Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

Acute Lower Leg Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation Increases Leg Blood Flow And Exercise Capacity In Patients With Peripheral Arterial Disease, Thomas K. Pellinger, Catherine B. Neighbors, Joshua C. Hefta, Patrick H. Luo, Carl B. Suarez, Erotokritos T. Varlas, Grant H. Simmons, Brett J. Wong

EVMS School of Health Professions Faculty Publications

We tested the hypothesis that two different durations of lower leg transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) increase post-TENS popliteal artery blood flow (PABF), popliteal vascular conductance (PVC), and 6-min walk distance (6MWD) in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD). Seven subjects (5 male, 2 female) with PAD (67.9 ± 7.4 years; claudication: ankle-brachial index (ABI) < 0.90) participated in three randomized treatment sessions: control or bilateral TENS (3.0 Hz burst mode, 250 µs) for either 15 or 45 min. PABF (Doppler ultrasound) was measured before and after treatment. 6MWD and time/distance to claudication onset were measured 25 min post-treatment during each session. PABF, PVC and 6MWD increased after both 15 and 45 min of TENS (P < 0.05, post-TENS vs. pre-TENS baseline/control). Our preliminary results suggest that as little as 15 min of lower leg TENS increases leg blood flow and exercise capacity in individuals with PAD.

Novel Socially Assistive Robot For Alzheimer's And Dementia Home Care; Lived Experiences Of Families, Audrey V. Downs

Honors Theses and Capstones

Informal caregivers for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) typically experience high levels of subjective caregiver burden due to strenuous role demands, notably the need to provide frequent reminders and 24/7 monitoring to address care recipient cognitive decline. The purpose of this study was to understand the lived experiences of informal caregivers using a novel Socially Assistive Robot (SAR) to care for individuals with ADRD in a home setting and evaluate SAR impact on caregiver subjective burden. SARs are autonomous, interactive devices that can provide timed reminders and monitor home environments, potentially alleviating some caregiver role demands and …

Preoperative Patient Sentiment Is Associated With Postoperative Outcomes In Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery, Ross J. Gore, David Mazur-Hart, Mohan K. Sunkara, Aaqib Ali, Qizar Ali, Christopher J. Lynch

Center for Secure and Intelligent Critical Systems (CSICS) Publications

Study Design:

Prospective observational pilot study of adult spinal deformity surgery patients.

Objective:

To determine whether preoperative patient sentiment, quantified using a 21-class valence scale extending the CARP paradigm implemented through an offline Large Language Model, predicts postoperative outcomes.

Summary of Background Data:

Predicting adult spinal deformity surgery outcomes remains challenging with traditional clinical and radiographic parameters alone. Although patient psychological factors and expectations significantly influence postoperative satisfaction and quality of life, systematic approaches to capture these factors are underdeveloped. Offline Large Language Models offer scalable, privacy-preserving psychological risk stratification.

Materials and Methods:

We prospectively enrolled 18 patients undergoing adult …

Multisystem Predictors Of Dynamic Gait Stability Across Fall Risk In Older Adults, Ashwini Kulkarni, Neda Moghim, Ross Gore, Soumya Banerjee, Christopher K. Rhea, Brittany Samulski

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

Gait stability arises from interactions between physiological, cognitive, and psychological systems, yet these domains are often assessed in isolation. This study examined multisystem predictors of anteroposterior margin of stability during walking (MoSAP) in community-dwelling older adults. Of 340 participants, 143 were retained after data quality screening (105 females; age: 70.8 ± 7.8 years). Participants completed the Physiological Profile Assessment (PPA), cognitive testing using Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), fear-of-falling evaluations using Modified Falls Efficacy Scale (MFES) and a biomechanical gait assessment during preferred and fast speeds. Participants were stratified into four PPA-based fall-risk groups: low, mild, moderate, and high risk. MoSAP …

Enhancing Stroke Recovery: A Proposal To Implement Self-Efficacy Strategies In Rehabilitation, Ariana M. Allen, Elliott P. Mcneely

