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The efficacy of acoustic lures on bats in the Chihuahuan Desert
Get PDFVariations of broadcast calls have been used to increase the capture rate of diverse taxa including birds, reptiles, and mammals. Previous mist-netting surveys in the United States have documented increased bat capture rates with the implementation of an acoustic lure, but the mechanism by which this occurs is not yet understood. These studies have been conducted in areas with low species diversity. My study utilized an ultrasonic acoustic lure in the Chihuahuan Desert of Texas where 22 species of bats are documented to occur. On each of 12 sampling nights in August and September 2021, I simultaneously documented bat captures and acoustic activity at a control net and at a net with the lure deployed. Overall, more Antrozous pallidus were captured in nets using lures than in control nets and a combined total of 2,259 bat calls were detected at the lure nets and 1,570 at the control nets. The results suggest that the acoustic lure had a significant effect on total acoustic activity based on acoustic monitoring. In total I captured 9 A. pallidus, 7 at the lure and 2 at the control. These results were insufficient to determine the efficacy of an acoustic lure in this bat community. Further testing on the best acoustic lure to use for this bat community is needed in order to establish its utility as a survey tool
Population genetics of Mississippi kites (Ictinia mississippiensis) in the Southern Great Plains
No full textDuring the mid-1900's, Mississippi Kites expanded their breeding range from the southeastern coastal plains and Mississippi Alluvium Valley into the Great Plains. At the landscape level Mississippi Kites appear to be breeding abundantly throughout the southern Great Plains; however, at a finer scale, the breeding range is disjunct with Kites breeding in cities and exurban patches of trees with expanses of unsuitable landcover in-between. As such, the breeding landscape for this species is essentially a series of islands, each with its own breeding population. Given that site-fidelity is high, founder populations are small, and evidence suggests short natal dispersal, I hypothesized that Mississippi Kites will exhibit a localized genetic population structure across the landscape. I obtained genetic samples of Mississippi Kites across the southern Great Plains through salvaged feathers, loans from natural history collections, and donations from wildlife rehabilitation centers. From these samples (n = 33), I obtained genome-wide sequencing of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to determine population structure and genetic variation across the landscape. Results from STRUCTURE, PCA, AMOVA (0.01% of variation was among states), and a pairwise-FST (all comparisons < 0.001) suggested that the southern Great Plains Mississippi Kites are likely a panmictic population. Furthermore, the gene flow among Kites appears to high (average Nem = 320.57). As such, this panmictic population may be the result of natal dispersal or non-breeding adults migrating further than what was previously thought
Patellar tendinopathy rehabilitation for a collegiate football athlete: case report
Get PDFBackground and Purpose: Patellar tendinopathy is a common pathology among young athletes who participate in sports with requirements for high intensity loading of the lower extremities. The purpose of this case report is to show the progression of an athlete through a protocol intended specifically for patellar tendinopathy.
Case Description: A 21-year-old male collegiate football player presented to the clinic with 8/10 left patellar tendinopathy that was hindering his ability to perform the necessary tasks for his position as a slot receiver. The interventions used followed a progression from isometric, all the way to sport specific high intensity tasks using a 4-phase protocol.
Outcomes: The patient showed vast improvements in his lower extremity functional scale (LEFS) score, as well as improved tolerance to loading in higher range of motions. The patient subjectively reported feeling a 95% recovery in function with 0/10 pain.
Discussion: The 4-phase protocol that was followed for this patient’s course of treatment was incredibly effective at improving tolerance to loading and reducing pain levels. The use of blood flow restriction early on appeared to also be helpful in reducing the time of healing, despite it being a deviation from the main protocol
Central pain processing and chronic pain: case study
No full textBackground and Purpose: Chronic pain has been linked to concussion and traumatic brain injury for years, but the healthcare world is still searching for effective treatments for the pathology. The purpose of this case study is to highlight a progression of interventions that was very effective for a patient that had been dealing with chronic pain for 3 years, but even more specifically a 23-year-old patient whose pain onset following a sports concussion and is otherwise completely healthy.
Case Description: This patient had a significant decrease in quality of life and functionality due to the severity of her pain. Her primary concerns were getting back to work as she held a leadership role in her job. She presented with severe pain with all shoulder movements, though no limits in ROM and very minor strength deficits. Central pain processing interventions such as motor imagery, action observation, and mirror therapy was the primary focus of her treatments.
Outcomes: The patient had exceptional outcomes in response to central pain processing interventions. She presented with shoulder pain at initial eval that was so severe that it prevented her from performing her job well and driving normally, and was completely pain free at discharge. Her other post-concussive symptoms such as dizziness and lightheadedness improved significantly as well.
