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  Functional Mobility For An Elderly Person With Amyotrophic Latera Lsclerosis: A Case Report

  Gianna G. Pezzano and Amy J. Litterini

  
  

  The purpose of this case study was to describe a palliative care physical therapy (PT) plan for maintenance of functional mobility and fall risk reduction for a patient with ALS. Ice Bucket Challenge began in 2014 to increase public awareness and funding for ALS. Need for further research was highlighted, in the campaign, for medical treatment and rehabilitation. Typical Presentation for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is male, 60 years... Read More

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  Inpatient Rehabilitation Of A 99-Year-Old Following A High-Impact Unstable Pelvic Ring Fracture: A Case Report

  Julia Pratt

  
  

  The purpose of this case report was to describe the outcomes of PT interventions for a nonagenarian patient following an unstable pelvic ring fracture and to provide an overview for a plan of care supported by research. Unstable pelvic ring fractures are defined by the displacement and deformity of the pelvic bones. Pelvic fractures are rare and only make up 3% of all skeletal injuries; however, the mortality rate... Read More

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  Relieving Low Back Pain And Improving Mobility For An Adult Patient With Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy: A Case Report

  Derek Schwaiger and Matthew Somma

  
  

  Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a progressive demyelinating disease caused by the John Cunningham Virus (JCV). There is no FDA approved JCV- specific treatment. This case report examines interventions administered to address low back pain (LBP) and functional mobility deficits.

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  Gait Training A Patient Who Was Deaf With Multiple Total Hip Revisions: A Case Report

  Natalie Slattery and Kirsten Buchanan

  
  

  93% of patients who have a total hip arthroplasty (THA) are due to end-stage osteoarthritis. 15-30% of patients who survive a stroke continue to live with a long-term disability. The most common abnormal gait pattern after surviving a stroke is due to hemiparesis. Patients who are deaf require greater visual and tactile cueing during gait training. Gait training has been shown to normalize gait patterns and increase functional mobility... Read More

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  McKenzie Approach To Treating Lumbar Radiculopathy With A Lateral Shift: A Case Report

  Carly Theriault

  
  

  Lumbar radiculopathy is compression of a spinal nerve root, typically due to a herniated nucleus pulposus. It can present as low back pain (LBP) that radiates to one lower extremity (LE) and may be associated with diminished sensation, strength and reflexes on the affected side. The McKenzie approach is an evaluation and treatment technique that focuses on the movement of the nucleus pulposus within the intervertebral disc during trunk... Read More

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  The Effect Of Medical Therapeutic Yoga on Adhesive Capsulitis: A Case Report

  Cameron Vallie and Matthew Somma

  
  

  The number of Americans who practice yoga jumped to 16.5 million between 2004 and 2008 (87% increase), making it a top 10 modality in alternative medicine according to the National Institutes of Health. Medical Therapeutic Yoga is the practice of yoga in medicine, rehabilitation, and wellness settings by a licensed health care professional credentialed by the Professional Yoga Therapy Institute. Shoulder pain has been found to be the third... Read More

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  Subacute Rehabilitation Following An Hypoxic Ischemic Brain Injury Resulting In Severe Ataxia: A Case Report

  Chelsea VanDriel

  
  

  The purpose of this case report is to provide physical therapy interventions that were utilized in an inpatient rehabilitation hospital setting for a patient who experienced a hypoxic brain injury. Hypoxic/anoxic brain injuries result from global lack of oxygen to the brain from events such as drowning, choking, and cardiac or respiratory arrest. Certain areas of the brain have more devastating effects when deprived of oxygen as they have... Read More

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  Conservative Management Of A Complete Rupture Of The Long Head Of The Biceps: A Case Report

  Ali Woller

  
  

  The purpose of this case study was to assess conservative management of a complete rupture of the long head of the biceps over a six-week period. The long head of the biceps (LHB) stabilizes the shoulder by reducing anteroposterior and superior inferior translation of the humeral head in the glenoid fossa. A tear of the LHB most commonly occurs when the biceps is suddenly loaded against flexion and supination... Read More

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  Blood Flow Restriction Exercises Following An ACL Reconstruction In A 17-Year-Old Female Athlete: A Case Report

  Andrew Anich and Kirsten Buchanan

  
  

  Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructions account for over 50% of all sports-related knee surgeries. Due to graft healing, rehab protocols do not allow for high resistance training for several months. Blood flow restriction (BFR) therapy with low load exercise has been suggested to improve quadriceps and hamstring strength and hypertrophy in adults. There is currently a lack of research on the effects of BFR therapy on hamstring strength and... Read More

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  Physical Therapy For Low Back Pain With A Focus On McKenzie Method For Diagnosis And Treatment: A Case Report

  Macey Berube

  
  

  Low back pain (LBP) is thought to affect 80% of the population. It decreases work attendance, affects daily activity, and decreases quality of life. Physical Therapy (PT) is a noninvasive form of treatment that may include manual therapy, physical exercise, deep heat modalities, or a combination. The purpose of this case report was to review a multifaceted approach to LBP, including a focus on the McKenzie method and paired... Read More

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  Gait and Functional Training for a Patient Post-Stroke with a History of Substance Abuse and Psychiatric Disorders: A Case Report

  Morgan Costa and Amy J. Litterini

  
  

  The opioid crisis is the largest drug epidemic in recorded history, resulting in over 500,000 deaths between the years of 2000 and 2015. The abuse of and addiction to opioids are serious global health problems that affect the social and economic well-being of all societies. Drug abusers have a 6.5 times increased risk of stroke. Strokes contribute to the disability and morbidity associated with drug abuse. Drug abuse is... Read More

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  High Intensity Intervals And Gait Training For A Patient With Heart Failure And Parkinson Disease In A Skilled Nursing Facility: A Case Report

  Kelly Fritz

  
  

  The primary impairments of congestive heart failure (CHF) and Parkinson disease (PD) interact and present a unique challenge to rehabilitation. There is limited evidence on the PT management of both CHF and PD in the literature. The purpose of this case report is to present the PT management and outcomes of cardiovascular endurance training, gait training, therapeutic exercise, and balance activities for a patient with acute CHF and PD.

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  A PT Exercise Program For A Patient With Bilateral Transtibial Amputations: A Case Report

  Erin Fusting and Kirsten Buchanan

  
  

  The most common reason for lower extremity amputation (LEA) is from complications from Diabetes Mellitus (DM). Patients with DM are 10x more likely to have an amputation than someone without the disease. 50% of those with DM with an LEA will have an opposite foot or leg amputated in approximately 3 years or less. Transtibial amputations (TTAs), also known as below knee amputations, are the most common amputation. There... Read More

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  Outpatient Vestibular Rehabilitation For A Patient Three Months Post Acoustic Neuroma Resection: A Case Report

  Joel Harrison

  
  

  An acoustic neuroma is a benign and slow growing intracranial tumor that originates from cells of the vestibular nerve within the inner ear. Acoustic neuromas are estimated to occur in 10-20 individuals per 1,000,000 in the US. The tumor and subsequent surgery frequently lead to vestibular impairment. The vestibular system functions to coordinate head and eye movement through the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR), maintain postural stability, and provide input for... Read More

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  Comprehensive Physical Therapy Management Of A Patient With Motor Control Deficits And Idiopathic Toe-Walking: A Case Report

  Chelsey Hoglund and Kirsten Buchanan

  
  

  Idiopathic toe-walking (ITW) describes patients who walk bearing most weight through their forefoot, in the absence of any known cause. Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) is a chronic condition involving impairments in gross motor, postural, and/or fine motor performance and affects the performance of movements necessary for daily living and academic tasks. Physical therapy intervention has been shown to result in improvements for patients with ITW and DCD, however, there... Read More

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  Outpatient Physical Therapy Management Of A Total Knee Arthroplasty With Severe Contralateral Knee Osteoarthritis: A Case Report

  Michael Ikemura

  
  

  Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a common cause of severe pain, disability within the community, and dependence on others. In the U.S., a total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is one of the most commonly performed orthopedic procedures and 95% of them are attributed to OA. Following a TKA, pain and walking ability are the most important factors that need to be addressed. The purpose of this case report is to describe... Read More

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  Physical And Psychological Outcome Measures After Multiple Foot Surgeries: A Case Report

  Elizabeth Inscore and Kirsten Buchanan

  
  

  The psychological effects of an injury have the potential to be more debilitating than the physical ailments themselves. Physical therapy (PT) rehabilitation programs that incorporate both physical and psychological interventions have demonstrated successful outcomes but have not been widely studied. The purpose of this case report was to investigate both the physical and psychological outcomes after a comprehensive PT rehabilitation program for a patient who sustained multiple foot and... Read More

