ATF · FOR STUDENTS AND FACULTY ADVISORS
Capstone Projects
Independent tools and how-to guidance for students doing a school-supervised aquatic therapy capstone or senior project. Capstone projects with the Foundation are a future project. For help using these free resources, email info@aquatictherapyfoundation.org. Nothing to join or register for now.
© 2026 Aquatic Therapy Foundation, Inc. See competing-interest statement.
Last reviewed: October 24, 2026
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Aquatic Therapy Foundation. (2026). Capstone projects with the Aquatic Therapy Foundation. https://aquatictherapyfoundation.org/for-students/capstone/
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For Students › Capstone projects
Capstone projects are a future project
Capstone projects with the Aquatic Therapy Foundation are a future project. There is nothing to join or register for now, and the Foundation is not arranging or running student projects at this time.
You are welcome to use the free tools and guidance on this page independently for a school-supervised capstone or senior project. For help finding or using these resources, email info@aquatictherapyfoundation.org.
Start here
Tap a card to jump to a section. Students and faculty advisors can read this page together and use the tools independently.
Key facts (checked October 24, 2026)
- The Aquatic Therapy Foundation (ATF) is a nonprofit that runs a free, non-commercial online Aquatic Therapy Encyclopedia™ (beta), an Evidence Library of more than 400 research papers (2025–2026 beta) with 34 conditions rated from those papers, and a For Researchers page that lists 29 open research questions.
- This page offers independent tools and how-to guidance. Capstone projects with ATF are a future project; there is nothing to join or register for now.
- Four kinds of student project ideas are described below: evidence appraisal (PEDro), Encyclopedia source checks, usability testing and gap feasibility studies.
- School supervision comes from your own program. Use these resources under a named faculty supervisor at your school.
- IRB approval at the student’s own university is required for any study or test that involves people. ATF does not provide IRB approval.
- No money changes hands. ATF does not pay students and does not sell anything on this page.
What these resources are for
When you do a school-supervised capstone or senior project, you can use the Foundation’s free website tools independently to practice appraisal, source-checking, usability work or study design on a public, non-commercial aquatic therapy resource.
The Foundation’s resources are only as trustworthy as the checking behind them. Careful, supervised student work adds scrutiny the Foundation cannot provide alone. In return, students get real practice on a public resource. ATF is not arranging or co-running projects right now; your school sets the requirements and provides the supervision.
In plain words
Capstone project: a final, supervised project that a student completes near the end of a degree program. Each school sets its own requirements.
Evidence appraisal (PEDro): rating the quality of a clinical trial with the PEDro scale, a checklist used by the Physiotherapy Evidence Database to judge how well a trial was designed and reported.
Encyclopedia source check: comparing what an Encyclopedia entry says with the sources it cites, and logging any mismatch with a suggested correction.
Usability testing: asking people to try set tasks on the website, such as finding information or using site search, and recording where they get stuck.
Gap feasibility study: a small feasibility study, designed by a student and faculty member, on one of the 29 open research questions on the For Researchers page. A feasibility study tests whether a larger study could be run. It is not meant to settle the question.
IRB: an institutional review board, the committee at a university that reviews and approves research involving people.
Four kinds of projects
These four types are DIY project ideas you can adapt with your faculty supervisor. They match the kinds of work that improve a public evidence site.
1. Evidence appraisal (PEDro)
- Rate clinical trials in the Evidence Library that do not yet have a PEDro database score.
- Complete the free PEDro scale training first.
- Best practice: two students rate each trial independently, and the supervising faculty member settles disagreements.
- Keep student ratings separate from PEDro database scores.
- Systematic reviews and other non-trial designs are out of scope for PEDro rating.
2. Encyclopedia source checks
- Check that Encyclopedia entries match the sources they cite.
- Log any discrepancies, with suggested corrections.
- You may email corrections to info@aquatictherapyfoundation.org; the Foundation welcomes fixes.
3. Usability testing
- Test how well the site, including site search, works for patients, families or clinicians.
- Tests use adult participants by default.
- Testing with children or families needs the school’s IRB approval and parental consent.
4. Gap feasibility studies
- Small feasibility studies, designed by the student and faculty, on one of the 29 open questions listed under “Research gaps: open questions” on the For Researchers page.
- See the open questions and About gap studies below.
Speech-language pathology: none of the 29 open questions is specific to speech-language pathology, so SLP projects usually fit appraisal and source-check work rather than gap feasibility studies. Usability testing with clinicians, and source checks of any section, are open to students from every profession listed on this page.
Example projects by profession
These are examples only. Scope and topics can be adjusted with your program. Exercise physiology and athletic training are included because many U.S. programs require a senior or research capstone.
