Completed Research

Mind-Body Interventions in Hand Therapy ⟩

This project aimed to develop and investigate the effects of mind-body interventions on outcomes in hand therapy. With pilot funding from the American Hand Therapy Foundation, we evaluated the impact of a mindfulness-based body scan and sonographic biofeedback on stress, anxiety, and pain within a treatment session. We are continuing to evaluate the effects of such interventions across a full episode of care.

Early Identification of Median Nerve Pathology ⟩

With funding from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the aim of this work was to establish an early detection method for median nerve pathology using sonography and develop a predictive model of the development of work-related carpal tunnel syndrome.

Applications for Sonography in Hand Therapy ⟩

With funding from numerous organizations including NIH, professional foundations in sonography and hand therapy, and private industry, the MSOP lab is actively exploring the most useful applications and developing protocols for the use of sonographic imaging to enhance hand therapy practice.

Sonographic Diagnosis of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ⟩

Together with researchers at the Laboratory for Investigatory Imaging at The Ohio State University, our research teams explored the use of sonographic imaging to develop and evaluate novel, cutting-edge methods for the evaluation of carpal tunnel syndrome, including Doppler imaging and evaluating morphologic changes over time.

Sonography for Male Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome ⟩

With funding from the Southern California Clinical & Translational Science Institute (SC-CTSI), this collaboration with researchers in the Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy investigated the physical and psychosocial mechanisms underlying chronic pelvic pain syndrome; specifically, the use of sonographic imaging to evaluate muscles of the pelvic floor.