The University of Pittsburgh Department of Physical Therapy faculty continue to excel in communicating the findings of their clinical research with over 30 peer-reviewed publications during the fall of 2024. The publications spanned musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, aging, health-services research and measurement areas. Broad topics included knee conditions (meniscectomy, ligament reconstruction, patellofemoral pain), total joint arthroplasty, shoulder instability, low back pain, stroke, vestibular, brain injury and aging.
Professor Sara Piva
Sara Piva, professor and vice chair for Research in the Pitt Department of Physical Therapy, was the keynote speaker of the 2024 American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists Conference in Orlando, Florida, late October. The title of her presentation was “Managing Knee OA – Can we do better?”
Assistant Professor Samannaaz Khoja
Assistant Professor Samannaaz Khoja, received the LeaRRn Learning Health Systems Scholar Innovation Award. This award honors individuals who have demonstrated innovative thinking that enabled work with a health system despite challenges, or for approaching the work in new and exciting ways.
Associate Professor Kara Kobal
Kara Kobal, associate professor and director of the Doctor of Physical Therapy residential program, was awarded a research grant through the Academy of Education. This is a collaborative research project with Creighton University, Ohio State University, and University of Colorado. The title of the project is “Implementation of a Clinical Reasoning Blueprint for Physical Therapy Educators Through a Professional Development Series Grounded in a Knowledge Translation Framework: A Multisite Study.”
Professors Sara R. Piva and Charity G. Patterson
The Physical Therapy Department was represented at the well-recognized interprofessional spine conference, the 50th International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine Annual Meeting in Milan, Italy, late May of 2024. Professors Sara R. Piva and Charity G. Patterson presented their work on a platform titled “The association of hip muscle strength and asymmetry with functional performance and disability in individuals with chronic low back pain.”
These professors continue to collaborate with investigators from the University of Pittsburgh in one of the largest longitudinal cohort studies aiming to phenotype patients with chronic low back pain, and in working groups part of the National Institutes of Health’s Helping to End Addiction Long-term Initiative. These combined initiatives aim to improve outcome for patients with chronic pain.
