PM&R Research Initiatives

The faculty is pursuing research in a variety of areas including biomechanics and physiology of gait and other movements, the effects of specific types of exercise modalities, and bracing. The department has a state-of-the-art motion and  gait analysis  laboratory,including a one-of-a-kind forceplate instrumented treadmill that allows repeated  measurements of joint kinetics
during walking and running.

Collaborative research with the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences is focused on wheelchair systems and components and automobile safety for persons with disabilities. Research also
continues in sports medicine, pain, functional outcomes and electrodiagnosis. Collaboration with the Medical School's Department of Neurosciences has allowed for the development of a rat model for stroke and spinal cord injury rehabilitation research.

During their senior year, residents are encouraged to elect a
three-month research rotation. Projects may be pursued with
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation faculty or other faculty
within the School of Medicine.

Faculty Research Interests

D. Casey Kerrigan, MD, MS: Walking and Running

Alan P. Alfano, MD: Spinal Cord Injury, Alternative and Complementary Medicine

Paul E. Allaire, PhD: Biomechanics, analysis of human movements; Rotating machinery, bearings, rotor dynamics, seals, controls and fluid flows; Magnetic bearing supported artificial human heart pump implantation; High speed energy storage flywheels; Finite element analysis

Scott D. Bender, PhD: Sports concussion; Neuropsychology of aging; Forensic neuropsychology; Postoperative cognitive dysfunction

Peter Bower, MD: Pain management, manipulative/manual therapy

Mary G. Bryant, MD: Electrodiagnosis, Adults with Cerebral Palsy

Walter S. Davis, MD: Ethics and Disability

Ugo Della Croce, PhD: Biomechanics, Gait Analysis, Human Movement Analysis

Margarete Di Benedetto, MD: Electrodiagnosis, Chemosensory Disorders

Paul T. Diamond, MD: Neurorehabilitation, Geriatric Rehabilitation

Ward Gypson, MD: Neck and back disorders, musculoskeletal medicine, non-interventional pain management, and acupuncture

Chris Ingersoll, PhD, ATC, FACSM: Neuromechanical consequences of injury as it relates to muscle inhibition and neural control systems

Jeffrey Jenkins, MD: Electrodiagnosis, Acupuncture, Gait

Laura Lee, MD, MBA: Geriatric and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation

Michael Martelli, PhD: Rehabilitation Psychology and Neuropsychology

Danny Mistry, MD: Sports Medicine, Cardiovascular Physiology

Patrick O. Riley, PhD: Biomechanics, Gait Analysis, Human Movement Analysis

David S. Rubendall, DO: Electrodiagnosis; Sports Medicine

Ethan Saliba, PhD, PT, ATC: Sports Medicine

Jonathon Z. Schuch, MEng, PE: Advanced seating systems for individuals with severe disabilities; rehabilitation technology

Ann Gill Taylor, RN, MS, EdD, FAAN: Body-based modalities, bioelectromagnetic therapies; biologically-based therapies

Dr. Robert P. Wilder: Physiologic and Training Effects of Deep Water Running for Athletes, Sports Medicine 

Nathan Zasler, MD: Medical rehabilitation of traumatic brain injury; rehabilitation of post-concussive disorders; neurotrauma and neurorehabilitation