Physical Therapy Commons^™

A Preliminary Study On The Reliability Of Physical Performance Measures In Older Day-Care Center Clients With Dementia., Vince Salazar Thomas, Patricia A. Hageman

Journal Articles: Physical Therapy

BACKGROUND: Decline in physical functional ability is an intrinsic component of the dementia syndrome. Reductions in muscle mass and strength represent a major factor in the loss of functional ability Although resistance exercise has been studied as a method for maintaining/recovering function in populations of frail older adults, people with dementia have been systematically excluded because of uncertainty about the reliability of outcome measurements.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the test-retest reliability of a battery of established performance-based measures of strength and function among subjects with dementia.

SETTING: A hospital-affiliated adult day-care facility.

SUBJECTS: Twelve of …

Prevalence Of Various Upper Extremity Disorders In Patients With Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Versus Patients Without Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Daniel C. Buda

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Background and Purpose: Increasingly larger numbers of patients present with repetitive strain injuries of the upper extremities, especially carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). A large number of these patients appear to have more than one upper extremity condition. The purpose of this study was to determine the probability that a patient diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome will also be diagnosed with other upper extremity and/or cervical spine disorders.

Subjects: A group of 188 subjects diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome and a group of 203 subjects without carpal tunnel syndrome were selected through a chart review of patients at Loma Linda …

Differential Diagnosis And Management Of Spinal Nerve Root- Related Pain, P. Sizer, V. Phelps, G. S. Dedrick, O. Mattijs

Physical Therapy

No abstract provided.

The Hand Center: Considerations Related To The Design, Planning, Staffing, And Marketing, Marcia L. Miller

Community & Environmental Health Theses & Dissertations

A therapist intent on planning a hand therapy center has no resources that are specific to this specialty area of practice. There are contributions utilized to plan occupational and physical therapy departments that can be synthesized to a degree in the planning of a hand therapy center. The practice of hand therapy incorporates a high degree of physical interaction, with close proximity to the patient and handling by the therapist. This paper explores the unique requirements of a hand therapy department. In order to determine hand therapists' preferences for equipment and space utilization a survey was developed and distributed to …

Reliability Of Shoulder Goniometric Measurements In Persons Who Are Elderly, Karina Koch, Lauri Paulsen, Heather White, Richard Williamson

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

The population of the United States is rapidly aging; this is exemplified by the cohort of "Baby-Boomers" who make up a large part of the population. This becomes relevant to physical therapists, as our clients will reflect this "graying" of America. There is a lack of research regarding normative values for shoulder range of motion (ROM) in the elderly population. Due to many different factors in the aging process, there may be a decline in ROM in elderly persons. Current normative values may not be applicable to this population.

Two pilot studies were conducted measuring active and passive shoulder ROM …

A Survey Of Perception And Awareness Of Physical Therapy Services In North Dakota, Dustin Carter, Nathanyal Jacklitch, Chris Nephew

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Physical therapists treat patients with a wide array of medical conditions, diseases, and dysfunctions in a variety of settings across the state of North Dakota. Few studies have been conducted to determine the level of public awareness of physical therapy and/or the existing perceptions toward physical therapy. The purpose of this study is 1) to determine the level of public awareness concerning physical therapy services that exist in North Dakota and 2) to determine the public perceptions of North Dakota residents towards physical therapy. The results of this survey were analyzed according to descriptive and analytical statistics and were shared …

Intra And Inter-Tester Reliability For Lumbar Flexion And Extension Using The Dualer Digital Inclinometer, Amber M. Flatland, Jennifer Johnson, Tracy Stommes, Kimberly Weeda

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the intra- and inter-tester reliability of the DualerTM Digital Inclinometer when measuring lumbar flexion and extension. Past studies examining reliability of inclinometers have reported variable results. Few studies in the literature have sought to determine the reliability of the Dualer™ Digital Inclinometer for measuring lumbar flexion and extension.

Methods: The subjects who participated in this study were university students between 20 and 41 years of age without a significant history of back pain (n=22). Two testers measured each subject's lumbar flexion and extension, hip flexion and extension, and straight leg raise …

Determining The Level Of Knowledge Of Und College Women In Their Childbearing Years Regarding Exercise During Pregnancy, Tricia Flohr, Sara Hoerner, Kari J. Melby

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

With an increase in the number of pregnant women exercising, there is an increased need for patient education and the distribution of updated guidelines to promote appropriate exercise activities.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the level of knowledge in English-speaking, college women in their childbearing years attending the University of North Dakota regarding the risks, precautionary measures and recommended modes of exercise during pregnancy.

