The Relationship Between Blood Flow And Motor Unit Firing Rates In Response To Fatiguing Exercise Post-Stroke, Spencer Murphy, Matthew J. Durand, Francesco Negro, Dario Farina, Sandra K. Hunter, Brian D. Schmit, David D. Gutterman, Allison S. Hyngstrom

Exercise Science Faculty Research and Publications

We quantified the relationship between the change in post-contraction blood flow with motor unit firing rates and metrics of fatigue during intermittent, sub-maximal fatiguing contractions of the knee extensor muscles after stroke. Ten chronic stroke survivors (>1-year post-stroke) and nine controls participated. Throughout fatiguing contractions, the discharge timings of individual motor units were identified by decomposition of high-density surface EMG signals. After five consecutive contractions, a blood flow measurement through the femoral artery was obtained using an ultrasound machine and probe designed for vascular measurements. There was a greater increase of motor unit firing rates from the beginning of …

Self-Report Participation Of Physical Activity Outside Of School On Rate Of Motor Skills Development In Elementary Students, Maritza Cuevas, Kara Lynn Boynewicz Dr., Brandi Eveland-Sayers Dr.

Undergraduate Honors Theses

In this research project, the question of why some younger children appear to have better motor skills than older children is investigated. The hypothesis proposed is that children involved in physical activities after school or in the evenings have better motor skills at younger ages than children who are not involved in physical activities outside of school. Young children have very varied levels of motor skills competency that have developed due to living in different environments and having varied opportunity to be physically active. These differences are a result of factors like socioeconomic status, parental influence, climate, culture, etc.1 Sports …

Volumetric Muscle Loss: The Role Of Physical Activity And Autologous Repair On Force Recovery And Signaling Pathways, Richard Perry

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Volumetric muscle loss affects both military and civilian persons. The hallmark of this injury is incomplete muscle regeneration, excessive fibrosis, and chronic inflammatory signaling resulting in permanent functional loss. Since permanent functional loss drastically reduces quality of life, many studies have been conducted to improve force recovery. Current scientific literature considers a repair strategy of either devitalized scaffolds infused with growth factors or viable tissue plus activating factors to be the more promising interventions for optimal force recovery. PURPOSE The purpose of this study is to incorporate autologous repair and physical activity and observe the effects of muscle force recovery …

Executive Function And Motor Skills In Preschool Children, Meggin Kelley

Undergraduate Distinction Papers

The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of a short-term motor program on the executive function and motor skills in preschool children utilizing a Pretest and Post test design. The present study was designed with two periods of program intervention- once in the fall and once in the spring. It was hypothesized that a 10-week motor intervention would demonstrate positive motor and executive function gains in the experimental (motor) group. Children ranging from 4 to 6 years of age participated in this study. Baseline motor and executive function scores were obtained during the Pretest phase. Subsequently, …

Responsiveness Of The Promis And Its Concurrent Validity With Other Region- And Condition-Specific Proms In Patients Undergoing Carpal Tunnel Release, David N. Bernstein, Jeff R. Houck, Bilal Mahmood, Warren C. Hammert

Faculty Publications - College of Physical Therapy

Background

The Patient-reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) continues to be an important universal patient-reported outcomes measure (PROM) in orthopaedic surgery. However, there is concern about the performance of the PROMIS as a general health questionnaire in hand surgery compared with the performance of region- and condition-specific PROMs such as the Michigan Hand Questionnaire (MHQ) and the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ), respectively. To ensure that PROMIS domains capture patient-reported outcomes to the same degree as region- and condition-specific PROMs do, comparing PROM performance is necessary.

Questions/purposes

(1) Which PROMs demonstrate high responsiveness among patients undergoing carpal tunnel release (CTR)? …

How Professional Physical Therapist Education Programs Develop Cultural Competence Within Their Students: An Exploratory Concurrent Mixed Methods Study, Dustin E. Domingo

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this exploratory concurrent mixed methods study was to describe experiences that shape the factors of cultural intelligence (CQ) as perceived by students of professional physical therapist education programs. In addition, it was the purpose of this study to determine whether any particular factor of cultural intelligence influenced one’s overall cultural competence according to the cultural competence continuum by Cross et al. (1989).

Methodology: Students in a professional physical therapist education program completed a questionnaire, which included Likert scale questions, open ended questions, and a 37-item self-assessment based on the expanded cultural intelligence scale by Van Dyne …

Exploring The Outcomes Of Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy To Treat Urinary Incontinence 2 Years Post Prostatectomy: A Retrospective Case Report, Kathleen T. O'Loughlin

Research Days

Background and Purpose: The purpose of this poster is to investigate the effects of pelvic floor physical therapy (PFPT) on urinary incontinence (UI) in an individual 2 years post radical prostatectomy (RP). This information is essential to developing a body of literature guides future treatment of men in this patient population.

