Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

Therapist Characteristics Influencing Physical Therapy Non-Treatment In The Acute Care Setting, Daniel Mcgarvey, Colby Olsen, Aaron Van Wagoner

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Background and Purpose: Research has found that participation in physical therapy (PT) services in the acute care setting increases functional outcomes and decreases patient length of stay. Certain physical therapist characteristics could be a potential source of influence on patient non-participation in physical therapy in the acute care setting. The purpose of this study was to determine whether specific characteristics of therapists and patients are predictive of physical therapy non-treatment.

Subjects: Subjects included 16 physical therapists or physical therapist assistants and 1225 patients at a community acute care hospital.

Methods: Characteristics of each therapist and their corresponding patient data were …

Foot Volume Change During Long Distance Running In Healthy Adults, Meghan Boni, Istvan Takacs, Rebecca Wilson

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Background and purpose: Healthy adults frequently engage in running as a means of cardiovascular exercise. Larger running shoes are often chosen based on common beliefs that feet swell during running, yet many continue to encounter foot injuries, such as blisters, as a result of this activity. Previous research has analyzed the changes in foot volume during short bouts of activity. However, there has been limited research on the effect of long distance running on foot volume, which is where many of these injuries are seen. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of long distance running, defined …

Duration Of The Effects Of Three Static Stretching Conditions With Or Without A Dynamic Warm-Up In College Age Adults, Spencer Blackwell, Andrew Blomberg, Jonathan Griffith

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to determine the stretching duration (15, 30, 60 seconds) with or without a dynamic warm-up that resulted in the longest lasting acute effects in hamstring flexibility.

Subjects. Forty subjects (17 male, 23 female) (age: 20-35 years) were selected to participate in this study using a sample of convenience from university graduate students.

Methods. This study contained 7 treatment conditions in which each subject completed in random order. Three groups consisted of a 5-minute treadmill warm-up at a self-selected velocity (SSV) followed by one of three stretching durations (15, 30, or 60 sec). …

Kinesio Taping On Short-Term Changes In Shoulder Strength In Healthy Adults: A Randomized Clinical Trial, Dario A. Callegari, Cristobal E. Cordova, Julia R. Dunievitz

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Study Type: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Introduction:

Kinesio tape is an elastic tape used in various settings and it is purported to assist in strengthening weakened muscles. The mechanism behind this claim is neuromuscular facilitation. The purpose of this study was to determine if the claims of Kinesio tape would be supported in its role in strength enhancing properties.

Methods:

Twenty-nine healthy, untrained male and female college-aged individuals participated in this study. Two baseline measurements assessing shoulder external rotation (ER) strength were collected using isokinetic dynamometry. Subjects were then randomized into two groups, Kinesio tape with ER strengthening (KT-Ex) and …

Influence Of Upper Extremity Assistance On Lower Extremity Force Application Symmetry In Individuals Post–Hip Fracture During The Sit-To-Stand Task, Janet A. Kneiss, Jeff R. Houck, Susan A. Bukata, J. Edward Puzas

Faculty Publications - College of Physical Therapy

STUDY DESIGN: Controlled laboratory study using a cross-sectional design.

OBJECTIVES: To compare lower extremity force applications during a sit-to-stand (STS) task with and without upper extremity assistance in older individuals post–hip fracture to those of age matched controls.

BACKGROUND: A recent study documented the dependence on upper extremity assistance and the uninvolved lower limb during an STS task in individuals post–hip fracture. This study extends this work by examining the effect of upper extremity assistance on symmetry of lower extremity force applications.

