Physical Therapy Commons^™

Qualitative Analysis Of Student Physical Therapist Reflective Writing: Does An Interprofessional Discharge Planning Simulation Increase Their Understanding Of The Role They Play In Discharge Planning?, Leslie M. Smith, Benjamin Sachs, Karen Berg, Megan Keiser, Laura J. Smith, Carman Turkelson, Amy Yorke

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: The Core Competencies for Entry-Level Practice in Acute Care Physical Therapy provides an expectation of entry-level practice in acute care for physical therapists including discharge planning (DP). Physical therapists (PT), despite having appropriate clinical reasoning and unique skills for determining the functional abilities of patients, are less often a part of the DP process. The purpose of this study was to determine, by use of qualitative analysis of reflective writing, if an interprofessional discharge planning simulation will increase students’ understanding of the role of physical therapy in DP. Methods: Students from physical therapy (n=57), undergraduate nursing (n=36), graduate …

Impact Of Clinician Experience And Positive Language On Subject Expectation Of Cervical Spine Manipulation Effects, Joshua Wood, Jonah Mawae, Stephen Elmer

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Background and Purpose: Acute neck pain is a worldwide epidemic that physical therapists treat with cervical spine manipulation (CSM). While the mechanical and neurological effects of CSM are important, it is possible that the patient’s perception of the therapist’s skill level may also play a role in patient outcomes. Along with the patient’s perception of the practitioner, evidence suggests that patient expectation for intervention efficacy may also alter patient outcomes. The implication is that special consideration must be taken when practitioners choose their words when describing both themselves and their interventions. The purpose of this study is to examine if …

Rural Or Underserved Practice Interest Among Doctor Of Physical Therapy Students. Do Clinical Education Experiences Change Opinions?, Brandon Godin, Trenton Poulson, Mac Neil Moresca, Tyler Satoshige

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Background and Purpose: People living in rural and underserved areas are poorly served by our country's healthcare system. The Federal Office of Rural Health Policy reports that approximately 18% of people in the United States live in rural areas. Within the physician and nursing literature the largest reported predictor of rural practice is having a rural background. Mandated rural medical rotations during training have been shown to positively alter interest in rural practice and employment. While nursing and medical students have been thus studied, limited evidence exists for physical therapists. The objective of this study was to determine how rural …

The Effect Of Physical Therapy On Patient Self-Reported Outcomes And Perceptions Of Mobility After Lower Extremity Amputations, Gregory Amaya, Rosman Gante, Zachary Meinzer, Abbas Sadrossadat

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Background and Purpose: The number of people with limb loss is rapidly growing, partly due to an aging society and the prevalence of diabetes. Physical Therapy (PT) has been shown to improve perceived functional outcomes and quality of life in older adults and individuals with diabetes, but it is unclear why certain patients do not receive PT after amputation and whether the beneficial outcomes shown in other populations translate to individuals with limb loss. The purpose of this study was to determine whether receiving PT among patients with limb loss correlates with an improved quality of life, better mobility, and …

What Are Typical Outcomes Associated With Physical Therapy For Foot & Ankle Patients?, Judith F. Baumhauer, Christopher Neville, Kostantinos Vasalos, Chad Condidorio, Kathleen Fear, Jeff Houck

Faculty Publications - College of Physical Therapy

Introduction/Purpose: It is unclear whether patients attending physical therapy, post-op or for conservative care, achieve clinically important differences (CID) on the patient reported outcome information system (PROMIS) scales. Key PROMIS outcomes physical function (PF) and pain interference (PI) match well with treatments provided in physical therapy. Physical therapy may also influence depression (Dep). Documentation of PROMIS outcomes associated with physical therapy are useful to help set patient expectations. The purpose of this analysis was to document expected PROMIS PF, PI, and Dep outcomes after physical therapy for foot and ankle diagnoses by 1) reporting average improvement and 2) examining whether …

Does Physical Therapy Produce Value For Post-Operative And/Or Non-Operative Foot And Ankle Patients?, Jeff Houck, Christopher Neville, Kostantinos Vasalos, Chad Condidorio, Kathleen Fear, Judith F. Baumhauer

