Research

Why perform research?

Evidence-based practice is a current ideal in health care and involves the integration of individual clinical expertise with the best available scientific evidence. Research is a critical component of generating scientific evidence. By performing well-designed controlled studies, research can provide the scientific evidence required to establish the efficacy of physical therapy. This is important for the acceptance of the profession by patients, other health care professionals and the community as a whole. It is also important in providing therapists with the confidence that they are truly making a difference in patients’ lives.

Do IU faculty undertake research?

Faculty within the Department appreciate the importance of research to the growth and acceptance of physical therapy as a profession. Part of the Department’s tri-fold mission is to discover and apply knowledge in research with the vision of excelling internationally as a recognized leader in research. Departmental faculty meet this mission by actively engaging in innovative and cutting edge scholarly activities and research endeavors.

What sorts of research do faculty perform?

Faculty within the Department conduct research on a variety of topics, and their work spans all levels of investigation from basic science to applied clinical research. Specific areas of inquiry can be found by clicking the following links for individual research laboratories associated with the Department:

• Bone Physiology Research Laboratory
• Clinical Research Laboratory
• Laboratory for the Interface Between Mobility and Cognition
• Motion Analysis Research Laboratory
• Musculoskeletal Research Laboratory

Will I be exposed to research in the IU DPT program?

Yes. The Department has a commitment to preparing practitioners of evidence-based physical therapy. Faculty facilitate this in their teachings by exposing students to up-to-date and current research information. Also, students undertake two classes wherein they are shown how to locate, describe and critically analyze research evidence. As the complexion of physical therapy is continually evolving with the constant dissemination of research evidence, it is the Faculty’s intention to instill in students the value of career-long learning as it relates to locating and interpreting the latest research evidence, and applying it to patients in their individual clinical practice.

Do faculty encourage student participation in research?

Faculty welcome, encourage and appreciate student participation in research. Participation may be on a voluntary basis or students may be financially reimbursed, depending on the agreement between the individual faculty member and student. Depending on the level of contribution, students may be offered co-authorship of resultant conference abstracts and/or journal articles. Previous publications co-authored by students can be found here.

What facilities and resources are available for research?

The Department has a number of research laboratories each with their own specialized pieces of equipment. These laboratories can be explored by clicking the links below. Faculty facilitate their research by collaborating with researchers in other laboratories on the Indianapolis campus. These can be explored here.

• Bone Physiology Research Laboratory
• Clinical Research Laboratory
• Laboratory for the Interface Between Mobility and Cognition
• Motion Analysis Research Laboratory
• Musculoskeletal Research Laboratory

What is the impact of the research performed by faculty?

Faculty within the Department are well-respected for their research, and are frequently invited to present their data both nationally and internationally. They also disseminate their data by publishing them in high-impact international journals and books. Below is a list of recent (2005 onwards) publications authored by Department faculty.

