Physical Therapy Commons^™

Obstacles To Physical Therapy Clinical Instruction: A Qualitative Study Of Clinical Instructors, Alicia K. Rabena-Amen, Bhavana Raja, Todd E. Davenport

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Clinical instructors (CIs) are essential contributors to clinical education. Limited literature exists describing CI perceptions of supervising students. The purpose of this research was to identify CI challenges and possible solutions when supervising student physical therapists and student physical therapist assistants. Methods: A convenience sample of 99 CIs in the Northern California Clinical Education Consortium participated in this study. A phenomenological approach obtained CI perceptions of the barriers to supervising students. Researchers employed a web-based survey to obtain demographic information and pose two open-ended questions that allowed for up to three responses. Thematic analysis using a coding framework was …

Scoping Out Leadership Opportunities And Motivational Factors Of Doctor Of Physical Therapy Students, Laura Stephens, Ronald Childress

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to open investigation into the scope of leadership opportunities available to students at a physical therapy educational program and to identify factors that motivated students to pursue leadership development opportunities during their pre-professional education. Methods: This qualitative study utilized semi-structured interviews to investigate the experiences and perspectives of current and former student leaders. Participants were queried regarding what leadership opportunities were available to them and what motivated them to pursue those specific roles. Results: Findings revealed the scope of leadership development opportunities included experiences within and external to the Doctor of Physical Therapy …

Physical Therapy Management Of Myasthenia Gravis: A Case Study, Erin Hung, Gwendolyn Juha, Todd E. Davenport, Joy Williams

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease that involves dysfunction of the neuromuscular junction, and commonly involves fluctuating muscle weakness and central fatigue. Current literature lacks consensus on the benefit of exercise in addressing central fatigue in this population. This case report explores the role of physical therapy in an individual with MG for whom fatigue is a primary concern. Methods: This case study describes the physical therapy management of a 62-year-old Caucasian male recently diagnosed with myasthenia gravis. Physical therapy intervention focused on strength and balance training as well as patient education on energy conservation and activity pacing. …

Physical Therapy Management For An Individual With Stiff Person Syndrome In The Acute Care Setting: A Case Report, Paul Kim, Christina Berdoulay, Todd E. Davenport, Joy Williams

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS) is a rare neurological disease which is characterized by progressive rigidity and painful spasms of axial and limb muscles. We report here on the physical therapy management as well as medical complications which impacted the physical therapy plan of care for a patient with paraneoplastic SPS in the acute care setting. Method: This case report describes rehabilitation management of a 71-year-old woman who presented in the acute care setting for complaints of progressively worsening stiffness in the bilateral lower extremities leading to multiple falls as well as dysphagia. Primary interventions for this patient included passive …

Clinical Instructor And Student Reports Of Affective Behavior Issues During A Clinical Experience, Bruce N. Elliott, Jon J. Rizzo

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Clinical Instructors (CIs) have optimal opportunity to support non-cognitive attributes while observing and assessing student interactions with staff and patients because of the time spent with their students. There is a dearth of literature related to how items in the professional practice section of the Clinical Performance Instrument (CPI) are truly addressed during a clinical affiliation. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to record the occasions when lapses occur with respect to a student’s accountability, communication, or professional behavior, as well as assessing student and CI interpretations of how these instances were addressed, and subsequently corrected within …

Proceedings Of The 2022 “Lifestyle Intervention For Epilepsy (Life)” Symposium Hosted By Cleveland Clinic, Martha Sajatovic

Faculty Scholarship

Lifestyle interventions are strategies used to self-manage medical conditions, such as epilepsy, and often complement traditional pharmacologic and surgical therapies. The need for integrating evidence-based lifestyle interventions into mainstream medicine for the treatment of epilepsy is evident given that despite the availability of a multitude of treatments with medications and surgical techniques, a significant proportion of patients have refractory seizures, and even those who are seizure-free report significant adverse effects with current treatments. Although the evidence base for complementary medicine is less robust than it is for traditional forms of medicine, the evidence to date suggests that several forms of …

Investigating Dual Task Balance Exercises: Quantifying Practice Patterns And Understanding Decision-Making Among Physical Therapists, Amelia Sabin, Wes Spagnuolo, Narissa Libby, Kylie Berry

Research Report Posters

Dual-task exercise has been shown to be an effective intervention to improve patient functional outcomes and decrease falls. However, little is known about whether physical therapists are prescribing dual task exercises during their sessions, or at what intensity. The objective of this research was to analyze differences and similarities of observed balance exercise practice patterns and reported practice and decision-making among physical therapists. We analyzed both quantitative and qualitative data from two separate studies and extracted data regarding dual-task balance exercises. Our analysis found that therapists rarely perform, describe, or report thinking about dual-task balance exercises in their physical therapy …

Performance Of Artificial Neural Network Compared To Multi-Linear Regression In Prediction Of Countermovement Jump Height, Amirhossein Emamian, Alireza Hashemi Oskouei, Kristof Kipp, Rasoul Azreh

