Research at PTRS

Investigator: Paula Geigle, PhD, PT SOM Faculty Profile GPILS Faculty Profile

 

Exercise and Aging

Overall research investigates the impact of exercise upon aging in individuals post cancer as well as after hip fracture. The spectrum of exercise delivery, health disparity issues, and morbidity reduction are components of my research agenda.

Grants

• Source: NIH P60 (PI: Dr. Claudia Baquet)
  Title: Understanding Opinions & Sentiment of Cancer Survivors Regarding Community Based Exercise
  Principal Investigator: Paula Richley Geigle PT, PhD
  Period: 2008-2009

 

• Source: Aquatic Physical Therapy Section of the American Physical Therapy Association Swim Ex Clinical Research Grant
  Title: Role of Aquatic Exercise in Breast Cancer Related Lymphedema Management
  Principal Investigator: Paula Richley Geigle PT, PhD
  Period: 2007 – 2008

 

• Source: Ram Miller (PI) Pepper Pilot Research
  Title: The Effect of Home-Based Exercise Training on Recovery of Lower Extremity Function and Inflammatory Cytokines in Hip Fracture Patients
  Co-Investigator (non funded): Paula Richley Geigle PT, PhD
  Period: 2008-2009

 

Projects

• Cancer Survivors
   
  The adverse outcomes of cancer and its treatment potentially decrease the length and quality of cancer survivorship. Minimizing negative results with physical activity is currently an important area of investigation. Exercise interventions are particularly relevant with mutual influence upon physiological and psychosocial outcomes.
   
  Role of Aquatic Exercise in Breast Cancer Related Lymphedema Management
   
  Lymphedema is a frequent complication impacting 25-35% of the women who experience breast cancer treatment. This is a single-blinded pilot study to answer a specific and important question: "Is aquatic exercise clinically safe and efficacious for women with breast cancer related lymphedema (BCRL)?" The expectation is that aquatic exercise will produce a statistically significant and clinically important effect as compared to the standard of care that does not include aquatic exercise.

 

• After Hip Fracture
   
  Older adults after hip fracture frequently demonstrate decreased functional activity, increased self care dependency, and decline in general health. The role of rehabilitation after hip fracture is to minimize these negative outcomes, reduce the disability burden, and return the individual to pre-fracture function. Specifically, strength, cardiovascular conditioning and mobility decline after hip fracture.
   
  The Effect of Home-Based Exercise Training on Recovery of Lower Extremity Function and Inflammatory Cytokines in Individuals after Hip Fracture
   
  Investigators at Arcadia University successfully demonstrated adults post hip fracture can perform moderate- to high-intensity exercise at home. This study assesses older adults following hip fracture, and whether this form of exercise will improve ambulatory capacity, aerobic function, and inflammatory cytokine profile in older adults post hip fracture is not known. pilot study of home-based exercise in older adults (age ≥ 65 years) 2 months post-hip fracture repair. receive a home-based exercise program or usual post-fracture care. Participants evaluated for ambulatory function, aerobic capacity (as measured by VO2 peak), serum levels of the inflammatory markers C-reactive protein, interleukin-6 and soluble TNF- α receptor 1.
   
  After hip fracture, aquatic exercise offers several additional benefits to traditional land-based exercise intervention. Buoyancy unloads body weight facilitating the ability to perform functional activity that is difficult on land. The hydrodynamic principles of buoyancy, hydrostatic pressure, and neutral warmth facilitate gait and balance training, cardiopulmonary conditioning, and a supportive social environment particularly when the aquatic exercise is community based.

 

• Health Disparity Research
   
  Healthy People 2010 globally defines health disparity as differences in disease incidence, prevalence or care received predicated upon age, sex, race, ethnicity, educational level, income level, geographic location or combinations of these factors. An ongoing national agenda exists to limit health disparity through expansion of available resources, education of the public and health care practitioners, and expanding research inclusion of individuals experiencing health disparities.
   
  Understanding Opinions and Sentiment of Cancer Survivors Regarding Community Based Exercise
   
  Moderate physical activity for cancer survivors is becoming an accepted component of post cancer care. What is not known are the existing beliefs, attitudes, barriers and resources for community based exercise of adequately served and underserved cancer survivors. This qualitative study examines four groups of cancer survivors using focus group methodology: urban adequately and under served; and rural adequately and under served. Data analysis utilizes the constant comparative method of manually coded data to identify themes, and facilitate understanding. The outcome of this study may be used to understand the initiation and development of community based exercise for cancer survivors.

 

Collaborators/Co-investigators

University of Maryland Baltimore
Claudia Baquet MD, PhD
Jay Magaziner MSHyg, PhD
Shiraz Mishra MBBS, PhD
Ram Miller MDCM, MS

Arcadia University
Kathleen Mangione PT, PhD, GCS

University of Wisconsin
Lori Thein Brody PT, PhD, ATC, SCS

Lab Personnel

None

Publications

Peer Review Journal Articles

• Farrell E, Geigle P. Effects of a Multi-faceted Rehabilitation Program with a Non-ambulatory Child with Cerebral Palsy: A Case Report. Physiotherapy Theory and Practice. Accepted for publication December 2009.
• Geigle PR, Galantino ML. Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Physical Therapist Curricula. Accepted International Physiotherapy Research Journal, December 2008.
• Degano A, Geigle P. Use of Aquatic Physical Therapy in the Treatment of Balance and Gait Impairments Following Traumatic Brain Injury: A Case Report. Journal of Aquatic Physical Therapy. In press. December, 2008.
• Mishra SI, Aziz NM, Scherer R, Geigle P, Baquet CR, Berlanstein D Cochrane Review Proposal: Exercise Intervention on Health Related Quality of Life of Cancer Survivors.
• Parker LN, Geigle PR. Management of a young girl with back pain of unknown origin. Journal of Aquatic Physical Therapy.2007;16(2).
• Geigle PR, Norton C. Optimal Aquatic Practice. Journal of Aquatic Physical Therapy. Winter, 2005.
• Galantino ML, Bzdewka TM, Eissler JL, Holbrook ML, Mogck EP, Geigle PR, Farrar JT. The Impact of Modified Hatha Yoga on Chronic Low Back Pain: A Pilot Study. Alternative Therapies in Medicine, April, 2004.
• Gulick DT, Geigle PR. Validity of Underwater Measurement of Body Fat Composition. Journal of Strength and Conditioning, May 2003.

Books

• Brody LT, Geigle PR. Aquatic Rehabilitation and Training. Human Kinetics. Champaign, IL. available June 2009.
• Geigle PR. Aquatic Therapy Implications in Goodman CC, Fuller K: Pathology: Implications for the Physical Therapist,3/e, Philadelphia, W.B. Saunders, Nov. 2008.