Below are theses and dissertations completed by graduates of the University of Nevada Las Vegas Physical Therapy Department.
For the entire collection of UNLV theses and dissertations, visit UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones
Theses/Dissertations from 2015
The Effects of Instruction on Landing Strategies in Female College-Aged Dancers and Non-Dancers: A Pilot Study, Brittany Keating, Jason Pyfer, and Kimberly Vialpando
Comparing Usability and Variance of Low- and High Technology Approaches to Gait Analysis in Health Adults, John McConnell and Brian Silverman
The Effects of Enhanced and Decreased Expectations on Balance Performance in Those with and without Parkinson’s Disease, Joshua Ostrander, Granuaile Parrish, and Jacob Blood
Comparing Functional Motor Control and Gait Parameters in Children with Autism to those of Age-Matched Peers who are Typically Developing, Patricia Stevenson, Samantha Novotny, Jillian May, and Christopher Ancell
Theses/Dissertations from 2014
Development of a Tool to Assess Children’s Perceptions of Their Own Balance (The Pediatric Balance Perception Battery): A Pilot Study, Jillian L. Beckett and Ashlee A. Harmon
Evidence for the Validity of a Tool for Improved Pressure Ulcer Staging by the Non-Expert in the Live Patient, Janelle Borg, Carrie Johnston, Megan Lucke, and Jordan Sinclair
Blended Pedagogy Pathophysiology Course: Effectiveness and Student Satisfaction, Betsy Botsford, Samantha Corn, and Alanna Keenan
The Effect of Trigger Point Dry Needling to the Multifidus Muscle on Resting and Contracted Thickness of Transversus Abdominis in Healthy Subjects, Sarah Buckingham, Crystal Montoya, and Daniella Morton
The Effects of a Progressive Exercise Program on Functional Activity and Quality of Life for Older Overweight Women with Knee Osteoarthritis, Ty Carlson, Devin Edvalson, Tyler Peck, and Brad Robison
Ability of Ages and Stages Questionaire 3rd Edition to Identify Children in Need of Comprehensive Motor Evaluation, Courtney Michele Carmichael, Elizabeth Ann Willison, and Qing Zhang
Conceptual Framework of a Novel Intervention to Improve Mobility in Children with Cerebral Palsy: The Successes and Challenges of Implementing a Large Amplitude Movement Protocol, Tania Goodwill, Erin Jarrett, Beren Shah, and Alanna Stockford
Characteristics of Subjects Who Avoid Activities and Participation due to a Fear of Falling in Parkinson’s Disease, Morgan Lopker and Molly Newman
Theses/Dissertations from 2013
Anterior Cervical Decompression and Fusion on Neck Range of Motion, Pain and Function: A Prospective Analysis, Kate Addis, Jason Longhurst, and Bree-lyn vom Steeg
Land-Based Exercise and Its Effect on Quality of Life Outcomes in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review, Cody R. Buckner, Lindsay C. Martin, and Michael L. Soukup
Therapeutic Neuroscience Education for Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain and Its Effect on Activity Level, Pain Perception, and Function, Stephen Burton, Amber Domingo, and Ryan Spencer
Reliability and Validity of the NE1 Wound Assessment Tool (WAT), Stephanie Coon, Faustina Tran, and Melinda Vicencio
Effects of Footstrike Pattern on Low Back Posture, Shock Attenuation, and Comfort During Running, Traci L. Delgado, Emilia Kubera-Shelton, and Robert R. Robb
The Acute Effects of Upper Extremity Stretching on Throwing Velocity in Untrained Baseball Throwers, Ashley Delobel, Lanisa Harveson, Jason Melton, and Michael Williams
Effects of Cervical Spine Manipulation on Balance and Joint Proprioception in Asymptomatic Individuals: Plausibility and Pilot Study, Kimberly Drayer and Michael Kauwe
Characteristics of Subjects Who Avoid Activities and Participation Due to a Fear of Falling in Parkinson’s Disease, Russell Gourlie, Spencer Sorensen, and Rithea Vong