SUBJECTS & METHODS: Eighty-four women between the ages of 18 and 40 enrolled in the summer school session completed a thirty-one question survey. The survey was used to gather information about the …

The Effects Of Boron On The Range Of Motion Of Dexterity Related Joints: A Patient With Rheumatoid Arthritis, Nicole Herda, Jessica Woehl

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Rheumatoid arthritis is a progressive, destructive and chronic, inflammatory disease of the joint synovium. Signs and symptoms include pain, limited range of motion, swelling, and tenderness, which may progress to deformity. These manifestations may limit dexterity, independent living, and the overall well being of an individual. Living with daily restrictions proves to be a psychologically distressing experience.

An increase in the dietary boron level of laboratory rats has shown to have a positive effect on the range of motion in their involved joints. This concept was tested on a human subject at the United States Department of Agriculture's Human Nutrition …

A Survey Of College Students With And Without Low Back Pain: A Comparison Of Risk Factors, Carrie Bristow, Erika Buckhouse, Jessica Nelson

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Many people suffer from low back pain. The lifetime incidence of low back pain has been widely studied in the general population. Previous research has found risk factors that have been correlated with an increase in low back pain. Individuals with low back pain seek different sources of treatment; outcomes of treatments vary. This survey targeted younger adults, specifically college students of ages 18 to 26. The results of this survey attempt to answer these three research questions: 1) What is the lifetime incidence of LBP in young adults ages 18 to 26? 2) In college students, is there a …

Examination Of Tester Reliability Utilizing The Limits Of Stability Test On The Neurocom Balance Master For Assessing Balance In Healthy Individuals, Casey Bartolo, Katie Miller, Rachael Seals, Christal Stotesbery

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Balance is critical for optimal function in completion of everyday tasks. Physical therapists frequently work with people that have balance disturbances in order to help return them to optimal function. One tool used in the assessment and treatment of balance disorders is the NeuroCom® Balance Master 7.06 (NBM), a computerized forceplate system that provides objective measurements of balance performance. In order to obtain accurate measurements on the NBM, it is necessary that the tester have adequate training. The purpose of this study was to determine the amount of training necessary for a therapist to obtain reliable results using the NBM. …

An Emg & Motion Analysis Study Of The Elliptical Trainer, Chris Hansen, Jaime Horner, Filip Johnson, Emily Wolkomir

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose

The purpose of this study is to describe lower extremity muscle activity and joint range of motion while moving both forward and backward on an elliptical trainer at minimum and maximum inclines.

Subjects

Ten healthy subjects (7 female and 3 male) gave informed consent to voluntarily participate in this study.

Methods

A single group experimental design was used. A maximum contraction was performed for comparison measure and electromyographic (EMG) data was collected while the subjects performed the stride at the specified variables.

Results

The vastus lateralis was the most active of all the muscles throughout the entire …

A Comparison Of Abdominal Muscle Activity During The Crunch, Crunch On Ball, And Abslide Exercises, Jessica M. Norton, Lesley Splonskowski, Hayley Strauss, Sabrina Wagner

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

People have developed an obsession with flattening their stomachs and slimming down their waistlines. The so called "ab machines" have become the most popularly purchased home exercise tools. Although numerous electromyographic (EMG) analysis studies have been done on various forms of equipment-free abdominal exercise, little research has been done to evaluate the effectiveness of equipment-aided exercise. The purpose of this study was to analyze and evaluate any differences in EMG activity between three abdominal exercises: the traditional crunch, the crunch on a ball, and utilization of a prone rolling machine (AbSlide®).

Thirty, healthy subjects between the ages of 19 and …

A Survey Of The Use Of Physical Agents And Therapeutic Modalities In Physical Therapy, Kyle B. Seto, Eric D. Walberg

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose. It is desirable that physical therapy programs update their curricula according to the clinical application patterns of physical agents and therapeutic modalities in physical therapy. The purpose of this study is to 1) determine the frequency of use of physical agents and therapeutic modalities, 2) determine the factors in deciding which physical agent or therapeutic modality to use, 3) determine the educational coverage of each physical agent or therapeutic modality and identify strengths and weaknesses of the respondents training, and 4) compare the frequency of use with the current training in physical agents and therapeutic modalities at …

The Effects Of The "Get Off Your Rocker" Exercise Class On Balance, Heather Bethard, Trish Magee, Susie Mcgarry, Sarah Mcguire

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine if the six-week "Get Off Your Rocker" balance exercise class, promoted by HealthSouth®, had a significant effect on balance in the geriatric population. If proven to be effective, this class could be an additional tool for physical therapists to utilize to aid in improving a patient's balance.