Physical Therapy (DPT)
- Neuro evidence appraisal (for example, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury)
Deliverable: adjudicated PEDro ratings for an assigned set of eligible trials, plus a one-page summary by condition
Scope: one semester - Orthopedic evidence appraisal (for example, knee or hip osteoarthritis, low back pain, post-surgical rehab)
Deliverable: adjudicated PEDro ratings of eligible trials, plus a one-page summary by condition
Scope: one semester - Heart failure and heart disease, and high blood pressure: evidence appraisal
Deliverable: adjudicated PEDro ratings of eligible trials, plus notes on safety and dosing details reported in each trial
Scope: one semester - Encyclopedia source check: musculoskeletal entries
Deliverable: discrepancy log comparing entry claims to cited sources, with suggested corrections
Scope: one semester - Gap feasibility study: spinal cord injury (gait and balance in the months after an incomplete spinal cord injury), hip osteoarthritis (studied separately from knee), or knee or hip replacement (do hip results match knee results?)
Deliverable: study protocol, IRB-approved feasibility study and short summary report
Scope: two semesters
Occupational Therapy (OTD, MOT, MSOT)
- ADLs and functional outcomes: evidence appraisal
Deliverable: adjudicated PEDro ratings of eligible trials, plus a summary of the function and ADL outcome measures used
Scope: one semester - Sensory processing and pediatrics: evidence appraisal
Deliverable: adjudicated PEDro ratings of eligible trials, plus a one-page summary by condition
Scope: one semester - Usability testing of pediatric entries with families
Deliverable: usability report with prioritized, plain-language fixes (institutional review board approval and parental consent required)
Scope: one to two semesters - Gap feasibility study: dementia (cognition, function or quality of life in people living with dementia), autism (behavioral and social benefits), or cerebral palsy (which children gain more from water than land?)
Deliverable: study protocol, IRB-approved feasibility study and short summary report
Scope: two semesters
Speech-Language Pathology (MS, MA SLP)
- Swallowing in water: evidence map and appraisal
Deliverable: evidence map showing what exists (and what does not), with adjudicated PEDro ratings of eligible trials
Scope: one semester - Voice and respiratory function during immersion: evidence appraisal
Deliverable: adjudicated PEDro ratings of eligible trials, plus a one-page summary
Scope: one semester - Communication outcomes in autism and dementia: evidence appraisal
Deliverable: adjudicated PEDro ratings of eligible trials, plus a summary of the communication outcomes reported
Scope: one semester - Encyclopedia source check: SLP-relevant entries
Deliverable: source-check log plus a readability review with suggested edits
Scope: one semester
Recreational Therapy (BS, MS; CTRS track)
- Community aquatic participation: evidence appraisal
Deliverable: adjudicated PEDro ratings of eligible trials, plus a summary of participation and quality-of-life outcomes
Scope: one semester - Adherence and drop-out: evidence appraisal
Deliverable: adjudicated PEDro ratings of eligible trials, plus a summary table of the adherence and drop-out data they report
Scope: one semester - Usability testing: site search
Deliverable: search test report: structured tasks, failed queries and recommended fixes
Scope: one semester - Gap feasibility study: rheumatoid and other inflammatory arthritis (can fitness gains from aquatic interval training be kept beyond 6 months, and what helps people keep them?) or overweight and obesity (which water-aerobics program lengths and intensities matter?)
Deliverable: study protocol, IRB-approved feasibility study and short summary report
Scope: two semesters
Exercise Physiology (BS, MS; ACSM-EP track)
- Cardiorespiratory outcomes in water: evidence appraisal
Deliverable: adjudicated PEDro ratings of eligible trials, plus a summary of VO₂, heart-rate and blood-pressure measures reported
Scope: one semester - Exercise prescription and dose reporting: evidence appraisal
Deliverable: adjudicated PEDro ratings plus a table of how trials report intensity, duration and progression (CERT/TIDieR fields)
Scope: one semester - Encyclopedia source check: exercise physiology entries
Deliverable: discrepancy log comparing entry claims to cited sources, with suggested corrections
Scope: one semester - Gap feasibility study: overweight and obesity, type 2 diabetes, or high blood pressure (feasibility of a supervised aquatic exercise protocol with clear dose reporting)
Deliverable: study protocol, IRB-approved feasibility study and short summary report
Scope: two semesters
Athletic Training (MSAT / MAT; CAATE)
- Return-to-sport and aquatic rehab: evidence appraisal
Deliverable: adjudicated PEDro ratings of eligible trials, plus notes on injury type and return-to-play outcomes
Scope: one semester - Injury prevention and balance in water: evidence appraisal
Deliverable: adjudicated PEDro ratings of eligible trials, plus a one-page summary by injury or population
Scope: one semester - Critically appraised topic or case-study style write-up using Evidence Library records
Deliverable: CAT or case analysis with PEDro ratings where trials apply, plus clinical takeaways
Scope: one semester - Usability testing: clinician search tasks for sports-medicine topics
Deliverable: search test report: structured tasks, failed queries and recommended fixes
Scope: one semester
“Adjudicated” means two students rated each trial independently and the supervising faculty member settled any disagreements. “Eligible trials” are clinical trials in the Evidence Library that do not yet have a PEDro database score.