Exercise Science Faculty Research and Publications

Previous research has used primarily linear regression models to predict jump height and establish contributors of performance. The purpose of this study was to compare the performance of artificial neural network (ANN) and multi-linear regression (MLR) in prediction of countermovement jump (CMJ) height and investigating the contribution of kinematic variables to CMJ performance. Thirty-four healthy young male athletes performed a total of 204 CMJ while eight kinematic variables (the hip, knee, and ankle angles at the begging of the concentric phase of CMJ, the hip and knee take-off angles, and the shoulder, hip, and knee maximum angular velocities) were used …

Neural And Muscular Contributions To The Age-Related Differences In Peak Power Of The Knee Extensors In Men And Women, David J. Wrucke, Andrew Kuplic, Mitchell D. Adam, Sandra K. Hunter, Christopher W. Sundberg

Physical Therapy Faculty Research and Publications

The mechanisms for the loss in limb muscle power output in old (60–79 yr) and very old (≥80 yr) adults and whether the mechanisms differ between men and women are not well understood. We compared maximal peak power of the knee extensor muscles between young, old, and very old men and women and identified the neural and muscular factors contributing to the age-related differences in power. Thirty-one young (22.9 ± 3.0 yr, 15 women), 82 old (70.3 ± 4.9 yr, 38 women), and 16 very old adults (85.8 ± 4.2 yr, 9 women) performed maximal isokinetic contractions at 14 different …

Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy In Pregnant And Postpartum Women, Madison G. Kaup

Senior Theses

This project had three main goals: 1) Explore how pregnancy and childbirth affect the female pelvic floor anatomy and physiology, 2) Examine current practices through a literature review and interviews conducted with pelvic floor physical therapists currently practicing in various clinical settings across the United States, and 3) Develop suggestions to mitigate the challenges currently faced in the field by patients and therapists.

The female pelvic floor undergoes extensive changes throughout pregnancy as its structures are targeted by laxity-inducing hormones and mechanical stress from the growing fetus. During childbirth, the system is stretched beyond its physiological limit, causing damage to …

The Role Of The Physical Therapist In Managing Type 2 Diabetes: Systematic And Qualitative Perspectives, Garrett Matthew Hainline

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Physical activity (PA) is an effective tool in the management of Type 2 Diabetes (T2D). PA recommendations for people with T2D are to achieve at least 150 minutes per week of moderate intensity PA. This assists to maintain blood glucose control and reduce cardiovascular disease risk factors. Unfortunately, people with T2D are less likely than their normoglycemic peers to meet PA recommendations.

Veterans of the armed forces experience T2D at even greater levels than the general population, with prevalence at about 20%. In addition, T2D and pre-diabetes are elevated among younger veterans, including those of recent conflicts. Reducing rates …

The Effectiveness Of Massage Gun Treatment Combined With Passive Stretching In Reducing Non-Specific Lower Back Pain, Yudik Prasetyo, Sabda Husain As Shafi, Fatkhurahman Arjuna, Atikah Rahayu, Mohd Izwan Bin Shahril, Mohad Anizu Mohd Nor, Edwin Onyango Otieno

Jurnal Keolahragaan

Non-specific lower back pain is a common condition characterized by strain, muscle spasms, or weakness of the paraspinal muscles, particularly the multifidus muscle, which affects adjacent musculature such as the gluteus, hamstrings, and quadriceps. This study aimed to investigate whether massage gun treatment combined with passive stretching could reduce non-specific low back pain in patients experiencing subacute and chronic phases of this condition. This pseudo-experimental research employed a one-group pretest-posttest design with three treatments. Participants were selected using purposive sampling based on inclusion criteria: suffering from non-specific low back pain, willingness to participate, and age between 20 and 65 years. …

Enhancing Recovery: Surgical Techniques And Rehabilitation Strategies After Direct Anterior Hip Arthroplasty, Alberto Di Martino, Christopher Keating, Micahel J. Butsick, Daniela Platano, Lisa Berti, Louis N. Hunter, Cesare Faldini

Department of Physical Therapy Faculty Papers

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a common surgical procedure for hip joint pathologies, with the direct anterior approach (DAA) gaining popularity due to potential benefits in postoperative recovery. This review aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of rehabilitation strategies following DAA THA, focusing on surgical techniques, postoperative care, and outcomes. The evolution of the DAA to THA is discussed, highlighting historical advancements and comparisons with other surgical approaches. Surgical techniques and considerations specific to the DAA are detailed, including outcomes and complications compared to alternative approaches. The role of the surgical technique in influencing postoperative rehabilitation is explored, emphasizing the …

The Effect Of Lower Limb Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation On The Muscle And Metabolic Health After Acute Spinal Cord Injury, Amal Alharbi