A total of 22 subjects volunteered to participate in this study. They were randomly divided into two groups: a control group (n=1 0, 8 females and 2 males) and an exercise group (n=12, 8 females and 4 males). All subjects were high functioning and were …

2002 Touro College School Of Health Sciences Yearbook, Touro College School Of Health Sciences

Yearbooks and Newsletters

"Survivor:" Outwit, Outlast, Alumni.

Preparing Students For Ebp, Pamela Levangie

All PTHMS Faculty Publications

Describes one particular approach to teaching evidence-based practice in physical therapy. At Sacred Heart University students begin course work that is foundational to preparing them for evidence-based practice. In the first semester of study, they take a Concepts in Measurement unit. During the second semester, I teach a semester-long Clinical Research course that focuses on understanding concepts of clinical research and on critical review of physical therapy literature. During the third and fourth semesters of study, when they are doing their clinical coursework, the emphasis is on the concepts of validity and reliability of the tools they use. The students …

The Effect Of Hip Taping On Hip And Knee Muscle Activity, Kyle Barker, Greg Charlton, Grant Goven, Daren Martin

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose: It has been hypothesized that patellofemoral pain may be precipitated by weak hip abductor musculature that does not pull the pelvis and femurs into correct alignment during gait activities. The misalignment at the pelvis leads to misalignment down the kinetic chain, eventually affecting the knees. It is theorized that hip taping may aid in supporting the pelvis, thus reducing the EMG activity of the hip abductors and normalizing the alignment of the knees. The purpose of this study is to describe muscle activity and joint motion during a step-down test in subjects with and without the hip …

The Effects Of Magnetic Insoles On Lumbar Flexion, Kari Braaflat, Becky Cox, Angela Delacruz, Heather Skarsgard

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Magnets have been used for therapeutic purposes for hundreds of years. Today, magnetic devices and other alternative therapies are more popular than ever among the general public. The effect of these magnetic devices is dependent on several variables including strength, depth of penetration, placement, time exposed to the magnetic field, and polarity. There are many proposed theories on how magnets affect the body, but there is little research to support them. One of the theories proposed is that magnets alter connective tissue elasticity and allow greater range of motion (ROM). Additional research needs to be conducted to validate or negate …

A Comparison Of Hot Packs And Light Or Moderate Exercise On Rectus Femoris Temperature, Sean J. Sreniawski

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Context: Hot packs, light exercise, and or moderate exercise are used to heat soft tissue injuries before rehabilitation or competition for their desired effects. This comparison is beneficial to clinicians, so that they may be better educated on the use of the most effective therapeutic modality heating protocols when treating a soft tissue injury. Objective: To compare the application of a hot pack to light intensity exercise and moderate intensity exercise on peak temperature of the rectus femoris muscle, and the time at which peak temperature is reached. Design: A 1 x 3 factorial design was used in this study. …

Conflict Of Interest And Physical Therapy, Mike W. Martin, Donald L. Gabard

Philosophy Faculty Books and Book Chapters

'In a chapter entitled “Conflict of Interest & Physical Therapy”, authors Martin & Gabard offer a cogent definition. They write simply, “conflicts of interest are situations in which individuals have interests that significantly threaten their role responsibilities, or would do so for a typical person having their role.” Likewise, Davis describes the standard view of conflict of interest as a situation in which a person P is in a relationship requiring P to exercise some judgment on another’s behalf and P has an interest “tending to interfere with the proper exercise of that judgment”. With regard to professional conflicts of …

Angiotensin Ii And Vegf Are Involved In Angiogenesis Induced By Short-Term Exercise Training, Sandra L. Amaral, Paula E. Papanek, Andrew S. Greene

Exercise Science Faculty Research and Publications

Results from our laboratory have suggested a pathway involving angiotensin II type 1 (AT₁) receptors and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in angiogenesis induced by electrical stimulation. The present study investigated if similar mechanisms underlie the angiogenesis induced by short-term exercise training. Seven days before training and throughout the training period, male Sprague-Dawley rats received either captopril or losartan in their drinking water. Rats underwent a 3-day treadmill training protocol. The tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius muscles were harvested under anesthesia and lightly fixed in formalin (vessel density) or frozen in liquid nitrogen (VEGF expression). In controls, treadmill training …