Case Description: The subject was a 57-year-old male with UI and pelvic floor hypertonicity 2 years post RP secondary to prostate cancer. He was treated in an outpatient physical therapy clinic using PFPT for a total of 7 weeks.

Outcomes: The resting tone of the subject’s pelvic floor muscles …

The Use Of Mechanical Diagnosis And Treatment And Physical Therapy Intervention In A 31-Year-Old Female With Low Back Pain After A Motor Vehicle Accident: A Retrospective Case Report, Brianna Fields

Research Days

ABSTRACT

Background/Purpose: Over 2 million people in the United States are injured each year in motor vehicle accidents (MVA) and experience subsequent low back pain (LBP). The purpose of this retrospective case report is to present the evidence and clinical reasoning behind a Mechanical Diagnosis and Treatment (MDT)-based physical therapy plan of care for a patient with LBP post-MVA.

Case Description: The patient was a 31-year-old African-American female with LBP after a MVA. The patient’s goals for physical therapy were to reduce pain with functional activities such as sitting, standing, walking, and return to pain-free function in duties …

Physical Therapy Clinical Decision Making, Intervention, And Outcomes Of A Patient With Cervicogenic Dizziness: A Retrospective Case Report, Melissa Koehl, Roberta O'Shea

Research Days

Background and Purpose: Cervicogenic dizziness (CGD) is believed to be a result of altered proprioception secondary to cervical spine pain and/or dysfunction.^..There currently are no validated clinical tests or clinical prediction rules to accurately identify CGD, however, there are published physical therapy clinical decision-making guidelines available. This retrospective case report describes the use of published guidelines to aid clinical decision-making regarding the physical therapy examination, interventions, and outcomes of a patient with CGD.

Case Description: The patient was a 66-year old woman referred to PT with the medical diagnosis of dizziness. A detailed history and thorough …

A Resistance Exercise Set For A Total Body Workout For Adults With Intellectual Disabilities, A Pilot Study, Thessa Hilgenkamp, Stijn Weterings, Alyt Oppewal, Florien M. M. Van Eeden

Physical Therapy Faculty Research

Background: Resistance training has beneficial effects on fitness levels, cardiovascu‐lar disease risk, risk of sarcopenia and on performing activities of daily living. The focus of this study is to design a total body resistance exercise set for adults with intellectual disabilities (RESID) with minimal equipment required and to test its feasibility. Method: The RESID was selected in an expert meeting, and its feasibility was deter‐mined in a cross‐sectional pilot study. The feasibility was determined with comple‐tion rate, correct execution of exercises and the participant’s experience. Results: The expert group (n = 7) selected seven exercises for the RESID. The partici‐pants …

A Visual Exploration Of Walking In Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (Mtbi), Bryana Popa

OHSU-PSU School of Public Health Annual Conference

Visual exploration of the environment is vital for safe and effective walking, and is influenced by cognitive load. Eye movement deficits can occur following mTBI and may impact visual exploration when walking, leading to issues with mobility. This study aims to examine visual exploration when walking under single and dual-task in mTBI and controls.

Sixteen people with mTBI (Age: 30.1±12.8 yrs, days since injury: 39.5±21.7) and 10 healthy controls (Age: 26.3±5.2 yrs) walked for 1 minute while wearing a mobile eye tracker under single and dual-task conditions. The primary outcome was visual exploration measured by saccade frequency (sacc/sec). Secondary outcomes …

Can Preseason Performance Tests Discriminate Injury Risk In Female Collegiate Volleyball Players, Justine Benner, Heidi Cooke, Colby Critchfield, Samantha Dunn, Sarah Eddy, Linda Froemming

Student-Faculty Research - College of Physical Therapy

Purpose: Prior research has demonstrated a 4-fold greater risk of a non-contact time-loss lower quadrant injury in collegiate female VB players (3). The purpose of this study was to validate effectiveness of functional performance tests to discriminate injury risk in female collegiate volleyball players.

Effects Of Sleep Hygiene In The Hospital, Tina Bhakta, Paxton Arsenault, Maya Ahluwalia, Rachel Coats

Occupational Therapy Student Research Posters

Research poster by UNE Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy students investigating the definition of and recommendations for good sleep hygiene, the limitations of the hospital setting on attainment of sleep hygiene, and the benefits of sleep hygiene for hospital patients.

