Physical Therapy Commons^™

The Special Care Nursery, Linda Kahn-D’Angelo, Yvette Blanchard, Beth Mcmanus

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

Providing services to high-risk infants and their families in the neonatal intensive care unit is a complex subspecialty of pediatric physical therapy requiring knowledge and skills beyond the competencies for entry into practice. The newborns in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) are among the most fragile patients that physical therapists will treat, and detrimental effects can occur as the result of routine caregiving procedures. Pediatric physical therapists (PTs) need advanced education in areas such as early fetal and infant development; infant neurobehavior; family responses to having a sick newborn; the environment of the NICU, physiologic assessment and monitoring; newborn …

Shoulder-And Back-Muscle Activation During Shoulder Abduction And Flexion Using A Bodyblade Pro Versus Dumbbells, Joseph S. Parry, Rachel Straub, Daniel Cipriani

Physical Therapy Faculty Articles and Research

Context: The Bodyblade Pro is used for shoulder rehabilitation after injury. Resistance is provided by blade oscillations—faster oscillations or higher speeds correspond to greater resistance. However, research supporting the Bodyblade Pro’s use is scarce, particularly in comparison with dumbbell training. Objective: To compare muscle activity, using electromyography (EMG), in the back and shoulder regions during shoulder exercises with the Bodyblade Pro vs dumbbells. Design: Randomized crossover study. Setting: San Diego State University biomechanics laboratory. Participants: 11 healthy male subjects age 19–32 y. Intervention: Subjects performed shoulder-flexion and -abduction exercises using a Bodyblade Pro and …

Comprehensive Strength Training Program For A Recreational Senior Golfer 11-Months After A Rotator Cuff Repair, Jason Brumitt, Erik P. Meira, Hui En Gilpin, Meredith Brunette

Faculty Publications - College of Physical Therapy

Background and Purpose: Golf is a popular sport played by hundreds of thousands of individuals of all ages and of varying skill levels. An orthopedic or sports-related injury and/or surgery may limit an individual’s sport participation, require him/her to complete a course of rehabilitation, and initiate (or resume) a sportspecific training program. Unlike the availability of evidence to guide postsurgical rehabilitation and sportspecific training of athletes from sports other than golf, there have only been two reports describing outcomes after surgery and for golfers. The purpose of this case report is to present a post-rehabilitation return to sporttraining program for …

Determining The Validity Of The Nintendo Wii Balance Board As An Assessment Tool For Balance, Sabrina Mae Deans

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Context. Application of the Nintendo Wii-fit balance board and its games have been used in Physical Therapy clinics, showing success in individuals with neurological disorders, and has been recommended as a minimum baseline assessment of a symptoms checklist and standardized cognitive and balance assessments for concussion management by the NCAA. However, it still faces challenges of being considered a reliable and consistent tool for producing normative data in the allied healthcare. Because there is little to no evidence for the Wii-fit balance board as a valid balance assessment tool for clinical and/or research usage, the significance of this study is …

Clinical Care Plan: Interdisciplinary Course (Ccpic), Marcia Levinson, Pt, Phd, Mft, Amy M Egras, Pharm.D, Bcps, E. Adel Herge, Otd, Otr/L, Kathryn Shaffer, Rn, Msn

Department of Physical Therapy Faculty Papers

Background/Rationale:

Interprofessional collaborative practice significantly improves patient outcomes, reduces mortality and enhances quality-of-life.

Person-focused care demands collaboration among professions in a team approach to address multiple issues including illness, prevention, and health promotion activities.

Key elements of successful implementation of interprofessional education supported by Clinical Care Plan, Interprofessional Course (CCPIC):

-Increasing knowledge of the roles, responsibilities, and competencies of multiple health professions.

-Collaborating in teams

-Recognizing the patient as the expert

-Communicating effectively

Course Statistics:

-176 students from various disciplines completed course (2008-2011).

Disciplines include:

-Medicine, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Pharmacy

Mechanisms Of The Contextual Interference Effect In Individuals Poststroke, Nicolas Schweughofer, Jeong-Yoon Lee, Hui-Ting Goh, Youggeun Choi, Sung Shin Kim, Jill Campbell Stewart Pt,Phd, Rebecca Lewthwaite, Carolee J. Winstein

Faculty Publications

Although intermixing different motor learning tasks via random schedules enhances long-term retention compared with “blocked” schedules, the mechanism underlying this contextual interference effect has been unclear. Furthermore, previous studies have reported inconclusive results in individuals poststroke. We instructed participants to learn to produce three grip force patterns in either random or blocked schedules and measured the contextual interference effect by long-term forgetting: the change in performance between immediate and 24-h posttests. Nondisabled participants exhibited the contextual interference effect: no forgetting in the random condition but forgetting in the blocked condition. Participants at least 3 mo poststroke exhibited no forgetting in …

