Alumni Publishes Research in Journal of Orthopedic & Sports Physical Therapy
Editor's note: This article was written prior to University of the Sciences' merger with and into Saint Joseph's University and does not reflect the current, combined institution. References to programs, offices, colleges, employees, etc., may be historical information.
USciences alumni and teaching assistant Ross Fargnoli '15 (DPT), co-authored an article in the prestigious Journal of Orthopedic & Sports Physical Therapy titled “Manual Physical Therapy Targeting the Thoracic Spine to Promote Centralization for Patients With Cervical Radiculopathy: A Case Series.”
The article examines the cases of three patients who experienced improved neck pain and other symptoms after receiving treatment targeting the thoracic spine.
“My co-authors and I recognized a gap in the literature regarding management of patients with cervical radiculopathy,” said Dr. Fargnoli. “We identified a clinical pattern and decided to share our innovative intervention approach.”
The study concludes that, after an average of four physical therapy sessions, all three patients showed “clinically significant improvements in pain and self-reported disability.” These findings are demonstrated in the publication through data, as well as visual representations of exercises performed with the study patients.
Dr. Fargnoli currently works as an outpatient orthopedic physical therapist and is the Spine Team Leader at Good Shepherd Penn Partners. He credits his education for giving him a solid foundation on which to build his career. After his time at USciences, he went on to complete numerous post-professional trainings, including an Orthopedic Residency program at Good Shepherd Penn Partners and Fellowship training in Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy through Regis University.
“I believe the orthopedic and musculoskeletal curriculum at University of the Sciences prepared me well to pursue intensive postprofessional residency and fellowship training,” Dr. Fargnoli said. “I am a strong advocate of participation in post professional education. It is the extra things you do outside of day to day clinical care that will help you stand out from your peers as you attempt to climb the career ladder and advance your professional role.”
Dr. Fargnoli emphasized the importance of bringing research into clinical practice, stating that research plays an integral role in the advancement of the physical therapy profession.
“I hope that our publication will help therapists translate evidence-based clinical research into everyday clinical practice,” he said. “And I hope it will help inspire students and novice researchers to consider publishing their clinical findings.”