The 29 open questions for gap studies
If you design a school-supervised feasibility study, these 29 open research questions on the For Researchers page are good starting points: 17 from the condition ratings and 12 gaps that published reviews name themselves. Each question there comes with the key paper behind it and a link to a live Evidence Library search.
Too little research yet (2 conditions)
- Spinal cord injury
- Dementia, memory and thinking
Some research supports it (15 conditions)
- Rheumatoid and other inflammatory arthritis
- Ankylosing spondylitis
- Hip osteoarthritis
- Long-lasting low back pain
- Parkinson’s disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- Cerebral palsy
- Autism
- Heart failure and heart disease
- Breast cancer and lymphedema
- Pregnancy
- Overweight and obesity
- Type 2 diabetes
- Knee or hip replacement
- High blood pressure
Gaps the reviews name themselves (12 questions)
- Long-term follow-up
- Standard protocols and dose reporting
- Reporting side effects
- Frail older adults
- Severe stroke
- Lymphedema in the legs
- Adolescents and adults with cerebral palsy
- Coronary artery disease
- Counting falls, not only fall risk
- Cost-effectiveness
- Older adults in long-stay care
- Daily activity and participation in Parkinson’s disease
About gap studies
- Feasibility studies inspired by these questions are not meant to settle the question.
- The open questions are starting points drawn from the condition ratings and from gaps that published reviews name themselves. They are not funding priorities or a research agenda set by ATF. Check the wider literature and trial registries before planning a study.
- Studies involving children, people living with dementia, pregnant people or people with spinal cord injury may need full IRB review and take longer. Plan two semesters.
- Report with the CONSORT extension for pilot and feasibility trials, and describe the water program with TIDieR and CERT.
What you can gain from independent work
Skills for your portfolio
- Hands-on practice with critical appraisal, source checking, usability testing and study design.
- Real work products (rating logs, discrepancy logs, usability reports, protocols) you can show a future employer or residency.
- If you send a correction the Foundation uses, you may be named as a contributor with your consent.
What is free to use
- The Evidence Library records and condition ratings.
- The Encyclopedia citation lists and entry text.
- This page’s project-type definitions, examples and open-question list.
- Email help at info@aquatictherapyfoundation.org when you get stuck finding or using a resource.
What your school provides
- A named faculty supervisor and your program’s capstone or senior-project rules.
- IRB review when people are involved.
- Grading and academic credit under your school’s policies.
ATF is not offering funding, stipends, publication placement or a live project partnership right now. Capstone projects with the Foundation are a future project.
How to use this page
- Talk with your faculty advisor. Your program’s requirements come first. Plan the project under school supervision.
- Pick a project type from this page (appraisal, source check, usability or gap feasibility) and adapt the scope to your term.
- Use the free ATF tools linked here: Evidence Library, Encyclopedia, For Researchers open questions and PEDro training.
- Get IRB approval if people are involved. Any study or test that involves people, including usability testing and gap feasibility studies, needs approval from your own university’s IRB.
- Do the work under faculty supervision. Your faculty supervisor oversees the project from start to finish.
- Email only if you need help finding a resource or reporting a site error: info@aquatictherapyfoundation.org. The Foundation is not arranging or co-running projects now.
Guardrails
- Faculty supervision is required for academic credit. Every school-supervised project needs a named faculty supervisor at the student’s school.
- IRB approval at the student’s own university is required for any study or test that involves people (including usability testing and gap feasibility studies). ATF does not provide IRB approval.
- No money changes hands. ATF does not pay students and does not sell anything on this page.
- No commercial endorsements. Projects should not promote any product, course or company.
- Corrections. We will correct errors; report them to info@aquatictherapyfoundation.org.
IRB note: ATF does not review, approve or sponsor research involving people. Your university’s IRB decides what review a project needs. Usability tests use adult participants by default; testing with children or families needs the school’s IRB approval and parental consent. Studies involving children, people living with dementia, pregnant people or people with spinal cord injury may need full IRB review, so plan two semesters.
