Below are theses and dissertations completed by graduates of the University of Nevada Las Vegas College of Integrated Health Sciences.
For the entire collection of UNLV theses and dissertations, visit UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones
Theses/Dissertations from 2024
The Impact of Anatomy Academy in Underserved Las Vegas Elementary Schools, Jean Angeles, Edgar Armengual, Katrina Myers, and Perceval Vollmer
Modulating Cortical Excitability to Improve Functional Movements in Individuals with Patellofemoral Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Jeno Aquino, Bryce Broadwell, Connan Wallace, and Makenzie Whimple
Effects of Chronic Diabetes and Attentional Focus on Performance and Learning of a Novel Stabilometer Balance Task, Rebeca Armagnac Gonzalez, Yinny Lee, Alicia Letkiewicz, and Meiko Nagano Mamauag
Implementing Physical Therapy Services and Screenings for the Students of the UNLV College of Fine Arts for Health and Injury Prevention: A Service-Learning Approach, Selene Barajas, Justin Dietrich, Brenna Ganzon, Payton Mack, Katherine Metzger, and Tanner Mueller
Effect of Asynchronous Virtual Interviews on Ethnic Minority Matriculation into a Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, Conner Clark, Nanea Lagasca, Gladys Miller, and Jasmine Puspos
Implementation of Evidence-Based Practices to Improve Treatment for Patients with Neck Pain: A Pilot Study, Kristine David, Sarah Kaderka, and Christoffer-Judd Villarias
Better Gait Quality and Speed in Adults with Down Syndrome when Wearing Supportive Shoes Compared to Unsupportive Shoes and Barefoot, Bailey Gosse, Kimberly Nguyen, and Zoe Zelensky
Development and Pilot Testing of a Surface Discrimination Test for People with Lower Limb Amputation, Colin Kruger, Kyle McKnight, Sharlene Lim, and Samuel Straus
Effects of Exercise on Level of Support, Mobility, and Quality of Life in Adults with Down Syndrome, Jorge Lorza-Lopez, Jolena Sagaya, Simone Schroder, and Paige Melvin Zink
Theses/Dissertations from 2023
Analyzing Equity Within the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Physical Therapy Program Admissions Process, Rebecca Altman, Savanna Cathey, and Michelle DeDmon
The Effects of Exercise Training on Gait in Adults with Down Syndrome, Anna Lois Aquino, Sandra Daugherty, and Alex Palko
Introduction of the Anatomy Academy Program To Children in a Rural Elementary School, Rox Aurelio, Madison Dobbs, Nicole Horn, and Gianni Terrana
The Effects of Implementing an Early Childhood Education Health and Wellness Program in Underserved Elementary Schools in Las Vegas on Student Mentors and Elementary Staff: Anatomy Academy, Alexa Blazek, Amber Berumen Baker, Kevin Chan Shum, and Alexander Young
Implementation of an Evidence-Based Program to Reduce Fall Risk of Older Adults in Nevada, Hanna Brunty, Jordynn Cowan, Taylor DeRose, Kanosha Gray, and Kerry Margolin
Oxygen Consumption in Highly Skilled Baseball Pitchers, Jesse Clingman
Stepping On - Virtual Fall Prevention for Older Adults, Sean Conners, Tyler Greener, and Kaitlyn Johnson
A Comparison of Spinal Reflex Function and Morphological Adaptations of the Achilles Tendon Between Individuals Chronically Post-Stroke and Healthy Controls, Migi Contreras, Mira Seekins, Johanna Mendez, and Trevor Diez
The Influence of Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation on Fatigue Resistance, Kayla De Guzman
The Influence of Concussion History and Head Acceleration on Lower Extremity Function, Warren Forbes
Effects of Postural Load Perturbations on the Stroke-impaired Spinal Circuitry, Jose Galvez, Linh Thi My Nguyen, and Brandon Yee
Development of a Multifactorial Virtual Fall Prevention Tool for Community Dwelling Older Women, Eduardo Gutierrez, Jacob James Nogra, Carol Sparks, and Bradley Voels
Anatomy Academy Service-Learning Project: Attacking the Epidemic of Childhood Obesity, Kelsey Kjer, Rosedaveia Howell, Brennan Kitchen, and Francesca Schutte
Comparison of Male and Female Ultramarathon Runners, Kelsey Klug
Effects of a 12-week Remote Exercise Program on Balance in Adults with Down Syndrome, Kayla Kotake, Sherwin Cadiao, Nicole Kaes, and Jayston Prudencio
The Psychometric Properties of The Modified Fear of Falling Avoidance Behavior Questionnaire in Parkinson’s Disease and Older Adults, Billy La, Arturo Aldaco, and Ashley Haller
Creating a University-Based Performing Arts Clinic: Challenges and Lessons, Carissa Limtiaco and Alan Savanapridi
Utilization and Perception of Peer-Support After Lower Limb Loss in the United States: Potential Benefits on Mobility Outcomes, Moriah Maluotoga and Roopkiran Thind
