Physical Therapy Commons^™

Severe Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Presenting With Paraplegic Symptoms: A Rehabilitation Case Report, Cecilia Hammond, Elizabeth Campione

Oncology Rehabilitation in Practice

Background: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is characterized by sensory and/or motor symptoms in distal extremities starting within 24 hours of receiving chemotherapy and can potentially last for years. Management of CIPN may include medication (i.e. Duloxetine) and physical therapy (PT). The purpose of this case report is to describe the rehabilitation process and adjustments to the plan of care for a patient with severe CIPN. This case underscores the importance of a proper diagnosis and the need for research to develop evidence-based guidelines for PT interventions for non-ambulatory patients with severe CIPN.

Case description: The patient was a 53-year-old female …

Clinical Management Of A Patient With Lipo-Lymphedema Using Adjustable Compression Wraps: A Case Report, Candace Alexander, Claire Davies, Martha Monroe

Oncology Rehabilitation in Practice

Background: Lipo-lymphedema indicates the presence of lipedema and lymphedema. Compression is used to achieve volume reduction and assist with long-term management. Adjustable compression wraps (ACWs) have been used in lymphedema care to replace traditional compression bandaging and facilitate patient self-care.

Case Description: This patient reported issues with bilateral leg edema for more than 35 years. She reported poor experiences with compression garments and had tried self-management with a compression pump only. She was referred for lymphedema care when her malfunctioning compression pump enabled her edema to worsen.

Assessment and Treatment: Lipedema may have been present for many years …

Recurring Axillary Web Syndrome (Aws) Following A Strenuous Increase In Upper Extremity Strengthening Exercise: A Case Report, David Locke, Linda Koehler

Oncology Rehabilitation in Practice

Background: Axillary web syndrome (AWS) refers to cords presenting in the axilla, upper extremity, and lateral chest wall after breast cancer surgery with axillary lymph node dissection. This unique case demonstrates the onset of AWS 2 weeks post-operatively with recurrence at 4 and 21 months, following rapid progression in upper extremity strengthening exercise.

Case Description: A 33-year-old athletic woman with invasive ductal carcinoma underwent a left mastectomy with sentinel node biopsy (6 nodes removed). Cord development occurred at 2 weeks after surgery. She sought physiotherapy consisting of AWS education, myofascial pin-and-stretch techniques applied to the cord in end-range abduction, a …

Physical Therapy Management Of An Adult Patient Diagnosed With Spindle Cell Rhabdomyosarcoma: A Case Report, Jennifer Carrano

Oncology Rehabilitation in Practice

Background: Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a rare soft tissue sarcoma that primarily affects children and adolescents. Adult RMS is uncommon and associated with poorer prognosis and limited evidence to guide rehabilitation.

Case Description: A 29-year-old male presented with right facial pain, hearing loss, tinnitus, and right facial and tongue paresthesia. Imaging and biopsy revealed spindle cell RMS of the right masticator space. He had no cancer-related family history, did not smoke, and used alcohol occasionally. Treatment included neoadjuvant chemotherapy, major oncologic resection with scapular free flap reconstruction, and adjuvant radiation. He was referred to outpatient physical therapy with trismus, restricted …

Navigating Care In Cancer: Aligning Rehabilitation And Exercise To Support Patients, Christopher M. Wilson

Oncology Rehabilitation in Practice

The growing evidence base supporting both exercise oncology and cancer rehabilitation highlights their complementary roles across the cancer continuum. Research consistently demonstrates that physical activity improves physical function, fatigue, quality of life, and survival, while rehabilitation addresses impairments and restores participation in meaningful activities. Despite these advances, current care models often lack coordination, resulting in fragmented services, inappropriate referrals, and missed opportunities for optimal patient outcomes. Some individuals are directed to exercise programs without adequate screening for underlying impairments, while others may receive rehabilitation services when supervised, independent or community-based activity would suffice.

To address these gaps, there is a …

Editorial Board Message: About This Issue, Bryan A. Spinelli

Oncology Rehabilitation in Practice

Bryan Spinelli provides a summary of the contents of the issue.

