Arcadia University’s Department of Physical Therapy had a heavy presence of 25 attendees at the annual American Physical Therapy Association’s (APTA) Combined Sections Meeting (CSM). Seventeen faculty members, five current students, and three alumni attended the conference in Anaheim, Calif., Feb. 12-14, and several presented research.

Andrea Vira ’26DPT presented alongside her co-investigator, Olivia Yaffe ’26DPT, and Department of Physical Therapy faculty, Dr. Janet Readinger, Dr. Marty Eastlack, and Dr. Therese Johnston. Their project, “Comparison of Balance Intensity Scales in People with Parkinson’s Disease,” examined the Rate of Perceived Stability (RPS) and the Balance Intensity Scale (BIS), two tools that lack established psychometric properties within the Parkinson’s population.

“We know that individuals with Parkinson’s disease are at an increased risk of falls with the progression of the disease, and multiple studies concluded that developing an appropriate intensity for a balance training program is significant for this population,” Vira explained. “The purpose of our research project was to determine the validity of the RPS and BIS in individuals with Parkinson’s disease using a balance assessment called the MiniBESTest.”

Vira said collaborating with faculty mentors enhanced the experience.

“They are all a wealth of knowledge and working with them has been a pleasure,” she said. “It has been such a meaningful experience to be a part of this great team! Many other faculty members from the PT Department supported us by visiting our poster presentation, which was very sweet.”

Daniel Myers ’23DPT, who also holds an Orthopaedic Residency and Musculoskeletal Certificate from Arcadia, presented “Rehabilitation for Lower Cervical Radiculopathy with Cervicogenic Headaches and Orofacial Numbness,” alongside Dr. Molly Malloy.

“Attending and presenting at CSM not only allowed me to contribute to the advancement of orthopedic knowledge, but it also broadened my own clinical perspective and skill set,” Myers said. “The exposure to new research, innovative treatment approaches, and discussions with experts across the profession has directly influenced my current practice. This experience strengthened both my clinical reasoning and my confidence as a developing leader, and it motivates me to pursue further professional development and future scholarly contributions.”

Andrew Babcanec ’27PhD contributed to two presentations at CSM. Working with Dr. Philip Malloy, he presented “Individuals with Femoro-Acetabular Impingement Syndrome (FAIS) Demonstrate Asymmetrical Leg Squat Task,” which quantified movement compensations during a double-leg squat in individuals with hip pain.

“The long-term goal of my research is to understand how people with hip pain move differently during functional tasks,” Babcanec said.

In a second project, Babcanec collaborated with Malloy, Dr. Anne Leung, Dr. Ryan Zarzycki, Jeff Paskewitz ’27PhD, and Kevin Rice ’26DPT on research examining elbow coordination and acceleration effects on biomechanical efficiency in college baseball pitchers.

“As I look towards my future as an educator and researcher, it is important to gain exposure within our profession and to create opportunities to meet people who will continue to further my personal and professional development,” he said. “Over the past two years attending APTA CSM, I have met several people in both biomechanics and hip-related research who have contributed meaningfully to my learning experience and the development of my current project.”

Arcadia’s attendees also emphasized the value of networking and professional engagement at the conference.

“Down the road, I am hoping to become a certified hand therapist, and by attending CSM, I was able to network and obtain helpful resources for my future endeavors,” Vira said. “And I would love to continue to be involved with the larger physical therapy community!”

“Being able to give back to the physical therapy profession and educate colleagues at the largest gathering of practitioners is something I will never forget,” added Myers. “The experience reinforced my commitment to lifelong learning and professional leadership, and it inspired me to continue seeking opportunities to share knowledge, collaborate, and contribute to the growth of our field.”