Physical Therapy Commons^™

The Role Of Physical Therapy Interventions For An Elderly Patient Following Surgical Fixation Of A Fracture Of The Femoral Shaft: A Case Report, Ashley Push

Case Report Posters

In the U.S. approximately half of elderly white females will sustain an osteoporotic hip fracture. One year following surgery most elderly adults have not returned to their prior level of function. Evidence demonstrates the benefits of early weight bearing and mobility post-surgery to improve functional abilities. The purpose of this case report was to document this patient’s response to skilled physical therapy intervention in the inpatient setting, including functional mobility, gait training and therapeutic exercise to maximize the patient's functional ability prior to discharge home.

Strength And Balance Training For A 29-Year-Old Female Who Sustained A Multifocal Stroke: A Case Report, Britney Simonton, Kirsten Buchanan

Case Report Posters

Stroke is defined as a decrease in blood supply to the brain, and most often occurs in older adults. In the United States, approximately 795,000 people sustain a stroke annually. Risk factors for a stroke include high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, and high cholesterol. Stroke is the leading cause of disability in the United States. Although research has shown that a balance and strength training program is beneficial for older adults who have sustained a stroke, there is limited research showing if these benefits also hold true for younger patients who have had a stroke. The purpose of this case …

The Use Of Manual Lumbar Traction And Therapeutic Exercise In The Treatment Of A Patient With Low Back Pain: A Case Report, Kyle Rasmussen

Case Report Posters

The prevalence of low back pain (LBP) has been increasing in the United States. Manual lumbar traction and therapeutic exercise are two common treatments by physical therapists (PT) for LBP, but there is limited research investigating the combined effects of these treatments on low back pain. The purpose of this case report was to investigate the combined effects of these treatments on LBP.

Nutritional Supplement Practices Of Professional Ugandan Athletes: A Cross-Sectional Study, Haruna Muwonge, Haruna Muwonge, Robert Zavuga, Peninnah Kabenge, Timothy Makubuya

Educator Preparation & Leadership Faculty Works

BackgroundThe use of nutritional supplements (NS) places athletes at great risk for inadvertent doping. Due to the paucity of data on supplement use, this study aimed to determine the proportion of Ugandan athletes using nutritional supplements and to investigate the athletes’ motivation to use these supplements.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in which an interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from 359 professional athletes participating in individual (boxing, cycling, athletics) and team (basketball, rugby, football, netball, and volleyball) sports. The data were categorized, and a Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis.ResultsOf the 359 athletes, 48 (13.4%) used nutritional supplements. …

The Effect Of Light Touch On Balance Control During Overground Walking In Healthy Young Adults., A R Oates, Janelle Unger, C M Arnold, J Fung, J L Lanovaz

Physical Therapy Publications

Balance control is essential for safe walking. Adding haptic input through light touch may improve walking balance; however, evidence is limited. This research investigated the effect of added haptic input through light touch in healthy young adults during challenging walking conditions. Sixteen individuals walked normally, in tandem, and on a compliant, low-lying balance beam with and without light touch on a railing. Three-dimensional kinematic data were captured to compute stride velocity (m/s), relative time spent in double support (%DS), a medial-lateral margin of stability (MOS_ML) and its variance (MOS_MLCV), as well as a symmetry index (SI) …

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

Research Report Posters

Maine Adaptive Sports & Recreation (MASR) is an adaptive sporting program that relies on volunteers to instruct participants of varying abilities. In order to effectively instruct, volunteers should firmly understand the health condition their participant has. Previously, MASR lacked a formal curriculum to educate their volunteers. The aim of this research project was to create online learning modules & determine whether a massed or distributed learning schedule resulted in better long term retention and confidence. MASR volunteers were placed into two non-randomized groups of eleven. Six video training modules were created to educate volunteers on the most common conditions encountered. …

Effects Of Lower Extremity Aerobic Exercise And Conditioned Pain Modulation On Evoked Shoulder Pain, Logan Lumpkins, Craig Wassinger

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Background: Emerging evidence suggests that aerobic exercise and conditioned pain modulation may be advocated in treating patients with musculoskeletal pain. The effects of lower extremity aerobic exercise and conditioned pain modulation on evoked shoulder pain are not known.

Purpose: To determine the acute effects of lower extremity aerobic exercise and conditioned pain modulation on outcomes of evoked shoulder pain from pain pressure threshold measurements.

Study Design: Repeated measures.

