Physical Therapy Commons^™

Association Of Disease Outcomes With Physical Activity In Multiple Sclerosis: A Cross-Sectional Study, Trinh L T Huynh, Stephanie L Silveira, Brenda Jeng, Robert W Motl

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose/Objective Research: This study examined combinations of disease outcomes (i.e., walking, cognition, and symptoms) as correlates of physical activity subgroups (insufficiently active vs. sufficiently active) in persons with multiple sclerosis (MS).

RESEARCH METHOD/DESIGN: This study included 213 participants who completed walking and cognitive function tests and self-report measures of symptoms and physical activity. Multivariate analysis of variance and discriminant function analysis identified combinations of MS outcomes associated with physical activity.

RESULTS: The sample had a mean age of 49.6 years (

CONCLUSION/IMPLICATIONS: The findings identified walking endurance and limitations, processing speed, depression, and fatigue as primary correlates of physical activity …

Barriers To Exercise And Physical Activity - Insight From The Rural Practitioner, Erin G. Tillery

Honors College Theses

Sedentary lifestyles are a growing public health concern. Furthermore, many rural Americans lack adequate access to healthcare resources. When healthcare is sought, the patient-practitioner interactions may serve to influence the patient’s lifestyle choices. The practitioners' exercise and physical activity habits may shape the effectiveness of the patient-practitioners interaction. Here, we explored the potential barriers to exercise and physical activity (PA) in licensed physical and occupational therapists. In addition, we aimed to describe barriers to exercise and PA in individuals with a history of stroke from the perspective of the practitioner. Lastly, how current exercise and physical activity habits influence their …

Increasing Utilization Of Otago Fall Prevention Program By Nevada Physical Therapists: A Service-Learning Project, Jared Apostol, Erica Mooy Brown, Danielle Uptain

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Otago is an evidence-based program that is designed to reduce falls in community dwelling older adults by individualizing an exercise program with three key components: strength, balance, and a walking program. Unfortunately, Nevada clinicians do not utilize the program frequently or entirely with patients in outpatient and/or home health physical therapy. Evidence shows it reduces fall risk, but it has barriers to implementation in the United States. The barriers to integration are primarily due to the plan of care that stems from a 12-month timeframe and several phone call appointments which does not fit well in the American healthcare system. …

Effects Of A Remote Exercise Intervention On Aerobic Endurance In Individuals With Down Syndrome, Andrew Murata, Elena Wolf, Jonathan Crimm, Benjamin Lee

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Purpose: Down syndrome (Ds) or Trisomy 21 is a common genetic birth condition, and those with Ds typically display decreased cardiorespiratory fitness compared to those without Ds, potentially leading to an increased risk for cardiovascular conditions and mortality. Low cardiorespiratory fitness is partially caused by low physical activity levels in this population. The COVID-19 pandemic caused community-based activity programs to shut down, as individuals with Ds are at increased risk for COVID-19 hospitalization and death. Thus, it was vital to explore alternatives of in-person exercise during the pandemic. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a …

Effects Of A 12-Week Telehealth Exercise Intervention On Gait Speed And Gait Deviations In Adults With Down Syndrome, Robert Lum, Taylor Souza, Christopher Roys, Daniel Stopka

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Background: Down syndrome (Ds) is associated with impairments affecting overall motor development including gait pattern and speed. Research on the effects of exercise on adults with Ds is lacking. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of a 12-week telehealth exercise program on gait impairments in adults with Ds.

Methods: Twenty participants performed a 12-week telehealth exercise program based upon a diagnosis-specific procedure developed by Sarah Mann, PT, DPT. Gait deviations were assessed with the Ranchos Los Amigos Observational Gait Analysis. Comfortable gait speed was evaluated with the 4-meter walk test.

Results: Improvements in comfortable gait speed …

The Effects Of A Telehealth Exercise Intervention On Balance In Adults With Down Syndrome, Mark Barton, Kristina Guerrero, Andrew Martinez, Alexandria Umagat

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Background: People with Down syndrome (Ds) often present with balance deficits, which compromise their safety during daily activity. While evidence shows that exercise can improve balance in the Ds population, it is unclear if a telehealth method will elicit similar benefits. We aimed to examine the effects of a virtual exercise program on balance in adults with Ds.

