized included BFR, occlusion therapy, female, older female, women, older women, RT, hemodynamic, blood pressure, and the boolean phrase utilized was …

Traditional Physical Therapy Versus Traditional Physical Therapy Plus Pain Education For Treatment Of Chronic Neck Pain: A Systematic Review, Jesus Gabriel Altamiranda Molina, Adrian Joshua Llañez, Oscar Martinez, Collin Wigely

DPT Capstones

Objectives: Chronic neck pain, or neck pain that endures for longer than three months, is a very common musculoskeletal condition that affects a large number of individuals annually. Traditional physical therapy interventions used to treat this condition often include manual therapy techniques and neck specific exercises. Pain neuroscience education, which focuses on the pathophysiology of pain, is a method used to treat chronic pain conditions. The purpose of this systematic review is to determine whether the addition of pain neuroscience education techniques to traditional physical therapy interventions improves patient outcomes in those with chronic neck pain.

Methods: An electronic search …

The Effects Of A 6-Week Controlled Whole-Body Vibration Training Program In Reducing Falls Risk Among Healthy Older Adults, Fabricio Saucedo Jr.

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Falling is the second leading cause of accidental or injury-related death in the aging population worldwide and a leading cause of serious injury. Whole-body vibration (WBV) training has been implemented as a way to improve functional performance among the elderly and reduce the falls risk. The purposes of this study were: 1) examine to what extent a six-week course of WBV training reduced falls risk and improved fall outcomes in response to slips, and 2) examine whether the benefits of WBV training could be retained at least 2 months after the completion of the entire training session. A total of …

Organic Photovoltaics: A Charge Transfer Perspective In The Study Of Donor-Acceptor Pairs, Marco Olguin

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The present research involves the study of donor-acceptor (D/A) dyad complexes from a charge transfer energy perspective. The aim is to provide insight and predictive understanding into the charge transfer processes of the molecular-level components in donor-acceptor based organic solar cells using computational methods to describe photochemical processes at the quantum mechanical level within the Density Functional Theory (DFT) approximation. Predictive understanding is anchored in reproducing experimental results, wherein the present work a perturbative excited-state DFT method is described in detail and shown to give CT energies in excellent agreement with benchmark experimental data. With an accurate excited state method …