Methods: Thirty (30) healthy volunteers were tested over the course of two sessions. Session 1 consisted of collecting pain pressure threshold measurements over the infraspinatus before and immediately following a conditioned pain …

Exercise, Cognition, And The Aging Process Among Active, Competitive, And Sedentary Middle-Aged And Older Adults, Katherine Adams

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

Purpose This study aimed to compare the cognitive measures of reaction time and dual-task performance among recreationally active, master athletes, and sedentary older adults aged 50 years or older. Methods 59 late middle-aged and older adults between the ages of 50 to 88 years old participated in reaction time and dual-task tests of which consisted of multiple trials on the same day. Subjects were placed either into the recreationally active, masters athlete, or sedentary activity level group based on the Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity (RAPA) form. For the gait speed with associated dual-task component, subjects walked 10-meters at two …

Using Virtual Reality To Improve Sitting Balance, Alice Kay Barnes

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

This thesis focuses on using virtual reality (VR) to enhance sitting balance and core strength. It is a study in how to create a VR exercise program which is interesting enough to keep players/patients motivated, but comfortable to play and not overwhelming to the senses. The software used for this study was written with the hope that a later version of it might be used with occupational/physical therapy patients one day. For this master’s thesis, the initial testing has been done with healthy volunteers. The software incorporates what developers know thus far about designing for VR, and it is hoped …

The Role Of Balance And Neck Strength In Youth Concussion, Chris Koch, Jenny Neudorfer, Peter Heuberger, Tel Winegar, Calvin Lee, Jarrett Fegel

Student-Faculty Research - College of Physical Therapy

Concussion: A concussion is a trauma-induced alteration in mental status that may or may not involve loss of consciousness; this can include a direct blow to the head or a blow to the body resulting in the head and brain moving quickly back and forth (1).

Current Screen: Current concussion screen consists of: symptom checklist, cognitive assessment known as Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT), and Balance Errors Scoring System (BESS) (2).

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine an assessment to screen an individual’s risk of sustaining a sport-related concussion.

Hypothesis: We hypothesized the SCAT 4, BESS, Four …

A Comparison Of Neuromuscular Control Between Subjects With And Without Chronic Ankle Instability, Hatem Jaber

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Ankle sprains are common and potentially disabling musculoskeletal injuries occur among physically active individuals. A subsequent problem that is commonly encountered by clinicians due to ankle sprains is the development of ongoing instability. The presence of ankle instability has been linked to impairments in postural and neuromuscular control; however, inconsistent findings have been reported. These discrepancies deem the need to further investigate and provide additional knowledge regarding postural and neuromuscular control strategies utilized by this population. This may enhance the current understanding of chronic ankle instability (CAI) and help to understand how rehabilitation can be customized to specifically target and …

Factors That Influence Self-Reported Health Changes With Caregiving, Margaret Danilovich, Xiaoling Xiang, Daniel Pinto

Physical Therapy Faculty Research and Publications

Objective: This study examined factors associated with the self-reported change in health status as a result of caregiving. Method: Multinomial logistic regression were performed to examine the sociodemographic characteristics, care recipients’ characteristics, and caregiving experiences that affect caregivers’ perceptions of health affected by caregiving using data from 1,087 caregiver respondents in the Caregiving in the U.S. 2015 data set. Data were collected through an online or telephone survey of randomly selected adults in 50 states. Results: Worsened self-reported health with caregiving occurred for caregivers aged 50 to 64, racial/ethnic minorities, those who lived within 20 min of the care recipient’s …

Contraction Intensity And Sex Differences In Knee-Extensor Fatigability, Paul Ansdell, Kevin Thomas, Glyn Howatson, Sandra K. Hunter, Stuart Goodall

Exercise Science Faculty Research and Publications

Females are less fatigable than males during isometric contractions across various muscles and intensities. However, sex differences in knee-extensor fatigability remain relatively unexplored. Purpose: To determine the sex difference in performance fatigability for intermittent, isometric contractions of the knee-extensor muscles. Methods: Eighteen participants (10 males, 8 females) performed intermittent, isometric, knee-extensor contractions at 30% of their maximal voluntary force (MVC) for 30 min and in a separate session at 50% MVC until task-failure. During both fatiguing protocols a MVC was performed every 60 s and electromyography (EMG) was recorded during all contractions. Results: At task completion males had a larger …

Association Between Sedentary Time And Quality Of Life From The Osteoarthritis Initiative: Who Might Benefit Most From Treatment?, Daniel Pinto, Jing Song, Jungwha Lee, Rowland W. Chang, Pamela A. Semanik, Linda S. Ehrlich-Jones, Christine A. Pellegrini, Dorothy D. Dunlop

Physical Therapy Faculty Research and Publications

Objective

To investigate the relationship between sedentary behavior and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) among participants in the Osteoarthritis Initiative.

Design

Longitudinal, observational design.

Setting

Osteoarthritis Initiative cohort.

