From the Dr. Pallavi Patel College of Health Care Sciences…

Elliot Montgomery Sklar, Ph.D., M.S.

Stephanie Kubiak, Ph.D.

Building upon research highlighted in our DoR January 2023 Newsletter, the collaboration between Elliot Montgomery Sklar, Ph.D., M.S. and NSU Alumna Stephanie Kubiak, Ph.D. (c/o 2022) has produced another publication and an invite to be interviewed about their new publication on the official Podcast of the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, RehabCast.

Dr. Sklar and Dr. Kubiak’s recent publication in the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation focused on racial and ethnic disparities for social participation after tetraplegia injury. The findings of this work show that combined use of a computer, assistive technology, and the internet predicted higher social integration by almost 175% (95% CI [2.0, 3.78]; p < .001) compared to no device or internet use. Racial and ethnic disparities revealed that Black participants had 28% lower odds of high social integration than White participants (95% CI [0.56, 0.92]; p < .01). Hispanic ethnicity predicted 40% lower odds of high social integration compared to non-Hispanic participants (95% CI [0.39, 0.91]; p = .018). While the internet presents an opportunity to reduce barriers to social participation and increase overall social integration after tetraplegia, race, ethnic, and income inequities prevent or limit access to the internet, computers, and AT after tetraplegia for Black and Hispanic people.

Kubiak, S., & Sklar, E.M. (2023, March) Racial and Ethnic Disparities of Social Participation after Tetraplegia Injury: A Regression Analysis. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2023.01.023

 

Corey Peacock, Ph.D. CSCS, FISSN, RSCC

In collaboration with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Corey Peacock, Ph.D., CSCS, FISSN, RSCC, Anthony Ricci, Ed.D., FISSN, CSCS, PES, CES, CNS, and Jose Antonio, Ph.D., FNSCA, FISSN, CSCS of Nova Southeastern University (NSU) have published a revolutionary paper describing rapid weight loss in professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) athletes.  The paper is the first in a series from this collaboration and included nearly 650 professional fighters.

 

“Weight Loss and Competition Weight in Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Athletes” https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5142/7/4/115

 

G. Monique Mokha, Ph.D. ATC. CSCS

Three NSU Exercise and Sport Science undergraduate students and G. Monique Mokha, Ph.D., ATC, CSCS conducted 3D gait analyses on NSU cross country runners then followed their race performances over the Fall 2022 season. They hypothesized that runners with faulty mechanics would not perform as well as those who did not have faulty mechanics. Interestingly, the hypothesis was rejected for the runners in the 5k races we followed. The outcomes may be different for longer distance races.

 

“Faulty Hip and Pelvis Biomechanics Do Not Differentiate Between 5k Performance in NCAA Division II Cross-Country Runners” https://researchdirects.com/index.php/healthsciences/article/view/56

 

Morey J. Kolber, PT, Ph.D., OCS, Cert MDT, CSCS*D

 

Morey J. Kolber, PT, Ph.D., OCS, Cert MDT, CSCS*D and collaborators from multiple institutions and universities reported on the outcomes of using a novel regenerative medicine approach to treating patients with advanced knee arthritis who have been non-responsive to physical therapy, corticosteroids, and viscosupplementation. Results published in the Biologic Orthopedics Journal showed significant reductions in pain and improvements in function at the medium term follow-ups. Prior to this report, no previous studies used an approach that consisted of bone marrow, adipose, and platelet rich plasma.

 

“The Effect of Combined Bone Marrow Aspirate, Lipoaspirate, and Platelet Rich Plasma Injections on Pain, Function, and Perceived Change Amongst Individuals with Severe Knee Osteoarthritis” https://doi.org/10.22374/boj.v3i1.25

 

 

 

 

Lia Jiannine, Ph.D., CSCS

 

Lia Jiannine, Ph.D., CSCS competed at the 4th Annual Neurosports Conference by presenting an oral Data Blitz. Dr. Jiannine’s project “The effects of cursing on muscular endurance and isometric muscular strength,” won first prize as she triumphed over both exercise physiologists and neuroscientists. Congratulations Dr. Jiannine!

 

 

 

Jose Antonio, Ph.D., FNSCA, FISSN, CSCS

Jose Antonio, Ph.D., FNSCA, FISSN, CSCS collaborated with 12 colleagues from across the United States to be one of the few groups that talks about the use of energy drinks/shots from a scientific perspective. Dr. Antonio says, “It seems that the mainstream press as well as scientists in general, have a negative view of energy drinks/shots despite the fact that the science shows otherwise.” Check out the study below…

“International society of sports nutrition position stand: energy drinks and energy shots” https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/epdf/10.1080/15502783.2023.2171314?needAccess=true&role=button

 

Patricia Gaffney, Au.D.

Patricia Gaffney, Au.D., the chair and professor in the Department of Audiology, has been conducting a survey of on-campus Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) students across the country since 2005. The survey has been administered 10 times and is contributing valuable information to the field of audiology that has not been collected and shared before. The survey seeks to monitor trend in academic strengths and weaknesses, externship information, student loans, and salaries over time for Au.D. students and recent graduates. Several trends have developed while analyzing the survey results since 2005:

  • Since 2016, there has been an increase in the amount of student loans that Au.D. students have utilized – In the 2022 survey responses, 16% of graduates took out $200k+ in undergraduate and graduate student loans, which is an amount rarely seen before 2016.
  • Au.D. student’s final year is comprise of an externship that has seen small increases in salary over the years (typical range $30-45k), but trends have shown that fewer students are receiving this support as salary and the monetary support has been shifting towards stipends.
  • Strengths and weaknesses have been stable over time: Strengths – amount of clinic time and variety of clinical opportunities; Weaknesses – faculty and not enough business classes incorporated.
  • Since the survey’s inception, there has been a steady increase in the starting salary for Au.D. program graduates.

Dr. Gaffney will be presenting the ongoing results from this effort at the 2023 American Academy of Audiology (AAA) Conference in Seattle from April 19-22. The award-winning magazine, Audiology Today, has also contact Dr. Gaffney to feature her work in their July/August edition.