Methods: Twenty participants completed a 12-week telehealth exercise program based on the Mann Method. Balance testing took place before and after the intervention, which included: Timed Up and Go (TUG), Modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction in Balance (MCTSIB), Frailty and Injuries: …

The Use Of Mobility And Medication On Patient’S Perception Of Pain In Hospitalized Patients With Chronic Back Pain Benchmark Study, Katherine E. Zaske Merenda Mrs., Katherine Merenda

MSN Capstone Projects

According to Boss & Huether, twenty-nine percent of Americans have been diagnosed with chronic low back pain (CLBP). This pain can affect every part of their lives leading to lost wages and decreased quality of life. CLBP is an issue experienced by many hospitalized patients. These patients may not be able to mitigate their pain as they normally would due to safety protocols in hospital settings. Exercise or mobility has been shown to decrease a person’s perception of pain. The importance of exercise and mobility in a hospital setting to help decrease a patient’s perception of pain needs further research. …

Muscle-Specific Contributions To Lower Extremity Net Joint Moments While Squatting With Different External Loads, Kristof Kipp, Hoon Kim, William I. Wolf

Exercise Science Faculty Research and Publications

The purpose of this study was to determine muscle-specific contributions to lower extremity net joint moments (NJMs) during squats with different external loads. Nine healthy subjects performed sets of the back squat exercise with 0, 25, 50, and 75% of body mass as an added external load. Motion capture and force plate data were used to calculate NJMs and to estimate individual muscle forces via static optimization. Individual muscle forces were multiplied by their respective moment arms to calculate the resulting muscle-specific joint moment. Statistical parametric mapping (α = 0.05) was used to determine load-dependent changes in the time series …

Does Exercise Decrease The Level Of Anxiety In Adults?, Alexa N. Wister

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

 Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not “Does exercise decrease the level of anxiety in adults?”

Study Design: A systematic review of three randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that were peer reviewed and published between 2016 and 2020.

Data Sources: All articles were published in peer-reviewed journals. Two of the RCTs were researched using Pubmed and one RCT was found using Academic Search Premier, AMED. All studies were selected based on applicability to the clinical question presented in the objective, and if the researched outcomes were patient oriented.

Outcome Measured: A reduction in anxiety …

Is Exercise Effective In Improving The Cognitive And Behavioral Executive Functions In Children Diagnosed With Adhd?, Cara Scatena

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine “Is exercise effective in improving the cognitive and behavioral functions in children diagnosed with ADHD?”

Study Design: A systematic review of three randomized control trials (RCTs). All three of these studies were published between 2011 and 2016.

Data Sources: All three of the RCTs were found using PubMed. All of the studies were published in English in peer-reviewed journals and selected based on their relevance to the clinical question.

Outcome Measured: The outcome measured in these studies is the measurable improvement in executive functions related to the effects of …

Physical Activity Interventions In Children With Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: A Systematic Review Of Randomized Controlled Trials, Maura D. Iversen, Marie Andre, Johan Von Heideken

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

Introduction: Children with juvenile arthritis (JA) experience pain, stiffness, fatigue, and decreased motion leading to difficulties with daily activities and low physical activity (PA). PA is critical to improve health and function and mitigate JA-associated symptoms. This study evaluated the evidence for PA interventions in children with JA.

Materials and methods: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of PA interventions in children with JA was conducted. Ovid (Medline), Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and CINAHL databases were searched for papers published in English between 1/1/1946 and 9/1/2021. Studies which concurrently assessed medical interventions were excluded. Participant and intervention characteristics and …

Perceived Exercise Habits Of Individuals With Parkinson’S Disease Living In The Community, Jordana Lockwich, Kate Schwartzkopf-Phifer, Camille L. Skubik-Peplaski, Richard D. Andreatta, Patrick H. Kitzman

Communication Sciences and Disorders Faculty Publications

Context

Exercise has been shown to improve gait in individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Stepping practice at higher intensity levels has been suggested as a beneficial treatment option to improve gait in the neurological population. Unfortunately, this mode is poorly understood and underutilized within the PD population. Information on what individuals with PD are doing for exercise would be beneficial to help tailor exercise programs to improve gait and provide exercise options in the community for intensity-based exercise.

