AWARDS
The Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy is pleased to announce the following Manual Therapy Award winners for 2006.
The Cardon Award
For Excellence in a Published Research Article
The 2005 Cardon Award for Excellence in a Published Research Article is awarded to Rebecca Reisch, Kimberly Williams, Bob Nee, and Richard Rutt for their article ULNT2-Median Nerve Bias: Examiner Reliability and Sensory Responses in Asymptomatic Subjects, which appeared in volume 13, number 1, pages 44-55.
Abstract: Interpreting patients’ responses to any neurodynamic test requires knowledge of test reliability and of the sensations provoked in asymptomatic subjects. The purpose of our study was to determine examiner reliability for using a standard goniometer to measure shoulder abduction at end-range of a modified brachial plexus tension test commonly known as upper limb neurodynamic test 2 – median nerve bias (ULNT2 – median nerve bias). Our test-retest design on 21 asymptomatic subjects revealed "good" to "excellent" intra-tester reliability with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC 3, k) of 0.88 and 0.94 for the two examiners. Corresponding standard errors of measurement (SEM) were 2.41 and 2.08 degrees. Inter-tester reliability was "poor" (ICC 2, k = 0.33, SEM = 6.35). Sensory responses provoked in the end position of this neurodynamic test were most commonly located in the lateral hand, lateral forearm, and cubital fossa, areas consistent with the cutaneous distribution of the C6 and C7 dermatomes and median nerve. Pulling was the most common description of sensations experienced in the cubital fossa and forearm, while combinations of pulling, burning, or tingling were more often reported in the hand. Contralateral cervical sidebending increased upper limb sensory responses in all subjects. These sensory responses are consistent with previous reports on ULNT2 – median nerve bias and the original brachial plexus tension test. Further studies are necessary to determine whether our results can assist in establishing the clinical validity and diagnostic performance of this neurodynamic test in symptomatic populations.
Becca Reisch, DPT is Assistant Professor and Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education in the School of Physical Therapy at Pacific University. She graduated from the University of Wyoming with a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology and Physiology and received her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Pacific University. In addition to her teaching and clinical education duties, she does part-time patient care at both Pacific University and at Everybody Physical Therapy in Portland, Oregon with an emphasis on orthopedics and women's health.
Kimberly A. Williams, DPT, ATC is a co-owner and physical therapist at Pullman Sports Physical Therapy (PSPT). She graduated from Washington State University (WSU) with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education with an emphasis in Athletic Training. She then attended Central Washington University and received a Masters in Health Administration. After working as an athletic trainer for Washington State University, she returned to school at Pacific University and received her Doctorate in Physical Therapy. She is currently working as an adjunct professor at Washington State University and a treating therapist specializing in lower extremity biomechanics at PSPT.
Robert J. Nee, PT, M App Sc, ATC has been an Assistant Professor in the School of Physical Therapy at Pacific University since 1999. He graduated from Boston University with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy and obtained his Master of Applied Science in Manipulative Therapy from the University of South Australia. In addition to his duties at Pacific University, Bob continues to engage in part-time patient care, is an associate editor for The Journal of Manual and Manipulative Therapy, and is an instructor for the Neuro Orthopaedic Institute, a group of physical therapists that present continuing education content in the areas of neurodynamics and pain sciences.
Richard A. Rutt, PT, PhD, ATC is Associate Professor of Physical Therapy and Director of the School of Physical Therapy at Pacific University. He previously served on the physical therapy faculty at the University of Oklahoma and Texas Woman’s University. He received his BA degree in Spanish and French from Morningside College; ADN. from Iowa Western Community College; MS in Physical Therapy from Texas Woman’s University; and PhD in Exercise Physiology from the University of Virginia. Dr. Rutt continues to teach in the entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program and in the Transition-DPT program at Pacific. He is a NATA Certified Athletic Trainer and remains clinically active treating student athletes in the University’s athletic training facilities. He is a member of the Sports Medicine, Orthopedic, and Education sections of the ATPA. His current research interests are in rehabilitation and prevention of sports injuries and health promotion and wellness.