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  Balance & Fall Prevention Rehabilitation Program For A 77-Year-Old Patient Following A Trimalleolar Fracture: A Case Report

  Kathryn Judd and Kirsten Buchanan

  
  

  Balance and fall prevention are typical components of a rehab program in the elderly, however, there is limited research investigating the effects of the combination of balance and fall prevention in an elderly person with a trimalleolar fracture. The purpose of this case report was to describe a comprehensive physical therapy program combining balance training and fall prevention strategies for a 77-year-old patient after a trimalleolar fracture.

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  Physical Therapy Management Of A 13 Year Old Female With A Right Shoulder SLAP Tear: A Case Report

  Esaam Kamareddine and Kirsten Buchanan

  
  

  There is limited research on the most effective conservative PT plan of care (POC) for a young athlete with a superior labrum anterior and posterior (SLAP) tear. The purpose of this case report was to investigate a comprehensive conservative PT rehab program for a 13-year-old softball player with a SLAP lesion.

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  Adult Scoliosis And Chronic Low Back Pain With Land And Aquatic Based Physical Therapy: A Case Report

  Thomas Kent

  
  

  Scoliosis is defined as a spinal angulation of greater than 10 degrees in the frontal plane with spinal torsion. Incidence of idiopathic scoliosis is 2- 3%. Symptoms associated with scoliosis include pulmonary dysfunction and spinal pain. Cobb angle greater than 25° requires physical therapy to stop progression of curve. Cobb angle greater than 45° requires surgical intervention. The purpose of this case report was to evaluate the effects of... Read More

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  The Use Of Therapeutic Exercise And Manual Therapy For A Patient Following Simultaneous Bilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Case Report

  Allison Maynes

  
  

  Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disorder in the United States (US) and is the most common cause for a total knee arthroplasty (TKA) surgery. Approximately 670,000 TKA surgeries are performed annually in the US and it is estimated that one third are bilateral TKAs (BTKA) due to bilateral OA. Simultaneously, BTKA procedures consist of replacing both knees consecutively, in one operation, under one anesthesia. The purpose of... Read More

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  The Comprehensive PT Management Of A Patient With Chronic Low Back Pain And Lumbar Radiculopathy: A Case Report

  Robin McGuire

  
  

  Lumbar radiculopathy is pain originating from nerve root compression in the lumbar spine. Patient presentation is chronic, recurring low back pain with associated radiating pain and potential sensory, strength, or reflex deficits in the involved lower extremity. The purpose of this case report was to describe a comprehensive approach for a patient with chronic low back pain and lumbar radiculopathy using the following interventions: therapeutic exercises using directional preference,... Read More

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  Task-Oriented Training To Restore Independence In A Patient With Encephalitis In The Intensive Care Unit: A Case Report

  Victoria Perez

  
  

  Bacterial meningitis is a serious disease that causes acute inflammation of the meninges, the lining of the brain and spinal cord, which can result in significant morbidity and mortality. There are 15,000 to 25,000 cases in the US yearly and it is one of the top 10 causes of infection-related deaths worldwide. Bacterial meningitis is commonly complicated by encephalitis, inflammation of the brain parenchyma. 30% to 50% of survivors... Read More

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  The Role Of Physical Therapy Interventions For An Elderly Patient Following Surgical Fixation Of A Fracture Of The Femoral Shaft: A Case Report

  Ashley Push

  
  

  In the U.S. approximately half of elderly white females will sustain an osteoporotic hip fracture. One year following surgery most elderly adults have not returned to their prior level of function. Evidence demonstrates the benefits of early weight bearing and mobility post-surgery to improve functional abilities. The purpose of this case report was to document this patient’s response to skilled physical therapy intervention in the inpatient setting, including functional... Read More

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  Acute Care Physical Therapy Status Post Colostomy For A Patient With Colorectal Cancer: A Case Report

  Elizabeth Race

  
  

  Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a malignancy that begins in the colon or rectum. In 2016 there were 724,690 men and 727,350 women living with a history of CRC, with an estimated 135,430 new cases in 2017. Treatment can include local radiation, systemic chemotherapy, and/or surgery to remove the tumor, which can result in the placement of a colostomy. A colostomy entails a surgical resection to a portion of the... Read More