Physiotherapy Commons^™

The Readiness Reset: Sleep, Stress, And Pain Management For Tactical Performance, Lauren Fried

Tactical & Occupational Performance Conference

Tactical professionals operate in high-demand environments where sleep disruption, chronic stress, and persistent pain are often normalized, but these factors significantly affect readiness, resilience, and long-term performance. This session explores how sleep, stress, and pain interact at the physiological and neurological levels to influence decision-making, recovery, injury risk, and operational effectiveness in first responders and military personnel.

Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how nervous system regulation, circadian rhythms, and pain perception affect both physical and cognitive performance under stress. Drawing on current research and applied human performance principles, this session highlights practical, field-applicable strategies that tactical professionals and …

Prevalence Of Depression In Physical Therapy Environments For Young Adult Populations In The U.S.: A Systematic Literature Review, Audrey N. Baucom

Honors College Theses

Objective: This systematic review aimed to examine interactions of depression symptoms and diagnoses and its prevalence in physical therapy settings among the young adult population ages 18-24 in the United States through current literature and to identify existing literature. Methods: This review followed the PRISMA guidelines to form a systematic review. Ten databases were extensively searched. Results were screened by one researcher and those that met the criteria were verified as inclusive by a second researcher. Results: The search yielded 3,017 results and included two studies. In each study, age was not identified as a prevalent variable in mental health …

The Effect Of Visual Feedback On Lumbar Spinal Mobility In Subjects With Low Back Pain, Alexandra Adams, Averi Donaldson, Katherine Hildebrandt, Philemon Miller

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

Purpose: This study was designed to determine if visual feedback via a laser pointer would enhance quality of lumbar mobility exercise in quadruped. A secondary aim of this study was to compare mobility assessed using the valid and reliable Modified-Modified Schober Test (MMST) to mobility measured indirectly using the laser pointer.

Subjects: 69

Methods: Adult participants with no low back pain (LBP) in the previous year or back surgery were randomly assigned to one of three groups for two sessions: Control (blindfolded during both), Intervention A (blindfolded then visual feedback), or Intervention B (visual feedback then blindfolded). Baseline standing lumbar …

Differential Effects Of Reduced Foot Sole Sensitivity And Nerve Conduction Velocity On Postural Control And Functional Gait, Kelsey D. Lewis

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

INTRODUCTION: Peripheral neuropathy is characterized by a loss of foot sole sensitivity and slowed nerve conduction velocity. Individuals with peripheral neuropathy have decreased postural control ability and functional gait performance. No research was found that differentiated the effects of the main symptoms of peripheral neuropathy on postural control and functional gait. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the differential effects of reduced foot sole sensitivity and slowed nerve conduction velocity on postural control and functional gait. METHODS: Two main clinical symptoms, H-index and foot sole sensitivity were evaluated among 35 participants. Outcome variables are the center of …

Physical Therapists' Perspectives Of School Functioning For Children With Cerebral Palsy (Cp), Vevian Grace A. Lee

Honors College Theses

The purpose of this study was to use a qualitative participatory action research method – Photovoice – to identify perceived barriers and facilitators to school functioning among school-based physical therapists of children with cerebral palsy (CP). Seven physical therapists made up the participants in this study. The researchers followed the nine-step methodology recommended for Photovoice. During the training session, participants were educated on the background of Photovoice and the purpose of the study. They were given 14 days to take photographs after which researchers used a focus group interview structured by the SHOWeD method. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability …

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