Theory-based study of the basic values of 565 physical therapists.

Background And Purpose: There is a prevailing belief expressed in the physical therapy literature that values influence behavioral choices. There is, however, meager research on physical therapists' values. A values theory was used to study the organization of physical therapists' basic values and to generate hypotheses about age-related value priority differences.

Leadership, administration, management, and professionalism (LAMP) in physical therapy: a Delphi study.

Background And Purpose: The knowledge and skills needed by physical therapists entering practice in the areas of leadership, administration, management, and professionalism (LAMP) are not known. Using the LAMP components identified by American Physical Therapy Association's Section on Administration, this study sought to define the range of LAMP content pertinent to physical therapy clinical management and to explore LAMP knowledge and skills required of physical therapists upon entry into the profession.

Subjects And Methods: Thirty-four physical therapist managers participated in a Delphi study to (1) create a comprehensive list of defined LAMP components, (2) determine the perceived importance of each component in the management of clinical practices, and (3) identify the level of knowledge and skill for each component believed to be necessary for a new physical therapist graduate.

Spinal effects of head-down tilting. Part 1--Low back contour changes.

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of two methods of inversion therapy and four common exercise positions on the shape of the low back. We studied 25 healthy subjects in six exercise positions: 1) inverted with lower limbs extended (ILLE), 2) standing, 3) supine, 4) inverted with lower limbs flexed (ILLF), 5) sitting, and 6) hooklying. A manual measurement system was used to determine low back contours (LBCs) from S2 upward for 19 cm at 1-cm intervals.

An investigation of managerial characteristics of health care managers: a comparison study.

This study compared the managerial trait profiles of health care managers with hospital administrators and managers in the general business community. It focused on two central issues: (1) the preparedness of health care managers for managerial responsibility as compared with managers in other occupations; and (2) the impact of gender differences on the trait profiles. Results indicated that, while differences existed between the groups studied, health care managers exhibited characteristics associated with managerial success.

Influence of aerobic fitness on cardiovascular responses during slow head-down tilting.

This study examined the influence of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) on mean heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) responses to slow head-down tilting. Twenty-four young, healthy volunteers were tilted randomly from the horizontal plane to -30, -60, and -90 degrees with lower limbs extended or flexed. A multivariate analysis of variance between three independent variables (level of CRF, tilt angle, and lower limb position) and three dependent variables (mean HR, SBP, and DBP) was performed on the cardiovascular changes from an initial horizontal baseline value (absolute change) and from a horizontal value that immediately preceded tilting angles (relative change).