Physiological Effects of a Traditional Active Warm-Up Versus a Passive Warm-Up During Submaximal Endurance Exercise, Vernice Ollano
Association Between Rural Background and Physical Therapist Practice Location, Caitlin Parker and Jace-Anne Sharp
Implementation of 2D Running Gait Analysis in Orthopedic Physical Therapy Clinics, Justin Rasavage, Tristan Trumbull, Melissa Goo-Tam, and Micah Wilson
Developing a Physical Therapy Initial Evaluation Screening Tool for a Multidisciplinary Clinic for Adults with Down Syndrome, Isabella Russell, Alvin Lacap, and Francis Lacap
Acute Effects of Post-Activation Potentiation on Increasing Bat Velocity in Competitive Baseball Players: A Case Series, Phillipp Yu, John MacDonald, and Katrina Myers
Theses/Dissertations from 2022
Perceived Value of Acute Care Physical Therapy, Juliana Amenta, Andrew Falcinelli, Erin Heenan, and Hannah Kendall
Increasing Utilization of Otago Fall Prevention Program by Nevada Physical Therapists: A Service-Learning Project, Jared Apostol, Erica Mooy Brown, and Danielle Uptain
The Effects of a Telehealth Exercise Intervention on Balance in Adults with Down Syndrome, Mark Barton, Kristina Guerrero, Andrew Martinez, and Alexandria Umagat
Efficacy and Benefits of Providing a Screening Clinic for Performing Arts Students, Shaun Bean, Joanna Centeno, and Elizabeth Williams
Direction of Attentional Focus in Prosthetic Training: Current Practice and Potential for Improving Motor Learning in Individuals with Lower Limb Loss, Alexander Bonczyk, Maria Katrina Tillada Dimapilis, Sarah Partridge, and Samantha Ruiz
Essential Tools For Sustainability of a Student-led, Pro-Bono Back School, Cory Brown, Rosalie Gutierrez, Jennifer Montes, and Rondale Scruggs
Factors Predicting Fear of Falling Avoidance Behavior in Parkinsonisms, Kameron Eckard, Franjo Vukojevic, and Ryan Hammar
Walking With Poles Improves Step Length of Simulated Prosthetic Gait, Marissa Elquist, Daniel Perez, Jonathan Garcia, and Brady Owens
Quality Assurance Procedures Implementation for Varian TrueBeam, Yongquan Jiang
Influence of Physical Activity After ACL Reconstruction on Gait: Implications for the Development of Knee Osteoarthritis, Devin Kathleen Kelly
Effects of a 12-Week Telehealth Exercise Intervention on Gait Speed and Gait Deviations in Adults with Down Syndrome, Robert Lum, Taylor Souza, Christopher Roys, and Daniel Stopka
Brain and Spinal Cord Adaptations Associated with Patellofemoral Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, Kara Meske, Savanna Budge Huerta, Austin Madriaga, and Derrick Nguyenton
Effects of a Remote Exercise Intervention on Aerobic Endurance in Individuals with Down Syndrome, Andrew Murata, Elena Wolf, Jonathan Crimm, and Benjamin Lee
The Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Motor Learning in Complex Motor Tasks, Milan Pantovic
The Metabolic Change of Lipid Species in STAM Mice with Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Devin J. Peart
Quantifying Road Bicycle Wheel Vibration, Kyle Petersen
Characterization of Physical and Dosimetric Aspects of SRS HyperArc Treatment Technique, Emma S. Rickels
Physical Therapy Alumni Rural Employment Assessment, Karen Aleyda Santos and Nikkita Jacob Crozier
Diagnostic Ultrasound as a Reliable Tool to Measure Multifidus Thickness, Katherine Shigemoto, Valeria Garcia Arteaga, Jessie Peterson, and Nathan Gentry
Food Insecurity and Dietary Intake in Adults with Type 2 Diabetes in Southern Nevada, Elizabeth Torres
Theses/Dissertations from 2021
Description, Reliability and Validation of a Novel Ground-Reaction-Force-Triggered Protocol for Simulation of Tripping Perturbations During Gait, James Anderson, Samuel Hadley, Denise Ng, and Catrina Fabian
The Influence of Sports-Related Concussion on Lower Extremity Injury Risk in Adolescent and Collegiate Athletes, Jason M. Avedesian
Investigation of Algorithms to Assess Validity of Wearable Technology During Field Testing, Brenna Barrios
Quality Assurance of Service Learning Back School, Eric Bashaw, Vu Pham, Tyler Parvin, and Ryan Pauly
Healthy Aging and Locomotion: How Running Affects the Aging Process, Brianne Borgia
Assessing the Validity and Reliability of Several Heart Rate Monitors in Wearable Technology While Mountain Biking, Bryson Carrier
Recruitment and Advocacy for Clinician Involvement in Pro Bono Physical Therapy Service-Learning Program, Gilberto Carrillo, Gavin Brady, Felicia Doblado, and Alyssa Woo Hatch
The Influence of Resistance Training on Post Surgical Outcomes in Individuals with Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury, Kevin H. Choe
