Physical Therapy Commons^™

Physical Therapy Examination, Evaluation, And Intervention For A Patient Status Post Total Ankle Arthroplasty, Kyle Gregerson

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose: Total ankle arthroplasty is the least performed arthroplasty of the lower extremities and there is still much to learn about the need for and progression of rehabilitation for this population. The purpose of this case report is to describe the examination, evaluation, interventions, and outcomes for a patient receiving out-patient physical therapy for the first time at 10 weeks status post total ankle arthroplasty.

Case Description: The patient was a 75 year old male that presented to out-patient physical therapy 10 weeks s/p cemented right total ankle arthroplasty. The patient had received acute care physical therapy, …

Description Of Exercise Participation Of Adolescents With Cerebral Palsy Across A 4-Year Period., Laura K Brunton, Doreen J Bartlett

Physical Therapy Publications

Purpose: The primary purposes were to describe: 1) the types of exercise participation of adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP), 2) the weekly duration of stretching, strengthening, and cardiovascular exercise, and 3) how the level of activity compares to national health guidelines.

Methods: Participants were 126 males and 104 females (14.7, SD =1.7 years) who reported on the physical activities in the previous week using a questionnaire designed for this study. Analyses comprised frequency counts and proportions, stacked bar graphs and 2-way ANOVAs of exercise participation by GMFCS and gender.

Results: There was a significant interaction of GMFCS level and gender …

National Survey On Equine Assisted Therapy: An Exploratory Study Of Current Practitioners And Programs, Patricia J. Mcconnell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Equine facilitated psychotherapy (EFP), a new field in psychology, is an alternative method of therapy that uses horses to facilitate therapeutic outcomes. There is minimal peer reviewed literature and few published studies examining efficacy. The conceptual lens of this study was grounded theory, as there is insufficient evidence of theoretical frame-works guiding equine assisted therapy. The purpose of this exploratory concurrent mixed methods study was to examine the theoretical foundation of practitioners; program make up; client populations; efficacy of program; and why the horse serves as the therapeutic catalyst of this model. A 43-item survey was sent to 800 programs, …

The Effects Of Gestalt And Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Group Interventions On The Assertiveness And Self-Esteem Of Women With Physical Disabilities Facing Abuse, Cilene Susan Adam Rita

Wayne State University Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the differential effects of Gestalt and Cognitive-Behavioral group therapy interventions on assertiveness and self-esteem among women with physical disabilities facing abuse. The eleven women, who met the study criteria, were randomly assigned to one of two experimental conditions, Gestalt Therapy (GT) and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) group interventions. The Demographic Questionnaire (Adam Rita, 2009) documented personal characteristics of the participants. The criterion instruments were: a) RAS (Rathus, 1973), and b) CFSEI-2 (Form AD, Battle, 1992) measuring assertiveness and self-esteem respectively and were administered pre-and-post treatment. The research was conducted over a period of …

Conservative Management Of An Adult With Chronic Low Back Pain, Crystal Braun

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose: The purpose of this case study is to describe the conservative management of a male patient with chronic low back pain. This report will provide an insight to the benefits of an individualized treatment program combining therapeutic exercises, the McKenzie Method along with a Lumbar Extension MedX strengthening program.

Case Description: This case study describes the treatment of a 34 year old male computer programmer suffering from low back pain.

Intervention: The patient was treated using directional preference~ segmental stabilization, lumbar extension MedX strengthening, and other physiotherapy exercises. He received treatment twice a week for …

Effects Of A Physical Therapy Program For A Patient With Shoulder Adhesive Capsulitis, Renee Aune

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background & Purpose: Adhesive capsulitis is a musculoskeletal condition that has a disabling capability. The physiological changes that occur within the relevant connective tissue drive the intervention for functional improvement. There is often recovery, but it is not known whether a targeted intervention aimed at this type of patient is better than another regarding recovery. The purpose of this case report is to examine the multiple effects of a physical therapy intervention program with emphasis on improved function and quality of life.

Case Description: A single-case study of a 56-year-old female demonstrating the effects of a physical therapy program in …

Acute Care Physical Therapy Management Of An Elderly Patient With Posterior-Lateral Approach Total Hip Replacement, Kristi J. Mackedanz

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose: This article describes the acute care physical therapy management of an 88 year old female who underwent elective left posterior lateral approach total hip arthroplasty surgery. The patient was seen post-operative day one presenting with extreme pain, decreased functional mobility, and decreased range of motion and strength. Total hip arthroplasty has become a common surgery among the elder population to improve their functional and decrease pain occurring in their hip. The purpose of this article is to describe the interventions used with this patient, such as bed exercises, ambulation, and the functional outcome.

