Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

Developing Effective Online Training Tools For Maine Adaptive Sports And Recreation, Kristina Jamo, Emily Gall, Shannon Bergeland, Chelsea Paul

Research Report Papers

Background: Maine Adaptive Sports and Recreation (MASR) relies on volunteers to instruct their participants with disabilities to participate in a variety of adaptive sport programs. Volunteers must have a comprehensive understanding of participants’ health conditions to assist appropriately. MASR’s traditional training program lacked a formal curriculum and assessment of volunteer learning. Our purpose was to create online learning modules and determine whether implementing a massed or distributed schedule resulted in better long term retention. Methods: Two non-randomized groups of eleven adults were assigned to either an in-class, massed format (Group A) or an at-home, distributed schedule (Group B) to complete …

Timing And Amount Of Physical Therapy Treatment Are Associated With Length Of Stay In The Cardiothoracic Icu, Audrey M. Johnson, Angela N. Henning, Peter E. Morris, Alejandro G. Villasante Tezanos, Esther E. Dupont-Versteegden

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

Significant variability exists in physical therapy early mobilization practice. The frequency of physical therapy or early mobilization of patients in the cardiothoracic intensive care unit and its effect on length of stay has not been investigated. The goal of our research was to examine variables that influence physical therapy evaluation and treatment in the intensive care unit using a retrospective chart review. Patients (n = 2568) were categorized and compared based on the most common diagnoses or surgical procedures. Multivariate semi-logarithmic regression analyses were used to determine correlations. Differences among patient subgroups for all independent variables other than age and …

Accuracy Of Recall Of Musculoskeletal Injuries In Elite Military Personnel: A Cross-Sectional Study, Mita Lovalekar, John P. Abt, Timothy C. Sell, Scott M. Lephart, Erin Pletcher, Kim Beals

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

Background Self-reported data are often used in research studies among military populations.

Objective The accuracy of self-reported musculoskeletal injury data among elite military personnel was assessed for issues with recall.

Design Cross-sectional study.

Setting Applied research laboratory at a military installation.

Participants A total of 101 subjects participated (age 28.5±5.6 years). Study participants were active duty military personnel, with no conditions that precluded them from full duty.

Primary and secondary outcome measures Self-reported and medical record reviewed injuries that occurred during a 1-year period were matched by anatomic location, injury side (for extremity injuries), and injury year and type. The …

Integration Of Animal-Assisted Therapy Standards In Pediatric Occupational Therapy, Sara J. Shue, Melissa Y. Winkle, M J Mulcahey

People and Animals: The International Journal of Research and Practice

The primary purpose of this study was to describe how the best practice recommendations and standards of practice related to animal-assisted therapy (AAT) are being incorporated into pediatric occupational therapy (OT). The study design was a nonexperimental survey that identified the qualifications of pediatric occupational therapists that are incorporating AAT, the AAT standards of practice that are or are not used in practice, and the barriers and facilitators to being an AAT qualified occupational therapist. There were 21 respondents to the survey. The majority of respondents had a master’s degree, more than 10 years working as an occupational therapist, less …

From War To Home: The Systematic Issues Operation Enduring And Iraqi Freedom Veterans Face Transitioning With Ptsd, Tiffany D. Ware

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the perceptions of Operation Enduring and Iraqi Freedom veterans with PTSD, who are transitioning from active duty to civilian life, regarding their participation in the Disabled Transition Assistance Program.

Methodology: The methodology for this research study will be qualitative from a phenomenological perspective. When thinking of research as it pertains to qualitative methods, it is appropriate to use when a researcher is trying to study the lived experiences of individuals (Flipp, 2014; Patton, 2015). This method will describe perceptions of Operation Enduring and Iraqi Freedom veterans with PTSD, who are …

Effects Of Leg Girth And Leg Strength On Division I Track Athletes Race Performance, Benjamin Clay Dixon

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

Thesis presented to the faculty of the College of Science, Morehead State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts by Benjamin Clay Dixon on December 7, 2017.

