Movement Science Research Newsletters

Movement Science Research Newsletter April 2025

WashU Medicine Program in Physical Therapy is thrilled to introduce the Movement Science Research Newsletter – a dedicated space to celebrate and disseminate the incredible achievements and advancements within our WashU Medicine Physical Therapy Research community. This newsletter will serve as a source for the latest developments in Movement Science at WashU Med PT, including notable news, prestigious awards and honors, recent & upcoming presentations, groundbreaking publications, and a schedule of upcoming seminars. Each issue will spotlight the innovative research and exceptional contributions of our faculty and their labs. Our goal is to foster a vibrant and informed community, inspiring collaboration and continued excellence at WashU and in the eld of Movement Science. We hope you enjoy each edition of the newsletter as we shine a light on the outstanding work being done in the Movement Sciences here at WashU Medicine.

Lab Spotlights

Tendon Rehabilitation Lab

Our spotlight shines on the Tendon Rehab Lab led by Jennifer Zellers, PT, DPT, PhD. The Tendon Rehab Lab investigates ways to improve care for people with tendon injuries. Currently, treatment for Achilles tendon injuries take a one-size-fits-all approach, and up to 40% of patients will have recurring symptoms. The Tendon Rehab Lab aims to optimize treatment by personalizing tendon care. Their translational approach combines clinical assessments, diagnostic imaging, and basic science methods.

 The Tendon Rehab Lab’s research spans several key areas:

• Biomechanics: Using advanced imaging and motion analysis to study tendon function and recovery.
• Tendon Pathophysiology: Exploring the underpinnings of tendon degeneration and healing.
• Advanced Diagnostic Tools: Developing and testing non-invasive diagnostic tools to improve treatment alignment.
• Patient Outcomes: Assessing the tissue response to rehabilitation treatment and its impact on patient performance.

To further their mission, the lab utilizes state-of-the-art technologies, including:

• Ultrasound and MRI Imaging: For quantitative assessment of tendon structure and function.
• Motion Capture Systems: To analyze foot and ankle contributions to tendon health and healing.
• Ex vivo Tissue Assessments: To understand tissue composition and functional changes with injury and systemic disease.

Dr. Jennifer Zellers and her team in the Tendon Rehabilitation Lab have ongoing projects investigating Achilles tendon pain, and are excited to be starting a study investigating the effect of obesity on Achilles tendon health and healing. Learn more on their lab webpage.

Education Research Lab

WashU Medicine Physical Therapy is excited to announce the establishment of the Education Research Lab. The primary focus of the Education Research Lab is to evaluate learning and learning environments within the context of health professions education. Here, researchers meticulously develop and test evidence-based strategies to foster effective learning throughout the professional continuum. Whether it’s curricular design, teaching methodologies, or assessment techniques, our research endeavors seek to innovate and elevate standards in physical therapy and other health professions education. We are looking forward to the future of this type of research alongside our collaborators at the Center for Integrative Research on Cognition, Learning, and Education. Stay up-to-date with the latest from our new Education Research Lab by visiting our webpage. 

Awards & Honors

Endowed Professorship

On February 20th, we had the honor of celebrating Catherine Lang, PT, PhD, FAPTA, as the inaugural Barbara J. Norton Professor in Physical Therapy during a memorable Professorship Installation Ceremony and Reception.

This milestone event marked: 
    ♥Dr. Lang’s appointment as the first-ever endowed professor in the history of WashU Physical Therapy, a testament to her exceptional contributions to research, education, and clinical practice.
    ♥A heartfelt tribute to Barbara J. Norton, PT, PhD, FAPTA, the longest-serving full-time faculty member, whose dedication and leadership have shaped our profession in profound ways.

Congratulations, Drs. Lang and Norton, on this well-deserved recognition! Your impacts on the field continue to inspire generations of physical therapists and researchers. 

Rawson receives McDonnell Center for Systems Neuroscience Grant

Congratulations to Dr. Kerri Rawson who was awarded a grant from the McDonnell Center for Systems Neuroscience. The grant provides funding to support purchase of a system for remote monitoring of gait. 