Objective

To investigate the current exercise habits of individuals living with PD in the community aimed at improving walking and to understand …

Integrating Survivors Of Stroke Into Exercise‐Based Cardiac Rehabilitation Improves Endurance And Functional Strength, Elizabeth Wherley Regan Dpt, Ph.D., Reed Handlery, Jill Campbell Stewart, Joseph Lee Pearson Ms,Drph, Sarah Wilcox Phd, Stacy L. Fritz Phd, Pt

Faculty Publications

Background

Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is a structured exercise program prevalent in the United States for people with cardiovascular disease that has been shown to increase cardiovascular endurance and improve quality of life. Despite similar cardiovascular risk factors, stroke is not among the covered diagnoses for CR. The purpose of this study was to examine the participant impact of integrating survivors of stroke into the exercise portion of an existing hospital‐based CR program through measures of physical function and other health impacts and through qualitative evaluation of participant perception.

Methods and Results

Subacute and chronic survivors of stroke were integrated into …

Effectiveness Of Physical Therapy Interventions For Women With Dysmenorrhea: A Systematic Review, Emily Hammond, Abigail Applegate, Emma Caldwell, Hayley Witmer, Amy Tremback-Ball

Student Research Poster Presentations 2021

Background and aims: Primary dysmenorrhea, or painful menstruation, is common in menstruating females. However, in some, it can cause intense pain, disrupt activities of daily living, and impact quality of life. The treatment of dysmenorrhea does not traditionally include physical therapy. A systematic review was conducted to explore the role of physical therapy in treating dysmenorrhea. Methods: A search was performed in August 2020 and January 2021 using EBSCOhost, Academic Search Ultimate, CINAHL Complete, and MEDLINE. Search terms included exercise or physical activity or fitness AND dysmenorrhea or menstrual pain or painful menstruation. Inclusion criteria were articles that were peer-reviewed, …

The Effects Of Exercise Interventions For Patients With Venous Lower Limb Ulcers: A Systematic Review, Jordan Hoffman, Christian San Pedro, Sabrina Mendez

Student Research Poster Presentations 2021

The Effects of Exercise Interventions for Patients with Venous Lower Limb Ulcers: A Systematic Review

Student Researchers: Christian San Pedro, SPT Jordan Hoffman, SPT Sabrina Mendez, SPT

Mentored by: Kristen Karnish, PT, MPH, DEd, GCS, CEEAA

Background:

Approximately 30 million Americans are affected by vascular disease with greater numbers world wide. Chronic wound care is costly, as seen by the 1.5 billion dollars Medicare spent treating wounds in 2014. Vascular disease can predispose individuals to lower limb ulcers, chronic wounds, necrosis, and amputation. In patients with chronic wounds, exercise has been hypothesized to decrease healing times by triggering cortisol release …

Identifying Participants With Knee Osteoarthritis Likely To Benefit From Physical Therapy Education And Exercise: A Hypothesis-Generating Study, So Tanaka, Tomohiko Nishigami, Benedict Martin Wand, Tasha R. Stanton, Akira Mibu, Masami Tokunaga, Takaaki Yoshimoto, Takahiro Ushida

Physiotherapy Papers and Journal Articles

Background: The purpose of this investigation was to undertake a hypothesis generating study to identify candidate variables that characterize people with knee osteoarthritis who are most likely to experience a positive response to exercise.

Methods: One hundred and fifty participants with knee osteoarthritis participated in this observational, longitudinal study. All participants received a standard exercise intervention that consisted of 20-min sessions two to three times a week for three months. The classification and regression tree methodology (CART) was used to develop prediction of positive clinical outcome. Positive pain and disability outcomes (dependent variables) were defined as an improvement in pain …

The Efficacy Of Resistance Training In Addition To Usual Care For Adults With Acute Burn Injury: A Randomised Controlled Trial, Paul M. Gittings, Benedict M. Wand, Dana A. Hince, Tiffany L. Grisbrook, Fiona M. Wood, Dale W. Edgar

Physiotherapy Papers and Journal Articles

Resistance training immediately after a burn injury has not been investigated previously. This randomised, controlled trial assessed the impact of resistance training on quality of life plus a number of physical, functional and safety outcomes in adults with a burn injury. Patients were randomly assigned to receive, in addition to standard physiotherapy, four weeks of high intensity resistance training (RTG) or sham resistance training (CG) three days per week, commenced within 72h of the burn injury. Outcome data was collected at six weeks, three and six months after burn injury. Quality of life at 6 months was the primary endpoint. …

Increasing Physical Activity In Older Australians To Reduce Falls: A Program Evaluation, Kristy Robson, Nazmul Ahasan, Carly Barnes, Kylie Murphy, Rodney Pope

