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Eight faculty members and 19 students in Russell Sage College’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program presented research at the American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting held in Boston, February 15-17, 2024.
Among them were Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy Katrin Ramsey, PT, DSc, Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy Cathron Donaldson, PT, DPT, and Doctor of Physical Therapy candidates Claire Connolly, Mackenna Jordan and Cassandra Stier, who received the Top Poster award from the Academy of Pelvic Health for their poster abstract, “The Physical Effects of Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy: Implications for the Physical Therapist.”
The poster presented the team’s review of published data on the short- and long-term physical effects of gender-affirming hormone therapy on individuals transitioning from male to female and female to male to demonstrate that such hormone therapy affects cardiovascular, neurological, musculoskeletal, and endocrine systems.
The poster Discussion section emphasized that physical therapists need to understand how gender-affirming hormone therapy influences body mass, strength, blood pressure,and other physiological indicators, yet Doctor of Physical Therapy and continuing education curricula regarding transgender population health outcomes are limited.
“Timely establishment of an APTA Clinical Practice Guideline and formal development of Doctor of Physical Therapy program curricular content to include best practice recommendations for improving healthcare service delivery to nonbinary populations is recommended,” the research team wrote. “Enhancing physical therapists’ knowledge base and proficiency in providing effective rehabilitation treatment strategies for transgender individuals participating in hormone therapy and/or surgical transitioning will ultimately result in optimal biopsychosocial health outcomes for this expanding and historically underserved population demographic.”
In addition to her role as secondary investigator on the winning poster, Cathron Donaldson spoke at an education session, “Disability Justice and Anti-Ableism: The Future (of Physical Therapy) Is Accessible.”
Additional presenters from Russell Sage College included:
— Associate Professor of Physical Therapy Rupali Singh, PT, Ph.D., and Doctor of Physical Therapy candidates Arthur Wayne Baker, Olivia Jones, Stephanie Mason, and Omar Santiago-Rodriguez presented “Effect of Aquatic Therapy on Glycemic Control in Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review” during a platform session.
— Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy Sarah Salvatore, PT, DPT, Ed.D., and Doctor of Physical Therapy candidates Layah Adler, Abigayle Greier, Allison Rosa, and Jordan Rose presented a poster, “Sleep Quality, Quantity, and Hygiene in Graduate Level Allied Healthcare Students: A Systematic Review.”
— Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy Janet Hakey-Brusgul, PT, DPT, MS, OCS, CEEAA, former Assistant Professor Danielle Vittone, PT, DSc, OCS, MSPA, and Doctor of Physical Therapy candidates Ashley Bray, Andrew Gomo, Jacob Greski, and Holden Maynard presented a poster, “The Effects of Nordic Poling on Patients with Lower Extremity Osteoarthritis.”
— Associate Professor and Chair of Physical Therapy Erin Elkins, PT, DPT, Ed.D., Assistant Professor Jennifer Aiossa, PT, DPT, and Doctor of Physical Therapy candidates Sara O’Connor, Derek Palmeri, Mikayla Spiak, and Breanne DeBarros presented a poster, “The Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Doctor of Physical Therapy Students’ Clinical Education Experiences.”
APTA’s Combined Sections meeting is the largest physical therapy conference in the country. The 2024 conference attracted more than 15,000 participants and featured 1,300 research posters, as well as hundreds of educational sessions and exhibitors.
