SAN DIEGO, California – Dr. Kanika Bansal, assistant professor of physical therapy at the University of Mount Union, presented two research posters at the American Physical Therapy Association’s Combined Sections Meeting 2023 in San Diego, California.

Her first poster, titled, “The Six-minute Walk Test predicts GPS-based Community Ambulation Post-stroke.” was an extension of her dissertation work conducted at the University of Florida. Using innovative wearable sensor technology, Bansal’s research provides vital insights into clinical walking-related outcome measures and how they associate with daily community stepping activity outside one’s home. Her research suggests that the six-minute walk test, a measure of walking endurance, is more strongly associated with daily community stepping activity than the five-meter walk test, a short-distance walking speed assessment, in older adults and stroke survivors.

Her second poster titled, “Backward versus Forward Locomotor Training Effects on Gait Speed and Balance Post-stroke: Recovery or Compensation?” was presented in collaboration with co-first author Dr. Arian Vistamehr from Brooks Rehabilitation in Jacksonville, Florida. Using motion analysis systems, the findings of this research shed light on the mechanisms underlying the potential gains from the affected and non-affected limbs after forward and backward locomotor training post-stroke.

This is Bansal’s second consecutive year representing Mount Union's Doctor of Physical Therapy at this national physical therapy conference.