Physical Therapy Commons^™

Transitioning To Life After Sport: Empowering Former College Varsity Athletes To Live More Healthfully, Linda Piacentine, Taylor L. Wolf, Jacob J. Capin

Physical Therapy Faculty Research and Publications

Introduction: 

The transition out of competitive sport comes with a range of psychosocial challenges for athletes, particularly when retirement is involuntary (e.g., due to injury). Little is known about the health of former athletes who often manage prior injuries and changing biopsychosocial factors.

Purpose: 

Identify the unique experiences of varsity athletes during college and as they transition to life after college sports and determine the facilitators, barriers, and needs of college varsity athletes to engage in a physically active and healthy lifestyle after competitive sport retirement.

Methods: 

Thirty former college varsity athletes (15F, 15M; mean age 23 ± 1 yrs; …

Advancing Interprofessional Communication: Preliminary Outcomes Of A Novel Collaboration Framework In A Student Head Injury Clinic, Natalia Noce, Kelly Ann Pena, Susan Paparella, Andrew Lynch, Erin Keller, Aaron Dallman, Pamela Rothpletz-Puglia

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

When healthcare providers practice interprofessional practice, care improves, and medical errors are reduced. Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) principles and the Team Strategies and Tools to Enhance Patient Performance and Safety (TeamSTEPPS®) frameworks are utilized in healthcare education to develop interprofessional collaborative practice skills, but there is little understanding of how these skills change over time. We sought to evaluate the development of interprofessional collaborative practice skills by examining graduate occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology students' first-hand reports of their experiences over time in an interprofessional head injury clinic. We employed an applied interpretive qualitative research approach longitudinally collecting …

Early Cerebral Palsy Risk Screening Through Wearable Accelerometry In Infants Under Nine Weeks, Ryan Jacobson, Pablo Burgos

Faculty Publications - College of Physical Therapy

The General Movement Assessment (GMA) according to Prechtl’s method has the best predictive value for early detection of Cerebral Palsy (CP) in infants under 5 months of age. However, access to specialists in this assessment is scarce, particularly in lower and middle-income countries. The main objective was to determine the better accelerometric features for distinguishing spontaneous movements of infants with risk factors for CP (RF), and healthy controls (HC), under 9 weeks. We carried out a cross-sectional study. General movements (GMs) were recorded in 48 infants under 9 weeks of age, 12 RF and 36 HC, using an instrumented assessment …

Non-Instrumented Dva: Assessment Of Performance And Clinical Feasibility In Children Ages 2 Through 13 Years, Cathey P. Norton, Nancy S. Darr, Mary Katherine Beshears, Katherine Catalano, Tyra Dillard, Mahayla J.K. Gamble, Magdalene Olerich, Sadie Rodell Rupp

Funded Scholarship

Background/Objectives: Vestibular disorders can have functional consequences for children, including balance and gross motor delays, academic difficulties and behavioral manifestations; however, they are frequently undiagnosed in children. The purposes of this study were to evaluate the feasibility and clinical utility of performing a non-instrumented dynamic visual acuity (DVA) test as a primary screening tool for children and to examine typical performance on this non-instrumented DVA test in a large sample of children ages 2 through 13 years.

Methods: A clinical DVA test was administered to a convenience sample of 208 children aged 2–13 years. Static visual acuity was assessed using …

Intermittent Phrenic Afferent Activation Induces Phrenic Motor Plasticity, Nicole M. Popp, Taylor C. Holmes, Elizabeth A. Rozycki, Kristi A. Streeter

Physical Therapy Faculty Research and Publications

Approaches such as electrical stimulation of the phrenic neuromuscular system are currently used in humans to manage breathing impairments. We recently showed that electrical stimulation of the diaphragm muscle induces phrenic afferent-dependent plasticity. These findings highlight the need to better understand the mechanisms of afferent-mediated plasticity to guide and improve the development of novel therapies using electrical stimulation. Here, we tested the hypothesis that intermittent activation of large-diameter phrenic afferents induces phrenic motor plasticity, which, like other forms of plasticity, is pattern sensitive. We delivered inspiratory-triggered electrical stimulation using a narrow pulse width (0.1 ms) to preferentially activate large-diameter afferents, …

