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Tree in front of Quinn Hall

Physical Therapy Department

Research & Grants

Student Research

All students are required to complete a research project as part of the requirements for completion of the DPT. These projects are aligned with faculty interests and are completed in groups of 1-4 students. Students begin working on these projects in the first year and continue throughout the program with a final presentation to the public just prior to graduation. A number of these student projects have been presented as part of peer-reviewed post sessions at national meetings and published in peer-reviewed journals. Titles of some of the projects include:

PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS
Roush SE, Fresher-Samways K, Stolgitis J, Rabitt J & Cardinal E.  (2007). Self and Caregiver reported experiences of young adults with developmental disabilities.  Journal of Social Work in Disability & Rehabilitaion, Vol. 6(4): 53-73.

Roush SE, Jones M, Nassaney M. (2007) Patient satisfaction in physical therapy: Concurrent comparison of two instruments in outpatient settings. HPA Journal  7(3): 1-8.

Agostinucci, J, Holmberg, A., Mushen, M., Plisko, J, Gofman, M. The Effects of Circumferential Air-Splint Pressure on Flexor Carpi Radialis H-reflex in Subjects without Neurological Deficits. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 103:565-579, 2006.

Oksendahl HL , Fleming BC, Blanpied PR, Hulstyn MJ, Fadale PD. Intra-articular anesthesia and knee muscle response. Clin. Biomech 22(5):529-536, 2007.
Blanpied P, Oksendahl H. Reaction times and electromechanical delay in reactions of increasing and decreasing force. Percep Motor Skills 103, 743-754, 2006.  Students: Davis J, Emerson A., Giroux K, Sessions C.K., Stuart J.

Bruno M, Cummins S, Gaudiano L, Stoos J, Blanpied P. Effectiveness of two Arthritis Foundation programs: Walk With Ease and You Can Break the Arthritis Pain Cycle. Clinical Interventions in Aging 1(3):295-306, 2006.

Sugimoto D, Blanpied P. Flexible foil exercise and shoulder internal and external rotation strength. J Athl Train 41(3):280-285, 2006.

PEER-REVIEWED PLATFORM PRESENTATIONS
Agostinucci J, Dolarian D, Ruzzo M, Woodward A.  The Effect of Circumferential Pressure on F-wave Response in the Tibialis Anterior Muscle. World Congress of Physical Therapy, Vancouver Canada. June 2007.

Agostinucci, J., The effects of Circumferential Pressure on the Soleus Stretch reflex in subjects with and without cerebral vascular accident. International Society for Electrophysiology and Kinesiology. June 2008.

Agostinucci, J., Woodward A., The Effect of Circumferential Pressure on F-wave Response in the Tibialis Anterior Muscle. International Society for Electrophysiology and Kinesiology. June 2008. 

PEER-REVIEWED POSTER PRESENTATIONS AT AMERICAN PHYSICAL THERAPY COMBINED SECTIONS MEETINGS
Rabito R, Richard S, Schoch E,  Torok M, Agostinucci J. The Effects of Circumferential Pressure on the Soleus Stretch Reflex in Subjects with Cerebrovascular Accident. American Physical Therapy Association, Combined Sections Meeting, San Diego, CA 2006.

Agostinucci J, The Effects of Circumferential Pressure on Motor and Sensory Nerve Conduction Velocity in the Median Nerve. American Physical Therapy Association, Combined Sections Meeting, Boston MA 2007.

Wyatt M, Carucci S, Lewis S & Roush SE Examination of the Reliability and Validity of the Special Olympics® FunFitness® Questionnaire. February 2008; Nashville TN

Marston J, Sullivan K, Sweet K, Hulme JB, Roush SE.  Retrospective Analysis of an Exercise Program for Group Home Residents. February 2009; Las Vegas NV.

Bjorklund D, Davis A, Marcoux BC:  “Student and ACCE Satisfaction with Method of Clinical Placements. A poster to be presented at Combined Sections Meeting, February 2008, Nashville TN.

Grants

Dr. Susan Roush is the recipient of two grants totaling $193,975 from the Rhode Island Developmental Disabilities Council. The grants will support the work of the Council’s Individual and Family Advocacy Committee (IFAC), and provide technical assistance to the Council in developing their next 5-year-plan. In addition to Dr. Roush, grant staff include Dr. Kathleen Samways (Research Associate) and PT student Gordon Fields.

The goals and accompanying activities of the grants are grounded in the philosophy of self-determination and self-advocacy for persons with developmental disabilities. A sampling of grant activities include:

  1. Disability Inclusion Film Series exploring inclusion across the lifespan. Designed for pre-service and practicing educators, the Series has been approved for Professional Development credits through the RI Department of Education.
  2. Collaboration with the Universal Design in Learning (UDL) teams at RIC (Sherlock Center) and URI (School of Education) to disseminate examples of  inclusive lesson plans and practical applications including universal classroom technology tools for teaching and learning, and to gather audience feedback.
  3. Offering the Healthy Lifestyles curriculum to the South Kingstown Independence Transition Academy with emphasis on self-determination.
  4. Partnering with the RI Service Alliance and Americorp to develop the capacity of both Service organizations and individuals with disabilities to  serve in volunteer positions, especially on Boards of Directors and other civic organizations.
  5. Survey of 14 minimal allotment state Developmental Disability Councils to identify promising practices to develop 5-year-plans and methods of allocation of resources. PT students, Celina Beliard, Michelle Bochanski and Dant Hughes are participating in this project.

Announcements

  • The Physical Therapy Department at URI participates in the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS). Applicants for the 2014 entering class can apply online using the PTCAS Web application, beginning in July 2013. To learn more about the PTCAS application process, please visit www.ptcas.org.

  • The Annual Open House will be held on September 26, 2013 from 4:30pm-6pm in Independence Square.

 

  • Interviews for the 2014 entering class will be held on January 3 and 4, 2014.  Interviews are by invitation only.

Program Highlights

 

RIAPTA Job Opportunities