Validity Of The Early Activity Scale For Endurance And The 6-Minute Walk Test For Children With Cerebral Palsy., Alyssa Laforme Fiss, Lynn Jeffries, Allison Yocum, Sarah Westcott Mccoy, On Track Study Team

Physical Therapy Publications

PURPOSE: This study aimed to describe Early Activity Scale for Endurance (EASE) scores and 6-minute walk test (6MWT) distances of children with cerebral palsy (CP) by functional ability level, sex, and age and to examine the convergent validity of the 2 tests.

METHODS: A total of 708 participants with CP, Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels I to V, completed the EASE, and 376 of the study participants (3-12years), GMFCS levels I to III, completed the 6MWT.

RESULTS: Children with CP vary in EASE scores and 6MWT distances based on GMFCS level and, to a lesser extent, age. The …

Longitudinal Trajectories And Reference Centiles For The Impact Of Health Conditions On Daily Activities Of Children With Cerebral Palsy., Doreen J Bartlett, Jan Willem Gorter, Lynn M Jeffries, Lisa Avery, Steven E Hanna, On Track Study Team

Physical Therapy Publications

AIM: First, to describe the impact of health conditions on daily activities over time in children with cerebral palsy (CP) and to create age-specific reference centiles. Second, to determine the amount of change typical over a 1-year period, across Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels.

METHOD: A prospective, cohort design, with five assessments over 2 years, involved 708 children with a confirmed diagnosis of CP participating in the On Track Study (396 males, 312 females; mean age 6y [SD 2y 7mo]; range 18mo-12y at first assessment; 32.1% in GMFCS level I, 22.7% in GMFCS level II, 11.2% in GMFCS …

Risk Factors For Falls In Individuals With Lower Extremity Amputations During The Pre-Prosthetic Phase: A Retrospective Cohort Study, Kimberly Vu, Michael W C Payne, Susan W. Hunter, Ricardo Viana

Physical Therapy Publications

BACKGROUND: Falls in individuals with lower limb amputations (LLAs) pose significant health concerns. The literature is limited regarding falls during the preprosthetic phase of rehabilitation for persons with LLAs.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of falls and identify factors associated with falls during the preprosthetic recovery phase.

DESIGN: Retrospective chart audit.

SETTING: Inpatient rehabilitation program.

PARTICIPANTS: Four hundred forty individuals with LLAs (age ± SD = 61.93 ± 14.53 years, 73.18% male) who attended inpatient rehabilitation from 26 July 2011 to 21 August 2017.

INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: The number of self-reported falls was recorded from the time …

Intensive Balance Training For Adults With Incomplete Spinal Cord Injuries: Protocol For An Assessor-Blinded Randomized Clinical Trial., Janelle Unger, Katherine Chan, Carol Y Scovil, B Catharine Craven, Avril Mansfield, Kei Masani, Kristin E Musselman

Physical Therapy Publications

BACKGROUND: Impaired reactive balance control can lead to increased falls in people with neurological impairments. Perturbation-based balance training (PBT), which involves repetitive exposure to destabilizing external perturbations, improves the ability to take reactive steps in older adults and individuals who have had a stroke.

OBJECTIVE: The objective is to investigate whether PBT or conventional intensive balance training (CIBT) results in greater improvements in reactive stepping ability in individuals with chronic incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI).

DESIGN: The design consists of an assessor-blind randomized clinical trial comparing the efficacy of 2 balance training programs (PBT and CIBT) matched for training duration …

Do Patient Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (Promis) Scales Demonstrate Responsiveness As Well As Disease-Specific Scales In Patients Undergoing Knee Arthroscopy?, Raymond J. Kenney, Jeff Houck, Brian D. Giordano, Judith F. Baumhauer, Meghan Herbert, Michael D. Maloney

Faculty Publications - College of Physical Therapy

Background: The Patient Reported Outcomes Information System (PROMIS) is an efficient metric able to detect changes in global health. Purpose: To assess the responsiveness, convergent validity, and clinically important difference (CID) of PROMIS compared with disease-specific scales after knee arthroscopy. Study Design: Cohort study (Diagnosis); Level of evidence, 2.

