Interests & Expertise

My research is in the areas of grip assessment, including assessment of maximal effort and sincerity of effort (distinguishing between maximal vs. submaximal grip effort), as well as effect of fatigue, musculoskeletal pain and injury on grip effort. I have examined reliability and validity of some of the sincerity of effort tests commonly used in the clinic, such as rapid exchange grip test. I have also been involved in developing new tests for examining sincerity of effort – Force-Time Curve Test, Visual Target Grip Test, and using median frequency of surface electromyographic signal. Further, I have examined the effect of gender, as well as upper extremity injury and pain on the physiological nature of isometric grip effort. Furthermore, I have examined the effect of different kinds of instructions given for exerting grip effort by physical and occupational therapists to people with upper extremity injuries. Lastly, I have been involved in examining the reliability and validity of an electronic assessment for measuring upper extremity pain. I am currently expanding my research to focus on screening for upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders and identifying the association between joint pain and ability to perform activities of daily living.

Awards

• Certificate of Appreciation, presented by Office of Undergraduate Research at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, in gratitude for dedication to undergraduate research as a faculty mentor, July 22, 2011.
• Byoung Kim Teaching Excellence Award, College of Health Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 2011.
• Graduate School Research Fellow, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 2011-2012.
• Wisconsin Research Fellow, University of Wisconsin Libraries Research Fellow Program, 2011-2012.
• Research Grant/Mentorship Opportunity Program Award, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 2006.
• Rehabilitation Science Doctoral Program Travel Award, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 2004.
• Graduate Student Council Travel Award, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 2004.
• Most Valued Student of the Year, Student Organization Advising and Resources (SOAR), University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 2002.
• Graduate Student Research Award, College of Health Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 2002.
• Graduate Student Travel Award, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 2002.

Recent Publications

Sindhu, B. S., Shechtman, O., & Tuckey, L. E. (In Press). Validity, Reliability, and Responsiveness of a Digital Version of the Visual Analog Scale. Journal of Hand Therapy.

Seo, N. J., Sindhu, B. S., & Shechtman, O. (In Press). The influence of pain associated with musculoskeletal disorders on grip force timing. Journal of Hand Therapy.

Sindhu, B. S., & Shechtman, O. (2011). Using the Force-Time Curve to Determine Sincerity of Effort in People with Upper Extremity Injuries. J Hand Ther, 24(1), 22-30.

Lehman, L. A., Sindhu, B. S., Shechtman, O., Romero, S., & Velozo, C. A. (2010). A Comparison of the Ability of Two Upper Extremity Assessments to Measure Change in Function. Journal of Hand Therapy, 23(1), 31-40.

Sindhu, B. S., & King, P. (2009). Assessing evaluee effort. In E. Genovese & J. S. Galper (Eds.), Guide to the evaluation of functional ability: How to request, interpret and apply functional capacity evaluations (1st ed., pp. 195-226): American Medical Association.

Shechtman, O., & Sindhu, B. S. (2009, September 3-5). Using the Force-Time Curve to Identify Maximal versus Submaximal Efforts in People with Upper Extremity Injuries. Paper presented at the Bridges: Connecting the Past and the Future. 2009 Combined Annual Meeting of ASSH and ASHT, San Francisco, CA.

Sindhu, B. S., & Shechtman, O. (2009, September 3-5). Using the surface electromyographic signal to identify maximal versus submaximal efforts in people with upper extremity injuries. . Paper presented at the Bridges: Connecting the Past and the Future. 2009 Combined Annual Meeting of ASSH and ASHT, San Francisco, CA.

Shechtman, O., Hope, L. M., & Sindhu, B. S. (2007). Evaluation of the Torque-Velocity Test of the BTE-Primus as a Measure of Sincerity of Effort of Grip Strength. J Hand Ther, 20(4), 326-335.

Shechtman, O., Sindhu, B. S., & Davenport, P. W. (2007). Using the force-time curve to detect maximal grip strength effort. J Hand Ther, 20(1), 37-48.

Shechtman, O., Hope, L. M., & Sindhu, B. S. (2006). Using the Torque-Velocity Test of the BTE-Primus to Measure Sincerity of Effort of Grip Strength. Journal of Hand Therapy, 19(4), 440-441.

Shechtman, O., & Sindhu, B. (2005). Using the force-time curve to detect submaximal effort. Journal of Hand Therapy, 18(4), 461-462.

Mann, W. C., Sindhu, B. S. & Justiss, M. D. (2004). Use and satisfaction with urinary incontinence pads by home-based elderly.  Proceedings of the RESNA 2004 Annual Conference, 23, RESNA Press.

Sindhu, B. S., Shechtman, O., & Davenport, P. W. (2003). Measurement of sincerity of effort in grip strength test: instrumentation to improve outcome of work related musculoskeletal disorder rehabilitation.  Proceedings of the RESNA 2003 Annual Conference, 23, RESNA Press.

Sindhu, B. S. (2003).  Linear regression models of internet usage for persons with and without disabilities.  Proceedings of the RESNA 2003 Annual Conference, 23, RESNA Press.

Sindhu, B. S., Smith, R. O., & Schwanke, T. D. (2002). Incomplete: Measuring Consequential Validity Of An Assessment Instrument Using Human Judgment.  Proceedings of the RESNA 2002 Annual Conference, 22, RESNA Press.

Sindhu, B. S. (2002). The impact of providing design information to help make websites more accessible: An investigation of the consequential validity of the WebAUDIT. Proceedings of the Occupational Therapy Midwest Deans’ Research Day Conference, 15, Creighton University, Omaha, NE.

Schwanke, T. D, Sindhu, B.S. & Smith, R.O. (2000). Project IMPACT and introductory design tips for increasing the accessibility of web-based courses. Teaching with Technology Today, 5(7), Available online: [http://www.uwsa.edu/olit/ttt/schwanke.htm]

Manuscripts in Preparation

Shechtman, O., Sindhu, B. S., & Veazie, P. Use of the Coefficient of Variation, the Rapid Exchange Grip Test and the Five Rung Grip Test to identify their combined ability to predict sincerity of effort. Journal of Hand Therapy.

Mann, W. C., Sindhu, B. S., Justiss, M. D. Use of absorbent pads for urinary incontinence by home-based elders. Assistive Technology.