Physical Therapy Commons^™

Sarcopenia And Current Research Using Ames Dwarf Mice: A Research Study, Amanda Sodemann

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

This research project focused on the differences observed in muscle fiber composition and surface area between wild type mice and Ames dwarf mice as they aged. A mouse model was utilized because the skeletal muscle framework of mice closely resembles that of human muscle; thus, the observations seen within the mice may also be seen within humans as they age. Comparisons between the wild type and dwarf mice include a smaller cross-sectional muscle area in a dwarf mouse and no drastic change in the percentages of fast and slow twitch muscle fibers as the dwarf mouse ages. Furthermore, differences in …

The Effect Of Stretching And Strengthening On Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome, Heather Hollinger

Departmental Honors Projects

Although there is considerable research on stretches and strengthening exercises that could help improve function, pain, strength, and flexibility associated with the symptoms of patellofemoral pain, more research on how beneficial stretching and strengthening is compared to just stretching is needed. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of stretching and strengthening as compared to just stretching alone on flexibility, strength, function, and pain in participants with at least 50% of the symptoms and predispositions associated with patellofemoral pain. The design consisted of a control group that completed basic stretching, while the treatment group received stretching and …

Differences In Symptoms Among Adults With Canal Versus Otolith Vestibular Dysfunction: A Preliminary Report, Lisa Farrell, Rose Marie Rine

Physical Therapy Faculty Research

Despite the importance of symptomatology in the diagnosis of vestibular dysfunction, the qualitative nature of the symptoms related to semicircular canal (canal) versus otolith dysfunction is not fully understood. The purpose of this study was to compare symptoms, and their severity, in individuals with canal versus otolith peripheral vestibular dysfunction. A subjective tool, the Descriptive Symptom Index (DSI), was developed to enable categorization of symptoms as rotary, linear, imbalance or falls, and nondistinct. Fourteen adults were recruited and grouped based on vestibular function testing: canal only dysfunction, otolith only dysfunction, or canal and otolith dysfunction. Also, the Dizziness Handicap Inventory …

Assessing Function And Endurance In Adults With Spinal And Bulbar Muscular Atrophy: Validity Of The Adult Myopathy Assessment Tool., Michael O. Harris-Love, Lindsay Fernandez-Rhodes, Galen Joe, Joseph A. Shrader, Angela Kokkinis, Alison La Pean Kirschner, Sungyoung Auh, Cheunju Chen, Li Li, Ellen Levy, Todd E. Davenport, Nicholas A. Di Prospero, Kenneth H. Fischbeck

Exercise and Nutrition Sciences Faculty Publications

Purpose. The adult myopathy assessment tool (AMAT) is a performance-based battery comprised of functional and endurance subscales that can be completed in approximately 30 minutes without the use of specialized equipment. The purpose of this study was to determine the construct validity and internal consistency of the AMAT with a sample of adults with spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA).

Methods. AMAT validity was assessed in 56-male participants with genetically confirmed SBMA (mean age, 53 ± 10 years). The participants completed the AMAT and assessments for disease status, strength, and functional status. Results. Lower AMAT scores were associated with longer …

Exploring The Role And Skill Set Of Physiotherapy Clinical Educators In Work Integrated Learning, Susan Edgar, Joanne Connaughton

Physiotherapy Papers and Journal Articles

Clinical educators are under increasing pressures in the workplace to provide quality education of healthcare students within varying supervision frameworks. Along with facilitating the teaching of clinical skills, clinical educators play a support role for students and so require more than expert clinical abilities in their vital position linking institutions and the healthcare environment. Twelve physiotherapy clinical educators attended one of two focus groups exploring their opinions on the role and skill set of clinical educators in work-integrated learning (WIL).Clinical educators described their role, their skills, challenges they faced supporting the needs of students, as well as future training requirements. …