Methods: A prospective institutional review board–approved study collected PROMIS Physical Function (PF), PROMIS Pain Interference (PI), International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC), and Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) results in patients undergoing knee arthroscopy. The change from preoperative to longest follow-up was used in analyses performed to determine responsiveness, convergent …

The Pairing Of Trigger Point Dry Needling With Rehabilitation Techniques, Karle Kotze

Senior Honors Theses

Trigger point dry needling is a manual treatment modality used for individuals experiencing tightness, pain, and inhibited range of motion in any region of the body. Dry needling can be described as the insertion of a blunt, microfilament non-medicated needle into the skin for the purpose of targeting specific muscles, which contain tight bands known as trigger points. When the needle is inserted into the trigger point the muscle contracts, holds tight to the needle, and elicits a neural twitch response. This ultimately causes the muscle to relax, allowing for reduction in pain and improvements in range of motion. Although …

Does Weight Status Impact Metabolic Health In Adolescents When Controlling For Physical Fitness?, Stacy Stolzman, Joseph Skelton, April L. Harkins, Marie K. Hoeger Bement

Physical Therapy Faculty Research and Publications

Purpose:

To determines whether adolescents who are fit with overweight/obesity are similar in their metabolic profile to adolescents who are fit and normal weight.

Methods:

Adolescents participated in 3 sessions: (1) resting vitals and anthropometrics; (2) maximal aerobic treadmill test () to determine physical fitness; and (3) dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and fasting laboratory draw for analysis of insulin, glucose, high-density lipoprotein, triglycerides, and C-reactive protein.

Results:

Of the 30 fit adolescents who are normal weight and 16 adolescents who are fit and overweight/obese (OW/OB), metabolic syndrome was apparent in 1 adolescent who are normal weight and 4 adolescents who are …

Oscillations In Neural Drive And Age-Related Reductions In Force Steadiness With A Cognitive Challenge, Hugo M. Pereira, Bonnie A. Schlinder-Delap Mrs., Kevin G. Keenan, Francesco Negro, Dario Farina, Allison S. Hyngstrom, Kristy A. Nielson, Sandra K. Hunter

Exercise Science Faculty Research and Publications

A cognitive challenge when imposed during a low-force isometric contraction will exacerbate sex- and age-related decreases in force steadiness, but the mechanism is not known. We determined the role of oscillations in the common synaptic input to motor units on force steadiness during a muscle contraction with a concurrent cognitive challenge. Forty-nine young adults (19–30 yr; 25 women, 24 men) and 36 old adults (60–85 yr; 19 women, 17 men) performed a cognitive challenge (counting backward by 13) during an isometric elbow flexion task at 5% of maximal voluntary contraction. Single-motor units were decomposed from high-density surface EMG recordings. For …

The Effect Of A Portable Electrical Muscle Stimulation Device At Home On Muscle Strength And Activation Patterns In Locomotive Syndrome Patients: A Randomized Control Trial, Yuichi Nishikawa, Kohei Watanabe, Shuhei Kawade, Tetsuya Takahashi, Hiroaki Kimura, Hirofumi Maruyama, Allison S. Hyngstrom

Physical Therapy Faculty Research and Publications

The aim of the present study was to quantify the effect of electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) intervention using a portable device on muscle strength and activation patterns in locomotive syndrome. Nineteen women were randomly assigned to the intervention group (n = 10; age = 71–82 years) and control group (n = 9; age = 70–84 years). Participants in the intervention group used a portable EMS device to stimulate the bilateral quadriceps muscles for 8 weeks (23 min/5 days/week). To understand the effects of EMS, the following measurements were made at baseline, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks: locomotive syndrome assessment score, …

Fatiguing Trunk Flexor Exercise Decreases Pain Sensitivity In Postpartum Women, Rita Deering, Tatyana Pashibin, Meredith Cruz, Sandra K. Hunter, Marie K. Hoeger Bement

Physical Therapy Faculty Research and Publications

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is common in the general population and among postpartum women. Abdominal muscle exercise is often used to treat LBP, but it is unknown if fatiguing abdominal muscle exercise can produce exercise-induced hypoalgesia (EIH).

Objectives: To assess pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) at rest and following fatiguing trunk flexor exercise (EIH) in (1) nulligravid and postpartum women to evaluate the impact of pregnancy and childbirth and (2) nulligravid women and men to examine sex differences.