METHODS: Twenty-eight community-dwelling elderly subjects, 14 who had recovered from a hip fracture and 14 controls, participated in …

The Use Of A Pylon Mounted Transducer For Investigating The Gait Of Transtibial Amputees, Justin Robert Brink

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Two areas of research interest in the design and use of lower limb prosthetic devices are how foot performance varies with design and how prosthesis alignment affects gait. The current study addressed both of these areas through the use of the JR3 triaxial transducer mounted at the base of the socket. The transducer is an innovative form of instrumentation that measures forces and moments at the end of the socket. Traditional measurement of gait uses a force plate buried in the floor of a gait laboratory. The study established that the transducer offers a viable means of instrumentation for amputee …

Immediate Effects Of High Intensity Training In Children With Cerebral Palsy Gmfcs Levels I-Iii: A Pilot Study, Andrea Blahovec, Andrea Kuiken, Jillian Mears, Heather Riggins

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Background: Cerebral Palsy is one of the most common causes of motor disability in the U.S., but there is still a lack of consensus for best intervention strategies to improve function and gait efficiency.

Objective: Determine if ambulatory children with CP, exposed to a brief, high intensity training session, will: 1) experience changes in temporal-spatial gait characteristics 2) demonstrate increased gait speed and 3) demonstrate improved gait kinematics.

Design: Five participants walked at preferred and fast speeds over an instrumented walkway followed by a 15-minute intervention. After a short rest, post-intervention walking was completed.

Results: Ten dependent variables were extracted …

Undergraduate Research Poster And Showcase 2012, College Of Arts & Sciences

Abstracts

Abstracts of the 13th annual College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research Poster and Showcase Session. Listed are as many as 50 research posters/showcases from 13 disciplines, including Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science/Information Technology, Criminal Justice, English, Mathematics, Psychology, Social Work, Sociology ... and Athletic Training, Exercise Science, Health Sciences, and Nursing from the College of Health Professions, with 80 participating students.

Electromyography (Emg) Biofeedback Training In Music Performance: Preventing And Reducing Musculoskeletal Pain In Musicians, Carolyn Yarbrough

Scripps Senior Theses

Musicians are a high-risk occupational group for musculoskeletal disorders. Often manifesting in muscle tension, pain and paresthesia, musculoskeletal disorders can drastically affect comfort, mentality and endurance while performing. This study sought to examine the effects of electromyography (EMG) biofeedback training in reducing musculoskeletal symptoms in music performance. The subjects were university-level violinists and cellists. Over a period of 2-4 weeks, all participants underwent EMG biofeedback training while performing their instrument using audio feedback. No significant results were found, but patterns of decreased muscle tension and increased performance comfort and endurance were observed.

A Flexible Home Design For A Comfortable Lifestyle: A Case Study Of The Effect Of Universal Design, Meghann Balmer Dehaan

Honors Theses

This thesis examines a case study of a married couple who are transitioning into a new stage of their life after retirement. They are no longer comfortable in their current home and are considering other living options. A floor plan was universally designed to meet the needs of the couple and also the needs of all others who enter the home. This includes no-step entry, barrier free design, and adaptability in each room of the home. The project puts an emphasis on the importance of efficiency, adaptability, flexibility, and comfort in the home environment. An occupational therapist’s scope of practice …

Safety, Ergonomics And Human Factors Engineering On Biomedical Devices Design, Alejandra Sandoval Vazquez^, Noe Vargas Hernandez*

COURI Symposium Abstracts, Spring 2012

No abstract provided.

A Standardized Evidence-Based Model Of Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Practice: A Quest For The Holy Grail?, Guy G. Simoneau

Physical Therapy Faculty Research and Publications

The growth of knowledge in orthopaedic physical therapy practice is on an exponential trajectory. This growth is occurring simultaneously for many aspects of evidence-based practice: diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, and harm – with increasingly more sophisticated basic science and mechanistic studies guiding and supporting the clinical research endeavors. Just how close are we to the day when we can clearly establish the accuracy of our diagnoses, regardless of the model used, and then can confidently inform our patients of the most effective treatment approach and the expected outcomes, as well as any potential harm? This knowledge is being created now, and …

Chhs April 2012 E-Newsletter, Dr. John Bonaguro, Dean, Vashon S. Wells, Editor, Wku College Of Health & Human Services

College of Health & Human Services Publications

No abstract provided.

Physical Therapy News, Volume 1, Issue 2, College Of Health Professions

Physical Therapy News

No abstract provided.