Ask for help
Capstone projects with ATF are a future project. There is nothing to join or register for now. Email us if you need help using the free tools on this page.
Students
Talk with your faculty advisor and use the project ideas above under school supervision. Share this page with your advisor. Email info@aquatictherapyfoundation.org only if you need help finding a paper, entry or open question.
Faculty
Email info@aquatictherapyfoundation.org with questions about the Evidence Library, Encyclopedia or open-question list. We can point you to free resources. We are not arranging or co-running student projects at this time.
Common questions
What are these Capstone resources for?
They are free tools and how-to guidance for students doing a school-supervised capstone or senior project. You can practice evidence appraisal (PEDro), Encyclopedia source checks, usability testing or gap feasibility studies on the Foundation’s non-commercial website. Capstone projects with ATF are a future project; there is nothing to join or register for now.
Are there ATF capstone projects to join right now?
No. Capstone projects with the Foundation are a future project. You may email info@aquatictherapyfoundation.org for help using the free resources on this page. ATF is not registering participants and is not arranging student projects at this time.
Who can use these tools?
Students in physical therapy (DPT), occupational therapy (OTD, MOT, MSOT), speech-language pathology (MS, MA SLP), recreational therapy (BS, MS; CTRS track), exercise physiology (BS, MS; including ACSM-EP tracks) and athletic training (MSAT/MAT; CAATE), working under a named faculty supervisor at their school. Other related programs may adapt the same ideas.
Can I get academic credit from ATF?
No. Academic credit comes only from your school. ATF provides free public resources; your faculty supervisor sets and grades the project.
Does it cost anything, or are students paid?
No money changes hands. ATF does not pay students and does not sell anything on this page. ATF is not offering funding, stipends or publication placement.
Does ATF provide IRB approval?
No. IRB approval at the student’s own university is required for any study or test that involves people, including usability testing and gap feasibility studies. ATF does not provide IRB approval.
Which trials can students rate with the PEDro scale?
Clinical trials in the Evidence Library that do not yet have a PEDro database score. Raters complete the free PEDro scale training first; best practice is two students rating each trial independently with the supervising faculty member settling disagreements. Keep student ratings separate from PEDro database scores. Systematic reviews and other non-trial designs are out of scope.
Can speech-language pathology students do a gap feasibility study?
None of the 29 open questions is specific to speech-language pathology, so SLP projects usually fit appraisal and source-check work. Your faculty supervisor can still design a related feasibility study if your school allows it.
What if a student finds an error on the site?
We will correct errors; report them to info@aquatictherapyfoundation.org. With your consent, you may be named as a contributor when a correction is used.
How to cite this page
Last reviewed October 24, 2026· Permanent URL: https://aquatictherapyfoundation.org/for-students/capstone/
How to cite
Aquatic Therapy Foundation. (2026). Capstone projects with the Aquatic Therapy Foundation. https://aquatictherapyfoundation.org/for-students/capstone/
Permissions: You may quote and cite this page with attribution. To reproduce or adapt the full page, email info@aquatictherapyfoundation.org.
Cite the date you accessed this page, because content may change.
About this page
Competing interests
This page was prepared under the direction of Aquatic Therapy Foundation (ATF) leadership. ATF’s CEO also directs a separate company that sells aquatic therapy continuing education, and much of ATF’s Encyclopedia and Evidence Library content is licensed from that company. This page never asks students or programs to use, buy or promote any course, credential or product. ATF has a conflict-of-interest policy.
Copyright
© 2026 Aquatic Therapy Foundation, Inc. Cited third-party works keep their own copyright and licenses.
Corrections and questions
If you spot an error or an outdated link, or have a question about using these capstone resources, contact us at info@aquatictherapyfoundation.org.
Last reviewed: October 24, 2026. External information was checked against official sources on October 24, 2026, and may have changed since then. This page describes free tools for school-supervised student work. Capstone projects with ATF are a future project; details may change. It is general education, not medical advice, and the open research questions are not funding priorities or a research agenda set by the Foundation.
Prepared by the Aquatic Therapy Foundation · Questions: info@aquatictherapyfoundation.org
Copyright: © 2026 Aquatic Therapy Foundation, Inc. Cited third-party works keep their own copyright and licenses.
Competing interests: ATF’s CEO also directs a separate company that sells aquatic therapy continuing education, and much of ATF’s Encyclopedia and Evidence Library content is licensed from that company. This page never asks students or programs to use, buy or promote any course, credential or product. ATF has a conflict-of-interest policy.