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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in'>Physical therapists' research aims to limit pain for guide dog users<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>December 3, 2018 by <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Clark Leonard<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Guide dog research<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Source: https://ung.edu/news/articles/2018/12/physical-therapists-research-aims-to-help-limit-pain-for-guide-dog-users.php<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The University of North Georgia (UNG) is breaking new ground in its study of guide dogs, the visually impaired people who use them and their harness devices.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Among the major findings is that guide dog use sharply reduces the risk of falls for visually impaired people, a result which College of Health Sciences<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>and Professions Dean <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dr. Teresa Conner-Kerr<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> said UNG is the first to uncover. But an increase in joint pain complaints is also noted in these individuals after switching from other mobility aids<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>to a guide dog, according to the research.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>A simple observation by Conner-Kerr at a wound clinic has led to a flurry of research that could revolutionize the way physical therapists work with patients<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>who have guide dogs.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Working at the clinic before she came to UNG, Conner-Kerr noticed a difference in the posture of patients who had guide dogs and wanted to discover the<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>reason for this difference.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Conner-Kerr connected with <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dr. Sue Ann Kalish,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>associate professor of physical therapy, in 2016 to launch research into the relationship of guide dog users, the dogs and the harnesses connecting them.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dr. Robert Powers,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>associate professor of physical therapy and nursing, and director of research for the College of Health Sciences & Professions, later joined in the work.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>These faculty members' efforts, currently aided by nine Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) graduate students and two external advisers, have begun collecting<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>national recognition in the field.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>This research work was selected for presentation at the Combined Sections meeting of the American Physical Therapy Association in February and nominated<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>for the Orthopedic Section Poster Award. Subsequently, Kalish was invited to the National Association of Guide Dog Users (NAGDU) national conference in<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>July to present the group’s findings. Kalish said the group has already been invited to the 2019 NAGDU conference.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>A well-known national company contacted UNG after the 2018 NAGDU conference and is discussing collaborations with the university on a prototype for a guide<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>dog harness and handle that could reduce injuries to guide dog users.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Going forward, researchers aim to investigate the nature and extent of the joint injuries stemming from guide dog use to develop strategies to reduce injuries.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Future study will also focus on the gait of guide dogs and their users.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Conner-Kerr said she hopes UNG will become the leader in training physical therapists who can serve guide dog users effectively.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>"People are using these dogs, and they're very effective at helping them with mobility and keeping them safe," Conner-Kerr said. "But we haven't optimized<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>how they use them to prevent physical injury. Eventually UNG's PT program will be known for this."<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Kalish said it's important to help guide dog users understand they still need and deserve more help.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>One of the hallmarks of UNG's work is its holistic approach. Some researchers look only at the guide dog while others examine the user. Little attention<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>has been paid to fitting a harness to a specific user. Conner-Kerr said she and her fellow researchers want to develop a formal way of helping fit a dog<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>and leash to their user to prevent physical problems.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Mitchell Aarons, in his second year of the DPT program, said he has learned a lot about how people take care of each other through his work with guide<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>dog users. The graduate student from Roswell, Georgia, is grateful to see UNG fill the gap.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>"They're missing out on the big picture," Aarons said of other research. "It's how this population is functioning in daily life and what they're struggling<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>with even with a guide dog."<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Rachel Philips, a third-year DPT student from Jacksonville, Florida, is hopeful the research can find solutions.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>"While guide dogs are clearly beneficial to this often overlooked population, they do come with some drawbacks, including increased prevalence of shoulder<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>pain," Philips said. "We hope our project can be used to identify and address the factors that contribute to musculoskeletal pain, so we can optimize mobility<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>for the visually impaired population."<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Lauren Johnston, a third-year DPT student from Acworth, Georgia, said after seeing guide dog users in a hotel that was new to them, "it was inspiring what<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>they've overcome and how mobile they are." She's grateful to be a part of cutting-edge research to help "an amazing population of people."<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>"I can't wait to see where it goes in the future," Johnston said.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Facebook<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Twitter<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> YouTube<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Linkedin<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Instagram<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Merit<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Related News<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>list of 4 items<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Physical therapists' research aims to limit pain for guide dog users<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Assistant professors contribute to journal special edition<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Faculty and staff show off research projects during annual symposium<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Public health event gives students platform to share their work<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>list end<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Contact Information<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Clark Leonard<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Communications Specialist<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>clark.leonard@ung.edu<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>706-867-4528<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>UNG Social Media Hub<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Subscribe to UNG Newsletter new window<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>UNG News Archive<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>