McPherson appointed to Study Section

Congratulations to Dr. Jacob McPherson who has been chosen to serve [ad hoc] on a study section for the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). Specifically, he was chosen for expertise in the neurobiology of pain, neural plasticity, and spinal sensorimotor integration.

In the Media

Lang on Neuroscience Perspectives

After a stroke, regaining movement isn’t just about therapy—it’s about everyday activity. Dr. Catherine Lang uses wearable sensors to study and understand why what they see in the clinic doesn’t always mirror life at home.

Listen and watch the latest episode of Neuroscience Perspectives with John Foxe, director of the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience at University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry. Guest host Jeff Koslofsky, of The Next Step Podcast, and our very own Dr. Catherine Lang, dive into her research, her journey to science, and why growing up in rural Vermont may have sparked her initial interest in understanding movement.

Earhart Discusses the Power of Physical Therapy in AP Interview

In a recent interview featured in the Associated Press, WashU Medicine- Physical Therapy’s Associate Dean, Dr. Gammon Earhart, sheds light on why physical therapy is often considered the “best-kept secret” in healthcare.

Dr. Earhart emphasizes the incredible benefits of physical therapy not just for recovery, but for prevention and overall wellness. From managing chronic pain to enhancing mobility, physical therapists play a crucial role in empowering patients and improving their quality of life.

WashU Medicine at the Combined Sections Meeting

WashU Medicine Physical Therapy was well-represented with outstanding presentations, platforms, and posters showcasing the incredible work of our faculty, students, and alumni. It was wonderful reconnecting with so many of our alumni and celebrating the impact of WashU Medicine PT across the profession.

Check out the full listing of WashU PT presentations. 

Upcoming Research Seminars

Research Seminars are held in Room 1235 at 4444 Forest Park Ave at 12:10pm CST on their respective dates.

Join our mailing list to keep-up-to-date with our recurring seminar series and to receive zoom links to attend. 

April 8, 2025
Do Threats to Social Safety Promote Musculoskeletal Pain Disparities?
Burel Goodin, PhD
Professor of Anesthesiology; WashU Pain Center; President-Elect, U.S. Association for the Study of Pain

April 22, 2025
Spinal Cord Lesion Characteristics and Functional Recovery Post Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury
Wesley Thornton, PT, DPT, NCS
PhD Candidate, CU Physical Therapy Program University of Colorado Anschutz, School of Medicine

May 6, 2025
Remote Performance Monitoring in Outpatient Rehabilitation Care
Allison Miller, PT, DPT, PhD, NCS
Postdoctoral Research Scholar, WashU Medicine: Physical Therapy, mHealth Technologies

Upcoming Presentations

The Role of the Movement System in Understanding Young Adult Hip Pain
Speakers: Nancy Bloom, PT, DPT, MSOT, Marcie Harris-Hayes, PT, DPT, MSCI,
Shirley A. Sahrmann, PT, PHD, FAPTA
Location: APTA MO 2025 Spring Conference at Maryville University in St. Louis
Date/Time: April 5, 2025 1:00-4:50pm
Learn More

Validation of Real-World Actigraphy to Capture Post-Stroke Motor Recovery
Keith R. Lohse, Allison E. Miller, Maggie D. Bland, Jin-Moo Lee, and Catherine E. Lang.
Location: American Society for Neurorehabilitation Annual Meeting
Date/Time: April 23rd-25th
Learn More  

The Movement Advantage: Living Well with Parkinson’s Through Exercise and Physical Activity
Gammon Earhart
Location: The American Parkinson Disease Association Midwest Parkinson’s Conference
Date/Time: May 1, 2025, 12:30pm-4:00pm
Learn More

Research Panel: Transitioning from Translational Research to Science: Real-World Examples
Laura McPherson
7th Annual ICTS Symposium; Eric P. Newman Education Center (EPNEC), 320 S. Euclid Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110
May, 7, 2025, 10:05-10:50am

The Unstable Joint: Multidisciplinary Approaches to Treatment
Marcie Harris-Hayes, Pt, DPT, MSCI
Location: Ohio State Symposium 2025
Date: May 9, 2025

Publications- 2025 First Quarter

Muscle Compensation Strategies to Maintain Glenohumeral Joint Stability in Rotator Cuff Tears: A Cadaveric Study. Hoshikawa K, Dominguez M, Lawrence RL, Jacobs PM, Yuri T, Mura N, Giambini H. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2025 Jan 1;107(1):26-35. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.24.00411.

