Physiotherapy Commons^™

Editor's Note, Rolando Lazaro

Philippine Journal of Physical Therapy

The Editor-in-Chief of the Philippine Journal of Physical Therapy introduces its inaugural issue.

Admission Variables Predict Success In A Hybrid-Online Physical Therapist Education Program, Evan M. Pucillo, Rossniel Marinas, Christine Salmon, Vibhor Agrawal

Physical Therapy Collection

Purpose: Screening student applicants can be a valuable measure for hybrid-online Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) programs.Institutions embrace a wide variety of measurements that drive admissions decisions. However, uncertainties exist regarding the most accurate admission predictors of academic outcomes, especially among hybrid-online DPT programs. The purpose of this study was to examine predictive relationships between applicants’ admission variables and program grade point average and National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) performance in a cohort of entry-level hybrid-online DPT students. Methods: A retrospective cohort design and convenience sampling method was used across two entry-level hybrid-online DPT programs in the Southeastern US. Hybrid-online …

Optimal Interventions To Address Drop Foot And Increase Gait Speed In Stroke Populations, Christopher Tran, Tommy Ngo, Dana Hazlett, Ethan Jung, Faris Alshammari

San Marcos, Summer 2020

Background: The mechanism of stroke or cerebral vascular accident (CVA) is an interruption of blood flow to the brain, which can result in many different neuromuscular impairments including drop foot. There is limited research focusing on comparative interventions for gait improvement in early stroke.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to review the various physical thereapy interventions to benefit patients with drop foot following a single stroke.

Methods: A comprehensive systematic search was conducted within the PubMed and ProQuest databases. This study examined papers assessing conventional physical therapy for stroke patients with drop foot who had their 1st stroke …

The Effectiveness Of Home Health Physical Therapy Following Diagnosis Of Acute Respiratory Failure Secondary To Covid-19: A Case Report, Desiree Lyall, Maura Owens

San Marcos, Summer 2020

The purpose of this case study is to describe the effects of home health physical therapy involving gait training, respiratory exercises, disease process education and rehabilitation exercises for strength, endurance and balance in the treatment of a 73 year-old, male patient with a diagnosis of acute respirtory failure secondary to Covid-19.

For a patient with a diagnosis of acute respiratory failure secondary to Covid-19 diagnosis home health physical therapy was an effective treatment option to facilitate return to prior level of function. This case study supports previous research and recommended treatment guidelines for the effectiveness of gait training, respiratory exercises, …

The Effectiveness Of Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback In Conjunction With Traditional Treatment For Thoracic Outlet Syndrome In A 25-Year-Old Female: A Case Report, Sepehr Rezaei

San Marcos, Summer 2020

Introduction: Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) is a complex condition that causes pain, tingling sensation, hypesthesia, muscle atrophy, weakness, and edematous changes in the upper quadrant (UQ) and down upper extremity (UE). ^3,7,8,16,17 TOS is due to compression of neurovascular bundles in the interscalene triangle, costoclavicular space, and under pectoralis minor and caused by trauma, congenital malformations such as a cervical rib, and abnormal/poor postures from muscle imbalances.^3,7,8,16,17 Interventions for TOS can consist of correcting posture by addressing muscle imbalance, decreasing tone and muscle tightness and rib mobilization, and in rare cases, rib resection. ^{3,7,8,13,16,17} However, there is limited research …

Remedying Healthcare Disparities Affecting The Black Community, Savonna Reed

San Marcos, Summer 2020

The purpose of this literature review is to determine how black communities are being impacted by racial/social determinants of cardiovascular health, and to investigate potential healthcare solutions to eliminate these disparities.

As physical therapists, we commonly treat patients following lumbar spinal fusion surgery. Post-op outcomes have been found to be impacted by racial disparities in decision making in whether care providers offer surgical care, differences in access to care due to socioeconomic barriers, and differences in attitudes towards surgical care among ethnic groups.