Cervical Radiculopathy: A Case Report, Kimberly Dobrovolny

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

There is currently little evidence to determine which conservative treatment approach is best for the management of patients with cervical radiculopathy; however, there is evidence these patients benefit from a multi-treatment approach. The purpose of this case is to describe the physical therapy management of a patient with cervical radiculopathy. Physical therapy diagnosis was based on the patient’s physical signs and symptoms as well as meeting three of the four criteria of the clinical prediction rule which is used to identify patients with cervical radiculopathy. Results from the examination and evaluation were consistent with the magnetic resonance imaging findings. Physical …

Effectiveness Of Physical Therapy Intervention Following Partial Medial Meniscectomy: A Case Report, Alexa Risan

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose. Partial meniscectomy is a very commonly performed surgical procedure and many cases are uncomplicated and successfully treated with home-based exercise programs. However, some patients experience more significant problems following surgery and require rehabilitation services. Research is limited regarding physical therapy (PT) effectiveness in the post-operative management of such complicated cases. This case report aims to evaluate the effectiveness of PT treatment of a 34-year-old male with significant impairments and functional limitations following partial medial meniscectomy.

Case Description. Examination and evaluation included ROM/flexibility and strength measurements as well as functional assessment. PT included therapeutic exercise which was aimed …

Professional Behavior In Physical Therapist Educational Programs: Perspectives Of Selected Senior Faculty, Tamara L. Little Phelan

All Faculty Scholarship

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze how selected senior instructors in physical therapist educational programs define and seek to impart information on professional behavior. Methods: A qualitative case study approach was used to gather data from eight instructors teaching in four physical therapist educational programs in a selected region. Each interview was analyzed as an individual case study, followed by a cross case analysis to identify common themes. Results: Interpretational analysis using a process of constant comparison revealed nine common themes: 1) Instructors found it difficult to broadly define professional behavior. 2) Instructors expect students to be …

A Stepped-Wedge Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial For Evaluating Rates Of Falls Among Inpatients In Aged Care Rehabilitation Units Receiving Tailored Multimedia Education In Addition To Usual Care: A Trial Protocol, Anne-Marie Hill, Nicholas Waldron, Christopher Etherton-Beer, Steven Mcphail, Katharine Ingram, Leon Flicker, Terry P. Haines

Physiotherapy Papers and Journal Articles

INTRODUCTION:

Falls are the most frequent adverse event reported in hospitals. Approximately 30% of in-hospital falls lead to an injury and up to 2% result in a fracture. A large randomised trial found that a trained health professional providing individualised falls prevention education to older inpatients reduced falls in a cognitively intact subgroup. This study aims to investigate whether this efficacious intervention can reduce falls and be clinically useful and cost-effective when delivered in the real-life clinical environment.

METHODS:

A stepped-wedge cluster randomised trial will be used across eight subacute units (clusters) which will be randomised to one of four …

Illusory Touch Temporarily Improves Sensation In Areas Of Chronic Numbness: A Brief Communication, Benedict Martin Wand, Samantha Eve Stephens, Effie Ida Marquita Mangharam, Pamela Jane George, Max Bulsara, Neil Edward O'Connell, G Lorimer Moseley

Physiotherapy Papers and Journal Articles

Background. Creating the visual illusion of touch can improve tactile perception in healthy subjects. Objective. We were interested in seeing if creating the illusion of touch in an insensate area could improve sensation in that area. Methods. Fourteen people with chronic numbness participated in a randomized crossover experiment. The 4 conditions were the following: (a) stimulation over the unaffected limb with mirror visual feedback (experimental condition), (b) stimulation over the affected limb with mirror visual feedback, (c) stimulation over the unaffected limb without mirror visual feedback, and (d) stimulation …

Moving In An Environment Of Induced Sensorimotor Incongruence Does Not Influence Pain Sensitivity In Healthy Volunteers: A Randomised Within-Subject Experiment, Benedict Wand, Lareina Szpak, Pamela J. George, Max Bulsara, Neil Edward O'Connell, G. Lorimer Moseley

Physiotherapy Papers and Journal Articles

Objectives: It has been proposed that in the same way that conflict between vestibular and visual inputs leads to motion sickness, conflict between motor commands and sensory information associated with these commands may contribute to some chronic pain states. Attempts to test this hypothesis by artificially inducing a state of sensorimotor incongruence and assessing self-reported pain have yielded equivocal results. To help clarify the effect sensorimotor incongruence has on pain we investigated the effect of moving in an environment of induced incongruence on pressure pain thresholds (PPT) and the pain experienced immediately on completion of PPT testing.