Cover And Front Matter, Volume 3, Issue 1

Oncology Rehabilitation in Practice

Cover and front matter, Volume 3, Issue 1

Coordinated Telehealth For People With Parkinson’S Disease: A Qualitative Comparison Of Providers’ And Patients’ Experiences, Erin J. Bush, Reshmi L. Singh, Josephine Cox, Merrill R. Landers, Annalisa V. Piccorelli

The Qualitative Report

Telehealth increases access to allied healthcare in rural areas. People with Parkinson’s disease (PD) need improved access to health care, and from a patient-centered perspective, the coordination of their healthcare should be a priority. Four speech-language pathologists, two physical therapists, two pharmacists, and two study coordinators provided a coordinated allied healthcare intervention for people with PD in rural Wyoming and Nevada. Both the providers of the intervention, as well as the participants who received it, were interviewed about their experiences with the eight-week intervention and asked about aspects that were successful or unsuccessful. Through a naturalistic paradigm using a qualitative …

Patient Facing Physical Therapy Clinicians’ Experience Of Leader Development Across Their Professional Span: A Phenomenological Inquiry, Judith R. Gelber

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

While healthcare professions call for leadership among its practitioners as a key function of practice, hospital systems typically employ a top town leadership structure. In physical therapy, leadership is centered around managers and educators. This leaves a gap in understanding about leadership at the level of the patient facing clinician. This study explored the experience of leader development across the career span of experienced patient facing physical therapists in the United States. The study used a hermeneutic phenomenological approach undergirded with leader development, experiential learning, and distributed leadership theories. Participant recruitment focused on patient facing physical therapists with ten or …

Sedentary Behavior Modifies The Effect Of Balance Rehabilitation On Balance Discordance In Parkinson’S Disease, Franziska Albrecht, Sarah J. Conklin, Andrew Hooyman, Daniel S. Peterson, Jason K. Longhurst, Erika Franzén

Physical Therapy Faculty Articles and Research

Individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD) often experience a misalignment between their perceived and actual balance ability, known as balance discordance, which has been associated with falls. We examined whether high-intensity balance and gait training (HiBalance) alters balance discordance in individuals with PD, and whether baseline sedentary behavior influences these changes. A secondary analysis examining pre- to post-intervention discordance changes of two HiBalance clinical trials (N = 97) using linear regression with interactions between sedentary behavior and pre-intervention discordance. The sample included two cohorts: one clinical and one research based. The model including sedentary behavior and its interaction with pre-intervention …

Physical Therapy Patient Exercise Adherence Intervention, Carter D. Booe, Dean Clark, Ernesto Duenez, Aiden Haworth, Nathan Jaeger, Gabe Tross, Emery Wolfe

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Non-adherence to prescribed home exercise programs significantly undermines the efficacy of physical therapy (PT), with research indicating only approximately 35% of patients fully adhere to regimens. This issue contributes to suboptimal recovery and places a staggering financial burden on the healthcare system, estimated at $100 billion to $300 billion annually. The Physical Therapy Home Exercise Adherence Trial (PT-HEAT) evaluates the effectiveness of a 14-week behavioral education intervention designed to improve patient adherence outside the clinical setting.

Utilizing the Health Action Process Approach (HAPA) model, this protocol involves PT staff administering a motivational-volitional screener, followed by trained student aides delivering targeted …

Physical Therapy Patient Exercise Behavior Pre-Program Results, Emery Wolfe, Dakota Metzler, Michael Garvert, Caiden Hoffman, Maurice Ochoa, Evie Thompson, Mataya Clark, Aidan Haworth, Noah Morenz, Madison Powell, Josh Sohm, Alanna Hallacy

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

This project aims to address a major problem in the physical therapy industry: the “home adherence gap” which is the routine failure to follow through with prescribed exercise at home. Research shows that only about 35% of patients routinely follow through with exercises prescribed for them to do on their own. By focusing on behavior modification and education rather than just physical instruction, this intervention aims to improve long-term recovery, and reduce need for procedures like injections and surgeries. The focus of this study was to measure the ability of the clinic staff to implement a behavior modification program. Once …

Physical Therapy Assessment Of Work Capacity Gaps In Transition-Aged Youth With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities, Katelyn Malick, Delaney Roberts, Rachel Ray, Marla Smith, Rhonda Haitz, Anne Woodruff Jameson

Posters and Presentations: Physical Therapy

Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) experience disproportionately low employment rates despite expressing a strong desire for community integrated employment. This study examined whether discrepancies exist between the current work capacity of adolescents and young adults with IDDs and the physical exertion demands of their desired careers, and explored the role of physical therapy (PT) in addressing these gaps. Forty-five participants (ages 14–24) in the Nebraska EmployABILITY project identified their top career choice. PT‑assessed current work capacity was compared to the physical exertion requirements of the selected job using a standardized exertion scale. Differences were analyzed using the Wilcoxon …

Current Status Of Msk Diagnostic Ultrasound Education In Doctorate Of Physical Therapy Programs In The United States: A Survey, Lesley Parrish Dr., Heather E. Mount, Casey Charlebois

Innovations in Health Sciences Education Journal

Musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSK-US) is a dynamic, cost-effective imaging modality increasingly integrated into Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) curricula. Despite growing interest, variability exists in the integration and implementation of MSK-US in entry-level DPT programs. This study aimed to assess the current status of MSK-US education in accredited DPT programs across the United States. A cross-sectional survey was distributed to all 294 accredited DPT programs in the U.S. via email. The survey consisted of 32 questions that addressed curriculum content, instructional methods, faculty qualifications, and barriers to implementation. Participation was voluntary, and 44 programs responded. No experimental interventions were applied. The …

Bridging The Gap: At For Those With Physical Or Intellectual Disability, Rebekah Nesbitt

The 2026 Assistive Technology for Persons with Intellectual and Physical Disabilities Conference

No abstract provided.

Challenges And Opportunities To Access Assistive Technology In The Americas Region, Yasmin Garcia Mendez

The 2026 Assistive Technology for Persons with Intellectual and Physical Disabilities Conference

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Static Ankle Stretching On Balance And Gait: The Roles Of Age And Parkinson's Disease, Taylor M. Gauss

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The focus of this dissertation involves the effects of static ankle stretching on balance and gait in adults of different ages and with Parkinson’s disease (PD). A brief introduction in Chapter 1 precedes a detailed literature review in Chapter 2, in which we identify gaps in research on balance and gait following ankle stretching and explain why ankle stretching may serve as a predominant strategy for improving motor performance in aging and PD populations. In Chapter 3, we present the first study identifying whether muscle group selection or stretch duration influences balance in young adults. Results showed that longer durations …

Evaluating Clinical-Academic Partnerships In Physical Therapy Education: A Critically Appraised Topic On Available Assessment Tools, Jocelin Friedman, Hannah Bennett, Rachel Atkinson, Leona Hidalgo

Pacific Journal of Health

Scenario: Physical Therapy Clinical Education represents a significant component of curricula and requires cooperation between academic institutions and clinical education sites (CES). Curriculum structure variation, clinical instructor availability, and student internship demands impact the academic institutions and CES partnership. For stakeholders, communication of expectations and the individuality of the student placement workflow can strain partnerships. Longevity of the clinical-academic partnership depends on effective evaluation incorporating perspectives of both parties. Question: Are there bi- directional assessment tools or protocols available to help academic institutions and CES to evaluate each other in the areas of administrative and collaborative performance? Methods …

Aligning Clinical Documentation With Payer Requirements To Improve Wheelchair Access, Alexandria Morales

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

The wheelchair acquisition process is complicated and requires an interdisciplinary team of Assistive Technology Professionals (ATP) and either Occupational Therapists (OT) or Physical Therapists (PT). Without a proper mobility device, many wheelchair users report frustration due to decreased participation in work, school, medical appointments, and social events. Improper documentation of specific wheelchair needs contributes to payment authorization denials, causing long delays in the approval process and the timeliness of patients receiving their devices. (Nancy R. Mudrick, April, 2025). According to the 2024 reporting period for Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS), “insufficient documentation accounted for 79.7% of improper payments …

Learning In Motion: How Small Groups Can Promote Self-Regulated Learning In Physical Therapy Students, Sara Mclaren

STEMPS Theses & Dissertations

Self-regulated learning (SRL) is a critical skill for success in rigorous graduate health professions programs, where students must independently manage complex academic demands. Despite its importance, limited research has examined SRL processes among Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students in the didactic phase of training. Guided by Zimmerman’s cyclical model of self-regulated learning, this study examined SRL behaviors among second-year DPT students and explored how small group learning contexts may influence engagement in SRL processes and academic performance.

This mixed-methods study included 39 DPT students enrolled in a physical therapy program at a public university in the southeastern United States. …