Methods: Seventy healthy adults (31 postpartum women, 23 nulligravid women, 16 men) participated. Postpartum and nulligravid women were tested twice (16–18 weeks …

Rehabilitation Protocols For Total Hip Replacement Patients: A Comparison Of Research And Practicing Physical Therapists, Austin C. Eubanks

Honors College Theses

Keeping procedures and recovery techniques current with new research is expected of the health professions. The main purpose of this study will be to compare the difference of opinion and implementation of recovery techniques, specifically full body weight bearing exercises, between physical therapists and current research in regards to a total hip replacement. By using a questionnaire created from the Eulenburg study (2015), Physical Therapists will record their own personal answers and opinions for the postop hip replacement recovery period. Information that will be gathered from this research will be beneficial for future practices to easily see if practicing Physical …

Quantifying Physical And Psychological Outcomes After Periprosthetic Femoral Fracture In Older Adults, Rifat Islam, Brent Lanting, Susan Hunter, Somerville Lyndsay

Western Research Forum

Background: Total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are common and effective treatments for osteoarthritis. Falls risk is increased after these surgeries due to age, proprioceptive changes and leg weakness. One devastating consequence of falling after these surgeries, both functionally and psychologically, is a peri-prosthetic femoral fracture (PFF). Existing research on PFF has focused on surgical management and not the functional or psychological impacts to the person after this injury.

Hypothesis/Objectives: The study objectives are: 1) To evaluate the subjective and objective functional and psychological outcomes after sustaining a PFF, and 2) to estimate the prevalence of falls …

Improving The Quality Of Consumer Health Information On Wikipedia: Case Series., Shira Schecter Weiner, Jill S. Horbacewicz, Lane Rasberry, Yocheved Bensinger-Brody

The School of Health Sciences Publications and Research

BACKGROUND: Wikipedia is one of the most consulted health resources in the world. Since the public is using health information from Wikipedia to make health care decisions, improving the quality of that health information is in the public interest. The open editable content design of Wikipedia and quality control processes in place provide an opportunity to add high-value, evidence-based information and take an active role in improving the health care information infrastructure.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this project was to enhance Wikipedia health pages using high-quality, current research findings and track the persistence of those edits and number of page …

Biomechanical Characteristics Of Lumbar Manipulation Performed By Expert, Resident, And Student Physical Therapists, Joseph M. Derian, Jo Armour Smith, Yue Wang, Wilson Lam, Kornelia Kulig

Physical Therapy Faculty Articles and Research

Background

Lumbar manipulation is a commonly used treatment for low back pain, but little research evidence exists regarding practitioner biomechanics during manipulation. Most existing evidence describes rate of force production through the hands into instrumented manikins and it is unclear how the practitioner moves their body and legs to generate this force.

Objectives

To identify and characterize important kinetic and kinematic factors in practitioners of varying experience performing lumbar manipulation in order to identify which factors distinguish experts from less experienced practitioners.

Study design

This was a cohort observational laboratory study.

Methods

43 male physical therapists (PT) and PT students …

Temporal Step Coordination While Walking With A Single-Point Cane, Monica Barajas

UNO Student Research and Creative Activity Fair

TEMPORAL STEP COORDINATION WHILE WALKING WITH A SINGLE-POINT CANE

Monica Barajas, Russel Buffum, Tyler Hamer, Brian A. Knarr

University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE

Stroke is the primary cause of long-term adult disability in the United States. Some physical limitations that a stroke survivor may encounter are foot drop, unilateral muscle weakness, limited coordination and muscle movement, among other effects that may directly affect gait. To address weakness and poor coordination post-stroke, a cane is commonly used. While a cane can help with balance, coordinating steps with an additional device can prove difficult to learn and may alter natural …

Left Achilles Tendon Rupture In A Male Collegiate Soccer Player, Benjamin Welch

UNO Student Research and Creative Activity Fair

ABSTRACT

Objective: To present the case of an Achilles tendon rupture including surgical repair and rehabilitation in a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I, male, soccer athlete.

Background: While attempting to perform a backflip following a match victory, the athlete jumped up and experienced a gunshot sound and feeling on his posterior, distal, left leg. On-field evaluation included a positive Thompson Test for Achilles tendon (AT) rupture. Post injury imaging revealed a coinciding diagnosis.

Differential Diagnosis: AT strain, calcaneal fracture, fibula fracture, Shepard’s fracture

Treatment: Open surgery technique to repair the tear followed by rehabilitation protocol beginning with rest and …

Patellar Tendonopathy In Collegiate Volleyball Athletes, Justine Benner, Heidi Cooke, Colby Critchfield, Samantha Dunn, Sarah Eddy, Linda Foremming

Student-Faculty Research - College of Physical Therapy

Purpose: The first purpose was to identify the prevalence of patellar tendon abnormality in female collegiate volleyball players. The second purpose was to identify a potential association between kinetic measures during the drop vertical jump between those with tendon abnormality and those without in female collegiate volleyball athletes