School of Allied Health Professions

Department of Physical Therapy

Ongoing Research In The Department of Physical Therapy 

As of March 2026 

 

 

Musculoskeletal PT 

  1. Liu H, Baker A. Study of Anatomical Variations on Cadavers.  

 

Anatomy Study by Howe Liu 

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Cadaveric Picture 

 

Platinated Cadaver Picture 

 

 

 

 

 

Pediatric PT 

  1. MacMaster CM, Wellons RD. Investing the impact of a rhythm based dance class on mobility in children with developmental disabilities.
  2. Moreau/Simon Peter (PI). Molecular regulation of skeletal muscle function in children with cerebral palsy: implication for therapeutic targets.
  3. Moreau/Bjornson (PI). Short-Burst Interval Treadmill Training to Improve Community Walking Activity and Mobility in Cerebral Palsy.
  4. Moreau (PI).  Power Training Combined with Interval Treadmill Training to Improve Walking Activity in Cerebral Palsy. 

 

 

Picture of participant on the leg press with the PI, Dr. Moreau, during the Power Training Combined with Interval Treadmill Training (PT3) clinical trial 

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Neurologic/Vestibular PT 

  1. Wellons RD and colleagues: Safety and Efficiency of Vestibular Physical Therapy Prior to Vestibular Function Testing in Individuals with Vestibular Disorders. 
  1. Wellons RD and colleagues: Cervical Spine Range of Motion in Individuals with Vestibular Disorders. 
  1. Wellons RD. Investigating Vestibular Physical Therapist Ability to Prescribe the Vestibular - Ocular Reflex X 1 (VOR X 1) Exercise. 

 

Equipment in the Physical Therapy Department 

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LSU Health New Orleans Department of Physical Therapy Professor Dr. Rachel Wellons uses the Interacoustics Video Head Impulse System (vHIT) system to measure function of the semicircular canals of the vestibular system.  

 

 

 

Sports PT 

  1. Giordano KA, Phillips IV P, Hartman M. Factors Contributing to Shoulder Girdle Compensation in Patients with Rotator Cuff Tears. 
  1. Giordano KA, Akotaobi N. Rehabilitation Exercise Muscle Activation Across Resistance Modalities Through a Full Arc of Motion. 

 

Picture of Dr. Giordano presenting at the Combined Sections Meeting in 2026 

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Geriatric PT 

  1. Liu H, Atiyeh K, Lord, K, Franc I, and Booth B. Effects of Deep-Breathing Emphasized Progressive Tai Chi Exercise on Multimorbidity in a Senior Living Community  
  1. Liu H, Allemand J, Atiyeh K, Wellons R. Exploratory study of progressive Tai Chi training for people with Parkinson disease living in communities. 

 

Picture of Dr. Liu Teaching Deep-Breathing Emphasized Tai Chi Exercise 

      

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PT Education 

  1. PI: Guidry M, Majoue M. Co-investigator: Lopez  L, Walker B, Hoang T, Yu Q. Critical Thinking: A Program Review of Allied Health Students. 

 

Timeline and process for the interdisciplinary collaboration from Team science in interdisciplinary health professions education research: a multi-institutional case study by Gesing, Hoang et. al. 

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Figure from: Gesing, P., Tornwall, J., Kulo, V., McBrien, S., Hoang, T., Jun, H. J., Burbage, A., Jia, Y., & Cestone, C. (2025). Team science in interdisciplinary health professions education research: a multi-institutional case study. Advances in health sciences education : theory and practice, 30(4), 1123–1141. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10459-024-10393-5