Department of Physical Therapy Movement Analysis Laboratory

Team Members

• Frank DiLiberto PT, PhD - Director
• Maxine Olson MS - Engineer, Manager
• Ying Fang PhD - Faculty Researcher

Faculty Lab Use Request

DPT Student Lab Assistants

Areas of Interest

• Balance and mobility of people with diabetes mellitus
  • Vestibular Function and Balance in People with Diabetes Mellitus
  • When, Where, and Why we Should Look for Vestibular Function in People with Diabetes
• Ankle joint proprioception
  • Targeting ankle proprioception: A novel, valid, and reliable approach to measuring ankle proprioception for clinical implementation
• Physical function of people following total ankle arthroplasty
  • A Prospective Study of Midfoot Function, Ankle Power and Patient Functional Outcomes after Total Ankle Arthroplasty (2016)
    • Midfoot Function Before and After Total Ankle Arthroplasty
    • Total Ankle Arthroplasty: Strength, Pain, and Motion
    • Ankle Plantar Flexor Muscle Performance and Patient Reported Outcomes in People Following Total Ankle Arthroplasty
  • Overall Health and Influence of Physical Therapy in People After Total Ankle Arthroplasty
• Neurorehabilitation for individuals with gait deficits
  • Can ankle assistance and ankle moment biofeedback improve gait mechanics and joint loads during incline walking in cerebral palsy?
    • Effects of ankle exoskeleton assistance and plantar pressure biofeedback on incline walking mechanics and muscle activity in cerebral palsy
  • Feasibility of Augmenting Ankle Exoskeleton Walking Performance With Step Length Biofeedback in Individuals With Cerebral Palsy
  • Bilateral vs. Paretic-Limb-Only Ankle Exoskeleton Assistance for Improving Hemiparetic Gait: A Case Series
• Enhance balance and prevent falls in older adults
  • How adaptive ankle exoskeleton assistance affects stability during perturbed and unperturbed walking in the elderly

Student Projects

• Musculoskeletal Injuries in Elite Collegiate Tenpin Bowling Athletes
• Foot strength testing studies led by Dr. Karen Stevens.
  • Stevens K, Adams L, De La Rosa J, Fletcher A, Li C, Payant N, Shareef I, Siebert H, Olson M. Differences in Ground Reaction Forces in Sit and Standing during a Foot Strength Test. Poster Presentation. American Society of Biomechanics; ASB 2024. Madison, WI; August 2024.
  • Stevens K, DiLiberto FE, Winiger K. Foot and Ankle Curricular Guidelines: How are we doing? Poster Presentation. American Physical Therapy Association; Combined Sections Meeting. Boston, MA. February 2024.
  • Stevens K, Brinkerhoff M, Cravens J, Gross B, Kadushin I, Parek M, Stankoskey S, Varnas A, Turrentine N. Muscle Activation in Healthy Adults During a Foot Strength Test in Sitting and Standing.
    Poster Presentation. American Physical Therapy Association; Combined Section Meeting. Orlando, FL (virtual); February 2021.