Physiotherapy Commons^™

An Investigation Of Screening For Medical Referral By Physical Therapists, Heather E. Mount, Cecilia Graham, Diane Clark, David Morris, Kathleen Foley

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Screening for medical referral is essential to physical therapist practice; however, no studies have examined medical screening across physical therapy practice settings. The purpose of this study was to determine if physical therapists in a variety of practice settings, given brief clinical vignettes, would screen for medical referral in a similar manner. The Delphi Technique was implemented to establish content validity, although only 2 vignettes reached 100% consensus by the expert panel. After reviewing the vignettes, physical therapist subjects determined if they would provide intervention, provide intervention and refer, or refer before intervention. To determine which variables were associated with …

Perceptions Of Adherence To Clinical Practice Guidelines For Low Back Pain Treatment Of Physical Therapy Students And Recent Graduates, Emiangeliz Gonzalez Luna

Digital Repository: Showcase of Undergraduate Research Excellence

This study aims to analyze possible factors that can affect perceptions towards adherence of clinical practice guidelines for low back pain treatment of current and past physical therapy students. An original survey was created to measure demographics, current knowledge of guidelines, influential resources, and perceptions about adherence to these guidelines.

Enhancing Entry-Level Physiotherapy Student Learning In Interpreting Radiology – An Action Research Project, Courtney R. Clark, Andrea Bialocerkowski

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: In Australia, the ability to interpret orthopaedic x-rays is an entry-level skill for physiotherapists. Yet there is a paucity of evidence in the literature which details effective learning and teaching methods to optimise confidence and competence in x-ray interpretation. The aims of this study were to describe the content contained in an orthopaedic radiology module within an Australian 2-year graduate entry Master of Physiotherapy degree; approaches to learning and teaching used in this module; student satisfaction associated with this module over a 2-year period. Method: The University’s framework for quality assurance, which is based on the Plan-Implement-Review-Improve underpinned this …

Evaluating The Impact Of A Falls Prevention Community Of Practice In A Residential Aged Care Organisation, Jacqueline Francis-Coad

Theses

Falls in the residential aged care (RAC) sector are a global concern with humanitarian and economic consequences. Reducing falls using a multifactorial approach involving multidisciplinary staff is recommended, but it is not clear how RAC organisations in Australia can achieve this in a resource constrained environment. One potential solution is to develop a sustainable means of addressing falls prevention from within an organisation, creating a forum for staff to share ideas, expertise and achieve goals in a community of practice (CoP). The purpose of this research was to evaluate the impact of a falls prevention CoP on falls outcomes in …

The Impact Of Peer-Led Falls Prevention Education On Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Mixed Methods Evaluation, Linda Khong

Theses

Older adults are not optimally engaged in falls prevention strategies. Peer education may be an approach to improving engagement and uptake of falls prevention strategies by community-dwelling older adults. However, empirical research regarding this approach has been inconclusive. Accordingly, the primary aim of this research was to design a peer-led falls prevention education program and evaluate its impact on community-dwelling older adults’ beliefs, knowledge, motivation, and intention to engage in falls prevention strategies. This research was a mixed methods study conducted in two phases. Phase 1 comprised three concurrent studies. These aimed to elucidate the issues regarding falls prevention education …

A Follow-Up Of Patient Reported Outcomes In Chronic Plantar Heel Pain Participants Treated With Graston Technique: A Mixed Methods Approach, Troy Richard Garrett

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Chronic Plantar Heel Pain (CPHP), commonly known as “plantar fasciitis,” is a condition that is estimated to affect 10% of the American population. A treatment for CPHP and other soft tissue overuse conditions that is increasing in popularity is the use of metal instruments for deep tissue massage for 10 minutes, twice a week for six weeks, called the Graston Technique.

The purpose of this study is to longitudinally examine the foot pain and function of participants who received Graston Technique treatment approximately two years before this study. A mixed methods design where quantitatively, three self-reported survey instruments were utilized, …

What Are The Top 10 Physical Activity Research Questions In Schizophrenia?, Davy Vancampfort, Simon Rosenbaum, Michel Probst, Joanne Connaughton, Christy Du Plessis, Taisei Yamamoto, Brendon Stubbs

Physiotherapy Papers and Journal Articles

Purpose: Research has only recently started to consider the applicability of physical activity (PA) for people with schizophrenia. Although there is increasing evidence for the benefits of physical activity, this population remains generally physically inactive and sedentary. The aim of the current study is to highlight 10 pertinent physical activity research questions in people with schizophrenia.

Method: The International Organisation of Physical Therapy in Mental Health (IOPTMH) executed a consultation of its National Organisations (n=13) to identify the most salient questions relevant to guide clinical practice on physical activity in people with schizophrenia.