A Systematic Review Of The Health-Related Quality Of Life Measures Following Total Knee Arthroplasty, Saurabh Mehta, Mary Law, Jean-Sebastian Roy

Physical Therapy Faculty Research

To perform systematic review and appraisal of common patient-reported outcomes (PROs) used in measuring aspects of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Especially, the study aimed to examine whether these common PROs assess the domains of HRQOL as described in the theoretical frameworks of the HRQOL.

Use Of The Term "Elderly", Dale Avers, Marybeth Brown, Kevin Chui, Rita A. Wong, Michelle M. Lusardi

All PTHMS Faculty Publications

Using the term elderly for a person who is robust and independent as well as for a person who is frail and dependent says little about the individual.

Peak Triceps Surae Muscle Activity Is Not Specific To Knee Flexion Angles During Mvic, Kim Hébert-Losier, Anthony G. Schneiders, José A. García, S John Sullivan, Guy G. Simoneau

Physical Therapy Faculty Research and Publications

There is limited research on peak activity of the separate triceps surae muscles in select knee flexion (KF) positions during a maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) used to normalize EMG signals. The aim of this study was to determine how frequent peak activity occurred during an MVIC for soleus (SOL), gastrocnemius medialis (GM), and gastrocnemius lateralis (GL) in select KF positions, and if these peaks were recorded in similar KF positions. Forty-eight healthy individuals performed unilateral plantar-flexion MVIC in standing with 0°KF and 45°KF, and in sitting with 90°KF. Surface EMG of SOL, GM, and GL were collected and processed …

Bilateral Oscillatory Hip Movements Induce Windup Of Multijoint Lower Extremity Spastic Reflexes In Chronic Spinal Cord Injury, Tanya Onushko, Allison S. Hyngstrom, Brian D. Schmit

Physical Therapy Faculty Research and Publications

After spinal cord injury (SCI), alterations in intrinsic motoneuron properties have been shown to be partly responsible for spastic reflex behaviors in human SCI. In particular, a dysregulation of voltage-dependent depolarizing persistent inward currents (PICs) may permit sustained muscle contraction after the removal of a brief excitatory stimulus. Windup, in which the motor response increases with repeated activation, is an indicator of PICs. Although windup of homonymous stretch reflexes has been shown, multijoint muscle activity is often observed following imposed limb movements and may exhibit a similar windup phenomenon. The purpose of this study was to identify and quantify windup …

Biomechanical Effects Of Mobile Computer Location In A Vehicle Cab, Kyle Saginus, Richard W. Marklin, Patricia Seeley, Guy G. Simoneau, Stephen H. Freier

Physical Therapy Faculty Research and Publications

Objective: The objective of this research is to determine the best location to place a conventional mobile computer supported by a commercially available mount in a light truck cab.

Background: U.S. and Canadian electric utility companies are in the process of integrating mobile computers into their fleet vehicle cabs. There are no publications on the effect of mobile computer location in a vehicle cab on biomechanical loading, performance, and subjective assessment.

Method: The authors tested four locations of mobile computers in a light truck cab in a laboratory study to determine how location affected muscle activity of the lower back …

Muscle Fatigue And Motor Output Variability With Acute Stress In Healthy Young Adults And Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Manda Linea Keller

Dissertations (1934 -)

Acute stress can alter motor performance differently for men and women. The first aim of this dissertation addresses possible causes for the sex difference in the motor response of a low-intensity fatiguing contraction of the elbow flexor muscles to an acute stressor (difficult mental math) in young, healthy adults. Muscle fatigue increased for men and women when exposed to the stressor, but impairment was more prominent for the women. This work showed that fatigue in the central nervous system, specifically in cortical motor and premotor areas, as well as relaxation rates of the muscle (quantified with cortical stimulation) were not …

Virtual Reality Gaming As A Tool For Rehabilitation In Physical Therapy, Abel A. Rendon

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Balance control decreases in the elderly and currently 33 to 50 percent of people over 65 years of age experience a fall each year resulting in ten thousand deaths annually. Many balance‐training programs use expensive equipment and a clinical setting for the training. The need for reliable and low cost tools is essential for fall prevention and rehabilitation of the aging population. Virtual reality gaming is emerging as a solution for this problem. The purpose of the six week study was to determine the effects of virtual reality gaming, specifically the Nintendo Wii Fit Balance Board (WBB), on dynamic balance …