Early Changes in Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Remapped Circuits and Global Networks Predict Functional Recovery after Stroke in Mice.  Bowen RM, Lee J, Wang B, Lohse KR, Miao H, Padawer-Curry JA, Albertson AJ, Landsness EC, Bauer AQ, Lee JM. Neurophotonics. 2025 Jan;12(Suppl 1):S14604. doi: 10.1117/1.NPh.12.S1.S14604.

Markers of Mitochondrial Function and Oxidative Metabolism in Female Skeletal Muscle do Not Display Intrinsic Circadian Regulation.  Fitzgerald LS, Reynoso Spurrier CS, Lau NJ, Melamed MD, Burnett LA, Meyer GA, Gui C, Hevener AL, Sanford JA, Schenk S. bioRxiv [Preprint]. 2025 Jan 13:2025.01.08.631231. doi: 10.1101/2025.01.08.631231.

Taking the Next Step in Neurologic Rehabilitation: Contributions of Intensity and Variability of Stepping Tasks during Locomotor Training.  Hornby TG, Moore J, Holleran CL, Henderson CE. Phys Ther. 2025 Jan 17:pzaf005. doi: 10.1093/ptj/pzaf005.

Exploring Booster Session Attendance, Prescription, and Outcomes in Adults with Chronic Low Back Pain: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial.  Lanier VM, Lohse KR, Hooker QL, Civello JM, van Dillen LR. medRxiv [Preprint]. 2025 Jan 28:2025.01.27.25321189. doi: 10.1101/2025.01.27.25321189.

Low Back Pain or Injury Before Collegiate Athletics, a Potential Risk Factor for Noncontact Athletic Injuries.  Harris-Hayes M, Solomon S, Lin S, Prather H, Hunt D, Agarwal M, Bloom NJ, Mills L, Clohisy JC. J Athl Train. 2025 Feb 1;60(2):170-176. doi: 10.4085/1062-6050-0151.24.

The Effect of Low-Dose CT Protocols on Shoulder Model-Based Tracking accuracy Using Biplane Videoradiography.  Chen S, Lee ECS, Napier KB, Rainbow MJ, Lawrence RL. Ann Biomed Eng. 2025 Feb;53(2):481-491. doi: 10.1007/s10439-024-03645-3.

Trial-to-Trial Motor Behavior During a Reinforcement Learning task in children ages 6 to 12. Konrad JD, Lohse KR, Marrus N, Lang CE. Hum Mov Sci. 2025 Feb;99:103317. doi: 10.1016/j.humov.2024.103317.

Person-Specific Characteristics of People with Low Back Pain Moderate the Movement Pattern within Motor Skill Training and Strength and Flexibility Exercise: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial.  L Hooker Q, M Lanier V, R van Dillen L. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2025 Feb;80:102960. doi: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2024.102960.

Differential Gait Features Across Parkinson’s Disease Clinical Subtypes.  Baudendistel ST, Rawson KS, Lessov-Schlaggar CN, Maiti B, Kotzbauer PT, Perlmutter JS, Earhart GM, Campbell MC. Clin Biomech (Bristol). 2025 Feb;122:106445. doi: 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2025.106445.

Patients’ Real-World Engagement with Movement Pattern Modifications for Nonarthritic Hip-Related Pain.  Cheng AL, Hannemann AJ, Brady BK, Pashos MM, Huecker JB, Steger-May K, Prather H, Clohisy JC, Harris-Hayes M. PM R. 2025 Feb 15. doi: 10.1002/pmrj.13343.

Dynamic Femoral Head Coverage Following Periacetabular Osteotomy for Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip.  Bourantas CA, Behrman EC, Shepherd MC, Lohse KR, Clohisy JC, Harris MD. Clin Biomech (Bristol). 2025 Feb 23;124:106471. doi: 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2025.106471. 

Targeted Inactivation of Spinal α2 Adrenoceptors Promotes Paradoxical Anti-Nociception. Lucas-Romero J, Bandres MF, McPherson JG. bioRxiv [Preprint]. 2025 Feb 25:2025.02.06.636935. doi: 10.1101/2025.02.06.636935.