Participants

Individuals (N=1794) from a prospective, multicenter longitudinal cohort were classified into quantile groups based on average daily sedentary time (most sedentary, quartile 1 [Q1] ≥11.6h; 10.7h≤ Q2

Interventions

Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measures

Individual QALYs were estimated over 2 years from the area under the curve of health-related utility scores derived from the Medical Outcomes Study 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey versus time. The relationship between baseline sedentary behavior and median 2-year QALYs …

Effects Of Direction Time Constraints And Walking Speed On Turn Strategies And Gait Adaptations In Healthy Older And Young Adults, Dennis Torre

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Hip fractures can be life-threatening, debilitating, and costly. The odds for hip fracture increases from impact of sideways falls. While turning has been strongly associated with hip fracture & sideways falls, the distinction between the risks for walking-turns as opposed to low-velocity in-place turning is not clear. The present study sought to fill a gap as previous research had not compared walking-turn performance in young & healthy older adults at low-fall risk within the same study and response-conditions of speed interacting with direction-cue time constraints. Spatial-temporal variables representative of AP braking/propulsion (i.e. stride-length & speed) & ML stability (left/right H-H …

Pediatric Psychologists’ Career Satisfaction: 2015 Society Of Pediatric Psychology Workforce Survey Results., Marisa E. Hilliard, Andre A.A. Williams, Astrida S. Kaugars, Peggy Christidis, Karen E. Stamm, Cheryl Brosig, Jessica Valenzuela, Paul M. Robins, Tim Wysocki

Physical Therapy Faculty Research and Publications

Little is known about the career satisfaction of pediatric psychologists, who specialize in psychological research, teaching, and clinical service in the context of pediatric health care. As part of the larger Society of Pediatric Psychology Workforce Survey and in collaboration with the American Psychological Association Center for Workforce Studies, this study aimed to (1) describe the career domains which pediatric psychologists perceive to be important and their satisfaction in each domain, and (2) compare satisfaction of pediatric psychologists across work settings, number of positions, appointment duration, professional roles, career stage, academic rank, and gender. Responses from 336 pediatric psychologists demonstrated …

Cortical Contribution To Linear, Non-Linear And Frequency Components Of Motor Variability Control During Standing, Niklas König Ignasiak

Physical Therapy Faculty Articles and Research

Motor variability is an inherent feature of all human movements and reflects the quality of functional task performance. Depending on the requirements of the motor task, the human sensory-motor system is thought to be able to flexibly govern the appropriate level of variability. However, it remains unclear which neurophysiological structures are responsible for the control of motor variability. In this study, we tested the contribution of cortical cognitive resources on the control of motor variability (in this case postural sway) using a dual-task paradigm and furthermore observed potential changes in control strategy by evaluating Ia-afferent integration (H-reflex). Twenty healthy subjects …

All Limbs Lead To The Trunk, Daniel E. Graves, Phd, Darryn Atkinson, Phd, Pt

Department of Rehabilitation Medicine Posters

This poster describes the development of and the psychometric properties of the trunk scale that measures the voluntary motor ability in the thoracic and upper lumbar regions. The function of the trunk musculature has far reaching implications, particularly in persons with SCI, where postural control and voluntary movement are compromised to varying degrees. Precisely coordinated muscle actions must occur in the appropriate sequence, duration, and combination for the optimal movement function and maintenance of balance and posture during dynamic activities. Trunk mobility is required for nearly all mobility tasks, particularly transitional movements such as rolling, supine to sit, and sit …

Transforming Physical Therapy Education Through The Use Of Social Network Analysis, Betsy J. Becker, Sara E. Bills

Posters and Presentations: Physical Therapy

PURPOSE

Social Network Analysis (SNA) is a quantitative method to study the patterning and effect of relationships and how individual connections form into social structures that influence outcomes of the group. The purpose of this study is to explain the underpinnings of SNA and its application to PT education for student success and faculty development. This study is innovative and will be beneficial to the profession because there is currently no published literature exploring how PT education is influenced by social structures.

METHODS/DESCRIPTION

The aims of this study are to describe SNA and outline its potential to transform PT education. …

An Exploratory Study Of Mobile Messaging Preferences By Age: Middle-Aged And Older Adults Compared To Younger Adults, Alexis Kuerbis, Katherine Van Stolk-Cooke, Frederick Muench

Publications and Research

Introduction: Mobile technologies, such as short message service or text messaging, can be an important way to reach individuals with medical and behavioral health problems who are homebound or geographically isolated. Optimally tailoring messages in short message service interventions according to preferences can enhance engagement and positive health outcomes; however, little is known about the messaging preferences of middle-aged and older adults.

Methods: Utilizing secondary data, global messaging preferences were examined to inform the development of short message service interventions for adults of all ages. Two hundred and seventy-seven adults were recruited through an online labor market. They completed an …