Physical Therapy Student to Present Research Findings at National Conference

HAZARD, Ky. (March 7, 2013) – For one University of Kentucky doctorate of physical therapy (DPT) student, a passion for sports and a talent for physical therapy research have converged to create an extraordinary opportunity.  Daniel Eck has been selected to present his research findings at the American Physical Therapy Association’s 2013 conference in Salt Lake City on June 26 – 29.

Eck’s research focused on the musculature of the shoulder blade in high school baseball pitchers.  Strength assessments were performed on pitchers before, immediately after, and four consecutive days after pitching.  The results of the study indicate that it may take the shoulder blade muscles four days to adequately recover after pitching.

“This kind of information can help inform players, coaches, and parents in the process of deciding when a pitcher should resume after a pitching appearance,” said Eck.

A native of Florence, Ala., Eck earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Lindsey Wilson College in Columbia, Ky., before being accepted into the DPT program at UK’s Center for Excellence in Rural Health (UK CERH) in Hazard.  Eck said he chose to attend the program in Hazard because of his interest in the unique issues associated with rural health care.

“I chose Hazard because I am from a rural area and I plan to practice in a rural community in the future to improve access to health care in an underserved area,” said Eck.

Eck credits his drive to be a physical therapist to personal experience: without physical therapy, he might have had to cease playing sports himself after undergoing several orthopedic surgeries.  With physical therapy, however, he has been able to continue playing collegiate sports while earning his doctorate and creating new knowledge through innovative research.

“Daniel’s story is one of perseverance, staying true to one’s passions, and realizing it’s never too early to start making a contribution to the profession beyond the classroom,” said LeeAnn Helton, director of student services at UK CERH.

Eck is scheduled to graduate from the UK DPT program in the summer of 2013.

MEDIA CONTACT:   Beth Bowling, beth.bowling@uky.edu, 606-439-3557, ext. 83545

                                   LeeAnn Helton, leeann.helton@uky.edu, 606-439-3557, ext. 83508