University of Delaware - Physical Therapy Department

The University of Delaware Physical Therapy Clinic sponsors a specialty clinic for patients who demonstrate conditions or injuries that are unique or patricularly challenging to the rehabilitation community. The University of Delaware PT clinical and consulting staff, local orthopaedic surgeons and fellows, and local PT clinicians attend specialty clinic to combine their efforts to recommend an appropriate treatment plan for patients.

The purpose of the specialty clinic is first to provide appropriate treatment options and recommendations to the patients. Specialty clinic also serves as a forum for the exchange of ideas between the medical and physical therapy communities. Specialty clinic occurrs on the third Monday of every month and patients are referred by their doctor.

For more information, or if you are interested in participating, call Tara Manal MPT,OCS Clinic Director at the University of Delaware Physical Therapy Clinic, 831-8893 or e-mailtarajo@udel.edu.

The functional screening evaluation is sponsored by the Delaware Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society and is provided free to individuals with multiple sclerosis and is designed to assist you in managing your life with MS. This program is for individuals who have not had a functional screening evaluation with a physician, Physical Therapist, etc. in 1-2 years. The MS Clinic is scheduled ~6x's a year, with three sessions in the spring and three sessions in the fall.

The evaluation is performed at the University of Delaware PT Clinic by Doctor of Physical Therapy students under the close supervision of Cathy Ciolek, PT, DPT, GCS, Director of Clinical Education and Service Learning Coordinator. Dr. Ciolek also is the Associate Director for the Neurologic and Older Adult Physical Therapy Clinic located within the University of Delaware.

The evaluation lasts approximately 1.5-2 hours and consists of functional assessments for strength, range of motion, mobility and ADL’s. In addition, professionals from other disciplines provide information on Durable Medical Equipment, counseling, dietary recommendations and vision assessment. Participants should wear comfortable loose clothing and supportive footwear, and bring any assistive devices that they use for walking or mobility. Each individual is provided with the results of the evaluation and given recommendations to improve his or her current functional level

To schedule your FREE Functional Assessment Screening contact:
Cathy Ciolek, PT, DPT, GCS at (302) 831-2430

Mental Health Counseling

Club Sports & Performing Arts Screening Clinic

When? This clinic meets every Wednesday from 7-8 pm during regular class dates of the Fall and Spring semesters according to the University schedule. This clinic will not meet during regularly scheduled University holidays.
*Patients who need to arrive later than 8 pm should contact the clinic for permission.

Where? The University of Delaware Physical Therapy Clinic, 053 McKinly Lab. (302) 831-8893.

Who is it for? Members of the University of Delaware club sport teams and students in the Professional Theater Training Program and Music Department with recent musculoskeletal injuries.

What does it cost? This screening service is free of charge* for University of Delaware students who are members of the University of Delaware club sport teams or enrolled in the Professional Theater Training Program and Music Department and have recent musculoskeletal injuries

What will happen?

Each individual will be evaluated free of charge by our expert team including a physical therapist who is Board Certified in Orthopaedic or Sports Physical Therapy and a physical therapist who is enrolled in our post-professional Sports or Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Residency Program
The results of the screening may include any of the following; referral for x-ray; referral to the Student Health Center, private physician, or other practitioner (e.g. podiatrist); education on self-treatment; referral for physical therapy.*
An intake and evaluation data sheet will be completed, including recommendations for referral and follow-up, and provided to the patient.

How do I make an appointment? No appointments are necessary. Patients will be evaluated on a first come- first served basis.

*Please Note: The goal of this screening clinic is to evaluate patients and identify musculoskeletal injuries. Further health care intervention beyond this screening will not be offered free of charge.

Running Analysis Clinic

The running analysis was developed to provide a diagnostic service to injured runners in order to develop an overall plan of care that will allow them to return to running at the level they desire. The evaluation includes:

An initial evaluation is performed to determine how one’s injury may be influencing their movement. This comprehensive evaluation includes taking a detailed injury history, assessing shoes, and abnormal wear patterns, and assessing structure and alignment focusing on the trunk and lower extremity.
A gait analysis includes the monitoring of movement patterns as the patient runs and walks on a treadmill.
Videotaping is done form the front, rear, and side to provide a visual assessment of the runner.

The cost of this evaluation is $290.00 for 1.5 hours, or $358.00 if the evaluation takes 2 hours. Some insurance carriers reimburse for this level of evaluation but in general the cost is covered by the patient.

Interpretation of Gait Analysis
The information from the evaluation, the biomechanics and the injury history are then integrated together in order to plan the best course of treatment for this patient. This is performed by Dr. Irene Davis PhD, PT who has been studying the biomechanics of running injuries and evaluating/treating injured runner for the past 20 years. From this analysis, recommendations are typically made in the following areas.

Orthotics- braces to control unwanted movement or facilitate normal movement.
Footwear- prescribe shoes or shoe modifications which will optimize one’s gait pattern.
Therapy therapeutic intervention to strengthen and or increase flexibility of muscles which may be contributing to the abnormal gait pattern.
Mechanics- recommendations to change one’s mechanics which may be contributing to the abnormal gait and symptoms the patient is experiencing.

* Please call the clinic (302-831-8893) for more information on the running clinic or to schedule a running clinic evaluation.