Faculty Publications - College of Physical Therapy

Introduction/Purpose: Healthcare is at a unique time in history where patient reported outcomes have become important in assessing value and subsequent reimbursement with pay-4-performance initiatives. It is unclear whether physical function, pain and depressive symptoms can assist providers determine if additional physical therapy may improve care for foot and ankle patients considering post-op and/or non-operative care. The purpose of this research was to examine symptom severity (PROMIS PF, PI, and Dep) after surgery or with non-operative care at the start of formal physical therapy to determine if this symptom severity presentation and/or change in symptoms over time are predictors of …

The Links Between Motivational Techniques, Successful Physical Therapists, And Successful Rehab Clinics, Abigail Alyse Richmond

Senior Honors Theses

There is a strong positive correlation between a successful physical therapist (PT), their clinic, and the motivational techniques used during therapy. The PT should be prepared to sit down with each patient and set short- and long-term goals to help them accomplish what they desire through therapy. Effective communication skills, practical skills and technique, individualized care, and organizational and environmental factors are the four major aspects that define patient-therapist relationships. Patient adherence to their home exercise program (HEP) is vital to a successful rehabilitation, and therefore the PT’s goal should be to help the patient understand the importance of the …

Leadership Development In Physical Therapy: Moving Toward A Community Of Transformative Practitioners, Kerry Cronin Mallini

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Leadership Studies

Physical therapy as an emerging profession is committed to establishing its identity and solidifying its role as a leader in health care. With expertise in human movement, wellness, and disease prevention, physical therapists possess invaluable knowledge and skill to influence public health and enhance patient recovery without increasing cost. Physical therapists have the opportunity to transform the delivery of public health services to meet current and future needs. A major challenge, however, is a dearth of leadership development in preparation programs. Because most physical therapists have not received formal education or explicit training in leadership, a problem of practice exists. …

Reporting Number Needed To Treat In Clinical Trials Published In Physical Therapy Specific Literature 1989 - 2018, Susan Ann Talley

Wayne State University Dissertations

Evidence-based practice requires physical therapists to make clinical decisions about the best intervention to use when providing services to patients/clients. Although null hypothesis significance testing (NHST) is frequently used to interpret the outcome of a clinical trial investigating the comparative effectiveness of an intervention, statistical significance does not directly translate into clinical importance. Number needed to treat (NNT) is a measure of effect size (ES) that may be particularly useful when translating the results from clinical trials to PT clinical practice. The purpose of this study was to conduct a bibliometric content analysis of the methods of reporting research results …

Lived Experience Of Exemplary Physical Therapist Students In Clinical Education: A Phenonenological Study, Laura Hagan

Department of Physical Therapy Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Introduction and Review of the Literature. The academic community has made it priority to determine best practice in the clinical education (CE) of Physical Therapist (PT) students. The perspective of various stakeholders has been considered inthe profession’s pursuit of excellence. Previous research highlighting the characteristics of expert clinicians and clinicalinstructors in physical therapy has served as a model for those who strive for excellence. The student and critical stakeholder, however, has not been given the opportunity to be heard. To date, no literature has explored the experience of PT student who demonstrate excellence. This study aims to understand the lived …

Global Initiative Of The University Of Nebraska Medical Center To Improve Physical Therapy Education, Care And Science In China, Betsy J. Becker, Joseph F. Norman, Kyle Meyer, Ka-Chun Siu

Posters and Presentations: Physical Therapy

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Two High-Frequency Physical Therapy Programs On Balance, Gait, Fatigue, And Quality Of Life In People With Multiple Sclerosis, Min Liu

Theses & Dissertations

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disease involving the inflammation and demyelination in both brain and spinal cord. MS typically affects people in early adulthood in the range of 20-40 years old, and most patients with MS experience symptoms on a daily basis, such as walking difficulties, balance impairment, and fatigue, which can be disabling and impact the Quality of Life (QOL).

The main purpose of this investigation is to determine if our novel, adaptive, high-frequency physical therapy protocol, compared with the conventional therapeutic exercise protocol, has the potential to improve participants’ dynamic balance, gait, fatigue, and overall QOL based …

Transitioning To The Role Of A Professional Physical Therapist Through Community Engagement, Brittany L. Wentzel

VA Engage Journal

This article recounts the author's experiences observing and interning with physical therapists in a variety of settings.The hands-on experiences the author describes allowed the author to learn the specific procedures and requirements in a typical day as a Physical Therapist, and to gain knowledge on the protocol for different injuries, the muscles that each exercise strengthens, and how to properly perform exercises to prevent further injuries. The author also explores how these experiences fostered observational and interpersonal skills and solidified the decision to pursue Physical Therapy as a career.

