Abstract
The Dissertation of Clinical Practice Improvement (DoCPI) is a comprehensive document that is completed in the Doctor of Athletic Training (DAT) Program. The DoCPI serves to support the clinician’s achievement towards an Advanced Practice (AP) in athletic training. The clinician’s achievement of AP is evidenced by a Plan of Advanced Practice (PoAP), which includes an in-depth analysis of the clinician’s clinical competence (strengths and weaknesses), professional goals, and a plan for the achievement of those goals. The DoCPI also includes a critical and reflective analysis of patient outcomes data that were collected during the clinician’s residency. This analysis provides the clinician with the justification necessary to make changes in his or her clinical practice that result in improved patient care. Such improvement is demonstrated through reflective journaling, improved patient outcomes, and intelligence gleaned from an original applied clinical research investigation. This dissertation contains such an investigation; in particular, an epidemiological observation of non-contact lower extremity injury risk prediction using the Functional Movement Screen™ and knee abduction moment. A thorough review of the literature on this topic (in particular, on anterior cruciate ligament injury risk) and a consideration of movement quality to identify at-risk individuals both provide rationale for the investigation and are further evidence of the clinician’s path toward AP.