Physical therapy education has significantly evolved over the past few decades. While gross anatomy is integral to physical therapy education curricula, the current state of anatomy education within these programs is not well understood. The primary purpose of this report was to provide an update on the current state of anatomy education across…

In recent years, several physical therapy programs have been launched at U.S. colleges and universities to respond to the need for trained practitioners to serve an aging population. However, there is a shortage of qualified physical therapy faculty to meet the needs of students and to adhere to accreditation requirements, and limited information…

The shift to online learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic has brought about significant changes in the way education is delivered. The online environment provides a new avenue for physical therapy education. With a majority of undergraduate students taking at least one course online, their perceptions of online learning are critical in the…

The purpose of this study was to investigate physical therapy students' attitudes toward working with older adults. A basic qualitative design geared toward discovering physical therapy students' attitudes, where themes emerge from the findings, was used. The setting was a CAPTE Accredited Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program in a 4-year,…

Introduction: The physical therapy (PT) profession has a tradition of growth driven by interest and societal needs. Recent discrepancies in workforce modeling suggest looming issues impacted by declining application rates. Modern facilitators and barriers for entering the PT profession need exploration to assist key stakeholders in making informed…

Purpose: This study tested whether the Sitting Together and Reaching to Play (START-Play) physical therapy intervention indirectly impacts cognition through changes in perceptual-motor skills in infants with motor delays. Methods: Participants were 50 infants with motor delays randomly assigned to START-Play plus Usual Care Early Intervention…

The American Physical Therapy Association promotes the Annual Physical Therapy Visit. Similar to an older adult who may see his/her medical provider annually, it is recommended that the aging adult see a physical therapist who will perform screening tests for strength, endurance, flexibility, balance, and gait. Early detection of physical decline…

The purpose of this investigation was to explore the perceptions of the sufficiency and relevancy of physical therapy anatomy education among early, mid, and late career physical therapists. A survey was distributed via email through clinical networks in the greater Mid-Atlantic region, the American Physical Therapy Association Pennsylvania…

The number of nontraditional students in higher education continues to increase. Despite the increase in the number of nontraditional students overall, the majority of students enrolled in doctor of physical therapy programs are considered traditional. In addition, physical therapy students are among the least racially and ethnically diverse which…

Service-learning in graduate education is commonly used but has limited studies on its effectiveness. Can service-learning be implemented in graduate education in a way that enhances the experience for the students? Most service-learning research has focused on service-learning at an undergraduate level in nursing, social work, public health, and…

Many Americans experience high levels of stress, particularly young adults and college students. Stress has been found to be particularly high among students in the health professions, including physical therapy students. High levels of stress, chronic stress, or stress that is not well managed can have negative effects on physical and mental…

The Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education requires Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program directors to have the necessary academic and professional qualifications to lead their programs, but many directors lack awareness of their leadership styles. The purpose of this quantitative descriptive correlational study was to…

Purpose: The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to identify the factors that influence intent to stay in program directors and faculty working in Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) programs across the United States and to explore how these educators perceive job satisfaction and how commitment to the organization may influence their intent to…

As the Director of Student Affairs for a developing two-year hybrid Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program, I was tasked with developing a program to support the academic success of students. Limited evidence was available on supporting students who were geographically separated from campus during most of their preparation because hybrid…

Anatomy education continues to evolve in health professional programs as curricula shift to competency-based models and contact hours decrease. These changes in curricula may significantly alter the learning environment for students. Importantly, changes in learning environment have been shown to impact student learning strategies and well-being.…