PT students present research at national conference

Two candidates in Youngstown State University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program presented their research recently at a national conference, the American Physical Therapy Association’s Combined Section Meeting in New Orleans.

Brian Boccieri of Girard and Kirk Gazdik of Boardman, both pursuing doctorate degrees in Physical Therapy, discussed their study comparing pain suffered by student veterans, non-veteran students and veterans in the general population.

Their research indicates that student veterans experience pain more frequently, have more severe pain and are more limited in completing their daily work because of pain. Boccieri and Gazdik called severe and chronic pain a major issue with the aging of all veterans, including student veterans, and they propose that universities provide resources to assist veteran students with pain management.

Weiqing Ge, associate professor of Physical Therapy, said the research grew out of an assignment in his “Language, Culture and Health” class, and the results could be helpful for those looking for solutions to the nation’s opioid epidemic. The APTA conference is considered one of the most prestigious in Physical Therapy, Ge said, with more than 17,000 attending this year.