Can Understanding Provider Expectations Improve Provider Adoption Of Patient Reported Outcomes?, Jeff Houck, Jillian Santer, Kostantinos Vasalos, Judith Baumhauer

Faculty Publications - College of Physical Therapy

Introduction/Purpose: New instruments like the Patient Reported Outcome Information System (PROMIS) minimize the burden to patients and providers addressing significant barriers to adoption. Despite these advances provider adoption remains lackluster. Models of technology adoption suggest adoption is more likely to occur when PRO’s directly improve patient care (performance expectancy) and it’s easy to implement (effort expectancy). Problems with effort expectancy are dealt with by training and improving logistics (i.e. eHR presentation, alerts), where performance expectancy is addressed through research (i.e. validation of thresholds). The purposes of this study were to: 1) evaluate the proportion of orthopedic rehabilitation providers who use …

Mobility Boost: A Quality Improvement Project To Bridge A Gap In Care For Hospitalized Adults, Audrey M. Johnson

Theses and Dissertations--Rehabilitation Sciences

Early mobility quality improvement (QI) projects are leading the charge to shift the prevailing culture in acute care from a culture of immobility to a culture of mobility. Low mobility and hospital acquired functional decline is a persistent problem, especially for older adults, often leading to increased post acute care costs, increased risk of hospital readmission and increased mortality. Transition of care programs designed to improve care transitions and prevent hospital readmission exist but fail to include rehabilitation professionals or to adequately consider patient functional status during hospitalization. The goal of this research was to implement and evaluate an early …

Changes In Reach To Eat Movement Control After Intensive Training For Children With Unilateral Cerebral Palsy, Yaching Hung, Aryeh D. Spingarn

Publications and Research

Ya Ching Hung EdD. and Aryeh Spingarn EP-C, CSCS, EIM-Level 2 Queens College, City University of New York Department of Family, Nutrition, and Exercise Sciences, Changes in Reach to Eat Movement Control After Intensive Training for Children with Unilateral Cerebral Palsy. Purpose: The current study compares the effects of an intervention on children with Congenital Hemiplegia during a simple eating task using kinematic analyses. Previous studies looked at simple bimanual tasks such as opening a drawer; no studies examined the effects of intensive training on unimanual reach, grasp, and eat movement control. Methods: 20 children with Unilateral Spastic Cerebral Palsy …

Physical Therapy And The Integration Of Dry Needling, Katie Montgomery

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This research paper analyzes how the field of Physical Therapy has grown and evolved in the United States over the last sixty years. It also explores the education process of becoming a therapist, the responsibilities it entails, and the different treatment interventions therapist can use by taking a deeper look at the integration of dry needling techniques into the field of Physical Therapy.

Dry needling is defined and different techniques being utilized in the field currently are explained. Also discussed are locations where physical therapists are legally allowed to perform dry needling in the United States, the certification process, precautions …

Correlation Between The Spirit Bike Maximal Power Output And Other Lower Extremity Power Output Tests, Tyler Adams, Joseph Brown, Gunnar Mendiola, Ryan Sullivan, Cody Williams

Clinical Sciences: Graduate Physical Therapy Capstone Projects (2008-2021)

The assessment of a patient’s lower extremity function is important for physical therapists to make clinical judgements about the subject’s mobility and physical capabilities. For physical therapists to accurately assess a patient’s lower extremity function, clinicians must utilize the most appropriate tests, evaluation techniques, and/or tools. It is not clear that single leg hop tests will provide the most accurate assessment of lower extremity function for patients with hip, knee, ankle, and or foot biomechanical dysfunctions, as in some severe cases, these tests may even be contraindicated.