Discussion: The biggest lesson to be learned from this case study is that in order to effectively treat pain, especially when chronic, one must consider the patient as a whole and utilize a top-down approach that addresses the way the brain is processing pain as well
A critical appraisal of "Effects of hippotherapy on the sitting balance of children with cerebral palsy: a randomized control trial"
Get PDFThis paper provides a critical appraisal of the Journal of Physical Therapy Science Article from 2012, concerning the effective differences between hippotherapy and clinical physical therapy on children with severe cerebral palsy. A description is provided to my clinical question, "In patients with cerebral palsy, will an increase in postural control and balance be progressed further in a hippotherapy session compared to a clinical physical therapy session,"� that resulted in the appraisal of this article. Information is provided regarding how the article was chosen, where it was found, and a brief overview of the article is discussed. A summary of strengths and weaknesses for the introduction, methods, results, and discussion are provided in the "Results"� section. The appraisal concludes with the clinical significance of the research study as well as its relevance. Implications for future studies are also discussed
A critical appraisal of "Effects of strengthening and stretching exercises on the temporospatial gait parameters in patients with plantar fasciitis: a randomized controlled trial"
Get PDFPlantar fasciitis is a prevalent source of foot and heel pain and has detrimental effects on walking, one of the most basic and necessary activities of daily living. Various exercise interventions and modalities have been researched as treatments for plantar fasciitis. In the vast majority of the relevant studies exploring a strengthening treatment, this intervention is combined with stretching exercises as well. Few studies have compared strengthening to stretching as separate interventions. In the study titled "Effects of Strengthening and Stretching Exercises on the Temporospatial Gait Parameters in Patients with Plantar Fasciitis: A Randomized Controlled Trial,"� the researchers sought to compare the effects of a strengthening versus a stretching program on the pain scores and gait parameters of 84 subjects with plantar fasciitis. In this critical appraisal, the quality of this research study is explored with the intent to learn to what extent the findings of this study can be utilized. Overall, this study had interesting results but is not a solid foundation on which to base treatment plans. The article seems to show a well-organized study that found legitimate scientific results. However, the presentation was compromised by an inadequate consultation of the relevant literature in both the introduction and discussion and by missing key details in the conduction of the study. Their results indicated that both the strengthening and stretching interventions resulted in statistically significant differences in the pain and gait outcome measures over time, and there were no statistically significant differences between the two intervention groups in any of the outcome measures. While these results can spark further investigation into strengthening and stretching as treatments for plantar fasciitis, this study should not serve as the basis on which to base the creation of treatment plans due to flaws in the conduction of this study and the lack of clinical significance in their results
Physical therapy for improving fall risk with post-laminectomy syndrome after hospitalization: a case report
Get PDFBackground and Purpose: Post-laminectomy syndrome is not well known, and there are not many case reports on this topic relating to fall risk. Additionally, patients with sarcopenia and generalized weakness after hospitalization are at high risk for increased frailty and increased risk of falling. These patients benefit from physical therapy to combat sarcopenia, reduce chronic back pain, and decrease the risk of falling to improve their functional mobility and quality of life.
Case Description: The patient is a 77-year-old male presenting with complaints of generalized muscle weakness, constant low back pain, numbness and tingling down the left leg, and poor balance and stamina with walking. PT interventions focused on lower extremity strengthening, cardiovascular endurance, core stability, and balance.
Outcomes: The patient was initially prescribed physical therapy twice a week for eight weeks in addition to a home exercise program. Muscle weakness and stamina improved after 8 visits. The patient was assessed with the Focus on Therapeutic Outcomes (FOTO), Manual Muscle Testing (MMT), Timed Up and Go (TUG), Five Time Sit-to-Stand (5 STS), and Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS). Upon increasing activity tolerance and stamina, the patient tolerated more gait training and standing activities with breaks.
Discussion: Physical therapy interventions were helpful for this patient and were supported by research to reduce fall risk and increase either strength or core stability. The patient improved MMT scores by at least one-half for all hip measurements except for left hip flexion. The patient improved TUG time, 5 STS time, and decreased NPRS. The patient’s improvement in TUG time and 5 STS time indicates a decrease in the severity of the patient’s fall risk
Tibial shaft fractures and post-operative physical therapy management: a case report
Get PDFAbstract
Background and Purpose: Tibial fractures rank as the most common long bone fracture site in the body and frequently require surgical repair followed by intense physical therapy to regain optimal function. Unfortunately, protocols for rehabilitating this injury are limited in scope to surgical, not physical therapy, management or are altogether non-existent. Therefore, this case report aims to give physical therapists guiding principles for rehabilitating patients with tibial shaft fractures.
Case Description: The patient is a 44-year-old male who had a motor vehicle accident and fractured both his right tibia shaft and fibula. He had a tibial open reduction internal fixation and no operative repair to his fibula. On intake, the patient reported extreme pain and lack of range of motion in his knee and ankle. In addition, the patient had pain in a common peroneal nerve distribution that extended down the lateral aspect of the calf on to the dorsum of the foot. The interventions given included therapeutic exercises, neuromuscular re-education and manual therapy for the knee, ankle, and joints of the foot.
Outcomes: Ankle and knee range of motion and strength improved significantly to allow for patient return to daily functional tasks. Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS) score improved from 15 to 34 and 5 Times Sit to Stand (5xSTS) improved from unable to perform to 10 seconds. Patient pain level measured via Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) went from a three with post-operative oxycodone use to a four without opioid use.
Discussion: Physical therapy interventions targeting the knee, ankle, and joints of the foot may be beneficial for increasing range of motion and strength in patients with ORIF tibial shaft fracture repair
