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PAUL MINTKEN, PT, DPT, OCS
Research Activities

Primary Research Location/Information:
University of Colorado at Boulder
Wardenburg Health Center
119 UCB
Boulder, CO 80309-0119

Phone: 303-492-6280
http://www.colorado.edu/healthcenter/
http://www.colorado.edu/healthcenter/medical/sports.html

Office:
Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Physical Therapy Program
Anschutz Medical Campus
13121 E. 17th Avenue, Education Building 2
Room 3130
Aurora, CO 80045
Phone:
303-724-9545 or fax 303-724-9016
Email:
paul.mintken@uchsc.edu

RESEARCH FOCUS

My research is focused on identifying the role of regional interdependence in common musculoskeletal conditions. My main areas of interest revolve around manual therapy techniques, particularly mobilization/manipulation. Areas I am currently investigating include identifying which patients benefit from these interventions (clinical prediction rules), and the role of dysfunction and impairments in distant regions, both extremity and spine, that may affect or contribute to a patient’s primary complaint.


CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECTS

  • Establishing Minimal Clinically Important Differences for Scores on the Shortened Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Questionnaire (QuickDASH) in Patients with Shoulder Pain (Paul Mintken, PI).

    • The QuickDASH is a regional outcome tool that is frequently used in patients with upper extremity dysfunction. It has demonstrated reliability and validity, however the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) has not been established to date.  The primary aim of this research project is to determine the MCID of the QuickDASH in patients with a primary complaint of shoulder pain.

  • Development of a Clinical Predication Rule to Identify Patients with Shoulder Pain, Likely to Benefit from Cervicothoracic Manipulation (Paul Mintken, PI). The goals of this research project are to:

    1) develop a clinical prediction rule (CPR) to identify patients with a primary complaint of shoulder pain who are likely to benefit from cervicothoracic manipulation (thrust and non-thrust) and;

    2) investigate the psychometric properties, including test retest reliability of a modified version of the Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (FABQ) and the shortened Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK-11) in patients with shoulder pain.

  • Thoracic Manipulation for Cervicogenic Headaches: A Multi-Centered Randomized Clinical Trial.  (Paul Mintken CoPI; Paul Glynn PI.  Funding applied for through the Headache Foundation)

FUNDED GRANTS

  • An Evidence-Based Paradigm: Student Perceived Barriers to Learning and Practicing Spinal Manipulation. (Paul Mintken CoPI; John May PI. Funded by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists)
  • Validation of a Clinical Prediction Rule to Identify Patients with Neck Pain Likely to Benefit from Thoracic Spine Thrust Manipulation. (Paul Mintken CoPI; Josh Cleland PI.  Funded by the Orthopaedic Section of the APTA, 2007)
  • Development of a Clinical Prediction Rule to Indentify Patients Status Post-Inversion Ankle Sprain, Likely to Benefit from Manual Physical Therapy Interventions and Exercise. (Paul Mintken CoPI; Julie Whitman PI.  Funded by the Orthopaedic Section of the APTA, 2006)

PEER-REVIEWED MANUSCRIPTS PUBLISHED IN 2007-08

  • Puentedura E, Louw A, Mintken P. Neurodynamic Interventions for the Management of Patients with Headache. In: Physical Therapy for Tension Type and Cervicogenic Headache: Physical Examination, Muscle and Joint Management. Fernández de las Peñas C, Arendt-Nielsen L, Gerwin R, editors. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett; In Press.
  • Louw A, Mintken P, Puentedura L. Neuro-physiological Effects of Neural Mobilization Maneuvers. In: Physical Therapy for Tension Type and Cervicogenic Headache: Physical Examination, Muscle and Joint Management. Fernández de las Peñas C, Arendt-Nielsen L, Gerwin R, editors. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett; In Press.
  • Mintken P, DeRosa C, Little T, Smith B.  A Model for Standardizing Manipulation Terminology in Physical Therapy Practice. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy.  Accepted for Publication.
  • Mintken P, Metrick L, Flynn T.  Upper Cervical Ligament Testing in a Patient with Os Odontoideum Presenting with Headaches.  Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy.  In review.
  • Mintken P, Boyles R.  Examination and Management of a Patient with an Undiagnosed Lisfranc Injury in a Primary Care Physical Therapy Practice.  Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy.  2008 38(1): A38.
  • Mintken P, Carpenter K, Whitman J.  Management of a Patient with Acute Low Back Pain using the Lumbopelvic Region Manipulation Clinical Prediction Rule and the Treatment Based Classification System.  Abstract published in The Journal of Manual and Manipulative Therapy 2007 15(3), 177.
  • Mintken P, Metrick L, Flynn T.  Clinical Examination of a Congenital Upper Cervical Instability in a Patient with Cervicogenic Headaches.    Abstract published in The Journal of Manual and Manipulative Therapy 2007 15(3), 177-178.
  • Mintken PE, Carpenter KJ, Kohrt WM, Eckhoff D, Stevens JE.  Early Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation to Optimize Quadriceps Muscle Function Following Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Case Report.  Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy.  2007 37(7):364-71.
  • Mintken P.  Implementation of a direct access musculoskeletal injury clinic in a university setting. Abstract published in Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy, 2007 37(1):A-30-31.

ADDITIONAL PUBLICATIONS

    • Link to additional Paul Mintken publications


OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESEARCH VOLUNTEERS


Pain in the neck?

Wardenburg Health Center’s Sports Medicine Department is participating in a study to determine which physical therapy treatments are most beneficial in the treatment of neck pain. This project will compare manual therapy (the therapist moves your joints) and exercise to exercise alone. 

You may be eligible to participate in this study if you have neck pain with or without pain in one arm; are between 16-60 years of age; speak and read English; and can come to physical therapy 6 times within a 30 day period.

Shoulder Pain?

Wardenburg Health Center’s Sports Medicine Department is also participating in a study to determine which physical therapy treatments are most beneficial in the treatment of shoulder pain. This project will look at whether manual therapy (the therapist moves your joints) directed at your neck and upper back improves shoulder pain.

You may be eligible to participate in this study if you have shoulder pain between the neck and elbow at rest or during movement of the upper arm (see shaded diagram above left); are between 18-65 years of age; speak and read English; and can come to physical therapy 3 times within a 7 day period.

If you are interested in either one of these studies, please contact Paul Mintken at (303) 881-1569 or via e-mail at paul.mintken@uchsc.edu