Application And Interpretation Of Simple Odds Ratios In Physical Therapy-Related Research, Pamela Levangie

All PTHMS Faculty Publications

Over the past several decades, physical therapists have demonstrated an increasing responsiveness to the profession's obligation to generate objective evidence for examination and intervention strategies employed in physical therapy practice. This trend is evident, not only in the increasing number of journals that are publishing physical therapy research, but in the growing sophistication of research design and analytic options used by investigators. At the same time, physical therapists are held increasingly accountable for adopting an evidence-based approach to practice. The result for many of us is a growing concern about our ability to interpret study findings. The ability to independently …

A Practice Analysis Survey: Defining The Clinical Practice Of Primary Care Physical Therapy, Edsen Bermudez Donato

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Background and Purpose. Due to changes in the health care delivery systems, physical therapy services have moved toward a primary care model of practice. The purpose of this study was to identify the professional responsibilities, procedures, and knowledge areas of physical therapists practicing in primary care settings.

Subjects. A sample of 212 physical therapists practicing in primary care settings, and a control group of 250 physical therapists not practicing in primary care settings were surveyed.

Methods. The survey instrument was developed with the assistance of a National Advisory Committee (NAC) consisting of 12 subject matter experts. A modified Delphi …

The 6-Minute Walk Test And Alternatives: A Brief Review Of Literature, R. W. Bohannon, K. Sadaria

Physical Therapy

No abstract provided.

Psychosocial Correlates Of Physiologlcal Improvement In Female Cardiac Patients: Improving Effectiveness Of Cardiac Rehabilitation Programs, Linda A. Halvorsen

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between a set or psychosocial variables and a set of physiological variables for a cohort of female cardiac rehabilitation patients. The independent variable set included initial denial, inlcnwl locus of control, perceived mental health status, and perceived physical health status. Dependent variables included change scores for metabolic equivalents and resting heat rate. The sample consisted of76 women who were enrolled in a Phase II cardiac rehabilitation program. Demographic information including number of completed rehabilitation sessions, age, martial status, and diagnosis was provided. A series of bivariate correlations were conducted to …

Factors In Predicting The Number Of Home Care Physical Visits, Bruce D. Bradley

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

There has been a significant increase in the utilization of home health care during the past decade. Medicare has attempted to control home care costs by 1) allowing Medicare beneficiaries to join Health Maintenance Organizations, and 2) requiring the use of the Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS) for all patients admitted to home care services. These changes have challenged the home care physical therapist to be a better predictor of the total number of visits needed to complete the rehabilitation process. This was a retrospective study of 335 patients who received home health care physical therapy. The first part …

The Effects Of Education On Fear-Avoidance Behavior Of Subjects With Work-Related Low Back Pain, Marie A. Anger

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Background and Purpose. Fear-avoidance behavior contributes to chronic low back pain. The purpose of this study was to determine whether patient education on fear-avoidance behavior added to conventional physical therapy would have significant effects on return to work status in contrast to a comparison group with only physical therapy intervention. Return to work status was measured by the length of time from the initial injury to the subject’s return to work on regular duty.

Subjects. Thirty-four workers’ compensation subjects with low back pain who exhibited fear-avoidance behavior, according to their responses to the Fear- Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire, were alternately assigned …

Toward The Optimal Waveform For Electrical Stimulation, Scott Douglas Bennie

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Electrical stimulation (ES) is used to strengthen muscle, improve abnormal tone, and improve the healing rate of pressure sores. Four male and three female research subjects received four minute bouts of electrically stimulated isometric contractions equal to 10% of the maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) of their right quadriceps muscle to study subjective comfort and physiological responses to different waveforms, including Russian, interferential, sine, and square. Frequency remained constant at 30pps. The pulse width for the Russian waveform was 200ps, while the sine, square, and interferential waveforms used a lOOps pulse width. The amplitude of stimulation was adjusted to maintain the …

Disability Self-Assessment And Upper Quarter Muscle Balance In Females, Eric Glenn Johnson

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Background and Purpose. This study compared upper quarter muscle balance of working female dental hygienists and non-dental hygiene females who had no history of upper quarter pathology. The upper quarter was operationally defined as the shoulder and neck region; and muscle balance, as muscular flexibility and muscular performance. Muscular performance was operationally defined as a combination of strength and endurance.

Subjects. The study group consisted of 41 working dental hygienists between the ages of 22 and 60 years with a mean age of 38 years. The control group consisted of 46 non-dental hygienists between the ages of 20 and 54 …