Test-Retest Reliability and Responsiveness of Gaze Stability and Dynamic Visual Acuity in High School and College Football Players, Denise Kaufman, Mallory Puckett, and Mitchell Smith
Using Over-the-Counter Ear Filters as a Treatment to Improve Dizziness and Balance in Patients Diagnosed with a Traumatic Brain, Brandy Sue Whitney
Theses/Dissertations from 2012
Duration of the Effects of Three Static Stretching Conditions With or Without a Dynamic Warm-Up in College Age Adults, Spencer Blackwell, Andrew Blomberg, and Jonathan Griffith
Immediate Effects of High Intensity Training in Children with Cerebral Palsy GMFCS Levels I-III: A Pilot Study, Andrea Blahovec, Andrea Kuiken, Jillian Mears, and Heather Riggins
Foot Volume Change during Long Distance Running in Healthy Adults, Meghan Boni, Istvan Takacs, and Rebecca Wilson
Kinesio Taping on Short-Term Changes in Shoulder Strength in Healthy Adults: A Randomized Clinical Trial, Dario A. Callegari, Cristobal E. Cordova, and Julia R. Dunievitz
Attentional Focus During Balance Training in Idiopathic Parkinson’s Disease (PD): A Randomized Clinical Trial, Alyssa Davis, Rebecca Hatlevig, Amanda Richards, and Leslee Rosenlof
Active Recovery and Electro-Muscular Stimulation on Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness after Endurance Running: A Randomized Clinical Trial, Amanda J. Gramly, Kitrick C. Rhodes, and Andrea F. Smith
Supervised Lower Extremity Strengthening Program to Improve Function in Women Over Fifty with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Time Series Design, Janelle Brooke Lemons, Diane Christine Sheesley, and Pamela Reagan Sutton
Population-Based Survey of Lumbar Surgery Beliefs in the United States, Amanda Elyse McCauley and Zachery Clark Rasmussen
Therapist Characteristics Influencing Physical Therapy Non-Treatment in the Acute Care Setting, Daniel McGarvey, Colby Olsen, and Aaron Van Wagoner
Theses/Dissertations from 2011
Safety of Cervical Manipulation: Are Adverse Events Preventable and Are Manipulations Being Performed Appropriately?, Joseph Anders, Jessica March, and Amber Perez
The acute effects of static stretching of the gastrocnemius on limits of stability in young adults versus elderly adults, Matt Bugnet and Kirk Player
Ultrasound imaging of lumbar multifidus immediately following three physical therapy techniques in asymptomatic individuals, Victoria Byers, Steven Lim, and Kathryn Rice
The acute effects of various types of stretching (static, dynamic, ballistic, and no stretch) of the iliopsoas on 40-yard sprint times in non-athletes, Scott David Christensen, Craig Perry, and Ryan Richard Resnik
Examining activity levels and motor proficiency: A comparison of children who are overweight and at a healthy weight to their parents and peers, Aaron Copeland, Maresa Madsen, Riley Phelps, and Brandon Richards
Employment selections of resident and non-resident graduates of physical therapy programs in underserved Western states, Trever J. Cornia, Ryan B. Dutot, Jacob T. Parsons, and Kathryn D. Swart
Development of a scale to assess avoidance behavior due to a fear of falling: The Fear of Falling Avoidance Behavior Questionnaire (FFABQ), Cortney Durand and D. Shalom Powell
Patient factors and day of the week influencing physical therapy non-treatment events in the acute care setting, Daniel Goodrich and Curtis Doug Jensen
Thrust joint manipulation education: Student perceptions of learning and practical experiences in spinal manipulation within entry-level physical therapist education programs, Joshua Thomas Marks and Lisa Basl
Effects of environment on children's motor scores, eligibility status, and administration times, Derrick Mittelstadt, Abigail Parker, Kirsten Pickett, and Heather Temkin