Development Of A Statement On Autonomous Practice: Practice Committee, Section On Geriatrics, Jason Hardage, Stacey Zeigler, Jennifer Blackwood, Tamara Gravano, Greg Hartley, Jill Heitzman, Joe Libera, Ken Miller

Physical Therapy Faculty Research

Vision 2020 is the official vision statement of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). Drafted by the APTA House of Delegates in 2000, this statement contains 6 elements: autonomous physical therapist practice, direct access, Doctor of Physical Therapy and lifelong education, evidence-based practice, practitioner of choice, and professionalism. Autonomous practice has been operationally defined by the APTA primarily through its characteristics: “Physical therapists accept the responsibility to practice autonomously and collaboratively in all practice environments to provide best practice to the patient/client. Autonomous physical therapist practice is characterized by independent, self-determined, professional judgment and action.” The Section on Geriatrics has …

The Appropriateness Of Long-Term Opioids To Treat Chronic Back Pain, Thomas Watanabe, Michael Salino, Adam Schreiber

Department of Rehabilitation Medicine Faculty Papers

Point/Counterpoint Case Scenario: A 55-year old man presents to a pain clinic upon referral from his primary care physician. His symptom is axial low back pain. His pain started approximately 1 year earlier without a specific inciting event. He denies radiation of pain into the lower extremities. There is no bowel or bladder involvement. There is no directional preference. He reports pain "all the time," with minimal specific exacerbating or relieving factors. There is no medical-legal involvement. His medical history is significant for hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, obesity, and sleep apnea. He is a divorced father of 2 adult children. He is …

The Influence Of Interlimb Differences On Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury Risk Factors In Female Collegiate Soccer Athletes, Eric Kevin Greska

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

Female collegiate soccer athletes suffer anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries at a rate of 0.31 per 1000 athlete-exposures, with 67% of injuries expected to be from a non-contact mechanism. As well, previous studies have demonstrated dissimilarity in non-contact ACL injuries relative to dominant and non-dominant legs; with the non-dominant leg being the involved side in 48-67% of reported incidents. The aim of this study was to examine lower extremity neuromechanics relative to leg dominance during an unanticipated sidestep cutting task, with differing states of fatigue and training.

Twenty female collegiate soccer players performed three valid trials for both the dominant …

Identifying Gaps In Perceived Ability: Promoting Exercise In Young Adults With Disabilities, Briana Terrill

Honors Theses and Capstones

Aim: The purpose of this study was to describe the perceived ability in making health decisions regarding exercise and its congruence between young adults with disabilities and their parents. Methods: The study design used a mixed methods approach. The convenience sample consisted of (N = 10) young adults with disabilities and (N = 9) parents of young adults with disabilities. Qualitative data were gathered using a preliminary structured interview guide for young adults with disabilities consisting of several short answer questions. Quantitative data were gathered from the parents of young adults with disabilities by using Pender’s Health Promotion Questionnaire. Results: …

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of A Goal-Directed Intervention On The Social Interaction Of Children With Neurodevelopmental Disabilities, Natalie Gatlin

Honors Theses and Capstones

This study sought to address social interaction needs of children with neurodevelopmental disabilities through an eight week intervention focusing on social skills at Spaulding Youth Center (SYC), a residential facility in Northeast United States. The study implemented a randomized control design, with a control and intervention group, totaling n=19 students. Results have implications for future practice.

Occupational Nature Of Social Participation For Adolescent Males With Learning Disorders, Megan Murnane

Honors Theses and Capstones

OBJECTIVE. This study explored the effects of community team sports on social participation and life habit development for males ages 12-17 with a documented learning disorder. METHOD. A causal/comparative design compared two groups. A convenient sample of 24 participants completed Life Habits Questionnaire and Community Integration Questionnaire. Chi-square and T-test analysis were used. RESULTS. Results indicated social integration (t=4.56, p=.00) for boys who played a community sport was significantly higher than boys who did not play a community sport. The number and performance level of life habits was also significantly higher for boys who played a community team sport (t=3.23, …