Methods: Thirty-five healthy …

An Audit Of Antenatal Education Facilitated By Physiotherapists In Western Australian Public Hospitals, Judy Wilson, Richard G. Berlach, Anne-Marie Hill

Physiotherapy Papers and Journal Articles

This paper reports on the delivery of antenatal education by physiotherapists in Western Australia in 2012, including the location of antenatal education providers, number of mothers attending, qualifications of physiotherapists involved, allocation of physiotherapy hours, the content of the education, and strategies used to enhance learning in the classes. A survey was emailed to the physiotherapists in 31 hospitals with maternity services that were funded by the Department of Health Western Australia. Antenatal education facilitated by a physiotherapist was provided at 25/30 (83.3%) hospitals. Four physiotherapists had postgraduate women’s health qualifications and all the antenatal education classes provided information about …

Movement Restriction Does Not Modulate Sensory And Perceptual Effects Of Exercise-Induced Arm Pain, Markus Hubscher, Simon Tu, Tasha Stanton, G Lorimer Moseley, Benedict M. Wand, John Booth, James H. Mcauley

Physiotherapy Papers and Journal Articles

BACKGROUND:

Movement restriction has been proposed as an important modulator of changes in sensory and perceptual function and motor imagery performance that are observed in musculoskeletal pain syndromes. There are no empirical data to support this view.

PURPOSE:

The primary objective of this experiment was to determine the effects of movement restriction on local and widespread sensory, perceptual and motor imagery changes after exercise-induced muscular pain. Further objectives were to investigate whether changes in sensory perception are correlated with pain intensity and tactile acuity or motor imagery performance.

METHODS:

In forty healthy volunteers, delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) of the …

Achilles Tendinopathy Alters Stretch Shortening Cycle Behaviour During A Sub-Maximal Hopping Task, James R. Debenham, Mervyn J. Travers, William Gibson, Amity Campbell, Garry T. Allison

Physiotherapy Papers and Journal Articles

Objectives

To describe stretch shortening cycle behaviour of the ankle and lower limb in patients with Achilles tendinopathy (AT) and establish differences with healthy volunteers.

Design

Between-subjects case-controlled.

Methods

Fifteen patients with AT (mean age 41.2 ± 12.7 years) and 11 healthy volunteers (CON) (mean age 23.2 ± 6.7 years) performed sub-maximal single-limb hopping on a custom built sledge-jump system. Using 3D motion analysis and surface EMG, temporal kinematic (lower limb stiffness, ankle angle at 80 ms pre-contact, ankle angle at contact, peak ankle angle, ankle stretch amplitude) and EMG measures (onset, offset and peak times relative to contact) were …

Altered Tendon Characteristics And Mechanical Properties Associated With Insertional Achilles Tendinopathy, Ruth L. Chimenti, Adolph S. Flemister, Joshua Tome, James M. Mcmahon, Marie A. Flannery, Ying Xue, Jeff R. Houck

Faculty Publications - College of Physical Therapy

Study Design: Case-control laboratory study.

Objectives: To compare tendon characteristics (shape, composition) and mechanical properties (strain, stiffness) on the involved side of participants with insertional Achilles tendinopathy (IAT) to the uninvolved side and to controls, and to examine if severity of tendon pathology is associated with severity of symptoms during function.

Background: Despite the severity and chronicity of IAT, the quality of theoretical evidence available to guide the development of exercise interventions is low. While tendon pathology of midportion Achilles tendinopathy has been described, there are few studies specific to IAT.

