(FORT WAYNE) - Trine University doctoral students and faculty shared new research on sports injuries, virtual reality, education, and hospital care at the nation's largest physical therapy conference earlier this month.
The university's Doctor of Physical Therapy program presented multiple studies at the American Physical Therapy Association's Combined Sections Meeting in Anaheim, California, Feb. 12-14, which drew more than 15,000 attendees.
Among the student presenters, third-year doctoral candidate Charles Dunavan analyzed how Major League Baseball pitchers perform after undergoing ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction -- commonly known as Tommy John surgery. His study of 59 pitchers found starting pitchers often showed slight performance declines after surgery, while relief pitchers frequently maintained or improved their results.
Fellow third-year student Lily Sheehy presented research on using virtual reality to assess balance and inner ear function. Her study found people made larger alignment errors when their heads were tilted -- an expected outcome given the inner ear's role in balance -- and determined that just three test trials were needed to produce reliable results, supporting VR's potential for clinical use.
Trine faculty members also contributed to national research efforts. Nicole Edmonds and Gus Almonroeder examined how physical therapy students experience a sense of belonging in hybrid programs that combine in-person and remote learning. While surveys showed strong overall connection, interviews revealed unique challenges for hybrid students, including balancing outside responsibilities and building relationships remotely.
Almonroeder and faculty colleague Tricia Widenhoefer also studied how acute-care physical therapists make discharge recommendations for hospitalized patients. Their findings showed recommendations varied widely and were influenced by multiple factors, including patient condition, therapist experience, and home support systems -- highlighting the complexity of discharge planning.
University officials say the presentations demonstrate the growing impact of Trine's doctoral program on advancing physical therapy practice and education nationwide.