Gerontology in Physical Therapy Practice

ORLANDO, April 21, 2009 — UCF physical therapy students today performed functional
and balance assessments on a geriatric patient as a final case study in PHT 6374 -
Gerontology in Physical Therapy. The course is the first of a two-course series in the
study of normal and pathological aging processes.

Maurice, also known as "Mo," volunteered to attend the class to give the students an
opportunity to evaluate his gait and his risk for falls.

Working as a group, the students performed a variety of screens and tests to determine
Mo's current level of function and how safely he is performing these tasks.

In addition, the students were required to determine whether or not the results of the
examination were a result of the normal aging process or a pathological process.

Photographs by student Anne Kunderman

	Mo (sitting) performs sit-to-stand-to-sit tasks without the use of his arms under the watch of student Josh Wallenberg (standing left) and Assistant Director Judi Schack Dugre (standing right).
	Mo (right) performs balance activities with his eyes closed so that Josh can determine if Mo is using vision to compensate for any possible balance dysfunction.
	Josh (left) and Assistant Director Schack (right) advance the level of balance testing by having Mo (center) stand with his legs together. They then assess his responses to this new position.
	Josh (left) and fellow student Ryan Shirley (center) conduct a functional reach test with Mo (right).
	Josh (left) and Ryan (right) conduct another advanced balance test with Mo (center) holding a single leg stance.
	Ryan (left) and fellow student Jeff Scherwin (right) perform a vestibular exam of Mo (center) to determine if he has any impairment in this system.