The TherEx Award
For Excellence in a Published Case Study
The 2005 TherEx Award for Excellence in a Published Case Study is awarded to James Hall, Joshua Cleland, and Jessica Palmer for the article The Effects of Manual Physical Therapy and Therapeutic Exercise on Peripartum Posterior Pelvic Pain: Two Case Reports, which appeared in volume 13, number 2, pages 94-102.
Abstract: Peripartum posterior pelvic pain is a clinical enigma commonly encountered by physical therapists. It is hypothesized that the release of relaxin hormone during pregnancy may result in ligament laxity, which could lead to sacroiliac instability resulting in pain and decreased function. The purpose of these case reports was to describe the effects of manual physical therapy and therapeutic exercise on a peripartum patient with reports of posterior pelvic pain. Two patients referred to physical therapy by their obstetrician during their pregnancy were recruited for these case reports. During the initial examination, both patients completed a number of self-report measures including the Oswestry Disability Index, a body diagram, and the Numeric Pain Rating Scale. Both patients were treated with muscle energy techniques directed at pelvic and sacral positional faults and therapeutic exercise consisting of transverse abdominis and multifidus neuromuscular re-education; isometric hip abduction and external rotation; and a force closure sacroiliac stabilization program directed at neuromuscular re-education of the anterior and posterior oblique sling systems (hip adductors-contralateral obliques and gluteus maximus-contralateral latissimus dorsi combinations). At the time of discharge, both patients again completed the self-report outcome measures as well as a global rating of change. Both patients demonstrated a clinically meaningful improvement in their pain levels as well as perceived disability. In addition, both rated their global rating of change as “a great deal better.” These case reports provide preliminary evidence suggesting that manual physical therapy and therapeutic exercise may be an effective intervention strategy for peripartum patients reporting posterior pelvic pain.
James Hall, PTA, BS, SPT received his Associates’ degree as a Physical Therapist Assistant from New Hampshire Technical College in 1991, and his Bachelors of Science from Notre Dame College, in Manchester NH in 1999. He is currently in his last year at Franklin Pierce College working towards a DPT, graduating May 2006. James currently works at Monadnock Community Hospital, Peterborough NH as a Physical Therapist Assistant. He looks forward to graduation and his continued professional development.
Joshua A. Cleland, PhD, DPT, OCS earned a Master of Physical Therapy Degree from Notre Dame College in 2000 and the Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree from Creighton University in 2001. In February of 2006, he received a PhD from Nova Southeastern University based on his dissertation work titled “Development of a Clinical Prediction Rule to Identify Patients with Neck Pain Likely to Benefit from Thoracic Spine Manipulation and a Range of Motion Exercise”. He received board certification from the American Physical Therapy Association as an Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist in 2002 and recently completed a fellowship in manual therapy through Regis University in Denver, CO. Joshua is presently an Assistant Professor in the Physical Therapy Program at Franklin Pierce College and practices clinically in outpatient orthopaedics at Rehabilitation Services of Concord Hospital, Concord, NH. He is actively involved in numerous clinical research studies investigating the effectiveness of manual physical therapy in the management of spine and extremities disorders. He is an Associate Editor for the Journal of Manual and Manipulative Therapy and an Editorial Review Board Member for the Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy. He has recently authored a textbook titled Evidence-Based Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Examination which was published in the fall of 2005.
Jessica A. Palmer, MPT graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a degree in Exercise Physiology. In 2005 she earned a Master of Physical Therapy Degree from Franklin Pierce College and is currently completing requirements for the transitional DPT. Jessica is adjunct faculty at Franklin Pierce College where she teaches in the area of Kinesiology. She is currently a staff therapist at Concord Hospital in Concord, NH. She has been actively involved in clinical research and to date has 9 peer-reviewed publications.
