Mary Rahlin, PT, DHS, PCS

Dr. Rahlin is a Professor and Assistant Program Director for Research in the Department of Physical Therapy. In her role of the Director of Faculty-Led Student Research, she coordinates the Research Portfolio System in the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program and teaches in the critical inquiry course series. Additionally, Dr. Rahlin is a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Pediatric Physical Therapy, with pediatrics being another major content area in her teaching. Her current research emphasis is on physical therapy management of infants with torticollis and children with cerebral palsy. Dr. Rahlin has received research funding from the American Physical Therapy Association Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy. She maintains a very small private, home-based pediatric physical therapy practice.

Research Interests

• Development of outcome measures for infants with congenital muscular torticollis
• Orthotic management of children with cerebral palsy and other movement disorders
• Efficacy of Perception-Action Approach intervention for infants and children with movement disorders
• Assessment and management of therapy-related behavior

Selected Publications and Presentations

• Rahlin M, Haney NB, Barnett J. Perception-Action Approach versus standard care for infants with congenital muscular torticollis: A pilot single-blind randomized controlled trial. Phys Ther. Published online March 14, 2024. doi:10.1093/ptj/pzae038
• Rahlin M, Barnett J, Sarmiento B. Content validity of the Functional Symmetry Observation Scale Version 2 for infants with congenital muscular torticollis: a modified Delphi technique study. Pediatr Phys Ther. 2022;34(1):37-44.
• Owen E, Rahlin M, Kane K. Content validity of a collaborative goal-setting pictorial tool for children who wear ankle-foot orthoses: A modified Delphi consensus study. J Prosthet Orthot. Orthot.2024;36(2):89-98. doi:10.1097/JPO.0000000000000462
• Rahlin M, Barnett J, Becker E, Fregosi C. Development through the lens of a perception-action-cognition connection: Recognizing the need for a paradigm shift in clinical reasoning. Phys Ther. 2019;99(6):748-760.
• Rahlin M. Physical Therapy for Children with Cerebral Palsy: An Evidence-Based Approach. Thorofare, NJ: SLACK Incorporated; 2016.

Link to Complete List of Publications

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/mary.rahlin.1/bibliography/public/

Education

• Doctor of Health Science in Physical Therapy
  University of Indianapolis
  Indianapolis, IN
• Master of Science in Physical Therapy
  University of Health Sciences/The Chicago Medical School
  North Chicago, IL
• Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy
  University of Health Sciences/The Chicago Medical School
  North Chicago, IL
• Bachelor of Arts in Physical Education
  Physical Therapy (“Therapeutic Gymnastics”) Certificate
  State Central Institute of Physical Culture
  Moscow, Russia

Certification

• American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) Certified Clinical Specialist in Pediatric Physical Therapy

Honors and Awards

• Timothy R. Hansen Mentoring Award
  Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
  June 2020
• Professional Scholarship Award
  College of Health Professions
  Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
  April 2014
• Clinical Education Award
  Physical Therapy Program
  University of Health Sciences/The Chicago Medical School
  June 1995

Professional Society Membership

• American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)
  • APTA Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy
  • APTA Academy of Education
• American Council of Academic Physical Therapy (ACAPT)
• American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine (AACPDM)
• American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)