1022 – Research: “Comparative Study of the Effects of Aquatic versus Land-Based Lumbar Stabilization Exercises and Improving Function in Patients with Unstable Spine”

Beginner / Lecture

 

Fort Myers, FL / Thursday, July 3, 2008 – 1:40-2:40 pm – 1.0 credit hour equal to 1.0 CEC/.1 CEU

(Classroom: 1:40-2:40 pm)

 

Faculty: Jason Adames, SDPT, and Robert Bayley, SDPT

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

The purpose of this research was to evaluate pain and function in response to completion of lumbar spine stabilization exercise protocols. The first protocol was land based and the second program is the Aquatic Lumbopelvic Stabilization Protocol created by Dr. Luis Vargus. One participant completed each protocol, and each participant was selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. The collected data consisted of the Oswestry Disability Index score taken prior to and in completion of each protocol, along with manual muscle testing, range of motion and special tests results. Another primary objective of this research is to provide a practical and functional treatment approach to accommodating the wide variety of patients with low back pain and instability.

 

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

1) The purpose of this study is to assess functional ability, in relation to low back pain, before and after completion of two exercise protocols; one being land based and the other being aquatics based.

2) The goal of this study is to decrease pain and improve function in participants suffering from low back pain.  Researchers also desire to provide evidence that aquatics-based lumbar stabilization activities can be more successful in improving function and reducing pain than traditional land-based lumbar stabilization activities.          

3) The hypothesis of this research study is that the Aquatic Lumbopelvic Stabilization Protocol will show more significant results in the reduction of pain and the improvement in function over the land-based protocol.   

4) Key variables: Independent Variables (land-based and aquatics-based lumbar stabilization exercise protocols); Dependent Variable (pain and function).

 

FACULTY: Jason Adames, SDPT, is a graduate physical therapy student coursing studies towards the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program in the Department of Physical Therapy at Wheeling Jesuit University in Wheeling, West Virginia. He will be completing his doctoral degree in August 2008 and has successfully defended his doctoral research project. He is currently in the process of completing his last internship at Rehabilitation Associates of Portage County Inc. in Woodsfield, Ohio. Dr. Luis G. Vargas has served as his doctoral research advisor and physical therapist, Marty Biondi, has been his research consultant. The soon-to-be Dr. Adames has a Bachelor's Degree in Liberal Arts from Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio. He also has 13 years of experience as a physical therapist assistant. He has an extensive continuing education history that primarily focuses on strength and conditioning with an emphasis in core stabilization.

 

Robert Bayley, SDPT, is a graduate physical therapy student coursing studies towards the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program in the Department of Physical Therapy at Wheeling Jesuit University in Wheeling, West Virginia. He will be completing his doctoral degree in August 2008 and has successfully defended his doctoral research project. He is currently in the process of completing his last internship at Ohio Valley General Hospital in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania. Dr. Luis G. Vargas has served as his doctoral research advisor and physical therapist, Marty Biondi, has been his research consultant. The soon-to-be Dr. Bayley has a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology also from Wheeling Jesuit University. As an undergraduate student, he completed research projects in his psychology major.