Athletic Training Students' Ability To Identify Scapular Dyskinesis, Priscilla M. Dwelly

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Scapular dyskinesis refers to abnormal movement patterns of the scapula, which have been associated with injury. Previous investigations have validated the scapular dyskinesis test as a visual assessment method using physicians, physical therapists, and certified athletic trainers. Through educational programs, athletic training students should be taught what scapular dyskinesis is and how to identify it. Therefore, the purpose of this investigation was to (a) evaluate entry-level graduate athletic training students' ability to identify scapular dyskinesis, (b) assess their reliability, and (c) determine if they were able to correctly identify the muscles involved in rehabilitating an individual with scapular dyskinesis. Follow-up …

The Effects Of Traditional Strengthening Exercises Versus Functional Task Training On Pain, Strength, And Functional Mobility In The 45-65 Year Old Adult With Knee Osteoarthritis, Christine M. Stutz-Doyle

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

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Analysis Of Vertical Ground Reaction Force Variables During A Sit To Stand Task In Participants Recovering From A Hip Fracture, Jeff R. Houck, Janet Kneiss, Susan V. Bukata, J. Edward Puzas

Faculty Publications - College of Physical Therapy

Background: A Sit to Stand task following a hip fracture may be achieved through compensations (e.g. bilateral arms and uninvolved lower extremity), not restoration of movement strategies of the involved lower extremity. The primary purpose was to compare upper and lower extremity movement strategies using the vertical ground reaction force during a Sit to Stand task in participants recovering from a hip fracture to control participants. The secondary purpose was to evaluate the correlation between vertical ground reaction force variables and validated functional measures.

Methods: Twenty eight community dwelling older adults, 14 who had a hip fracture and 14 control …

Exploring The Five Phases Of Physical Therapist Professional Development Advanced By The Clinical Doctorate Degree, Salome V. Brooks

All PTHMS Faculty Publications

The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) 2020 strategic plan mandated that the clinical doctor of physical therapy degree (DPT) will be the minimum practice standard. The APTA failed to articulate a functional practice description recognizing the varying levels of preparation. The current literature validates the existence of a stepwise pattern of professional development in similarly evolving disciplines. Applied nursing research by Benner (Benner model of professional development, 2001) identified five stages of professional development and characteristics that were useful in the discipline's advancement. The purpose of the study was to apply the structure of the Benner Model to physical therapy …

Effect Of Aquastretch On Range Of Motion At Knee Joint In Total Knee Arthroplasty Patients, Raja Devinder Kochar

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The success of the Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) depends upon its functional outcomes of increase in reduction in pain, and gait ambulation and performing functional activities of daily living. Compromised range of motion, pain and weakness can reduce their ability to perform activities of daily living. Aquatic Physical Therapy may offer an alternative intervention to traditional Physical Therapy Rehabilitation and many studies have shown improvements in range of motion, swelling, pain reduction, stiffness and quality of life after TKA. AquaStretch, a relatively new form of aquatic therapy, claims to restore the functional mobility which is lost restrictions caused due to …

The Acute Effects Of Various Types Of Stretching (Static, Dynamic, Ballistic, And No Stretch) Of The Iliopsoas On 40-Yard Sprint Times In Non-Athletes, Scott David Christensen, Craig Perry, Ryan Richard Resnik

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of static, ballistic, dynamic, and no stretching immediately prior to a 40-yard sprint in college students. There were 35 healthy subjects (22 male and 13 female) between the ages of 24 and 37 (Mean = 26.46 yrs, SD = 2.99 yrs) who participated. The experiment consisted of running 4, 40-yard sprint trials immediately following 1 of 4 different stretching protocols. Prior to each 40- yard sprint trial, a 5-minute warm up was performed at 3.5 mph on a treadmill. Each subject received each of the four techniques in a randomized …

Patient Factors And Day Of The Week Influencing Physical Therapy Non-Treatment Events In The Acute Care Setting, Daniel Goodrich, Curtis Doug Jensen

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Background. In acute care hospitals, scheduled physical therapy visits not resulting in treatment may increase patient length of stay and the financial burden to the hospital. Previous literature has not fully evaluated the occurrence of these events, nor have any associated factors been identified.

Objective. Measure the rate of non-treatment and determine which patient characteristics were most likely to predict a non-treatment event.

Design. Retrospective review of documentation at a suburban hospital.

Methods. Data were collected from records of 1,096 patients, totaling 6,097 scheduled sessions. The rate of non-treatment was calculated and logistic regression used to …