Methods: Twenty individuals with unilateral IAT and 20 age- …

Exercise Dosage And Pelvic Floor Muscle Function In Young Women With And Without Urinary Incontinence, Briana Dewitt

2014 Symposium

Approximately 38% of young, healthy females who have never been pregnant experience urinary incontinence (UI). Some research suggests there may be a correlation between the amount and intensity of physical activity and pelvic floor muscle dysfunction leading to UI in this population. This study used trans-abdominal real-time ultrasound imaging to describe pelvic floor performance in forty-eight females aged 18-30 (n=11 with reported UI, three of whom reported experiencing moderate to severe UI). While vigorous exercise was not significantly related to presence of UI, pelvic floor 64 contraction performance was significantly worse in those women with UI. These findings suggest that …

Play In Children With Motor Disabilities, Suzanne Martin

Theses and Dissertations--Rehabilitation Sciences

The purpose of this research was to explore and describe the relationship among the child, family, home environment, and pretend play of children with motor disabilities. The environment is a powerful force in early child development. This research is based on Bronfennbrenner’s ecological theory of development and the ubiquitous role of play in all domains of development. Children with motor disabilities may lack exploration of the environment and as a consequence demonstrate deficits in play. Play was measured in 32 children with motor disabilities aged 24.8 to 61.3 months with a mean age of 33.7 (SD 9.3) months. Children demonstrated …

Arch Height In Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis: A Pilot Study, Christopher Aeschliman, Rebecca Demattia, Rex Hurlbut, Adam Joy

University of Dayton Doctor of Physical Therapy Annual Research Symposium

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is the most common neurological disorder affecting younger adults. MS causes demyelination of nerves in the central nervous system, which impairs the ability of the nerve to conduct its impulse to other nerves and muscles. Over time, weaknesses and sensory deficits in the limbs may lead to structural changes in the musculoskeletal system, such as tightness in certain muscles and joints (calf and ankle) and excessive motion in others (foot and knee). Structural changes in the foot, including arch height and mid-foot flexibility, have yet to be measured or studied in persons with MS.

Test Items In The Complete And Short Forms Of The Bot-2 That Correlate To Subtest Score In Typically Developing Children 6-10 Years Of Age, Betsy Donahoe-Fillmore, C. Jayne Brahler, Kadi Carmosino, Ashley Grzeszczak, Kaylie Mcmurray, Bo Slutz, Brittany Zoll, Susan Aebker, Megan Kreill

University of Dayton Doctor of Physical Therapy Annual Research Symposium

The Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, second edition (BOT-2), is used to measure fine and gross motor proficiency in children ages 4- 21 years.1 The BOT-2 consists of both a Complete and Short Form and is comprised of 4 composites with 8 subtests. The Short Form consists of 14 items proportionally selected from the subtests of the Complete Form. Despite requiring less time to administer and score, a group of researchers found that the BOT-2 Short Form is not a valid measure for assessing motor proficiency in 4-6 year olds, suggesting that a revision of the Short Form may be …

Effects Of Yoga On Arm Volume Among Women With Breast Cancer Related Lymphedema: A Pilot Study, Mary I. Fisher, Betsy Donahoe-Fillmore, Laura Leach, Colleen O'Malley, Cheryl Paeplow, Tess Prescott

University of Dayton Doctor of Physical Therapy Annual Research Symposium

Early detection efforts and aggressive treatment have resulted in female breast cancer survival rates approaching 90%. Treatments for breast cancer often result in upper extremity morbidities including the development of lymphedema. Impairments may result from the development of lymphedema, including decreased arm function, range of motion and strength along with increased arm swelling and heaviness. This arm swelling can be accompanied by a general decline in the quality of life (QOL). Therefore, it is important to determine effective methods to manage lymphedema. Exercise is one aspect of lymphedema management that has been supported by research to improve physiologic function of …