Long-Term High Salt Intake Involves Reduced Sk Currents And Increased Excitability Of Pvn Neurons With Projections To The Rostral Ventrolateral Medulla In Rats, Andrew D. Chapp, Renjun Wang, Zixi Cheng, Zhiying Shan, Qing-Hui Chen

Department of Kinesiology and Integrative Physiology Publications

Evidence indicates that high salt (HS) intake activates presympathetic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) neurons, which contributes to sympathoexcitation of salt-sensitive hypertension. The present study determined whether 5 weeks of HS (2% NaCl) intake alters the small conductance Ca²⁺-activated potassium channel (SK) current in presympathetic PVN neurons and whether this change affects the neuronal excitability. In whole-cell voltage-clamp recordings, HS-treated rats had significantly decreased SK currents compared to rats with normal salt (NS, 0.4% NaCl) intake in PVN neurons. The sensitivity of PVN neuronal excitability in response to current injections was greater in HS group compared to NS controls. The …

Impact Of Men's Shed On Social Participation And Health Outcomes, Joshua Grimmer

Honors Theses

This paper will explore the concept of a community-based organization, known as a Men’s Shed. The purpose of the research is to determine the positive impacts the North Belfast Men’s Shed has on social participation and overall health outcomes. The key factors observed in this study were the safe environment, camaraderie, social acceptance, and variety of activities the shed offers. The study included a sample of 11 men primarily over the age of 60. At the time of the study, all of the men were retired or unemployed and came from diverse occupational backgrounds. A set of semi-structure questions was …

Evaluation Of Vascular Control Mechanisms Utilizing Video Microscopy Of Isolated Resistance Arteries Of Rats, Kathleen M. Lukaszewicz, Matthew J. Durand, Jessica R. C. Priestley, James R. Schmidt, L. Adrienne Allen, Aron M. Geurts, Julian H. Lombard

Physical Therapy Faculty Research and Publications

This protocol describes the use of in vitro television microscopy to evaluate vascular function in isolated cerebral resistance arteries (and other vessels), and describes techniques for evaluating tissue perfusion using Laser Doppler Flowmetry (LDF) and microvessel density utilizing fluorescently labeled Griffonia simplicifolia (GS1) lectin. Current methods for studying isolated resistance arteries at transmural pressures encountered in vivo and in the absence of parenchymal cell influences provide a critical link between in vivo studies and information gained from molecular reductionist approaches that provide limited insight into integrative responses at the whole animal level. LDF and techniques to selectively identify arterioles and …

Comprehensive Physical Therapy Management Of A Patient With Motor Control Deficits And Idiopathic Toe-Walking: A Case Report, Chelsey Hoglund, Kirsten Buchanan

Case Report Posters

Idiopathic toe-walking (ITW) describes patients who walk bearing most weight through their forefoot, in the absence of any known cause. Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) is a chronic condition involving impairments in gross motor, postural, and/or fine motor performance and affects the performance of movements necessary for daily living and academic tasks. Physical therapy intervention has been shown to result in improvements for patients with ITW and DCD, however, there are no known studies that investigate physical therapy intervention for patients with a diagnosis of both ITW and DCD. The purpose of this case report was to describe the comprehensive physical …

Outpatient Physical Therapy Management Of A Total Knee Arthroplasty With Severe Contralateral Knee Osteoarthritis: A Case Report, Michael Ikemura

Case Report Posters

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a common cause of severe pain, disability within the community, and dependence on others. In the U.S., a total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is one of the most commonly performed orthopedic procedures and 95% of them are attributed to OA. Following a TKA, pain and walking ability are the most important factors that need to be addressed. The purpose of this case report is to describe comprehensive PT management for a patient following a TKA with severe OA of the contralateral knee and report the outcomes.

The Use Of Therapeutic Exercise And Manual Therapy For A Patient Following Simultaneous Bilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Case Report, Allison Maynes

Case Report Posters

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disorder in the United States (US) and is the most common cause for a total knee arthroplasty (TKA) surgery. Approximately 670,000 TKA surgeries are performed annually in the US and it is estimated that one third are bilateral TKAs (BTKA) due to bilateral OA. Simultaneously, BTKA procedures consist of replacing both knees consecutively, in one operation, under one anesthesia. The purpose of this case report is to describe PT management, specifically therapeutic exercise and manual therapy, utilized for a patient who underwent simultaneous BTKA. This case report is needed based on the high …

Task-Oriented Training To Restore Independence In A Patient With Encephalitis In The Intensive Care Unit: A Case Report, Victoria Perez

Case Report Posters

Bacterial meningitis is a serious disease that causes acute inflammation of the meninges, the lining of the brain and spinal cord, which can result in significant morbidity and mortality. There are 15,000 to 25,000 cases in the US yearly and it is one of the top 10 causes of infection-related deaths worldwide. Bacterial meningitis is commonly complicated by encephalitis, inflammation of the brain parenchyma. 30% to 50% of survivors of bacterial encephalitis sustain neurological sequelae, which include memory loss, behavioral disorders, speech disorders, difficulty concentrating. The purpose of this case report was to investigate the use of task-oriented training to …

High Intensity Intervals And Gait Training For A Patient With Heart Failure And Parkinson Disease In A Skilled Nursing Facility: A Case Report, Kelly Fritz

Case Report Posters

The primary impairments of congestive heart failure (CHF) and Parkinson disease (PD) interact and present a unique challenge to rehabilitation. There is limited evidence on the PT management of both CHF and PD in the literature. The purpose of this case report is to present the PT management and outcomes of cardiovascular endurance training, gait training, therapeutic exercise, and balance activities for a patient with acute CHF and PD.

