 COLLEGE OF
Health Sciences |
CHS Home > Office of Research > Student Research |
| COLLEGE OF
Health Sciences |
CHS Home > Office of Research > Student Research |
CHS Office of ResearchScott ShafferMajor Scott Shaffer is a physical therapist in the United States Army and currently is a doctoral candidate in the University of Kentucky Rehabilitation Sciences Doctoral Program. He has earned dual certification from the American Physical Therapy Association in orthopaedics and electrophysiology. He has also served as a test-item writer for the American Physical Therapy Association electrophysiology certification examination and has lectured extensively on the assessment and treatment of various orthopaedic and neurological conditions. He is a two time recipient of the University of Kentucky Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Outstanding Graduate Student Presentation and has been accepted to present at the 2007 World Physical Therapy Conference. His current research interests include the influence of age, neuropathy, and osteoarthritis on balance and falls in adults. Scott's research abstractThe reliability and validity of lower extremity sensory testing in older community-dwelling adults. Shaffer SW, Harrison AL, English ML, Brennan K, Brown K, Lefever, C. University of Kentucky Division of Physical Therapy, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences. Lexington, Kentucky. Purpose: Various forms of lower extremity sensory testing (LEST) exist, and debate continues as to the most efficient, reliable, and meaningful protocol for screening older adults. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to assess the reliability and validity of LEST measures, and their relationship to balance and falls in older community dwelling adults. Relevance: Further clarification of the psychometric properties of sensory testing and the influence that such measures have on fall risk in older adults will enhance the current level of physical therapy evidenced based practice. Materials/Methods: The sensory protocol included light touch, reflex (knee and ankle), monofilament, and quantitative vibration perception threshold (QVPT) testing. Monofilament (5.07/10-g) testing (MT) was conducted bilaterally at the lateral ankles, dorsal great toes, and various sites on the plantar aspect of the feet. Quantitative vibration perception thresholds were obtained from the great toe and served as the reference standard for distal sensory neuropathy (DSN). Sensory testing was repeated by a second examiner who was blinded to prior test results. Fall history and balance measures (four square step test, functional reach, and timed up and go) were also collected by additional examiners. Conclusions: Monofilament and QVPT testing were reliable measures in this sample of older community dwelling adults. Monofilament testing also demonstrated a high degree of specificity, but lacked adequate sensitivity as a sole screening procedure for DSN. Finally, the correlation between falls and monofilament testing warrants further investigation. Implications: Findings imply that the selected QVPT and MT protocols were reliable between raters. Monofilament testing was also specific for identifying older adults with DSN and a past history of falling. Further prospective research is needed to validate these findings and the relationship between sensory impairments and falls in older adults.
|
 Scott Shaffer, PT, OCS, ECS Current: Ph.D. student in Rehabilitation Science focusing on Adult Neurological Disorders and Aging |
||
|
© 2009 University of Kentucky |
|||
Equal Opportunity University