School of Public Health - Physical Therapy DPT

Physical Therapy DPT - Community Service Projects

COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS

Our current students have focused on four specific community service activities. These are:

Ergonomic evaluation of police officers while on motor patrol duty. New Castle Police Department, Chappaqua NY

Students will gather data on the ergonomics of police officers who spend 7-8 hours per day in a police car: sitting, driving and using a dashboard mounted computer, and who wear heavy bullet proof vests and utility belts weighing over 15 lbs. These factors can be risk factors for cervical, lumbar and postural issues. Following observation of police officers at work, students will develop a brochure of recommendations such as stretches, postural corrections and car modifications, and conduct a follow-up visit to determine the effectiveness of the program. The overall purpose of the program is to improve the police officers’ quality of life while on duty, by increasing postural awareness, implementation of movement/exercise program and modifications to the work environment.

The Ergonomics of Baggage Handlers at the Westchester County Airport

Students will gather data on the ergonomics of baggage handlers at Westchester County Airport at the baggage inspection stations, in the baggage room, on the runway and in the baggage compartment of airplanes. In many cases, the required speed of baggage handling and the small working environments for handling baggage leads to injuries of the neck, back a, and limbs. Following observation of baggage handlers and collection of questionnaires on their work history, students will develop a brochure of stretching and strengthening exercises for baggage handlers, will recommend signage in working areas to remind workers of proper lifting ergonomics, and design a training class on lifting for airport employees.

mommies to be…exercise with me

Expecting mothers undergo the challenging task of nurturing a child in their womb for nine months while trying to maintain their own health and lifestyle. The average weight gain for a pregnant mother is 20-35 pounds, resulting in a shift in posture, a change in gait pattern, and balance disturbances. These women potentially suffer from back pain, fatigue, and an increase weakness in performing simple daily activities. It is recommended to incorporate exercise, nutrition, and wellness as part of their daily regimen. The objective of “Mommies to Be…Exercise With Me” is to educate expecting mothers on the benefits of implementing a routine exercise program into their daily lives while at the same time preventing harm to the unborn child. Students will incorporate information on comfort positions, body mechanics, posture, and strengthening/stretching exercises into four sessions for our program participants.

Lower Extremity Strengthening to Prevent Injuries in Female Athletes

Lower extremity injuries, especially non-contact ACL tears, are prevalent in female athletes 15 to 25 years old. Because women do not bend their knees as much as men do when landing from a jump, the pressure on the knee joint is increased. The knee is exposed to higher forces per pound of body weight. Women also tend to turn and pivot in a more erect position, which also strains the ACL. Learning to crouch and bend at the knees and hips could reduce the stress on the ACL. These maneuvers are motor skills that can be learned, practiced and improved. For this project, students will provide an education and strengthening clinic to a high school women’s varsity soccer team, focusing on exercises to prevent ACL injuries. A brief anatomy and biomechanical lesson on the lower extremity will be provided. This will be followed by an interactive stretching, strengthening, and sport specific agility training regiment. Focus will be on safer jumping skills, cutting maneuvers, muscle control techniques, and proper biomechanics. It is hoped that this program will help decrease lower limb injuries, particularly ACL tears, in women athletes.

Injury Prevention for Little League Baseball Players

In recent years, the increased intensity of training, pressure for success, growing opportunities for structured play, and more organized advanced leagues and traveling teams have led to a corresponding increase in overuse injuries in adolescent athletes. Throwing sports contribute to an increased incidence of elbow and shoulder injuries that might be related to intensity of training, throwing mechanics, and poor conditioning, including core strength. The goals of this community service project are to instruct little league players, coaches, and parents on how to properly stretch and strengthen the upper extremity, lower extremity, and core musculature as well as improve cardiovascular endurance. Students will distribute injury questionnaires for the 2005 Season to all coaches of the Hillsborough Little League. After reviewing the returned responses, a day will be determined for: 1) presenting the proper biomechanics involved in baseball throwing, 2) showing and performing a stretching and strengthening program for all players to follow throughout the season. The questionnaires will be disseminated again at the end of the Little league season. Data collection and analysis will be used to show whether the program was effective in lowering the incidence of baseball injuries.