Review of current literature has revealed that more research should be done to establish ways of remedying …

Analysis Of Physical Therapy Interventions Vs. Kinesio Taping For Relieving Low Back Pain, Amanda Orr

San Marcos, Summer 2020

Introduction/Background: This topic focuses on the utilization of kinesio taping (KT) to assist with decreasing pain in the low back. According to Shipton, low back pain has gone up by more than 50% since 1990. These factors are attributed to smoking, obesity, sedentary occupations, and to low socioeconomic status.Globally, in 2016, it is said that low back pain contributed 57.6 years to disability and the prevalence peaks around the ages of 35-55 years according to the World Health Organization.

Purpose: The purpose of this literature review is to compare research articles between KT with physical therapy interventions as compared …

Combined Effects Of Telehealth And Modified Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy For Individuals With Chronic Hemiparesis, Mary Ann Smith, Machiko R. Tomita

Occupational Therapy Collection

Telehealth use allows improved access to services and results in potential cost savings. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a combined modified Constrained Induced Movement Therapy (mCIMT) program using telehealth and in-person sessions, for participants with higher (Group 1) and lower (Group 2) functional ability of the hemiparetic upper extremity. Using a pre-experimental design with a 6-week intervention, 28 participants were assessed twice on use of upper extremity via subjective and objective measures. For the Motor Activity Log, the amount of use and quality of use were significant for Groups 1 and 2. Significant improvements …

Weight-Bearing Interventions To Decrease Spasticity And Improve Gait In Stroke Patients: A Case Report, Melin Nguyen, Shelby Peterson, Jessika Sun, Irene Taing, Faris Alshammari

San Marcos, Fall 2019

The purpose of this case report was to determine the success of weight-bearing interventions on spasticity reduction and improved gait patterns in a 61 year-old-male patient recovering from a chronic left hemorrhagic CVA. The patient’s primary impairments included right upper and lower extremity spasticity, circumduction gait, weakness and decreased range of motion of right extremities.

The interventions included in this patient’s treatment program included standing calf stretches, toe raises, ankle range of motion and gait training for 1 hour once a week for 4 weeks. This case report supports the application of weight-bearing through the paretic limb, which has been …

What Is Congenital Talipes Equinovarus?, Cornelia Lieb-Lundell

San Marcos, Fall 2019

An estimated 80% of clubfoot cases occur in low to middle-income countries. Incidence of clubfoot is estimated to be 1-1.5 per 1000 births, and male to female occurrence is 3:1. (1) Left untreated, this congenital anomaly becomes a “neglected clubfoot” and can result in lifelong hardships including limited ambulation related to gait deviations, pain, foot deformities and an inability to wear shoes. Without treatment, this health condition can lead to functional limitations with limited independence in activities of daily living and participation restrictions within the family and community related to decreased mobility. (2)

The intervention presented is the main components …

The Effects Of Dry Needling In The Management Of Sub-Acromial Impingement Syndrome: A Case Report, Kaitlyn Radice, Lindsey Bramlette, Kristin Fenstermaker

Miami, Fall 2019

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectivness of dry needling to an active trigger point in the anterior deltoid musculature in conjunction with physical therapy. This case study presents a 77-year-old male with traumatic pull into flexion injury. In addition to being given RTC and postural musculature strengthening exercises, PROM, joint mobilization, and soft tissue mobilization, dry needling was performed at week 2 and week 4 of treatment.

From this case study, we can conclude that TrP-DN to an active TrPin the anterior deltoid can yield statistically significant improvements in ROM, strength, pain, and functional abilities when …

Rehabilitation Modifications For A Patient With Parkinson’S Disease Following A Suspected Case Of Gilbert’S Syndrome: A Case Study, Jason Bandong, Hy Ia, Naureen Imam, Kayla Wilcox, Travis Dennis

San Marcos, Summer 2019

The purpose of this case study was to assess the effects of core stabilization exercises, balance training, agility ladder step drills, fine motor, and dual-task training in the treatment of a high-functioning, 55-year-old, male patient with a history of Parkinson’s Disease and suspected Gilbert’s Syndrome.

This treatment program delivered for 1 hour once per week over 4 weeks led to mild improvements in activity limitations with the most notable being able to button a shirt with decreased time and assistance. The patient also exhibited mild improvement in body structure/function impairments with decreased loss of balance as evident during tandem walking …

Hip And Trunk Muscle Activity During The Star Excursion Balance Test In Healthy Adults, Kunal Bhanot, Navpreet Kaur, Lori Thein Brody, Jennifer Bridges, David C. Berry, Joshua J. Ode

Physical Therapy Collection

CONTEXT: Dynamic balance is a measure of core stability. Deficits in the dynamic balance have been related to injuries in the athletic populations. The Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) is suggested to measure and improve dynamic balance when used as a rehabilitative tool.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the electromyographic activity of the hip and the trunk muscles during the SEBT.

DESIGN: Descriptive.

SETTING: University campus.

PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-two healthy adults (11 males and 11 females; 23.3 [3.8] y, 170.3 [7.6] cm, 67.8 [10.3] kg, and 15.1% [5.0%] body fat).

INTERVENTION: Surface electromyographic data were collected on …

Using The Backward Design Process To Integrate Interprofessional Education Utilizing Simulation In Ot And Pt Educational Curricula, Norman C. Belleza, Maureen Johnson

Physical Therapy Collection

Interprofessional simulation education (IPSE) has been integrated into the OT and PT curriculum. Having a dedicated simulation center on-site allows for continued use of IPSE for regular monitoring and assessment of student achievement in interprofessional exchanges. Additional healthcare disciplines can also integrate IPSE including nursing, nurse practitioner, physician’s assistant, post-graduate professionals, athletic trainers, and speech and langue pathology. Inclusion of IPSE will augment the collaborative effort for increased interactions among various health care providers.

Interrater Reliability Of The Pediatric Neuromuscular Recovery Scale In Children With Spina Bifida, Elizabeth Ardolino, Megan Flores, Germaine Ferreira, Susan Jeantete, Kathleen Manella

Physical Therapy Collection

Purpose: There is a paucity of outcome measures to assess the quality of functional mobility in children with spina bifida¹. The Pediatric Neuromuscular Recovery Scale (Peds NRS) is a valid and reliable outcome measure that was developed to assess the motor capacity of children with spinal cord injury^2-6. The purpose of this study was to examine the interrater reliability of the Pediatric Neuromuscular Recovery Scale (Peds NRS) to classify motor capacity in children with myelomeningocele (MMC) form of spina bifida.

Subjects: Twenty-one children with MMC (1.4- 10 years of age; mean age of 5.3 …

Integrating Interprofessional Education With Simulation Experiences Within Ot And Pt Curricula: A Look At The Backwards Design Process, Nicole Rodriguez, Norman C. Belleza, Maureen Johnson

Physical Therapy Collection

Interprofessional education has become a significant focus across healthcare disciplines noting the benefits that can be achieved through improving patient outcomes, increasing awareness for potential referral to other providers, and fostering collaboration.

The integration of simulation into established OT and PT curriculum was a less daunting task by using the backward design process. Continued growth and the addition of Speech Therapy, Nursing, and Physician’s Assistant programs will further necessitate use of backward design to integrate meaningful multidisciplinary activities for students.

Three Faces Of Fragile X Syndrome, Cornelia Lieb-Lundell

Physical Therapy Collection

Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) is well known and widely recognized in pediatrics. Less well known is that FXS, as an X-linked disorder of the FMR1 gene, is but one of three impairments that all have a common single-gene genetic basis. These three are labeled Fragile X-associated Disorders (FXD) and are, in turn, a part of a large group of impairments which have a collective name of trinucleotide repeat expansion disorders. Common to all three FXD disorders is that the x-gene carries a characteristic CGG expansion (of the DNA) that can range from 50-+200 (5-45 is normal) with premutation carriers having …