• Alam I, Warden SJ , Robling AG and Turner CH: Mechanotransduction in bone does not require a functional cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) gene. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research 2005;20:438-446 [PubMed]
• Burke J, Buchberger DJ, Carey-Loghmani MT, Dougherty PE, Greco DS and Dishman JD. A pilot study comparing two manual therapy interventions for carpal tunnel syndrome. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 2007;30:50-61 [PubMed]
• Carey-Loghmani MT and Hammer WI (2007). Graston® technique. In: Hammer WI (ed.): Functional Soft-Tissue Examination and Treatment by Manual Methods (3rd ed.). Jones and Bartlett Publishers: Sudbury, MA, pp. 589-625
• Carey-Loghmani MT, Hyde TE (2005). The Graston technique of instrument assisted soft-tissue mobilization. In: Hyde TE (Eds.): Conservative Management of Sports Injuries. Jones and Bartlett Publishers: Sudbury, MA, pp. 300-310
• Castillo AB, Alam I, Tanaka SM, Levenda J, Li J, Warden SJ, Turner CH. Low-amplitude, broad-frequency vibration effects on cortical bone formation in mice. Bone 2006;39:1087-96 [PubMed]
• Chu TM, Warden SJ, Turner CH and Stewart RL. Segmental bone regeneration using a load-bearing biodegradable carrier of bone morphogenetic protein-2. Biomaterials 2007;28:459-67   [PubMed]
• Dierks TA and Davis I. Discrete and continuous joint coupling relationships in uninjured recreational runners. Clinical Biomechanics 2007;22:581-91 [PubMed]
• Fuchs RK, Shea M, Durski SL, Winters-Stone KM, Widrick J and Snow CM. Individual and combined effects of exercise and alendronate on bone mass and strength in ovariectomized rats. Bone 2007;41:290-6 [PubMed]
• Li J, Waugh LJ, Hui SL, Burr DB, Warden SJ. Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have opposing effects during stress fracture repair. Journal of Orthopaedic Research 2007;25:1559-67 [PubMed]
• Ouslander JG, Griffiths PC, McConnell E, Riolo L, Kutner M and Schnelle J. Functional incidental training: a randomized, controlled, crossover trial in Veterans Affairs nursing homes. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 2005;53:1091-100 [PubMed]
• Ouslander JG, Griffiths P, McConnell E, Riolo L and Schnelle J. Functional Incidental Training: applicability and feasibility in the Veterans Affairs nursing home patient population. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association 2005;6:121-7 [PubMed]
• Robling AG, Warden SJ, Shultz KL, Beamer WG and Turner CH. Genetic effects on bone mechanotransduction in congenic mice harboring bone size and strength quantitative trait loci. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research 2007;22:984-91 [PubMed]
• Schriefer JL, Warden SJ , Saxon L, Robling AG and Turner CH: Cellular accommodation and the response of bone to mechanical loading. Journal of Biomechanics 2005;38:1838-1845   [PubMed]
• Vreeman DJ. Clinical prediction rules. Physical Therapy 2006;86:761-2 [PubMed]
• Vreeman DJ, Taggard SL, Rhine MD and Worrell TW. Evidence for electronic health record systems in physical therapy. Physical Therapy 2006;86:434-46 [PubMed]
• Warden SJ. Animal models for the study of tendinopathy. British Journal of Sports Medicine 2007;41:232-40 [PubMed]
• Warden SJ. Breaking the rules for bone adaptation to mechanical loading. Journal of Applied Physiology 2006;100:1441-2 [PubMed]
• Warden SJ : Cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors (COXIBs): beneficial or detrimental for acute musculoskeletal injuries? Sports Medicine 2005;35:271-283 [PubMed]
• Warden SJ, Avin KG, Beck EM, DeWolf ME, Hagemeier MA, Martin KM. Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound accelerates and a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug delays knee ligament healing. American Journal of Sports Medicine 2006;34:1094-102 [PubMed]
• Warden SJ, Burr DB, Brukner PD. Stress fractures: pathophysiology, epidemiology, and risk factors. Current Osteoporosis Reports 2006;4:103-9 [PubMed]
• Warden SJ, Creaby MW, Bryant AL, Crossley KM. Stress fracture risk factors in female football players and their clinical implications. British Journal of Sports Medicine 2007;41(Suppl 1):i38-43 [PubMed]
• Warden SJ, Fuchs RK, Castillo AB, Nelson IR and Turner CH. Exercise when young provides lifelong benefits to bone structure and strength. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research 2007;22:251-9 [PubMed]
• Warden SJ, Fuchs RK, Castillo AB, Turner CH. Does exercise during growth influence osteoporotic fracture risk later in life? Journal of Musculoskeletal and Neuronal Interactions 2005;5:344-6 [PubMed]
• Warden SJ, Fuchs RK, Kessler CK, Avin KG, Cardinal RE, Stewart RL. Ultrasound produced by a conventional therapeutic ultrasound unit accelerates fracture repair. Physical Therapy 2006;86:1118-27 [PubMed]
• Warden SJ, Hinman RS, Watson MA Jr, Avin KG, Bialocerkowski AE, Crossley KM. Patellar taping and bracing for the treatment of chronic knee pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Arthritis and Rheumatism: Arthritis Care and Research 2008;59:73-83 [PubMed]
• Warden SJ, Kiss ZS, Malara FA, Ooi AB, Cook JL, Crossley KM. Comparative accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasonography in confirming clinically diagnosed patellar tendinopathy. American Journal of Sports Medicine 2007;35:427-36 [PubMed]
• Warden SJ , Morris HG, Crossley KM, Brukner PD and Bennell KL: Delayed- and non-union following opening wedge high tibial osteotomy: Surgeons' results from 182 completed cases. Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy 2005;13:34-37 [PubMed]
• Warden SJ , Robling AG, Sanders MS, Bliziotes MM and Turner CH: Inhibition of the serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) transporter reduces bone accrual during growth. Endocrinology 2005;146:685-693 [PubMed]
• Warden SJ, Saxon LK, Castillo AB, Turner CH. Knee ligament mechanical properties are not influenced by estrogen or its receptors. American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism 2006;290:E1034-40 [PubMed]
• Warden SJ , Hurst JA, Sanders MS, Turner CH, Burr DB and Li J: Bone adaptation to a mechanical loading program significantly increases skeletal fatigue resistance. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research 2005;20:809-816 [PubMed]
• Warden SJ, Bliziotes MM, Wiren KM, Eshleman AJ, Turner CH. Neural regulation of bone and the skeletal effects of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine). Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology 2005;242:1-9 [PubMed]