Case Description: This patient …

Skin Care Management In Outpatient Setting Of Lower Extremity Venous Ulcers, Stacy L. Roush

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose. This report will discuss the treatment options selected during eight weeks of therapy for a patient with chronic venous ulcers (CVUs) located on bilateral lower extremities. Venous ulcers can be very painful and are typically difficult to heal as a result of venous inefficiency. In many instances they inhibit the patient’s lifestyle depending on their location and severity.

Case Description. The patient seen was referred to physical therapy as his wounds had not shown any improvement since they were initially evaluated in April, 2008. Patient has history of lower extremity edema which was controlled by the use …

The Benefits Of Traditional Physical Therapy And Primal Reflex Release Technique In Treating Chronic Low Back Pain, Kenneth Worlanyo Wutoh

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose: Low back pain (LBP) is very prevalent in the general population. It is estimated that 79% of the population will experience low back pain during a lifetime. The purpose of this case report is to elaborate on the importance of traditional physical therapy interventions and to introduce the use of a new technique: primal reflex release technique (PRRT) in the treatment of LBP.

Case Description: The client was a 74-year-old female with history of multiple falls resulting in a vertebral fracture that was reduced by a kyphoplasty. Her chief complaints were pain in the T12 - L1 …

Psychosocial Responses To Spinal Cord Injury As Predictors Of Pressure Sores, Hanoch Livneh, Samuel T. Gontkovsky, Dobrivoje S. Stokic, Erin Martz

Counselor Education Faculty Publications and Presentations

Pressure sores are a preventable, but common, secondary complication of a spinal cord injury (SCI). Research is limited concerning the influence of psychological factors in the development of pressure sores. The purpose of our ex post facto study was to examine the role that emotional responses and coping strategies play in moderating the relationships between demographic and SCI-related medical variables and the frequency and severity of pressure sores. Ninety-five individuals, who sustained a sudden-onset SCI, completed a self-report questionnaire sent to the population of patients that received post-injury rehabilitation services at a rehabilitation center in the southern U.S. Multiple regression …

Digital Human Models Of People With Disabilities, Ron Hamameh

Wayne State University Theses

The current state-of-the-art in Digital Human Modeling (DHM) allows for full simulation and analysis of any task a person is required to perform at home, at work, in the military, in space, in sports, etc. The problem is that the software is missing a very important population: people with physical disabilities. What modifications and enhancements must be made to existing, commercially available DHM software to include this population?

Grade I Slap Lesion: A Conservative Treatment Approach, Joseph Klatt

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose: This case report describes the examination, intervention, and outcome of a patient with a grade I SLAP lesion using non-surgical physical therapy intervention. Detailed conservative strategies have not been previously described in the literature.

Case Description: The patient was a 39 year old male with a grade I SLAP lesion of the left shoulder with a significant history of shoulder pain since he pitched in the minors at age 23. Prior to formal physical therapy intervention the patient had pain rated at 7 out of 10 and could not perform overhead activities and ADLs such …

Physical Therapy Interventions For Multiple Sclerosis And Diplegia, Kyle R. Nyquist

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose – It is estimated that approximately 2.5 million people world-wide suffer from multiple sclerosis (MS). MS is a neurological disease that impacts messages from the brain to motor and sensory nerves. This disruption can cause loss of sensation and motion to a specific region of the body. The purpose of this case study is to identify interventions used for a person with multiple sclerosis.

Case Description – The Patient is a 40-year-old male who has been suffering from MS for 27 years. He has lost the use of his lower extremities and had contractures at his knees …

Minimizing Injuries And Enhancing Performance In Golf Through Training Programs, Erik P. Meira, Jason Brumitt

Faculty Publications - College of Physical Therapy

Context: Golf is a popular sport, particularly in older populations. Regardless of age and skill level, golfers risk injury to the back, shoulder, wrist and hand, elbow, and knee. Because of the unique compressive, shear, rotational, and lateral bending forces created in the lumbar region during the golf swing, the primary sport-related malady experienced by amateurs and professionals is low back pain. Extrinsic and intrinsic injury risk factors have been reported in the literature. A growing body of evidence supports the prescription of strength training routines to enhance performance and reduce the risk of injury.

Evidence Acquisition: Relevant studies were …

Deep Posterior Compartment Strength And Foot Kinematics In Subjects With Stage Ii Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction, Christopher Neville, Adolph S. Flemister, Jeff Houck

Faculty Publications - College of Physical Therapy

Background: Tibialis posterior muscle weakness has been documented in subjects with Stage II posterior tibial tendon dysfunction (PTTD) but the effect of weakness on foot structure remains unclear. The association between strength and flatfoot kinematics may guide treatment such as the use of strengthening programs targeting the tibialis posterior muscle.