A Pt Exercise Program For A Patient With Bilateral Transtibial Amputations: A Case Report, Erin Fusting, Kirsten Buchanan

Case Report Posters

The most common reason for lower extremity amputation (LEA) is from complications from Diabetes Mellitus (DM). Patients with DM are 10x more likely to have an amputation than someone without the disease. 50% of those with DM with an LEA will have an opposite foot or leg amputated in approximately 3 years or less. Transtibial amputations (TTAs), also known as below knee amputations, are the most common amputation. There is good evidence that physical therapy (PT) can help patients with one LEA to regain strength and functional independence, but there is limited information on the most effective PT plan of …

Outpatient Vestibular Rehabilitation For A Patient Three Months Post Acoustic Neuroma Resection: A Case Report, Joel Harrison

Case Report Posters

An acoustic neuroma is a benign and slow growing intracranial tumor that originates from cells of the vestibular nerve within the inner ear. Acoustic neuromas are estimated to occur in 10-20 individuals per 1,000,000 in the US. The tumor and subsequent surgery frequently lead to vestibular impairment. The vestibular system functions to coordinate head and eye movement through the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR), maintain postural stability, and provide input for spatial orientation. Common signs and symptoms of vestibular dysfunction include dizziness, headaches, oscillopsia, and disequilibrium. The purpose of this case report is to describe the outpatient PT management of a patient …

Adult Scoliosis And Chronic Low Back Pain With Land And Aquatic Based Physical Therapy: A Case Report, Thomas Kent

Case Report Posters

Scoliosis is defined as a spinal angulation of greater than 10 degrees in the frontal plane with spinal torsion. Incidence of idiopathic scoliosis is 2- 3%. Symptoms associated with scoliosis include pulmonary dysfunction and spinal pain. Cobb angle greater than 25° requires physical therapy to stop progression of curve. Cobb angle greater than 45° requires surgical intervention. The purpose of this case report was to evaluate the effects of an aquatic and land based exercise program on an adult who presented with severe, untreated scoliosis.

Functional Strengthening In A Patient With Chronic Stroke And Low Back Pain: A Case Report, Sofia Tzortzinis

Case Report Posters

In the U.S., the prevalence of stroke is approximately 795,000 annually and is the fifth most common cause of death. Stroke impairments include hemiplegia, sensory loss, dyspraxia, and hemianopsia. The chronic phase of stroke is defined as six months and beyond post-stroke. Nearly 85% of adults will experience low back pain (LBP) at some point in their life. Risk factors for LBP include age, educational status, psychosocial factors, physically demanding occupation, and high body mass index. Low back pain adds a confounding variable in recovery of mobility for patients with chronic stroke (CS). The purpose of this case report was …

Gait And Functional Training For A Patient Post-Stroke With A History Of Substance Abuse And Psychiatric Disorders: A Case Report, Morgan Costa, Amy J. Litterini

Case Report Posters

The opioid crisis is the largest drug epidemic in recorded history, resulting in over 500,000 deaths between the years of 2000 and 2015. The abuse of and addiction to opioids are serious global health problems that affect the social and economic well-being of all societies. Drug abusers have a 6.5 times increased risk of stroke. Strokes contribute to the disability and morbidity associated with drug abuse. Drug abuse is a frequent cause of stroke in areas with a high prevalence of comorbidity between drug abuse disorders and mental illness. The purpose of this case study was to outline physical therapy …

The Comprehensive Pt Management Of A Patient With Chronic Low Back Pain And Lumbar Radiculopathy: A Case Report, Robin Mcguire

Case Report Posters

Lumbar radiculopathy is pain originating from nerve root compression in the lumbar spine. Patient presentation is chronic, recurring low back pain with associated radiating pain and potential sensory, strength, or reflex deficits in the involved lower extremity. The purpose of this case report was to describe a comprehensive approach for a patient with chronic low back pain and lumbar radiculopathy using the following interventions: therapeutic exercises using directional preference, IFC, and manual traction.