Sport Training Day Affects Adolescent Athletes’ Sleep Schedules, Abigail Larson, Jena Heck Street, Roman De Guia, Jacob J. Capin

Physical Therapy Faculty Research and Publications

Introduction: Sufficient sleep is integral to overall health whereas suboptimal sleep puts athletes at greater risk for injury, lengthens their recovery time, and decreases their performance. Our purpose was to compare sleep across training days (i.e., competition, practice, and rest) in adolescent athletes, specifically identifying differences between nights before and after training.

Methods: Participants [n = 33 (14 male, 19 female), aged 15.6 ± 1.0 years] wore an activPAL accelerometer continuously for 14 consecutive days and completed a sleep log noting training day status (i.e., competition, practice, rest).

Results: Athletes slept less on the day after competition compared to …

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 …

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

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 …

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 …

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 …

Manual Therapy In Conjunction With Other Multimodal Interventions In A Patient With Chronic Pain And Hypertension: A Case Report, Craig P. Hensley, Renzo Mendoza, Jennifer Ryan, Emmanuel Yung

Physical Therapy Faculty Articles and Research

Chronic pain and hypertension (HTN) are worldwide epidemics that are difficult to manage and frequently encountered as comorbid conditions in patient care. There is a paucity of information regarding the effect that manual therapy has on blood pressure (BP), particularly in those with chronic pain and HTN. This case report describes the management of a patient with chronic pain and HTN. The patient was a 41-year-old female with chronic multisite pain and multiple comorbidities, including HTN. Her BP at the initial evaluation was 147/78 with an oscillated device and 142/82 with a sphygmomanometer in the right arm and 144/80 in …

Dual-Task Exercise Protects Healthy Older Adults Against In-Creased Risk For Dementia: A Controlled Trial, Helen Tatiane Santos Pontes, João Bento-Torres, Naina Yuki Vieira Jardim, Victor Oliveira Da Costa, Josilayne Patricia Ramos Carvalho, Cristovam Wanderley Picanço-Diniz, Natáli Valim Oliver Bento-Torres

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: Functionality in aging is closely linked to the ability to divide attention during multitasking activities, which are essential for activities of daily life. However, coordination between motor and cognitive simultaneous tasks decreases with age, impairing functional ability and restricting older adults' participation and healthy aging. This study aimed to assess the effects of a multimodal dual-task exercise intervention on motor and cognitive dual-task costs and its potential to mitigate age-related declines in healthy older adults. Materials and Methods: A controlled trial was conducted with community-dwelling older adults assigned to either the Dual-Task Exercise group, which participated in a 24-session …

Cv: Robert Sweet (Physical Therapy), Robert Sweet

Rehabilitation and Health Sciences Department Faculty Curricula Vitae

No abstract provided.

Cv: Rebecca Cozzi (Physical Therapy), Rebecca Cozzi

Rehabilitation and Health Sciences Department Faculty Curricula Vitae

No abstract provided.

Enhancing Exercise Engagement And Gait In Parkinson Disease: Participation Factors, Novel Approaches, And The Role Of Rhythmic Auditory Cueing, Allison Haussler

WUSM Theses and Dissertations – All Programs

Parkinson disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease, characterized by gait and balance impairments that reduce independence and diminish quality of life. Exercise and other rehabilitation strategies, such as rhythmic auditory cueing, are well-researched methods to address motor impairments. However, despite the strong body of research supporting these approaches, many individuals with PD remain sedentary and do not meet current exercise recommendations. This highlights a critical gap between evidence and real-world behavior.

While prior research identified general motivators and barriers to exercise in people with PD, emerging exercise modalities and the growing diversity of community-based programs emphasize the …

Cv: Rebecca Cozzi (Physical Therapy), Rebecca Cozzi

Rehabilitation Sciences Department Curricula Vitae

No abstract provided.

Cv: Robert Sweet (Physical Therapy), Robert Sweet

Rehabilitation Sciences Department Curricula Vitae

No abstract provided.