Materials and Methods: Thirty Stage II PTTD subjects (age; 58.1 ± 10.5 years, BMI 30.6 ± 5.4) and 15 matched controls (age; 56.5 ± 7.7 years, BMI 30.6 ± 3.6) volunteered for this study. Deep Posterior Compartment strength was measured from both legs of each subject and the strength ratio …

Oasis Inter-Rater Reliability And Reimbursement: A Study Of Inter-Rater Reliability Of The Outcome And Assessment Information Set (Oasis): Its Effects On The Home Health Resource Group (Hhrg) And Reimbursement, Paul A. Shew

Faculty Publications - College of Physical Therapy

One of the outcomes of the initial Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS) is to establish a level of reimbursement through the Medicare Prospective Payment System (PPS). Several inter-rater reliability (IRR) studies have noted differences in responses to individual questions within the OASIS but little is known about how variations in scoring might affect the final reimbursement projection. In a one-way repeated measures design study, the OASIS was completed on 52 patients by both an RN and a PT within a 24-hour timeframe and the projected reimbursement rates were compared. Fifty-four percent of the outcomes of the assessment pairs were …

Repetitive Eccentric Muscle Contractions Increase Torque Unsteadiness In The Human Triceps Brachii, Andrew Mezsaros, Masaki Iguchi, Shuo-Hsiu Chang, Richard K. Shields

Faculty Publications - College of Physical Therapy

Torque steadiness and low-frequency fatigue (LFF) were examined in the human triceps brachii after concentric or eccentric fatigue protocols. Healthy young males (n = 17) performed either concentric or eccentric elbow extensor contractions until the eccentric maximal voluntary torque decreased to 75% of pre-fatigue for both (concentric and eccentric) protocols. The number of concentric contractions was greater than the number of eccentric contractions needed to induce the same 25% decrease in eccentric MVC torque (52.2 ± 2.9 vs. 41.5 ± 2.1 for the concentric and eccentric protocols, respectively, p < .01). The extent of peripheral fatigue was 12% greater after the concentric compared to the eccentric protocol (twitch amplitude), whereas LFF (increase in double pulse torque/single pulse torque), was similar across protocols. Steadiness, or the ability for a subject to hold a submaximal isometric contraction, was 20% more inpaired during the Ecc protocol (p = .052). Similarly, the EMG activity required to hold the torque steady was nearly 20% greater after the eccentric compared to concentric protocol. These findings support that task dependent eccentric contractions preferentially alter CNS control during a precision based steadiness task.

Physical Therapy Availability In The Rural Counties Of Iowa, Kelsea Elizabeth Leacox

Honors Program Theses

According to the Iowa Physical Therapy Association [IPT A], physical therapy [PT] is a vital part of a healthy society, because it allows people to "achieve and maintain mobility and quality of life without surgery or prescription medication" (IPT A, 2009). There have been no published studies researching the availability of PT in rural areas of Iowa (Wilson, Lewis, & Murray, 2009; Institute of Medicine [IOM], 2005). The purpose of this study was to investigate whether PT availability in rural Iowa counties is an issue of concern. Preliminary and qualitative research was conducted to examine this topic. The importance of …

Electromyographic Analysis Of Trunk Muscle Activation During A Throwing Pattern Following Rotator Cuff Mobilization, Aubrey L. Doede

CMC Senior Theses

Correct muscular activation of the body segments during an overhand throw is achieved when movement originates in the larger and more proximal legs and trunk and moves sequentially to the smaller, distal segments of the shoulder and arm. This sequence permits angular velocity to transfer progressively through the throw as part of an open kinetic chain. The athlete can summate angular velocity and segmental forces only if he is able to create a separation between the body segments during the movement pattern, and this separation is thus essential to effective segmental sequencing for activation of the trunk muscles to occur …

The Reliability Of Portable Fixed Dynamometry During Hip And Knee Strength Assessments, Roger O. Kollock Jr., James A. Onate, Bonnie Van Lunen

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

Context: Insufficient lower extremity strength may be a risk factor for lower extremity injuries such as noncontact anterior cruciate ligament tears. Therefore, clinicians need reliable instruments to assess strength deficiencies.

Objective: To assess the intrarater, interrater, intrasession, and intersession reliability of a portable fixed dynamometer in measuring the strength of the hip and knee musculature.

Design: Crossover study.

Setting: Sports medicine research laboratory.

Patients or Other Participants: Three raters (A, B, C) participated in this 2-phase study. Raters A and B tested 11 healthy college graduate students (2 men, 9 women) in phase 1. Raters A and C tested 26 …