Akeso Lab's research assistant, Anthony Yamnitsky presented findings related to project AdaPT at the 2024 American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting in Boston from February 15th-17th. Anthony presented his research alongside several of his classmates in Ohio University's DPT program. Anthony and Dr Nikolas Karayannis have been working on this study for the past three years.
Project AdaPT investigated the feasibility of an adaptive intervention model of treatment in individuals with chronic lower back pain. The Healthy Minds program is a self-guided, app-delivered intervention that offers podcast-style lessons on the science of well-being in addition to guided meditations to cultivate awareness, insight, connection, and purpose. This intervention was supplemented with traditional physical therapy. This was also compared to a third group utilizing physical therapy, the Healthy Minds app, and a Tai Chi program. Overall, physical therapy coupled with the Healthy Minds app had significantly less back disability than physical therapy alone with a large effect.
The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Combined Section Meeting (CSM) is one of the largest annual national conferences that brings the physical therapy profession together for a week of education, collaboration, and innovation. For students, it is a great way to meet and network with other students and professionals from programs all across the country. Additionally, there are dozens of different companies and healthcare systems with booths where products, research, and knowledge are shared. The stronger our professional connections are, both locally and globally, the stronger our voice is in regard to advocacy for policies important to physical therapy practice. All in all, CSM is a spectacular forum for the greatest minds in the physical therapy world to share their thoughts about the profession.
Anthony graduated from Baldwin Wallace University with his bachelor's in exercise science. Growing up Anthony was passionate about two things, learning and athletics. These two passions drove Anthony to the field of physical therapy. Anthony's future aspirations are to solidify a sports residency position and become a sports-certified specialist in the world of physical rehabilitation to help athletes return to their beloved game granting them another opportunity to fulfill their athletic dreams. Currently, Anthony is finishing his last clinical rotation and will graduate from Ohio University's DPT program this Spring.
Congratulations Anthony on for completing your research and presenting an insightful talk. Akeso Lab wishes you nothing but the best for the future!