The OPTP Award
For Excellence in a Published Review of the Literature
The 2005 OPTP Award for Excellence in a Published Review of the Literature is awarded to Chad Cook, Eric Hegedus, and Kevin Ramey for their article Physical Therapy Exercise Intervention Based on Classification Using the Patient Response Method: A Systematic Review of the Literature, which appeared in volume 13, number 3, pages 152-162.
Abstract: It has been suggested that inclusion into a study that categorizes patients in mutually exclusive, clinometric classifications should improve the outcome of an exercise based randomized clinical trial. This review examined the evidence regarding the effectiveness of physical therapist-directed therapeutic exercises when patients were classified using the patient response method. This systematic literature review restricted article inclusion to English-only articles that classified homogenous samples of low back patients using the patient response based method, demonstrated physical therapy-directed exercise interventions, and used specific outcome criteria for assessment of patient improvement. The PEDro scale was used to rate the methodological quality of the studies. Of 82 articles reviewed only 5 articles were accepted. All 5 met the PEDro standards for a high-quality study. Of the 5 articles, 4 demonstrated that physical therapy exercise intervention based on the patient response method of classification were significantly better than the pragmatic control comparisons; the remaining article indicated that exercise was less effective than manipulation. There appears to be a trend toward positive outcomes with physical therapy exercise intervention in trials restricted to the patient response method of classification; however, few studies have investigated this phenomenon.
Chad Cook, PT, PhD, MBA, OCS is an assistant professor in the Department of Community and Family Medicine at Duke University, Durham, NC. Dr. Cook graduated with a BS in physical therapy from Maryville University, St. Louis, MO, in 1990, an MBA in 1999 and completed a PhD at Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, USA in 2003. He received post-graduate certifications in manual therapy from Maitland/Australian Physiotherapy Seminars in 2001 and is a senior instructor with that group. Dr. Cook was board certified as an orthopedic specialist by the APTA in 2002. He received the OPTP/JMMT Literature Review award in 2003 and the prestigious J Warren Perry Distinguished Author award in 2005. Chad has published 25+ peer-reviewed articles in topics related to orthopedics, manual therapy, and examination, and is actively involved in research associated with the spine and examination proficiency. He maintains clinical practice in all forms of rehabilitation settings but specializes in outpatient orthopedics.
Eric J. Hegedus, PT, DPT, OCS is a physical therapist with 15 years of academic, patient care, and administrative experience who has practiced in numerous musculoskeletal areas including Sports Medicine and Chronic Pain, bust most extensively in outpatient Orthopaedics. He is currently an Assistant Clinical Professor at Duke University in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Division where he teaches the Musculoskeletal Practice Management series of courses and assists with the teaching of the Manual Therapy elective. Dr. Hegedus is actively involved in research in the areas of clinical outcomes and the accuracy of the clinical examination. In addition to this award-winning article, Dr. Hegedus has authored a chapter on manual therapy of the shoulder complex in the book entitled “Evidenced-based Orthopedic Manual Therapy”, edited by Chad Cook. Currently, Dr. Hegedus is finishing his Master’s of Health Science in Clinical Research at Duke University.
Kevin Ramey, MS, PT is an assistant professor in the Department of Clinic Administration and Rehabilitation Counseling at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. Mr. Ramey graduated with a BS in physical therapy from the University of Texas Health Sciences Center at San Antonio in 1991 and an MS in Kinesiology from the University of North Texas in 2002. Mr. Ramey is currently working on a PhD at Texas Tech University.
For further information about JMMT and the annual Manual Therapy Awards for research, literature reviews, and case studies, contact:
John M. Medeiros
Executive Editor
JMMT
P.O. Box 713
Forest Grove, Oregon 97116
USA
Phone: 503-359-2322
Fax: 503-359-3542
E-mail:
