Doctoral Project
All DPT students complete a Doctoral Project as a part of the program requirements. Working in groups of 2-4, students complete their research project under the guidance of a DPT program faculty member. The research project begins in the fall year two and is completed in the fall of year three.
Requirements
- Complete a literature review, propose hypotheses and develop methods for a research study.
- Write a proposal paper and present an oral proposal to the faculty and fellow students.
- Recruit subjects and collect data.
- Assist with the statistical analysis of data
- Analyze results and form a conclusion based on the original hypotheses.
- Complete a final paper and orally defend the results of the research.
Examples of prior student projects
- The immediate effects of motor training and general training on lumbar multifidus activation in persons with chronic nonspecific low back pain
- An electromyographic analysis of common gym exercises intended to strengthen the thoracic exercises
- Effect of a home electrical stimulation program on incontinence and walking in individuals with multiple sclerosis.
- Mechanical demand and muscle activity of calf exercises in young adults
- Assessment of strength in individuals with CNS pathology
- Development and validation of assistive devices for patients with neurological disorders
- Effect of cognitive and motor multitask training on balance and fall risk in community dwelling older adults.
- A comparison of kinematics, kinetics and muscle activations during overground and treadmill running. A reliability and pilot study