All ETDs from UAB

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating event with long-term consequences for individuals and their families. It causes immediate disruption to neuronal pathways, leading to paralysis and loss of muscle function below the injury level. A few weeks after the injury, there is a rapid decline in contractile activity, muscle mass, and cross-sectional area. This leads to muscle fiber degeneration and a shift towards a higher proportion of fast glycolytic fibers, which are more prone to fatigue and less efficient in energy utilization. Severe muscle atrophy in SCI is closely linked to metabolic dysfunction, affecting overall health and rehabilitation recovery. …

Exploring The Use Of Bimodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation To Enhance Movement In Individuals With Patellofemoral Pain—A Sham-Controlled Double Blinded Pilot Study, Kai-Yu Ho, Connan Wallace, Jeno Aquino, Bryce Broadwell, Makenzie Whimple, Jing Nong Liang

Physical Therapy Faculty Research

Introduction: In individuals with patellofemoral pain (PFP), addressing increased knee valgus during weight-bearing activities typically involves strengthening weak hip muscles. However, recent literature highlights the role of altered descending central control in abnormal movements associated with PFP. While transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has demonstrated the capacity to enhance neuroplasticity, its application targeting the corticomotor function of gluteal muscles in PFP remains unexplored. This study aimed to investigate the effects of combining bimodal tDCS with exercise on frontal plane kinematics in individuals with PFP. The hypothesis was that bimodal tDCS, specifically targeting the corticomotor function of the gluteal muscles, would …

Anxiety And Depression Amongst Female Athletes, Dp Golden, Re Obmann, Em Moore

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Context: Anxiety (categorized by a feeling of fear, dread, and uneasiness) and depression (mood disorder causing feelings of persistent sadness and loss of interest in things an individual once loved) are two major mental health disorders effecting females considerably who participate in sport. Females are more likely to present with anxiety (55-60%)1 and depression (1.844 times)2 compared to males. The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence between mental health comorbidities (anxiety and depression), across female athletes aged 18-40. Methods: An anonymous survey was distributed via snowball sampling using social media. Demographic data, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), validated …

Effects Of Sex Hormones And The Menstrual Cycle On Knee Joint Laxity In Physically Active Females: A Critically Appraised Topic, Ae Eicher, Rj Gage, K Park-Braswell

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Clinical Scenario: In recent years, females have exhibited increased physical activity and sport participation than ever before. Recent studies have identified a rising incidence rate of ACL injuries and indicate that the risk of ACL tears is greater in females than males. Knee laxity and physiological variation in women during the menstrual cycle have demonstrated increased ligament laxity, therefore, varying hormone concentrations may contribute to changes in ligamentous mechanical properties. Despite these findings, it remains unclear whether fluctuating sex hormone concentrations directly correlate to measurable changes in knee laxity. Clinical Question: How do fluctuations in sex hormones throughout the menstruation …

Individual Goal And Velocity Based Throwing Program For Collegiate Baseball Pitchers With Medial Elbow Injuries, Le Trail, Jm Cline, Ap Jacobsen

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Background: A 22-year-old male collegiate baseball pitcher experienced sudden pain in the medial left elbow following feeling a pop when pitching. The pitcher was removed from the competition and was evaluated with a point-of-care ultrasound at the conclusion of the competition. Ultrasound revealed an intact ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) and no edema. Differential Diagnosis: UCL sprain, Wrist flexor strain Treatment: The patient was referred to a primary care sports medicine physician for further evaluation. The physician found no tenderness or laxity at the UCL and ordered an MRI arthrogram for further diagnostic information. MRI revealed a grade II flexor digitorum …

Presentation Of An Accessory Navicular Bone In A Collegiate Women’S Field Hockey Player: A Type 3 Clinical Case Study, N Sutker, J Franco, K Mallory, B Hansberger

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Background: The accessory navicular is an extra bone located posterior and medial to the navicular tuberosity. The prevalence of accessory navicular has been reported to be 4 - 21% in the general population though this anatomical variant may often be overlooked during differential diagnosis. This case presents a female collegiate field hockey patient that was initially diagnosed with a midfoot sprain but was later determined to have an accessory navicular bone which required surgical removal. Patient: A 19-year-old female Division I collegiate field hockey patient presented to the athletic training clinic with pain in her left medial foot. The patient …

Changes In Neural Excitability Following 6-Week Of Balance Training In Individuals With Chronic Ankle Instability, Sh Chung, J Freeman, Rs Mccann

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Context: Individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI) often struggle with balance issues due to changes in the central nervous system (CNS). Specifically, difficulties in modulating spinal reflexive excitability and enhancing corticospinal excitability contribute to poor balance, indicating challenges in transferring control to supraspinal centers. A recent study found that a single session of balance training could positively impact the CNS, improving spinal reflexive excitability modulation and corticospinal excitability in CAI patients. However, there is limited research on the effects of long-term balance training on neural excitability in CAI individuals. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of a 6-week …