An Analysis Of Postural Changes Over Time And Their Relationship To Musculoskeletal Pain, Anna Barnes, Anna Dadamio, Suzanne Maggioni, Rebekah Stammer, Sarah Simpson

Clinical Sciences: Graduate Physical Therapy Capstone Projects (2008-2021)

Posture is defined as the relative disposition of the body at any one moment. It is a composite of all body joints during that time and, in its ideal state, minimizes gravitational stresses in an upright position. Spinal curves help to distribute weight and compressive loads and add strength and stability to the vertebral column.1 Ideal static posture has been described as a straight vertical line that passes through the earlobe, just anterior to the lateral malleolus, and falls to the concave side of each spinal curve

The Use Of Emg As A Physical Therapy Learning Aid, Madeline L. Johnson, Rachel C. Cooklin, Erika N. Faria, Taylor M. Schavo, Eric Sternlicht

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

The purpose of this study was to compare the muscle recruitment of an agonist and antagonist muscle during the step up physical therapy exercise with and without visual electromyographic (EMG) biofeedback. 15 healthy, college-aged subjects were recruited to participate in the study. Subjects performed the step up with and without visual feedback in two separate sessions over a four week period. Muscle activity was recorded from the Vastus Medialis (VMO) of the target leg and Medial Gastrocnemius on the contralateral leg. EMG recordings were collected using a BTS FREEEMG system and data was processed using BTS SEMGanalyzer software (BTS Bioengineering, …

Pilot Study: What Measures Predict First Time Pass Rate On The National Physical Therapy Examination?, Jamie Bayliss, Rosanne M. Thomas, Marsha Eifert-Mangine

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Background: Research investigating predictors of success on licensure examination is useful for admission criteria as well as targeted intervention for identified at risk students in physical therapy programs. Predictors of success on the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) have been explored but results are no longer current. This study assessed predictive variables including admission data, performance in identified key courses, and academic/clinical difficulty for Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) cohorts at Mount St Joseph University. Objective: Determine variables predicting success on the National Physical Therapy Examination. Design: A retrospective correlational study was done. Methods: Retrospective data of Mount St Joseph …

Combining Online Education With International Service Learning To Increase Cultural Competence, Elaine Keane, Ingrid Provident

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

PURPOSE: Although international service learning has the capacity to promote a variety of important professional behaviors, merely visiting another country does not automatically result in these benefits. METHODS: This article describes an evidenced-based course which used pre-trip preparation in combination with a nine day service learning trip to Ecuador to develop cultural competence among 6 occupational and 6 physical therapy students. Pre-trip preparation included online and in-person components to increase self-awareness, awareness of other cultures, knowledge about Ecuadorian culture and skill-building. On-site activities included exploration of the physical and social context in addition to providing occupational and physical therapy treatment …

Mandated Continuing Education And The Competency Of Illinois Physical Therapists, Denise Lynn Hunter Ethington

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Continuing education (CE) mandate laws are passed by states because it is in the public interest. The intent behind the passage of Illinois's CE law for physical therapists is to protect public health and safety through ensuring the competency of providers. However, studies into the impact of mandated CE on competency have been mixed. The problem addressed by this study was whether Illinois's CE law was effective in improving the competency of physical therapists and its impact on patient care. The purpose of this study was to understand what role mandated CE played in developing the competency of physical therapists …

A Correlation Between Gpa And Physical Therapy Treatment Compliance, Courtney Griffith

Honors Projects

This study sought to find a relationship between students’ university grade point average and physical therapy treatment compliance. While other researchers have shown how important compliance is and have investigated factors that affect compliance and GPA separately, no one has studied how GPA and physical therapy treatment compliance are related. We investigated how these two factors interacted and were influenced by other aspects in a population that had not received much attention in literature regarding treatment compliance. This study was a cross sectional survey that used a source population of undergraduate and graduate students at Bowling Green State University in …

Standing Balance And Spatiotemporal Aspects Of Gait Are Impaired Upon Nocturnal Awakening In Healthy Late Middle-Aged And Older Adults, Amanda L. Mcbean, Raymond P. Najjar, Ronald A. Schuchard, Courtney D. Hall, Cheng-Ann Wang, Ban Ku, Joseph M. Furman

ETSU Faculty Works

Study Objectives: Nocturnal awakenings may constitute a unique risk for falls among older adults. We describe differences in gait and balance between presleep and midsleep testing, and whether changes in the lighting environment during the midsleep testing further affect gait and balance.

