Physiotherapy Commons^™

Optimal Interventions To Address Drop Foot And Increase Gait Speed In Stroke Populations, Christopher Tran, Tommy Ngo, Dana Hazlett, Ethan Jung, Faris Alshammari

San Marcos, Summer 2020

Background: The mechanism of stroke or cerebral vascular accident (CVA) is an interruption of blood flow to the brain, which can result in many different neuromuscular impairments including drop foot. There is limited research focusing on comparative interventions for gait improvement in early stroke.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to review the various physical thereapy interventions to benefit patients with drop foot following a single stroke.

Methods: A comprehensive systematic search was conducted within the PubMed and ProQuest databases. This study examined papers assessing conventional physical therapy for stroke patients with drop foot who had their 1st stroke …

The Effectiveness Of Home Health Physical Therapy Following Diagnosis Of Acute Respiratory Failure Secondary To Covid-19: A Case Report, Desiree Lyall, Maura Owens

San Marcos, Summer 2020

The purpose of this case study is to describe the effects of home health physical therapy involving gait training, respiratory exercises, disease process education and rehabilitation exercises for strength, endurance and balance in the treatment of a 73 year-old, male patient with a diagnosis of acute respirtory failure secondary to Covid-19.

For a patient with a diagnosis of acute respiratory failure secondary to Covid-19 diagnosis home health physical therapy was an effective treatment option to facilitate return to prior level of function. This case study supports previous research and recommended treatment guidelines for the effectiveness of gait training, respiratory exercises, …

The Effectiveness Of Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback In Conjunction With Traditional Treatment For Thoracic Outlet Syndrome In A 25-Year-Old Female: A Case Report, Sepehr Rezaei

San Marcos, Summer 2020

Introduction: Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) is a complex condition that causes pain, tingling sensation, hypesthesia, muscle atrophy, weakness, and edematous changes in the upper quadrant (UQ) and down upper extremity (UE). ^3,7,8,16,17 TOS is due to compression of neurovascular bundles in the interscalene triangle, costoclavicular space, and under pectoralis minor and caused by trauma, congenital malformations such as a cervical rib, and abnormal/poor postures from muscle imbalances.^3,7,8,16,17 Interventions for TOS can consist of correcting posture by addressing muscle imbalance, decreasing tone and muscle tightness and rib mobilization, and in rare cases, rib resection. ^{3,7,8,13,16,17} However, there is limited research …

Remedying Healthcare Disparities Affecting The Black Community, Savonna Reed

San Marcos, Summer 2020

The purpose of this literature review is to determine how black communities are being impacted by racial/social determinants of cardiovascular health, and to investigate potential healthcare solutions to eliminate these disparities.

As physical therapists, we commonly treat patients following lumbar spinal fusion surgery. Post-op outcomes have been found to be impacted by racial disparities in decision making in whether care providers offer surgical care, differences in access to care due to socioeconomic barriers, and differences in attitudes towards surgical care among ethnic groups.

Review of current literature has revealed that more research should be done to establish ways of remedying …

Analysis Of Physical Therapy Interventions Vs. Kinesio Taping For Relieving Low Back Pain, Amanda Orr

San Marcos, Summer 2020

Introduction/Background: This topic focuses on the utilization of kinesio taping (KT) to assist with decreasing pain in the low back. According to Shipton, low back pain has gone up by more than 50% since 1990. These factors are attributed to smoking, obesity, sedentary occupations, and to low socioeconomic status.Globally, in 2016, it is said that low back pain contributed 57.6 years to disability and the prevalence peaks around the ages of 35-55 years according to the World Health Organization.

Purpose: The purpose of this literature review is to compare research articles between KT with physical therapy interventions as compared …

Effect Of Unilateral Lower-Limb Amputation On Intact Limb Biomechanics: A Systematic Review, Amanda Boyd

Master's Theses

The United States will perform 30,000-40,000 amputations this year (Ertl et al., 2019). As a common medical intervention, there is extensive research regarding rehabilitation strategies and post-operative care. Many studies have explored the effects of the affected limb and prosthetic intervention yet have neglected that of the contralateral limb (De Asha et al., 2014; Jones et al., 2006; Winter & Sienko, 1988). Studies have reported an increase in secondary musculoskeletal conditions among unilateral lower-limb amputees, particularly in the intact limb, indicating the need for additional research (Gailey et al., 2008). The purpose of this systematic review was to investigate the …

Effectiveness Of Home-Based Rehabilitation Program In Minimizing Disability And Secondary Falls After A Hip Fracture: Protocol For A Randomized Controlled Trial, Anum Sadruddin Pidani, Saniya Sabzwari, Khabir Ahmad, Ata Khan, Shahryar Noordin

Department of Surgery Docs

Introduction: Hip fractures are a major health problem globally and are associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and substantial economic costs. Successful operative treatment of hip fracture patients is necessary for the optimization of post-op mobility and functional recovery of the patient. Rehabilitation after surgical stabilization of a hip fracture is crucial in order to restore pre-fracture function and to avoid long-term institutionalization. In particular ongoing exercise which targets balance can prevent up to 40% of falls. Therefore, we have designed a post-discharge home-based physical rehabilitation intervention program to minimize disability and falls in this high-risk elderly population.
Methods and analysis: …

The Partial Immersion Aquatic Approach Using Adjustable Weight Bearing To Improve Posture And Sitting Balance Adaptation For Children With Severe Cerebral Palsy, Niv Shelef

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

The innovative ‟Partial Immersion” Aquatic Therapy Approach was developed to enhance balance and posture during sitting adaptation for children with severe cerebral palsy who exhibit deficiency in those skills on land. Stable balance during sitting posture is one of the preconditions for hands function in activities of daily living. Aquatic skills learned during aquatic therapy were then transferred to a land environment. Therapy included the use of a treatment chair that enabled adjustable weight bearing in a series of 30 mm steps. A mixed-methods design employing a multiple case study approach (n=5) including quantitative and qualitative methods investigated the effectiveness …

Physical Therapy Nontreatment Events With Primary Physical Therapist, Stephen Johnson

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Background: Physical therapy improves prognosis reduces stay and is generally helpful in aiding recovery from a wide range of ailments. Nontreatment rates occur for multiple reasons and are also related to the personalities of physical therapists.

Methods: We used data from a research project involving physical therapy at an acute care facility in our community. Our study focused on the retrospectively determined primary physical therapist for each patient. We used the chi-squared tests to compare nontreatment rates between days of the week and disease type and the reasons for nontreatment events. Repeated-measure models were used to evaluate the effect of …

Commentary: Can Blood Flow Restricted Exercise Cause Muscle Damage? Commentary On Blood Flow Restriction Exercise: Considerations Of Methodology, Application, And Safety, Mathias Wernbom, Brad J. Schoenfeld, Gøran Paulsen, Thomas Bjørnsen, Kristoffer T. Cumming, Per Aagaard, Brian C. Clark, Truls Raastad

Publications and Research

Low-load exercise combined with blood flow restriction (BFR) is known to induce significant gains in muscle strength and size, and this mode of training is increasingly used in both healthy and clinical populations, as documented in the recent review of Patterson et al. (2019). However, since the first training studies on BFR exercise appeared about 20 years ago, there have been some concerns about its safety, in particular with regard to the potential risk for muscle damage (Wernbom et al., 2019). In a recent editorial, Wernbom et al. (2019) briefly discussed the accumulating evidence for muscle damage and rhabdomyolysis with …

The Successful Rehabilitation Of A Complicated Mva Patient: A Case Report, Mike Hansen, Eric Jonsvold, Stanley Poole, Mark Steinhauer

Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

No abstract provided.

Combined Effects Of Telehealth And Modified Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy For Individuals With Chronic Hemiparesis, Mary Ann Smith, Machiko R. Tomita

Occupational Therapy Collection

Telehealth use allows improved access to services and results in potential cost savings. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a combined modified Constrained Induced Movement Therapy (mCIMT) program using telehealth and in-person sessions, for participants with higher (Group 1) and lower (Group 2) functional ability of the hemiparetic upper extremity. Using a pre-experimental design with a 6-week intervention, 28 participants were assessed twice on use of upper extremity via subjective and objective measures. For the Motor Activity Log, the amount of use and quality of use were significant for Groups 1 and 2. Significant improvements …

Effects Of Yoga On Mindfulness In Pediatric Patients With Oncology Diagnoses Through Guardian Perspectives: A Research Protocol, Victoria Ciszak, Dana Cutler, Gabriella Lamanna, Kristen Ogonowski

Student Research Poster Presentations 2020

Abstract:

Background: Yoga practice is commonly utilized by physical therapists in order to promote physical and mental health. In populations with a poorer prognosis, mindfulness and overall well-being becomes increasingly important. In particular, the pediatric cancer population requires an intervention that keeps these emotional needs in mind. Because children are physically and mentally developing throughout their oncology treatments, it is crucial that a comprehensive psychosocial treatment plan is initiated. Yoga can fill this need as it has elements that influence behavior and physical development.

