Student presentations provide PTA professionals with continuing education

A recent semester-closing learning activity for physical therapist assistant students also provided a continuing education opportunity for professionals. Students presented research posters during the American Physical Therapy Association Pennsylvania Chapter Northcentral District meeting.

Each of the students enrolled in the Rehabilitation course presented a topic virtually, with help from the Educational & Emergency Technologies Office’s Adam J. Miller, manager of instructional media production, and Michael J. Hersh, instructional development specialist. “They worked hard behind the scenes for our seamless transitions, closeups on posters and video production,” said Victoria Hurwitz, physical therapist assistant program director. The presentations provided two hours of free continuing education credit for professionals attending the virtual meeting. The course was taught by Autumn M. Breon, part-time instructor of physical therapist assistant.

Students and their research topics:

• Lauren Bennett, of Bloomsburg: “For patients with brain injury, does the use of serial casting reduce the future risk of contractures compared with physical therapy?”
• Janel A. Eck, of Williamsport: “In patients with cystic fibrosis, what is the effect of manual chest physical therapy on clearing the lung pathways compared to using a high-frequency chest wall oscillation vest?”
• Kayleean Finan, of Watsontown: “Is virtual reality vs. traditional therapy more efficient for decreasing chronic low back pain?”
• Nathan R. Hoyer, of Elizabethtown: “In cardiac patients, is resistance exercise more effective than aerobic exercise in improving patient health and quality of life?”
• Sydney J. Keister, of Middleburg: “Is physical therapy or respiratory therapy more effective for COVID long-haulers?”
• Danielle R. Landis, of Trout Run: “Is aquatic therapy more beneficial for chronic low back pain than land therapy?”
• Selena A. Martinez, of Williamsport: “In geriatric patients with late-life depression, does physical exercise relieve depressive symptoms more than no exercise?”
• Chance Moore, of Williamsport: “Which could be more beneficial in the healing process of a burn patient: a high protein diet or a high carbohydrate diet?”
• Aric Root, of Wellsboro: “When treating COPD patients, how do land-based interventions compare to aquatic interventions in improving function?”
• Emily Smith, of Fredericksburg: “In patients with Parkinson’s disease, is aquatic therapy combined with traditional therapy more beneficial than traditional therapy alone?”
• Nathan M. Wolf, of Dover: “Does the incorporation of aromatherapy in conjunction with manual therapy improve the quality of life for burn patients compared to those who receive just manual therapy?”