Results: We identified the following …

Disrupted Self-Perception In People With Chronic Low Back Pain. Further Evaluation Of The Fremantle Back Awareness Questionnaire, B Wand, M Catley, M Rabey, P O'Sullivan, E O'Connell, A Smith

Physiotherapy Papers and Journal Articles

Several lines of evidence suggest that body-perception is altered in people with chronic back pain. Maladaptive perceptual awareness of the back might contribute to the pain experience as well as serve as a target for treatment. The Fremantle Back Awareness Questionnaire (FreBAQ) is a simple questionnaire recently developed to assess back-specific altered self-perception. The aims of this study were to present the outcomes of a comprehensive evaluation of the questionnaire’s psychometric properties and explore the potential relationships between body-perception, nociceptive sensitivity, distress and beliefs about back pain and the contribution these factors might play in explaining pain and disability. Two-hundred …

A Fine Balance And A Shared Learning Journey: Exploring Healthcare Engagement Through The Experiences Of Youth With Neuromuscular Disorders, V Travlos, C Bulsara, S Patman, J Downs

Physiotherapy Papers and Journal Articles

BACKGROUND: Youth with Neuromuscular Disorders (NMD) who are wheelchair users can now survive well into adulthood if their multisystem comorbidities are prudently managed. Uptake of health behaviors may optimize their health outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To explore youths’ perceptions of health, health behaviors and healthcare engagement.

METHODS: This qualitative study purposefully recruited 11 youth with NMD from a concurrent, population-based study for variability of age, gender, type of NMD and their ratings of motivation and engagement. Interview data were analyzed and synthesized by thematic content.

RESULTS: Participants perceived healthcare engagement as being given tools (knowledge and responsibility) and using them to maintain …

Minimum Standards Of Clinical Practice For Physiotherapists Working In Critical Care Settings In Australia And New Zealand: A Modified Delphi Technique, Elizabeth Skinner, Peter Thomas, Julia C. Reeve, Shane Patman

Physiotherapy Papers and Journal Articles

No abstract provided.

A Binational Multicenter Pilot Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial Of Early Goal-Directed Mobilization In The Icu, C Hodgson, M Bailey, R Bellomo, S Berney, H Buhr, L Denehy, B Gabbe, M Harrold, A Higgins, T Iwashyna, R Papworth, R Parke, S Patman, J Presneill, M Saxena, E Skinner, C Tipping, P Young, S Webb

Physiotherapy Papers and Journal Articles

Objectives: The primary objective was to determine if the early goal-directed mobilization (EGDM) intervention could be delivered to patients receiving mechanical ventilation with increased maximal levels of activity compared to standard care.

Design: A pilot, randomized controlled trial

Setting: Five intensive care units (ICUs) in Australia and New Zealand

Participants: Fifty critically ill adults, mechanically ventilated for greater than 24 hours.

Intervention: Patients were randomly assigned to either EGDM (intervention) or to standard care (control). EGDM comprised functional rehabilitation treatment conducted at the highest level of activity possible for that patient assessed by the ICU mobility scale …

Disturbed Body Perception, Reduced Sleep, And Kinesiophobia In Subjects With Pregnancy-Related Persistent Lumbopelvic Pain And Moderate Levels Of Disability: An Exploratory Study, Darren Beales, Alison Lutz, Judith Thompson, Benedict M. Wand, Peter O'Sullivan

Physiotherapy Papers and Journal Articles

Background: For a small but significant group, pregnancy-related lumbopelvic pain may become persistent. While multiple factors may contribute to disability in this group, previous studies have not investigated sleep impairments, body perception or mindfulness as potential factors associated with disability post-partum.

Objectives: To compare women experiencing no pain post-pregnancy with those experiencing pregnancy-related persistent lumbopelvic pain (either low- or high-level disability) across multiple biopsychosocial domains.

Design: Cross-sectional

Methods: Participants completed questionnaires for thorough profiling of factors thought to be important in pregnancy-related lumbopelvic pain. Specific measures were the Urinary Distress Inventory, Medical Outcomes Study Sleep Scale, Back Beliefs Questionnaire, Tampa …

The Development Of Narrative Reasoning: Student Physical Therapists’ Perceptions Of Patient Stories, Kathryn C. Nesbit, Kenneth E. Randall, Toby B. Hamilton

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Narrative reasoning is an inductive cognitive strategy used to understand patients’ experiences with illness within the biosocial context of their lives. The purpose of this study is to examine the meaning of the patient’s illness experience to physical therapist students and propose a theory of narrative reasoning development in these novice clinicians.The data collected from twenty-one first year physical therapy students consisted of narratives written during their clinical internships describing a patient’s experience with illness and post-internship interviews telling the patient’s story. Data were analyzed in a process of constant comparison, evolving codes, and researcher memoing using both grounded theory …

Does Temporarily Altering Visual Perception Of Limb Size Have A Modulatory Effect On Deep-Tissue Pain? A Repeated-Measures Within-Subjects Randomised Study, M Van Selm

Theses

No abstract provided.

Outcome Measures For Mild Balance And Cognitive Decline In A Pre-Old Adult: A Case Report, Melissa Chan, Shari Rone-Adams

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Background and Purpose. Early detection and treatment of age-related decline, particularly balance and cognition, are increasingly being emphasized in current research. However, the majority of research on older adults focuses on participants who are 65 years and older. For individuals who are 60-64 years old, this is an age range where they may or may not be considered an older adult. This poses a problem applying the results of these studies to pre-old adults to accurately diagnose, measure and classify risk in the areas of cognition and balance. Case Description. The patient is a 61-year-old woman with a clinical diagnosis …

Faculty And Student Perceptions Of A Physical Therapy Professional Behavior Mentoring Program, Ethel Frese, Cheryl Cavallo, Kelly Hawthorne, Ginge Kettenback, Barbara Yemm

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Mentoring is a process and a relationship between a novice and an expert that fosters intellectual, personal, and professional growth. The purposes and scope of this article are to describe 1) the structured professional development component of a comprehensive mentoring program for students in a physical therapy program; and 2) the perceptions of faculty and students regarding this mentoring program. Method: Faculty and students completed electronic questionnaires developed specifically for each group. Results: Return rate was 54.50% (N=286) for physical therapist students and 100% (N=18) for physical therapy faculty. Student positive ratings regarding the mentoring program exceeded 89.00%. Additionally, …

Physical Therapy Clinical Instructor Self-Reported Evidence-Based Practice Use, Debra Bierwas, Joan Leafman, Lisa Wallace, Donald Shaw, Steven Fehrer

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Introduction: Evidence-based practice is a required component of student physical therapist education. Practice applying the five steps of evidence-based practice to patient care (formulate question, retrieve evidence, appraise evidence, integrate evidence, evaluate outcomes), most effectively performed during clinical education, must occur for students to become proficient. Clinical instructor use of evidence-based practice is essential to assure that student physical therapist practice occurs during clinical education. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess self-reported evidence-based practice use by physical therapy clinical instructors and examine whether an association exists between professional characteristics and evidence-based practice use. Methods: This study …

A Description Of Current Curricular Design Models Used In Physical Therapy Clinical Education And Their Relationship To Pass Rates On The National Physical Therapy Examination, Chalee Engelhard, Christine Mccallum

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to develop descriptions and identify commonalities of current clinical education models used in physical therapy programs; then, using this information, to examine differences in first-time and ultimate pass rates among the derived formula from Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) accredited programs in 2011-2013. Methods. This mixed methods study captured qualitative and quantitative data from the 204 PT programs located in the United States and Puerto Rico from 2011 to 2013. The data were coded into 11 different clinical education models which represented all programs. The models were then linked to …

Church Pew Exercise Integrated With Conventional Physical Therapy Following Total Knee Arthroplasty (Tka): Case Report, Randell Gonzales, Jerome Danoff

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Background and Purpose: Physical therapy treatment following Total knee Arthroplasty (TKA) consists of a combination of strengthening and range of motion exercises. The exercise technique, church pew exercise (CPE), has been proposed to enhance quadriceps facilitation and improve function. This is a technique that has the patient standing and rocking forward/back. The backward motion is arrested by engagement of the upper calf against a solid object, creating a sudden flexion torque at the knee and a sudden extension torque at the hip. The combination of CPE with standard physical therapy is claimed to provide better quadriceps control and faster walking …

Concise Arm And Hand Rehabilitation Approach In Stroke (Caras): A Practical And Evidence-Based Framework For Clinical Rehabilitation Management, Johan A. Franck, Jos Halfens, Rob Smeets, Henk Seelen

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

The volume of information on new treatment techniques supporting the restoration of arm-hand function (AHF) and arm-hand skill performance (ASHP) in stroke survivors overwhelms therapists in everyday clinical practice when choosing the appropriate therapy. The Concise Arm and Hand Rehabilitation Approach in Stroke (CARAS) is designed for paramedical staff to structure and implement training of AHF and AHSP in stroke survivors. The CARAS is based on four constructs: (a) stratification according to the severity of arm–hand impairment (using the Utrecht Arm/Hand -Test [UAT]), (b) the individual’s rehabilitation goals and concomitant potential rehabilitation outcomes, (c) principles of self-efficacy, and (d) possibilities …