Objective: The aim of this protocol paper is to determine all necessary procedures for future …

Clinical Measurements Of The Posterior Shoulder Endurance Test (Pset), Neil A. Evans

Theses and Dissertations--Rehabilitation Sciences

Of the intrinsic factors responsible for non-traumatic shoulder pain, muscular endurance is often not measured by rehabilitation professionals due to the lack of available shoulder endurance measures. Measurement properties of the PSET have not been adequately assessed in previous studies. The purpose of this dissertation was to develop the clinical measurement properties of the Posterior Shoulder Endurance Test (PSET) so that it might be used as a clinical measure of shoulder muscular endurance.

Electromyography (EMG) offers the ability to identify which muscles in the posterior shoulder girdle are fatiguing during the PSET. Surface EMG of upper trapezius (UT), middle trapezius …

The Influence Of A Positive Empathetic Interaction On Conditioned Pain Modulation And Manipulation Induced Analgesia In People With Lateral Epicondylalgia, Ahmad Muhsen, Penny Moss, William Gibson, Bruce Walker, Angela Jacques, Stephan A. Schug, Anthony Wright

Physiotherapy Papers and Journal Articles

Objective: Conditioned pain modulation (CPM) and manipulation induced analgesia (MIA) are two forms of endogenous analgesia. Many forms of analgesia can be influenced by the nature of the patient clinician interaction. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of an empathetic and supportive interaction on CPM and MIA in people with Lateral Epicondylalgia (LE).

Methods: In a double-blind, randomised, controlled trial, 68 participants with LE were assigned to two groups: the empathetic and neutral interaction groups. The interactions were carried out by a trained, professional role play actor, playing the part of a research assistant (RA). The …

Understanding Falls In People With Intellectual Disability In Western Australia, Portia Ho

Theses

Adults with intellectual disability (ID) experience earlier age-related changes, compared with other age-matched populations, but concurrently their life expectancy is increasing. Falls often result in serious injuries and reduced health-related quality of life, however there is limited research regarding falls in older adults with ID. The purpose of this research was to investigate falls among community dwelling older adults with ID, including the epidemiology, risk factors and experiences when engaging with health services after a fall.

A meta-analysis of the incidence and prevalence of falls in adults with ID was initially conducted to inform the research aims. Prospective research was …

Clinical And Neurophysiological Effects Of Dry Needling On Individuals With Chronic Ankle Instability, Jennifer Mullins

Theses and Dissertations--Rehabilitation Sciences

Ankle sprains are generally considered innocuous injuries; however, as many as 74% of patients will develop chronic symptoms. 1-3 Chronic ankle instability (CAI) is defined by a history of ankle sprain accompanied by ongoing bouts of giving way, residual ankle sprain symptoms, and a decrease in patient-perceived function. As understanding of sensorimotor deficits in individuals with CAI have advanced, treatment strategies have evolved to include a robust focus on balance training to mitigate dynamic and static postural control impairments exhibited in individuals with CAI. A problem arises as these improvements have not been conclusively linked to a decrease in CAI. …

Influences Of Functional And Psychological Factors On Biomechanics Following An Anterior Cruciate Ligament (Acl) Reconstruction, Chelsey Roe

Theses and Dissertations--Rehabilitation Sciences

Objective: The aims of this research were to identify gaps in the literature related to return to sport (RTS) test batteries following primary anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) (Aim 1) and define recovery in athletes from 4-9 months after ACLR across three domains: 1) psychological recovery and biomechanics (Aim 2), 2) rehabilitation quantity and biomechanics (Aim 3), and 3) functional performance and biomechanics (Aim 4). Ultimately, the results of this research would quantify recovery following ACLR in athletes with a desire to RTS and identify objective criteria throughout rehabilitation prior to RTS.

Participants: Twenty-two post-ACLR athletes 17 females, 8 males, …

Physical Therapy Adherence: An Exploration Into Motivation, Keith Rader

Capstone Showcase

A major problem in the field of physical therapy is the lack of patient adherence to home exercise program prescriptions. Non-adherence to these exercise programs is as high as 70% according to the research. There must be an underlying mechanism because the type of non-adherent patients is not exclusively based on condition or injury. Past research has centered around two fields of thought for motivation, self-determination and self-efficacy, as well as practitioner intervention to increase these psychological principles in patients. Self-determination is present because while doing physical therapy exercises is not intrinsically enjoyable, patients can be extrinsically motivated by their …

Outcomes Of Resistance Exercise Training In Adults With Acute Burn Injury, Paul M. Gittings

Theses

Decreased quality-of-life and impairments in physical function, muscle strength and muscle volume are known complications of a burn injury. As such, rehabilitation is an important aspect of the burn care journey. Rehabilitation of burn injury is currently hampered by a lack of tools to reliably measure muscle strength and lower limb function, as well as an incomplete understanding of the effect of resistance training after a burn injury. Specifically, there is currently no data on the safety or efficacy of resistance training immediately after a burn injury.

The series of studies presented in this thesis aimed to: 1) systematically review …