A twist of the shoulder. A kick to the knee. A punch to the face. The top-ranked mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter brings down his opponent with impressive ease. But after the fight, he begins to feel his own injuries—torn ligaments, a strained rotator cuff, a broken hand—the result of strikes, kicks, and punches associated
In the morning, Dr. Phil Coppa ’03 climbs into his 4×4 and makes the arduous drive through the jungle. The unpaved road ends at a dirt-floor shanty made of plywood and tin. His client’s home lacks a door, but its occupants are welcoming and eager to see him: He’s here to help their toddler overcome
For many women, an aching back is just part of pregnancy. It doesn’t have to be, says Dr. Cynthia E. Neville, a physical therapist and contributing faculty member who specializes in women’s health. “Up to half of all women who are pregnant experience back and pelvic girdle pain,” Neville says, which is thought to be
It wasn’t enough to be the rehabilitation director for the Pittsburgh Pirates or to be the first Filipino to have the job. As Dr. Erwin Benedict Valencia ’11 sat in a café, taking a breather from a whirlwind travel schedule, he realized that he wanted—needed—something more. “I wanted to do something for myself and the
Luke Murphy, retired U.S. Army staff sergeant and author of Blasted by Adversity, gave the keynote address during an alumni event on the St. Augustine campus this summer. Here, he shares with faculty member and fellow amputee Dr. Scott Love how PTs at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center helped him recover—physically and mentally. Dr.
After more than a decade as a clinical instructor and advisor at the University of Toronto, Dr. Nirtal Shah ’05, a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) graduate, started to get antsy. “I wanted to be involved with health on more than an individual level,” he says. He was also frustrated with his patients’ inability to
The joke about people who do CrossFit—the popular high-intensity strength-training and conditioning regimen—is that they can’t go more than a few minutes without mentioning it. What’s not so funny are the injuries that many of these athletes endure when they fail to use proper form or build core strength. Dr. Adam Guiliano ’08, a Doctor
The smell of garbage and decay was overpowering. Their shoes sunk into the sludge. Vultures circled overhead. Black flies blanketed a dying dog. But the women kept walking. Access is severely restricted, but a local jefe gave them a tour of the Guatemala City Dump. Thousands of people live on the edges of this 40-acre
As her instructor for multiple courses over seven trimesters, associate professor Dr. Kayla Smith in the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program found Dr. Stephanie Thomas ’14, now a DPT graduate, to be “a strong student who consistently performed at the top of her classes.” Smith was thrilled to mentor Thomas for her seventh-term case
USA Offers Athletic Training Master’s Degree USA is expanding its post-professional offerings with an online Master of Health Sciences in Athletic Training program. Students can specialize in Administration and Leadership in Athletic Training or in Psychosocial Patient Care. The program offers courses in hot topics, including Concussion in Sport, Sport and the Female Athlete, and
USA grad, Dr. Theresa (Hornick) Larson, DPT and current USA student, Dianna DiToro, SPT first met at a student veterans meeting while both were attending the University of St. Augustine’s California campus. The two quickly bonded over similar experiences as Marine officers and discovered that they both had a passion for functional fitness and its
While managing and owning a growing private practice, treating full time, and juggling the responsibility of being an involved parent of 3 small children, Dr. Krell was able to complete the Transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy curriculum with a 3.3 GPA. Upon graduating, and throughout the Transitional DPT program, Eric quickly put his new knowledge