Hosted by the Doctor of Physical Therapy program. 

Target Audience

Des Moines University faculty, staff, and students.

Purpose

This Friday’s seminar features three accomplished DMU Researchers: Drs. Kristin Lowry, Kathy Mercuris and Katie Stevermer.

• Dr. Lowry joined DMU in October 2013. Dr. Lowry’s primary research interest is the measurement and retraining of walking skill. Specifically, her work focuses on investigating the control variables and tasks that best capture walking skill, and the development and comparison of gait rehabilitation interventions for older adults with mobility disability and persons with Parkinson’s disease.
• Dr. Mercuris’ research focuses on decreased balance and the resulting falls as a primary health concern for those with neurologic dysfunction and/or the older adult population. She also focuses on the portable mat system as a way to measure gait and the ability to complete a 180 degree turn.
• Dr. Katie Stevermer uses biomechanical and clinical measures to evaluate postural stability and movement strategies during functional activities. Specifically, Dr. Stevermer focuses on stability assessment for individuals with musculoskeletal pathology, the analysis of directional changes during gait, and the comparison of movement strategies across age groups during sit-to-stand.

Learning Objectives

1. Describe movement analysis capabilities of the Motor Control Lab and contrast with Human Performance Lab.
2. Define the overall goals of human subject research in the Motor Control Lab.
3. Describe ongoing research and collaborations of the Motor Control Lab faculty.