Personalized Auditory Rhythmic Cues to Optimize Gait in Older Adults and People With Parkinson Disease.  Harrison EC, Tueth LE, Haussler AM, Rawson KS, Earhart GM. J Neurol Phys Ther. 2025 Feb 27. doi: 10.1097/NPT.0000000000000508.

Site-1 Protease is a Negative Regulator of Sarcolipin Promoter Activity.  Sharma I, Kelly MO, Hanners K, Shin ES, Mousa MG, Ek S, Meyer GA, Brookheart RT. bioRxiv [Preprint]. 2025 Feb 28:2025.02.25.639963. doi: 10.1101/2025.02.25.639963.

The Effect of Chronic Low Back Pain and Lumbopelvic Stabilization Instructions on Gluteus Medius Activation During Sidelying Hip Movements.  Meekins MM, Zucker-Levin A, Harris-Hayes M, Singhal K, Huffman K, Kasser R. Physiother Theory Pract. 2025 Mar;41(3):563-570. doi: 10.1080/09593985.2024.2357130.

Meeting the Health Needs of Society Through Curricular Innovation in Physical Therapist Education: Examples From 3 Entry-Level Programs.  Magnusson DM, Judd DL, Ambler SB, Magee J, Collins P, Kuba E, Bilyeu C. J Phys Ther Educ. 2025 Mar 1;39(1):25-32. doi: 10.1097/JTE.0000000000000359.

Lessons Learned from an Observational Study of Patients with Breast Cancer: Adaptions for Remote Implementation.  Salerno EA, Harriss C, Andrade DC, Peterson LL, Marx CM, Duncan RP, Luo J, Kepper MM, Anbari AB, Politi MC. Support Care Cancer. 2025 Mar 11;33(4):266. doi: 10.1007/s00520-025-09323-x. 

Neural Mechanisms Underlying Synchronization of Movement to Musical Cues in Parkinson Disease and Aging.  Harrison EC, Grossen S, Tueth LE, Haussler AM, Rawson KS, Campbell MC, Earhart GM. Front Neurosci. 2025 Mar 11;19:1550802. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2025.1550802.

Altered Joint Forces Found in Symptomatic Dysplastic Hips in Women During Sport-Specific Activities.  Shepherd MC, Huo R, Clohisy JC, Nepple JJ, Harris MD. Orthop J Sports Med. 2025 Mar 14;13(3):23259671251318736. doi: 10.1177/23259671251318736.

Fifteen-Year Follow-up of the Modified Oblique Keller Capsular Interposition Arthroplasty Compared to Arthrodesis for Treatment of Advanced First Metatarsophalangeal Joint Arthritis.  Johnson JE, Phinney AR, Hastings MK, Jeong HJ, Chen L, Thome AP, McCormick JJ, Backus JD. Foot Ankle Orthop. 2025 Mar 20;10(1):24730114251322766. doi: 10.1177/24730114251322766.

Digital gait biomarkers in Parkinson’s disease: susceptibility/risk, progression, response to exercise, and prognosis.  Mancini M, Afshari M, Almeida Q, Amundsen-Huffmaster S, Balfany K, Camicioli R, Christiansen C, Dale ML, Dibble LE, Earhart GM, Ellis TD, Griffith GJ, Hackney ME, Hopkins J, Horak FB, Jones KE, Ling L, O’Keefe JA, Kwei K, Olivier G, Rao AK, Sivaramakrishnan A, Corcos DM. NPJ Parkinsons Dis. 2025 Mar 21;11(1):51. doi: 10.1038/s41531-025-00897-1.

Defining the Minimal Clinically Important Improvement, Substantial Clinical Benefit, and Patient Acceptable Symptom State for the iHOT-12, HOOS, and HOOSglobal in the Nonoperative Management of Nonarthritic Hip-Related Pain.  Cheng AL, Radlicz CM, Pashos MM, Huecker JB, Steger-May K, Prather H, Clohisy JC, Harris-Hayes M. Am J Sports Med. 2025 Mar 23:3635465251325466. doi: 10.1177/03635465251325466.