Methods: Twenty-one healthy, late middle-aged and older (64.7 ± 8.0 y) adults participated in this repeated-measures design consisting of four overnight laboratory stays. Each night, participants completed baseline visual acuity, gait, and balance testing. After a 2-h sleep opportunity, they were awakened for 13 min into one of four lighting conditions: very dim white light (< 0.5 lux); dim white light (∼28.0 lux); dim orange light (∼28.0 lux); and white room-level light (∼200 lux). During this awakening, participants completed the same sequence of testing as at baseline.

Results: Low-contrast …

Multi-Digit Coordination In Absence Of Cutaneous Sensory Feedback During Grasping Tasks, Christina Gioeli, Kerry Mcpartlan, Emily Reid, Matthew Turturro

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Motor learning and adaptation to object properties and task requirements requires integration of cutaneous sensory feedback with motor commands. Joint mechanics constantly change, with individual joints or muscles compensation so performance output is the same per task. Effects of mixed cutaneous sensory feedback on multi-digit coordination is not well understood. Investigators sought to determine the influence absent cutaneous sensory feedback has on motor learning and adaptation, and how the CNS coordinates multi-digit mechanical output to adapt to manual tasks, with partially intact digital sensory feedback. 19 participants were randomly assigned for three-digit anesthesia administration (TIM- thumb, index, middle; TRL- thumb, …

Vestibular Rehabilitation For Peripheral Vestibular Hypofunction: An Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline, Courtney D. Hall, Susan J. Herdman, Susan L. Whitney, Stephen P. Cass, Richard A. Clendaniel, Terry D. Fife

ETSU Faculty Works

Background: Uncompensated vestibular hypofunction results in postural instability, visual blurring with head movement, and subjective complaints of dizziness and/or imbalance. We sought to answer the question, “Is vestibular exercise effective at enhancing recovery of function in people with peripheral (unilateral or bilateral) vestibular hypofunction?” Methods: A systematic review of the literature was performed in 5 databases published after 1985 and 5 additional sources for relevant publications were searched. Article types included meta-analyses, systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, case control series, and case series for human subjects, published in English. One hundred thirty-five articles were identified as relevant to …

Treatment For Vestibular Disorders: How Does Your Physical Therapist Treat Dizziness Related To Vestibular Problems?, Courtney D. Hall, Susan J. Herdman, Susan L. Whitney, Stephen P. Cass, Richard A. Clendaniel, Terry D. Fife

ETSU Faculty Works

Dizziness is very common, but it is never normal. Dizziness can make performing daily activities, work, and walking difficult. Many people get dizzy when they turn their head, which can cause problems with walking and makes people more likely to fall. Most of the time dizziness is not from a life-threatening disease. Often dizziness is because of a disorder of the vestibular (or inner ear balance) system. People can get vestibular disorders from infections in the ear, problems with the immune system, medications that harm the inner ear, and rarely from diabetes or stroke because of a lack of blood …

Ua61/16 Class Of 2016, Wku Physical Therapy

WKU Administration Documents

Physical Therapy Class of 2016 yearbook. Features the following students:

• Allen, Whitney
• Anderson, Alexis
• Baston, Allison
• Bell, Devin
• Coode, Rett
• Dahl, David
• DiTommaso, Katie
• Ford, April
• Fortney, Brianne
• Fuller, Megan
• Goutsis, Dominque
• Gunn, Lorelei
• Hall, Timothy
• Harlan, James
• Hicks, Jacob
• Hubbuch, Emily
• Jones, Tom
• Macke, Cristina aka Vegas(?)
• McKinney, Kelli
• McReynolds, Lauren
• Muse, Terrell
• Reece, Melissa
• Sims, Shannon
• Smith, Laura
• Smith, Wesley
• Stalcup, Patrick
• Vittitow, Kristi
• Wilson, Kimberley
• Wright, Emily
• Wright, William aka Jason

Piecing The Puzzle Together With The Use Of Physical Therapy, Mikayla Pruitt

Honors Projects

For my Honors Project I decided to create a set of exercise cards for children with autism. The front of each card had a picture symbolizing the exercise/activity, and on the back included directions, supplies and tips to complete the activity. The following is a selection of a few exercise cards from each of the four exercise sections, as well as the title card, table of contents cards, information cards, and source cards.