Physiological and Mechanical Comparisons between Clipless and Flat Pedals, Katelyn Conroy
Relationship of Shoe Wetness to Mechanical Performance, Sara Lyn Crawford
Is Decreased Trunk Flexion Angle a Contributing Factor to Patellofemoral Joint Loading in Runners with Patellofemoral Pain?, Christine DuVall, Zachary Clark, Tavin Fox, and Caitlin Howden
Stepping On Fall Prevention Project, James P. Gaddi, Jordan T. Bowers, and Lea M. K. Fung
Effects of Bimodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Modulation of Spinal Circuitry in People with Chronic Post-Stroke Hemiparesis, John Patrick Gan, Rafael Cabrera, Lana Laudermilch, and Benjamin Wolkenhauer
The Investigation of the Influence of Long-Distance Running on Foot Volume in Healthy Female Collegiate Distance Athletes, Mufaro M. Hungwe
A Vicious Cycle of Fear of Falling Avoidance Behavior in Parkinson’s Disease: A Path Analysis, Kameron Jacobson, Nicole Matsunami, Hannah McCarl, and Michelle Regis
Development of a Novel Cognitive-Motor Dual Task Assessment Battery in Neurodegenerative Disease, Jason Longhurst
Dancer Screening Clinic, Kristen Manaloto, John Lencioni, and Laura Nguyen
A Process for ADM-300 Radiation Detector Modernization for Military Applications, Caesar R. Pereira
Patient Engagement in Cosmetic Designing of Prostheses: Current Practice and Potential Outcome Benefits, Kenneth Repayo, Cailin Mitchell, Matthew Tillitt, and Collin Weber
Relationship between Jump Performance and Asymmetry, Cordero Roche
The Effects of Green Exercise on Perception and Connectedness to Nature, Robert W. Salatto
Effects of Altered Somatosensory Input on Lower Limb Mechanics via Different Shoes and Barefoot Walking in Individuals with Chronic Post-Stroke Hemiparesis, Aaron Abraham Simon, Jynelle Marie Guerrero Arches, Megan Leigh Keohane, and Wee Jin Jed Lee
Inter and Intra-Rater Reliability of Dance Screening Tool, Kathleen Stone and Braden Waters
AM-PAC Basic Mobility Inpatient Short Form (Low Function) Psychometrics/Clinimetrics, Meghan Wonderling, David Miller, and Selena Soria
Theses/Dissertations from 2020
Dosage, Mode, and Timing of Acute Care Physical Therapy: A Scoping Review, Brendan Acosta and Bradley Goins
Patient and Facility Perceptions on the Feasibility of a Student-Run Pro-Bono Back-School for Uninsured Patients with Low Back Pain, Javier Ascanio-Pellon, Sofia Cruz, Lauren Liebert, and Trevor Pacuk
Brain Volumes and Dual-Task Performance Correlates Among Individuals with Cognitive Impairment: A Retrospective Analysis, Jon Basterrechea, Daniel Krist, Caitlin Moreland, and Morgan Wise
Utilizing Breathing Techniques to Maximize Training Performance, Peyton Cater
Partnering with the Nevada Physical Therapy Association to Improve PT/PTA Engagement, Rachel Cooklin, Joshua Cooper, and Madison Luna
Do Compression Garments Work? The Effect of Compression Garments on Biomechanical and Physiological Factors, Andrew Craig-Jones
The Effect of Body Armor on Pulmonary Function and Repeated Sprint Performance, Dustin Dunnick
Physical Therapy after Amputation in Community Dwelling Older Adults: A Quantitative and Qualitative Interview Study, Amanda Ferraro, Jennifer Gorton, Lindsey Horn, and Michaela Kubo
Reliability of the Lateral Reach Test in People with Unilateral Transfemoral Amputations, Stephen Hill, Samantha Leonard, and Elizabeth Vianey Trujillo
The Effects of Somatosensory Input on Gait in Individuals Post-Stroke, Victor Hung, Amanda Reilly, Rachel Wood, and Nikita Yuskov
Comparisons of Patellar Bone Mineral Density Between Individuals with and without Patellofemoral Pain, Chris Khuu, Allina Cummins, and Steven Shepherd
Association between White Matter Hyperintensities, Cortical Thinning, and Clinical Outcomes in Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, Thomas Helmut Knoblauch
The Influence of Cerebellar Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Motor Function in Parkinson’s Disease, Lidio Lima De Albuquerque
Fall Prevention Service-Learning Project, Alexis Mansoor, Kendra Morrison, Jeremy Nordfelt, and Cheng Yang Tu
Investigation of Acute Response to Carbohydrate in Subsequent Resistance Training, Damon Mccune
Does Wearing Multiple Pairs of Shoes Influence Injury Rates?, Julien Mihy
Factors Affecting Esophageal Tissue Radiation Response, Latisha T. Pryor
Association Between Patient Ability in Activities of Daily Living at Hospital Admission and Key Indicators, Stephanie Rosen and Amber Steele
Respiratory and Perceptual Responses to High Intensity Interval Exercise in Obese Adults, Nicholas Andrew Ross