Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

Functional School-Based Physical Therapy Management For A Child With Pallister-Killian Syndrome: A Case Report, Cheryl R. Espinosa

Case Report Papers

Background and Purpose: Pallister-Killian Syndrome (PKS) is a rare genetic disorder resulting from an additional short arm in chromosome 12. This condition leads to varying levels of multi-system impairments that impact a child’s development in gross motor skills yielding functional limitations. Pediatric physical therapy (PT) management is crucial for these children to facilitate improvements in sitting, standing, and ambulation. The purpose of this case report was to describe functional school-based PT management for a child with PKS. Case Description: The child was a seven-year-old male diagnosed with PKS at 20 weeks’ gestation. The child was seen for PT five times …

Muscle Activation Patterns During Movement Attempts In Children With Acquired Spinal Cord Injury: Neurophysiological Assessment Of Residual Motor Function Below The Level Of Lesion., Darryn A Atkinson, Laura Mendez, Natalie Goodrich, Sevda C Aslan, Beatrice Ugiliweneza, Andrea L Behrman

Physical Therapy Collection

Introduction: Characterization of residual neuromotor capacity after spinal cord injury (SCI) is challenging. The current gold standard for measurement of sensorimotor function after SCI, the International Society for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSCI) exam, seeks to determine isolated intentional muscle activation, however many individuals with SCI exhibit intentional movements and muscle activation patterns which are not confined to specific joint or muscle. Further, isolated muscle activation is a feature of the neuromuscular system that emerges during development, and thus may not be an appropriate measurement standard for children younger than 6.

Methods: We utilized neurophysiological assessment …

Regaining Independence In Ambulation For A Visually Impaired Patient With Rhabdomyolysis: A Case Report, Brandon Bourgoin

Case Report Papers

Background and Purpose: Rhabdomyolysis is a myopathic condition that causes significant muscle wasting following an acute onset. This condition elevates creatine kinase in the bloodstream, and commonly causes the patient to have muscle pain, swelling, and weakness, as well as dark “tea” colored urine. The purpose of this study was to describe physical therapy (PT) interventions used treating a legally blind (LB) elderly male with rhabdomyolysis and multiple comorbidities. Case Description: A 78-year-old male referred to PT with a diagnosis of rhabdomyolysis following a fall in the home. He presented with muscle soreness, decreased lower extremity (LE) strength, and impaired …

Gait, Strength, And Balance Training For A 43-Year-Old Male Following Acute Right Middle Cerebral Artery Stroke: A Case Report, Victoria Dwyer

Case Report Posters

A cerebrovascular accident, commonly known as a stroke, is caused by an ischemic or hemorrhagic event affecting arteries that lead to the brain causing them to burst or be occluded. The middle cerebral artery is the most commonly occluded artery involved in a stroke. The four most common risk factors involved in having a stroke are: high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and pervious strokes. Common impairments associated with having a stroke include: hemiparesis, loss of sensation in the face and/or extremities, and difficulties with speech, vision, and gait. The purpose of this case report was to describe the physical …

Early Mobilization And Functional Mobility Training For A Patient With Triple Vessel Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: A Case Report, Cody Hall

Case Report Papers

Background and Purpose: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the buildup of plaque in coronary blood vessels and is the most common type of heart disease in the United States. Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is an invasive surgical procedure used to provide alternate blood supply to cardiac tissue in individuals with CAD using autografts. The goals of the surgery are often to prolong life, reduce symptoms, improve functioning, and improve vocational status. The purpose of this case report was to document the outcomes of a physical therapy (PT) plan of care for a complex patient after undergoing CABG. Case Description: …

Comprehensive Physical Therapy Management Of Chronic Low Back Pain With Associated Remote Right Hamstring Injury: A Case Report, Emily Larson

Case Report Posters

Low back pain (LBP) is a health condition associated with back, core, and hip muscle dysfunction as well as reduced lumbar range of motion. Core muscle stabilization, hip abductor strengthening, and lumbar range of motion are all effective techniques for treating patients with chronic LBP. Lumbar muscular imbalance can lead to hamstring injury because of change in the functional load. The purpose of this case report was to review a therapeutic exercise approach to the treatment of chronic low back pain after a remote hamstring injury, including a focus on lumbar and core stabilization, lumbar and hamstring stretching and hamstring …

Functional Mobility In A Patient With Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome Following A Femoral Neck Fracture Surgical Repair: A Case Report, Mckenna Young

Case Report Posters

Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome is an autoimmune disease which causes the body to produce antibodies that attack phospholipids, a type of fat. It leads to high rates of blood clot formation in arteries and veins. High rates of blood clots cause stroke, which can lead to balance concerns and increased falls. Fall rates among individuals with chronic disease peak between age 45-64. Fall risk factors include reduced mobility level, imbalance, age, number of co-morbidities, duration of diagnosis, and sex. The purpose of this case report is to investigate a comprehensive physical therapy program that focused on increasing independence and reducing fall …

Combining A Comprehensive Physical Therapy Program And Electroshock Therapy For A Patient With Plantar Fasciitis: A Case Report, Kathryn Piersiak

Case Report Posters

Plantar fasciitis (PF) affects 2 million Americans per year and 10% of the population over a lifetime. PF is inflammation to the thick, fibrous connective tissue originating on the medial calcaneal tubercle extending to the metatarsal heads of the foot. A comprehensive physical therapy (PT) plan of care (POC) of proximal strengthening, distal stretching and soft tissue massage (STM) has been shown to improve PF symptoms. Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) is a non-invasive modality that uses sound waves to create a controlled microtrauma to the impaired tissue to stimulate a healing response and microvascularization. ESWT has shown to be effective …

Conservative Management Of A Massive Rotator Cuff Tear And Partial Tear Of The Long Head Of The Biceps: A Case Report, Jessica Diggins

Case Report Posters

A rotator cuff tear (RCT) is a common injury to the shoulder musculature that increases in prevalence with age. RCT’s can be classified into five categories determined by the muscular involved: Type A: supraspinatus & superior subscapularis; Type B: supraspinatus & entire subscapularis; Type C: supraspinatus, superior subscapularis & infraspinatus; Type D: supraspinatus & infraspinatus tears; Type E: supraspinatus,infraspinatus & teres minor. Massive RCT is classified as >5cm in size, or complete tear of two or more tendons. Some massive tears may be considered irreparable due to the extent of tendon retraction, atrophy, arthritis and mobilization. Current literature supports the …

Blood Flow Restriction Therapy For The Treatment Of An Acl Reconstruction With A Meniscal Repair: A Case Report, Nicole Victor

Case Report Posters

ACL tears make up ~50% of all knee injuries. Meniscal tears are second to ACL injuries in regards to prevalence. Following an ACL reconstruction, high-load resistance training is often used to increase muscle strength. However, rehabilitation after a meniscal repair calls for a longer period of immobilization in order to prevent early loading of the meniscus. Blood Flow Restriction Therapy (BFRT) used in conjunction with low intensity resistance training can produce increased muscle mass of the quadriceps muscles without adding load and stress to the meniscus. While evidence has shown positive results with the use of BFRT after an ACLR, …

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 …

Physical Therapy Management Of Stress Urinary Incontinence In The Pediatric Population: A Case Study, Debra Dy, Maureen Egizii

Miami, Fall 2019

The purpose of this study was to determine if external pelvic floor examination and treatment can be an effective, non-invasive intervention for urinary incontinence in the pediatric population. The case study examines the effectiveness of exercise therapy for an 11-year-old female with pelvic floor dysfunction. This case demonstrates that pelvic floor strengthening exercises can help to resolve incontinence symptoms without the implementation of internal examination or treatment. Although commonly used to address incontinence in adults, pelvic floor physical therapy may also be an effective, non-invasive intervention option for children who are experiencing urinary incontinence.

Treatment Of Phantom Limb Pain And Knee Flexion Contracture Due To Transtibial Amputation: A Case Study, Kristin Smead, Donna Leigel

Miami, Fall 2019

This case study evaluated the effectiveness of a combination of visual mirror therapy for phantom limb pain desensitization in conjunction with a physical therapy regimen of therapeutic exercise, short-wave diathermy, and gait training in a 66-year-old male with left lower extremity amputation.

Through a combination of mirror therapy, short-wave diathermy over the hamstring musculature, and therapeutic exercise, the patient displayed an overall improvement in left lower limb knee flexion contracture and a reduction in perceived phantom limb pain.The patient can now tolerate full weight bearing through this extremity from an improved fit of the prosthesis socket. Throughout the course of …

Public Transportation Accessibility: Perceptions Of Riders With Disabilities In Utah, Cherissa R. Alldredge

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Transportation plays an essential role in social inclusion and participation, subjective well-being, and overall quality of life. A lack of private transportation options may make individuals with disabilities more dependent on public transportation systems. Despite increased use, people with disabilities continue to report barriers accessing public transportation services. Interestingly, little is known about these barriers at the regional transportation district level. The purpose of this study was to better understand the barriers and perceived accessibility of the Utah Transit Authority’s (UTA) public transportation system for individuals with disabilities living within the UTA service area.

Using an online survey, data were …

Can Eccentric Exercise Of The Lower Limb Be Made More Efficiently, A Pilot Study, Jerrold S. Petrofsky, Robert Donatelli, James M. Mckivigan, Michael S. Laymon

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

Abstract Background: Eccentric Exercise has been shown to be more effective in building muscle and healing damaged tissue than concentric or isometric exercise. It has also been shown to be effective in increasing motor control. But the duration of therapeutic exercise in physical therapy is limited by insurance to 30-60 minutes a day. Objectives: Four standard therapy eccentric exercises of the lower limbs were compared (toe raise, ball exercise, side lying eccentric exercise and incline board exercise) to a trainer called the BTE Eccentron to see if the efficiency of exercise could be increased using one exercise session to meet …

Spine Kinematics And Muscle Activities In Non-Specific Chronic Low Back Pain Subgroups In Sitting, Mansoor Ahmed Alameri

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Background: Although, non-specific chronic low back pain (NSCLBP) has been associated with motor control impairments, little is known about the possible driving mechanisms of pain development overtime during prolonged sitting period. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the differences in lumbosacral postures and muscle activities in adults with and without NSCLBP, and their role on pain development during a 1-hour of prolonged sitting task.

Methods: Twenty NSCLBP subjects with motor control impairment (MCI) [10 classified as having flexion pattern (FP) disorder, and 10 with active extension pattern (AEP) disorder], and 10 healthy controls participated in …

Effect Of Pediatric Ear Infections On Postural Stability, Ohud A. Sabir

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Ear infections in children often cause abnormal postural stability during the acute phase of the ear infection. However, the long-term effects of recurrent ear infections on postural stability have not been investigated. Postural stability is the foundation of many motor skills in early child development. Therefore, it is important to evaluate and treat postural instability problems in early childhood. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of multiple ear infections on pediatric postural stability and visual over-reliance and to determine if computerized and non-computerized measurement tools could identify lasting postural instability in children with multiple ear infections …

Fragile X Syndrome And Family Occupations: Sertraline Treatment Via Case Studies, Decerie Mendoza, Tracy P. Ye, Martina C. Dualan, Elena A. Javier

Student Research Posters

Current research on children with Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) lacks inclusion of qualitative outcomes on the child’s daily occupational performance. Standardized measurements are frequently utilized and provide useful information, however, can be less sensitive to change (Berry Kravis et al., 2013) and miss capturing family perspectives and improvements within meaningful occupations. This research incorporates family perspectives via semi-structured interviews to promote an in-depth understanding about FXS and its impact on child and family occupations in addition to standardized assessment scores through in-depth case study analysis. This study used a mixed method research design examining four male participants who were given …

Veterans Using Mindfulness Practice To Cope With Trauma & Operational Stress Injuries, T'Challa Azhar Stuckey

All Theses And Dissertations

Psychological distress due to military operations is impacting returning veterans mentally and physically. The purpose of exploring literature relating to veterans is to determine if mindfulness-based interventions (MBI) are beneficial in managing the symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Data generated by the research question “What are the therapeutic benefits of mindfulness-based interventions, if any, in managing the symptoms of PTSD among veterans?” were explored to determine the effectiveness of using mindfulness-based coping skills to manage symptoms such as hyperarousal, intrusive recollections, and avoidance. The studies that were analyzed reported on veterans who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces …

Feasibility And Acceptability Of A Self-Report Activity Diary In Families Of Children With And Without Special Needs, Bethany Forseth, Paula E. Papanek, Linda Bandini, Dale A. Schoeller, Andrea Moosreiner, Kathleen J. Sawing, Kimberley Zvara, Michael Fendrich, Michele Polfuss

Exercise Science Faculty Research and Publications

This study was conducted to examine the feasibility and acceptability of a self-report activity diary completed by parents and older children to assess the child's daily activity in children with and without special needs. The study included 36 child/parent dyads stratified by child age and diagnosis. Parents (n = 36) and children ≥13 years (n = 12) were asked to report on the child's daily activity using an activity diary. Feasibility was determined based on successfully returned diaries and acceptability via post-study interview. Activity diaries were submitted by 94% of the parents and 100% of the children, with 83% and …