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: As people age, they are at greater risk of injurious falls. Falling has a significant impact not only on the individual but also the wider community. Undertaking physical activity is effective in reducing the rate of falls in this population. Therefore, providing targeted education during group-based falls prevention programs may increase the awareness and amount of physical activity older people undertake to assist in reducing their risk of falling. Methods: A longitudinal cohort design involving a pre-post intervention survey was conducted over an eight-month period with community-dwelling older adults who participated in a fall-prevention program. Participants were N = …

Changing The Perspective In Management Of A Progressive Neurological Disorder: Developing Interventions To Target Multifactorial Components Of Parkinson’S Disease With Emphasis On Improving Clinical Meaningful Outcomes, Jordana Christine Lockwich

Theses and Dissertations--Rehabilitation Sciences

Neurological disorders are currently the leading source of disability in the United States with Parkinson’s disease (PD) having the fastest growing incidence rate (Abate et al., 2017). PD is the second most common degenerative disease in older adults above 60 years old (Tysnes & Storstein, 2017) and epidemiology reports predict that the number of PD cases has doubled to 6 million since 1990 (Dorsey, Sherer, et al., 2018) It is estimated that PD prevalence will continue to rise with a projected 60,000 new cases in the United States by 2030 (Dorsey, Elbaz, et al., 2018) and has the potential to …

Effects Of Goal Type And Reinforcement Type On Self-Reported Domain-Specific Walking Among Inactive Adults: 2×2 Factorial Randomized Controlled Trial, Mindy L. Mcentee, Alison Cantley, Emily Foreman, Vincent Berardi, Christine B. Phillips, Jane C. Hurley, Melbourne F. Hovell, Steven Hooker, Marc A. Adams

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Background: WalkIT Arizona was a 2×2 factorial trial examining the effects of goal type (adaptive versus static) and reinforcement type (immediate versus delayed) to increase moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) among insufficiently active adults. The 12-month intervention combined mobile health (mHealth) technology with behavioral strategies to test scalable population-health approaches to increasing MVPA. Self-reported physical activity provided domain-specific information to help contextualize the intervention effects.

Objective: The aim of this study was to report on the secondary outcomes of self-reported walking for transportation and leisure over the course of the 12-month WalkIT intervention.

Methods: A total of …

Exercise And Lifestyle Physical Activity Recommendations For People With Multiple Sclerosis Throughout The Disease Course, Rosalind Kalb, Theodore R. Brown, Susan Coote, Kathleen Costello, Ulrik Dalgas, Eric Garmon, Barbara Geisser, June Halper, Herb Karpatkin, Jennifer Keller, Alexander V. Ng, Lara A. Pilutti, Amanda Rohring, Paul Van Asch, Kathleen Zachowski, Robert W. Motl

Exercise Science Faculty Research and Publications

Objectives:

To provide clinicians who treat multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with evidence-based or expert opinion–based recommendations for promoting exercise and lifestyle physical activity across disability levels.

Methods:

The National MS Society (“Society”) convened clinical and research experts in the fields of MS, exercise, rehabilitation, and physical activity to (1) reach consensus on optimal exercise and lifestyle physical activity recommendations for individuals with MS at disability levels 0–9.0 on the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and (2) identify and address barriers/facilitators for participation.

Recommendations:

Based on current evidence and expert opinion, the Society makes the following recommendations, endorsed by the Consortium …

Potential Benefits Of Physical Therapy For Individuals With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Rebecca Soito

Senior Honors Projects

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. ALS is associated with progressive motor deficits and paralysis of the muscles that control limb movement, swallowing, and breathing. As ALS progresses, the muscles responsible for fine and gross motor functions are affected and motor skills decline. Typical life expectancy of people with ALS is 2-5 years after symptom onset. The most common cause of death for individuals with ALS is respiratory failure. There is no current curative treatment for ALS but symptoms can be managed through multidisciplinary care. The …

High Supervised Resistance Training In Elderly Women: The Role Of Supervision Ratio, Denis Cesar Leite Vieira, Dahan Da Cunha Nascimento, Vitor Tajra, Tatiane Gomes Teixeira, Darlan Lopes De Farias, Ramires Tibana, Alessandro Oliveira Silva, Thiago Santos Rosa, Milton Rocha Moraes, Fabrício Azevedo Voltarelli, James W. Navalta, Jonato Prestes

Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences Faculty Research

The objective of this study was to compare the effects of very high supervision (VHS-RT) versus high supervision (HS-RT) ratio resistance training (RT) on irisin, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BNDF), muscle strength, functional capacity, and body composition in elderly women. Participants performed daily undulating periodized RT over 16 weeks with two different supervision ratios: VHS-RT at 1:2 (supervisor/subject) or HS-RT at 1:5. Serum was used to analyze brain derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) and irisin by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Body composition was evaluated by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, while functional capacity was evaluated using the Six-minute walk test, and Timed Up and …

The Impact Of Exercise In Spaceflight And Microgravity Environments, William Bybee

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Since mankind’s first spaceflight, a significant barricade in reaching distant planets has been the damaging effects of microgravity upon the human body. Effects range from loss in bone mineral density and severe muscle atrophy to autoimmune disorders. The most effective countermeasure of these effects to date is exercise. Implementation of exercise in microgravity is not an easy task, so various specialized equipment must be utilized to effectively administer it. Even with this equipment, exercise as it is currently used does not entirely prevent body systems from undergoing detrimental changes. New modalities and implementations are currently being investigated that may significantly …

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 …

Effects Of A Strength Training Intervention And Quality Of Life: Case Study On A Sedentary Adult Female, Lucas Frazier

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The purpose of the project is to evaluate physiological and quality of life changes in a

sedentary, senior-aged (55 or older) female using a six-week strength training

intervention. This case study will instruct how to perform a push-pull-legs split

routine by going to the gym three times per week. Prior to the six week intervention,

both quantitative and qualitative variables will be collected to assess baseline data,

including the subject’s resting heart rate, resting blood pressure, grip strength, one-

repetition maximum on seven whole body exercises (dumbbell bicep curl, tricep

pushdown, barbell bench press, wide-grip lat pull-down, seated dumbbell press, …

Blood Flow Restriction Training For The Rotator Cuff: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Jason Brumitt, Marcey Keefer Hutchison, Daniel Kang, Zach Klemmer, Mike Stroud, Edward Cheng, Neil Patrick Cayanan, Sheldon Shishido

Faculty Publications - College of Physical Therapy

Context: Blood flow restriction (BFR) training utilizes a tourniquet, applied to the proximal portion of one or more extremities, to occlude blood flow during exercise. Significant gains in strength and cross-sectional area can be achieved in muscles, both distal and proximal to BFR cuff application. Purpose: To compare strength gains of the rotator cuff and changes in tendon size in subjects who performed side-lying external-rotation exercise with or without BFR. Methods: Forty-six subjects (mean age 25.0 [2.2] y) were randomized to either a BFR + exercise group or to the exercise-only group. Subjects performed 4 sets of the exercise (30/15/15/15 …

Make Changes Early! High Stress Levels Predict Lower Academic Performance In First-Year Physical Therapy Students: A Pilot Study, Daniel W. Flowers, Amanda Bernard

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Evidence exists in the literature that allows admissions committees to predict which students will be most successful in entry-level physical therapy educational programs. Evidence linking modifiable predictors of academic performance to currently enrolled students allowing enhancement of their performance during enrollment is lacking. Previous healthcare education literature indicates that stress has a negative predictive relationship with academic performance, and that stress is the highest in the beginning of an academic program. Research studies with medical students report exercise assists in minimizing stress and improving academic performance, while the role of leisure time has also been investigated. No study has …

Blood Flow Restriction Exercise: A Systematic Review Of The Literature, James M. Mckivigan

College of Health & Human Services (TUN) Publications and Research

Blood flow restriction training is quickly gaining popularity in the United States. However, it is not without controversy. While there are many reported health benefits, there are equally as many risks. Most concerning is the lack of industry standardizations regarding cuff size and pressure. There is no required training to implement blood flow restriction training, which can be problematic when people with little knowledge practice this type of exercise. When blood flow is restricted, there is an impact on the cardiovascular system, nervous system, and muscular system. Damage can be done when blood flow is restricted with too much pressure …

Physiotherapy Is Associated With Improvements In Gait And Balance In Individuals With Cognitive Impairment: A Retrospective Analysis, Steven Jackson, Elbert Chen, Jason Phan

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

BACKGROUND: Evidence suggests that individuals with cognitive impairment (CI) exhibit significant motor impairments; however, these motor impairments receive little treatment attention compared to more prominent CI. Moreover, there is a lack of evidence about physiotherapy (PT) in individuals with CI. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine if PT was effective at improving gait and balance in individuals with Alzheimer disease (AD), vascular dementia (VaD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). METHODS: Retrospective data of 173 individuals with CI conditions and an initial evaluation for PT were extracted from electronic records from January 2016 …