Use of machine learning to identify prognostic variables for outcomes in chronic low back pain treatment: a retrospective analysis.

Objectives: Most patients seen in physical therapy (PT) clinics for low back pain (LBP) are treated for chronic low back pain (CLBP), yet PT interventions suggest minimal effectiveness. The Cochrane Back Review Group proposed 'Holy Grail' questions, one being: 'What are the most important (preventable) predictors of chronicity' for patients with LBP? Subsequently, prognostic factors influencing outcomes for CLBP have been described, however results remain conflicting due to methodological weaknesses.

Methods: This retrospective observational cohort study examined prognostic risk factors for PT outcomes in CLBP treatment using a sub-type of AI.

Effects of Dancer-Specific Biomechanics on Adolescent Ballet Dancers' Posture En Pointe and Factors Related to Pointe Readiness: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Objective: There are no universally accepted requirements or uniform protocols to determine when dancers can safely commence dancing en pointe (shod relevé). The purpose of this study was to examine dancer-specific biomechanics of adolescent pointe dancers and explore factors that may help determine pointe readiness.

Methods: Dancers (n=26; median age 14 yrs [IQR=13-16]) were stratified into two groups based on the ability to stand on the pointe shoe box as per a plumb line (Group 1: on the box; Group 2: not on the box) during parallel, shod relevé.

Challenges in Working Conditions and Well-Being of Early Childhood Teachers by Teaching Modality during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

While a global understanding of teacher well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic is beginning to emerge, much remains to be understood about what early childhood teachers have felt and experienced with respect to their work and well-being. The present mixed-method study examined early care and education (ECE) teachers' working conditions and physical, psychological, and professional well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic using a national sample of 1434 ECE teachers in the U.S.

Applications of Biomechanical Foot Models to Evaluate Dance Movements Using Three-Dimensional Motion Capture: A Review of the Literature.

Dance movement requires excessive, repetitive range of motion (ROM) at the foot-ankle complex, possibly contributing to the high rate of injury among dancers. However, we know little about foot biomechanics during dance movements. Researchers are using three-dimensional (3D) motion capture systems to study the in vivo kinematics of joint segments more frequently in dance-medicine research, warranting a literature review and quality assessment evaluation.

The effectiveness of post-professional physical therapist training in the treatment of chronic low back pain using a propensity score approach with machine learning.

Rationale: Low back pain (LBP) is a leading cause of disability in the United States creating substantial hardships through negative social, financial, and health effects. Chronic low back pain (CLBP) accounted for above half of patients treated in physical therapy (PT) clinics for LBP. However, research shows small benefit from PT in CLBP treatment.

Physical Activity, Physical Well-Being, and Psychological Well-Being: Associations with Life Satisfaction during the COVID-19 Pandemic among Early Childhood Educators.

Seeking personal well-being and life satisfaction during a global pandemic can be daunting, such is the case for early care and education teachers who were considered non-health care essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The potential changes in their physical activity, along with their overall physical and psychological well-being, may have ultimately influenced their life satisfaction. These changes included the potential for increased sedentary behaviors.

Testing a holistic conceptual framework for early childhood teacher well-being.

Using a holistic conceptualization of teacher well-being in concert with the Job Demands and Resources (JD-R) framework, our interdisciplinary study examined associations among various job demands and resources and whole teacher well-being (i.e., professional, psychological, and physical well-being) in early care and education settings.

An evaluation of a simulation and video-based training program to address adverse childhood experiences.

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are multiple sources of maltreatment and household dysfunction with tremendous impact on health. A trauma-informed (TI) approach is preferred when working with patients with ACEs. The Professional ACEs-Informed Training for Health (PATH) educational program and simulation experience using standardized patients (SP) was developed to help healthcare professionals address ACEs with adults.

Revisiting the attitudes toward health care teams scale: Developing a short version for graduate health care education.

As interprofessional education (IPE) becomes more common in student training programs, reliable and valid scales are needed to measure students' perceptions of the experience. The Attitudes Toward Health Care Teams Scale (ATHCTS) was developed to measure students' attitudes toward IPE programs using 14 items loaded on two factors. In this paper, we used the ATHCTS scale to assess the effects of a three-semester long health care IPE program on three cohorts of nurse practitioner, occupational therapy, and physical therapy graduate students with three measurement points across two university sites ( = 367).

Using Social Simulation to Teach Rehabilitation Science Students About Adverse Childhood Experiences and Trauma Informed Care.

Recent research has identified the relationships between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and adult adoption of health risk behaviors, negative health outcomes, and measures of well-being. Given these findings, it is important to consider training models that educate allied health students about the relevance of ACEs to adult health across a myriad of practice settings and equip them with the skills necessary to help patients with a history of ACEs. Physical therapy (PT) and occupational therapy (OT) are key members of the health care team, well positioned to address ACEs with their patients.

Telehealth Physical Therapy in Musculoskeletal Practice.

Telehealth physical therapy has the potential to transform many critical areas of care in musculoskeletal practice. However, the amount of hype around telehealth needs to be carefully examined, because widespread implementation has been stalled by payment and regulatory barriers in physical therapy. The purposes of this Viewpoint are to highlight (1) the current level of implementation, (2) telehealth musculoskeletal evidence, and (3) future opportunities in the digital age.

The Impact of Library Tutorials on the Information Literacy Skills of Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy Students in an Evidence-Based Practice Course: A Rubric Assessment.

This study measures how online library instructional tutorials implemented into an evidence-based practice course have impacted the information literacy skills of occupational and physical therapy graduate students. Through a rubric assessment of final course papers, this study compares differences in students' search strategies and cited sources pre- and post-implementation of the tutorials. The population includes 180 randomly selected graduate students from before and after the library tutorials were introduced into the course curriculum.

Simulating Interprofessional Geriatric Patient Care Using Telehealth: A Team-Based Learning Activity.

Introduction: More than one-third of Oklahomans live in rural counties, and 63 of Oklahoma's 77 counties are classified as health professional shortage areas, where telemedicine would be beneficial. In response to this need, in 2012, the Colleges of Nursing and Allied Health at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center implemented a sequence of interprofessional learning experiences to prepare nurse practitioner, physical therapy, and occupational therapy students in team-based geriatric care using telehealth technologies.

Methods: The sequence included modules on interprofessional competencies, a simulated patient case, and clinical experiences.

Library tutorials in an allied health evidence-based practice class.

This column describes a collaboration between faculty members in an Allied Health program and academic librarians to provide information literacy instruction to students enrolled in an evidence-based practice course. The process of collaboration is described beginning with the inception of the idea to collaborate, which grew out of an informal conversation between librarians and Allied Health faculty. Implementation of the project is described as well as future plans for the collaboration.

Analysis of factors influencing the development of xerostomia during intensity-modulated radiotherapy.

Objectives: Factors influencing xerostomia during intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) were assessed.

Methods: A 6-week study of 32 head and neck cancer (HNC) patients was performed. Subjects completed the Xerostomia Inventory (XI) and provided stimulated saliva (SS) at baseline, week 2 and at end of IMRT.

Developing an honor statement for university students in graduate professional programs.

Student and faculty in our graduate professional programs in physical and occupational therapy recently acted on their concerns regarding an upsurge in behaviors that were contrary to those associated with academic integrity (e.g., cheating, plagiarism, etc.