Deep Neck Flexor Endurance in the Adolescent and Young Adult: Normative Data and Associated Attributes.

Background: Deep neck flexor (DNF) muscles stabilize the neck and contribute to head acceleration control. The function of DNF in cervical spine dynamic stabilization has not been examined in athletes of any age group, including adolescents. This investigation was necessary prior to studying the DNF muscles' role in cervical spine injury patterns.

Critical Thinking and Disposition Toward Critical Thinking Among Physical Therapy Students.

Purpose: Students who enter a physical therapist (PT) entry-level program with weak critical thinking skills may not be prepared to benefit from the educational training program or successfully engage in the future as a competent healthcare provider. Therefore, assessing PT students' entry-level critical thinking skills and/or disposition toward critical thinking may be beneficial to identifying students with poor, fair, or good critical thinking ability as one of the criteria used in the admissions process into a professional program.

Participants/methods: First-year students (n=71) from the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center completed the California Critical Thinking Skills Test (CCTST), the California Critical Thinking Dispositions Inventory (CCTDI), and demographic survey during orientation to the DPT program.

The deep neck flexor endurance test: normative data scores in healthy adults.

Objective: To investigate (1) the average hold time for the deep neck flexors (DNF) endurance test in subjects without neck pain or pathology, and (2) whether different groups of subjects categorized by age, gender, and lifestyle display different hold times.

Design: Normative research.

Patients: A convenience sample of 126 adults participated.

Associates of physical function and pain in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome.

Objectives: To explore whether impairment of muscle strength, soft tissue length, movement control, postural and biomechanic alterations, and psychologic factors are associated with physical function and pain in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS).

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Rehabilitation outpatient.