APTA Combined Sections Meeting Presentations
American Physical Therapy Association’s Combined Sections Meeting-Presentations
The following is a compilation of work done by our students and graduates at this year’s CSM.
The rise in popularity of and interest in Medical Therapeutic Yoga has occurred because of our students and graduates. Their hard work in advocating for better healthcare, empowering patients and teaching practitioners, yoga therapists, yoga teachers and yogis of all ages is one of the most powerful aspects of the MTY movement. These presentations highlight the best of what our students and grads, leaders in their respective healthcare professions, accomplish on a regular basis.
It is with humility and gratitude that we share these presentations with our PYTI family.
Diastasis Recti Abdominis: A Narrative Review
Authors: Ginger Garner, PT, ATC, PYT, Elizabeth Trausch, DPT, PYT, Stefanie Foster, PT, PYT, Paige Raffo, PT, PYT, CPI, Janet Drake, PT, LCCE, FACCE, PYT, Stacie Razzino, PT, PYT
Libby presented Diastasis Recti Abdominis (DRA), A Narrative Review, detailing measurement, biomechanical connections and the lack research focused on the co-morbidities and treatment of DRA. During the presentation she was happy to participate in discussion with US and Canadian PT’s on how DRA is treated in different settings. The PYT team researched the prevalence of DRA as well as risk factors and the success of some prevention and treatment methods. They also shared the need for multidisciplinary research and collaboration for the treatment and prevention of DRA. More must be done to show connections between the abdominal and pelvic floor muscles and biomechanical impairments in the early postpartum years and later in life, thereby providing a foundation for sound intervention and a reduced need for surgery.
Meditation and Mindfulness in PT Practice: Improved Outcomes, Happy Clinicians, Healthy Workplace
Author: Pauline Lucas, PT, DPT, WCS, PYT-C
Pauline’s presentation:” Meditation and Mindfulness in PT Practice: improved outcomes, happy clinicians, healthy workplace” was hosted by the oncology section and was a great success. Dr. Lucas focused on practical implementation and the many benefits these yoga based practices offer not only for our patients but also for ourselves as clinicians in reducing burn-out and improving job satisfaction.
The Use of Yoga by Physical Therpapists in the American Physical Therapy Association
Authors: Mary Beth Wims, SPT, Shayla McIntyre, SPT, Ann York, PhD, Laura Covill, DPT, PYT-C
“The purpose of our study was to evaluate the use of yoga, defined as meditation, pranayama, and asana, by physical therapists in the APTA. We initially did a pilot study of 500 randomly selected names of PTs in the APTA and sent them our survey through the postal service. We only received a 9% return rate so decided to move to electronic means. From our pilot we determined that the Orthopedic, Women’s Health, Geriatrics, and Pediatric sections were more likely to use yoga. These sections allowed us to deliver our survey through their electronic newsletters. 335 people complete the survey with the following results:
- 71% of our respondents use therapeutic yoga in practice. Â Therapeutic yoga is used most often in direct practice with less people using it as a home exercise program or a wellness suggestion.
- 30% of respondents practice yoga regularly.
- 70% had practiced PT for more than 10 years.
Concerns about using therapeutic yoga ranged from a lack of therapist experience in using it in direct practice to safety concerns when directing patients to wellness activities.
- 15% of respondents believe there is a lack of research support for use of yoga therapeutically.
- 62% reported exposure to therapeutic yoga through their own experiences practicing yoga, 30% through formal workshops and 8% through formal PT education.
- 50% use concentration/focus or sensory awareness during therapeutic yoga in addition to meditation, pranayama, and asana.
Limitations of our study include the inability to get a true response rate secondary to the electronic distribution. This study is only a snapshot of how survey participants use therapeutic yoga not an overview of how PTs in the APTA use yoga.”
-Laura Covill, DPT, PYT-C
The Influence of Yoga on Chronic Low Back Pain: A Review of the Literature
Authors: Kristina Dorkoski, PT, DPT, PYT, CPI, Sean M. Vitale, SPT, Gabriella M. Trepper, SPT, Martin J. Castaldi, SPT
“Our review examined eight high quality randomized control trials comparing yoga to a variety of treatments. In the articles comparing yoga to standard exercise, the yoga groups demonstrated more of a decrease in back pain than the exercise groups. Exercise interventions consisted primarily of stabilization exercises. When yoga was compared to no treatment, the yoga groups displayed greater decreases in perceived stress and back pain, as well as a significant improvement in mental and emotional welfare. Potential mediators to yoga’s efficacy suggested in one RCT included subjects’ reports of decreased stress, improved postural awareness, and increased attention to proper breathing. Given our knowledge of anatomy, physiology, motor control, and a multitude of pathologies, physical therapists are ideally suited to safely apply yoga therapeutically. Greater focus on proper breathing techniques in physical therapy interventions is likely to enhance outcomes in pain and quality of life measures.”
-Dristina Dorkoski, PT, DPT, PYT, CPI