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Self-efficacy is a critical predictor of rehabilitation success in stroke survivors, influencing motivation, therapy adherence, and functional recovery. This study will investigate the current use of structured self-efficacy enhancement programs (SEEPs) by healthcare professionals in post-stroke rehabilitation settings. Guided by Bandura's Self-Efficacy Theory, this proposal outlines a study that will include a comprehensive literature review and suggestions for further research. It will explore the frequency and methods of SEEP use, including goal setting, motivational feedback, and graded task planning. Data would be analyzed through descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. Findings are expected to identify usage patterns, barriers, and opportunities to …

P38 Mapk Is Involved In Epigenetic Regulation Of Fibrotic Genes In Replication Induced Senescence In Lung Fibroblasts, Shan Zhu, Jennifer Q. Zhou, Kan Wang, Ming-Lei Guo, Yan Sanders

Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences Faculty Publications

Fibroblast activation is essential for tissue repair following injury; however, prolonged activation drives pathological fibrosis. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a progressive and age-associated lung disease, is characterized by aberrant fibroblast activation, with increasing evidence implicating senescent and near-senescent fibroblasts in its pathogenesis. However, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly defined. In this study, we investigated whether histone modification is involved in TGF-β1 treated lung fibroblasts and contributes to the fibrotic phenotype. Human IMR90 lung fibroblasts at low and high population doubling levels (LPDL and HPDL), as well as primary IPF fibroblasts, were used in this study. In response to TGF-β1, both …

Exploring The Influence Of A Longitudinal Small-Group Mentorship Course On Occupational Therapy Graduates’ Professional Identity Formation, Tosh Whitley, Lovejot Mangat, Susan G. Rappolt, Daniela Testani, Siobhan Donaghy, Lynn Cockburn, Sylvia Langlois, Ruheena Sangrar, Eric Lee, Rachel Roby, Erin Knobl, Susan Hannah, Anne Fourt, David Gerstle, Naomi Davids-Brumer, M. Shone Joos

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Professional identity formation is a critical aspect in facilitating the transition of healthcare professionals into entry-level practice. Previous literature has highlighted the benefits of mentorship in shaping professional identity formation among healthcare learners. However, few studies have explored longitudinal small-group mentorship courses on professional identity formation in entry-level occupational therapists. The aim of this study was to explore the perspectives of graduates on whether pre-certification mentorship influenced their professional identity formation. Online surveys, comprising open-ended and fixed-choice questions, were collected from graduates of a professional Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MScOT) program across four cohorts (2020-2023) who completed a …

Occupational Resilience (Part 1): Origins And Significance To Health And Well-Being, Bernard A. Muriithi, Jyothi Gupta

Occupational Therapy Faculty Scholarship

Occupational resilience (OR) is a novel concept emerging in occupational therapy and occupational science, with significant implications for the field. However, its definition is still evolving and needs clarity and consensus. In this article, we offer a definition inspired by the real-life experiences of refugee immigrants who have been resettled in the United States of America (USA). We define OR as the ability to persist in an occupation, where the duration and intensity of engagement are the essential contributors. Therefore, we propose that three elements, occupation, intensity, and duration, constitute the nature of OR and shape how occupation impacts health, …

Occupational Resilience (Part 2): Toward A Cross-Culturally Relevant Measure Of A Novel Construct, Bernard A. Muriithi, Milan Bimali

Occupational Therapy Faculty Scholarship

Occupational resilience (OR) refers to an individual’s ability to persist in performing an occupation, with the duration and intensity of engagement determining resilience for each occupation. It is a key determinant of both the manner and the extent to which occupations influence health; therefore, it is a promising construct with several potential applications. There are currently no validated OR measures; which problematizes its application. Three considerations were made in designing the Occupational Resilience Measure (ORM 1.0) and evaluating its potential as a cross-culturally relevant measure of OR: 1) the findings of a published study of lived experiences of refugees from …

Standardizing Assessment Of Clinical Performance In Physical Therapy: From Good Intentions To Shared Standards, Arvie Vitente, Carmina Rafael, Rolando Lazaro

Philippine Journal of Physical Therapy

Clinical education is the crucible in which physical therapy students integrate knowledge, skills, and professional judgment into safe, ethical, and person-centered practice. Yet globally, the assessment of clinical performance remains highly variable, shaped by disparate tools, rubrics, and levels of assessor preparation. While several countries have adopted nationally standardized approaches to clinical assessment, many contexts—including the Philippines—continue to rely on locally developed or institution-specific systems, resulting in inconsistent expectations, inequitable student experiences, and limited capacity for benchmarking, research, and quality improvement. This editorial argues that good intentions alone are insufficient and that the profession must move toward shared, trustworthy standards …

Mediapipe-Based Extraction Of Joint Rom And Position From Patient Videos For The Functional Movement Screen: An Exploratory Study, Joshua Paul Verdillo, Lily Ann Bautista

Philippine Journal of Physical Therapy

Introduction. The Functional Movement Screen (FMS) is widely used to identify movement deficiencies and potential injury risk. However, its reliance on visual inspection introduces subjectivity, requires specialized training, and necessitates face-to-face assessment. Advances in computer vision, offer opportunities to automate and better objectify functional movement assessment. This exploratory study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of using a MediaPipe-based system, Software-Optimized Movement Assessment (SOMA), to extract joint range of motion (ROM), joint position, and compensatory movement patterns from patient videos during FMS performance.

Methods. SOMA was developed using MediaPipe Pose and MediaPipe Hands libraries integrated with Python-based tools to analyze videos …

Precision Education In Health Sciences Education: A Call-To-Action For Developing An Interprofessional Strategy, Arvie Vitente, Jennifer Bosworth, Robert Sweet, Rebecca Cozzi, Christopher Galloway, Piotr Szczurek, Melanie Obispo-Young, Eron Bozec, Erica Brkovic, Tina Bobo, Jennifer Lubinski

Philippine Journal of Physical Therapy

Introduction. Growing learner diversity, expanding biomedical knowledge, and rapid clinical digitization have exposed the limits of on-size-fits-all health sciences training. Competency-Based Education (CBE) has sharpened the focus on outcomes, yet many programs still move learners through fixed sequences, infrequent assessments, and retrospective remediation. Precision Education (PE) offers a complementary, data-enabled approach that uses learning analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), and continuous feedback loops. Embedded within CBE, PE converts competencies from static milestones into dynamic trajectories that can be measured, visualized, and adjusted in real time across the curriculum. This abstract highlights the need for an interprofessional strategy to design, fund, and …

Biomechanics Of The Ribs During Respiration At The Costotransverse Joint: An In-Vivo Retrospective Pilot Study, Michael Maninang, Greg Almeter, Erik Pearson, Arvie Vitente

Philippine Journal of Physical Therapy

Introduction: Scarce in‑vivo data describe how ribs move at the costotransverse joints during quiet breathing—knowledge critical to thoracic biomechanics and pain mechanisms. This pilot study uses four‑dimensional computed tomography (4D‑CT) to quantify, for the first time, the three‑dimensional magnitude and direction of rib motion at these joints throughout quiet respiration.

Methods: This retrospective, descriptive pilot study analyzed ten 4D‑CT scans obtained from patients undergoing thoracic imaging prior to radiation therapy. End‑expiration and end‑inspiration phases were aligned with a demons deformable‑registration algorithm. For each costotransverse joint, the three‑dimensional displacement vector, its absolute magnitude, and its components along the lateral–medial (L–M), …

Standardizing Assessment Of Clinical Performance In Physical Therapy: From Good Intentions To Shared Standards, Arvie Vitente, Carmina Rafael, Rolando Lazaro

Rehabilitation Sciences Department Faculty Articles

Clinical education is the crucible in which physical therapy students integrate knowledge, skills, and professional judgment into safe, ethical, and person-centered practice. Yet globally, the assessment of clinical performance remains highly variable, shaped by disparate tools, rubrics, and levels of assessor preparation. While several countries have adopted nationally standardized approaches to clinical assessment, many contexts—including the Philippines—continue to rely on locally developed or institution-specific systems, resulting in inconsistent expectations, inequitable student experiences, and limited capacity for benchmarking, research, and quality improvement. This editorial argues that good intentions alone are insufficient and that the profession must move toward shared, trustworthy standards …

Biomechanics Of The Ribs During Respiration At The Costotransverse Joint: An In-Vivo Retrospective Pilot Study, Michael Maninang, Greg Almeter, Erik Pearson, Arvie Vitente

Rehabilitation Sciences Department Faculty Articles

Introduction: Scarce in‑vivo data describe how ribs move at the costotransverse joints during quiet breathing—knowledge critical to thoracic biomechanics and pain mechanisms. This pilot study uses four‑dimensional computed tomography (4D‑CT) to quantify, for the first time, the three‑dimensional magnitude and direction of rib motion at these joints throughout quiet respiration.

Methods: This retrospective, descriptive pilot study analyzed ten 4D‑CT scans obtained from patients undergoing thoracic imaging prior to radiation therapy. End‑expiration and end‑inspiration phases were aligned with a demons deformable‑registration algorithm. For each costotransverse joint, the three‑dimensional displacement vector, its absolute magnitude, and its components along the lateral–medial (L–M), …

Evaluating The Effect Of Ethnicity And Amyloid On Gait Speed In The Healthy Aging Brain Study-Health Disparities Study, Alexandra M. Reed, Andrew Hooyman, Edward Ofori, Sydney Y. Schaefer

Physical Therapy Faculty Articles and Research

Background

Many novel Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarkers have been studied in non-Hispanic White populations, despite Hispanic/Latino adults being 1.5 times more likely to develop AD and receiving a later diagnosis. Equitable, accessible assessments are needed to identify individuals at risk earlier. While cognitive screening monitors early AD signs, neuropsychological tests are often inequitable across ethnicity, race, and other social determinants of health. However, we have shown that performance-based motor assessments may be less susceptible to demographic factors than memory tests, and may be more equitable for screening older adults. Gait speed has been linked to elevated amyloid in non-Hispanic White …

Prediction Of Lung Vital Capacity Value From Thoracoabdominal Expansion In Young Adults, Aung Myo Htun, Aung Aung Nwe, Chatchaya Jaimanee, Thiwaphon Chatprem, Saowanee Nakmaroeng, Chatchai Phimphasak

Journal of Health Research

Background: Vital capacity (VC) is a fundamental indicator of pulmonary health, but its routine assessment often depends on spirometry devices that may be unavailable (i.e. because of access, cost) in many clinical or community settings. In contrast, lower costal (LC) and upper abdominal (AB) expansions are simple, equipment-free methods commonly used in physiotherapy.

Method: This cross-sectional study was aimed at developing prediction equations for VC using LC or upper AB expansion alongside demographic and anthropometric variables. The study involved 116 healthy nonsmokers (53 male and 63 female individuals) aged 18–39 years. VC was measured via spirometry using a …

The Influence Of Perceived Social Support On Mental Health During Injury In Female Gaa Athletes., Clodagh M. O’Connor, Samantha Glynn Kelly

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

Injury recovery in sport involves not only physical rehabilitation but also significant psychological challenges, particularly for female athletes in amateur and elite environments. This study aimed to explore the perceived social support received by injured female Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) athletes and the effect it had on their mental health during injury. A qualitative research design was employed to gain an in-depth understanding of the experiences of injured female athletes. Data were collected through semi-structured, one-on-one interviews, allowing for open-ended responses and the exploration of individual perspectives. The sample consisted of 10 female athletes aged between 18 and 32 years, …

Developing A Tool To Measure Resistance To Sustainable Food Choices: A Pilot Study In Ireland And The Netherlands, Kate Flanagan, Bart Sinteur, Patricia J. Bulsing, John M. Kearney

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

Consumer uptake of a sustainable diet is critical for addressing environmental challenges and promoting public health. Understanding why consumers resist adopting sustainable eating habits can inform targeted interventions and policies. This pilot study examines whether a newly developed scale can effectively detect consumer resistance to a sustainable diet. Currently, there is a lack of research on a tool to measure consumer resistance to a sustainable diet, highlighting the need for a reliable instrument.

The aim of this study is to develop a scale, based on existing literature, to measure consumer resistance to a sustainable diet. Additionally, the study aims to …

Editorial-Sure Journal Volume 7, Issue 2, Geraldine M. Dowling, Eva Campion, Sinead Loughran, Ariane Perez-Gavilan, Josephine Treacy

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

No abstract provided.