Main Content:

Research Interests:

  • Neural efficiency and walking efficiency, mechanisms underlying motor skill of walking
  • Assessment and intervention to restore motor skill (neuromotor control) of walking in older adults

Ongoing Projects:

  • Walk Ratio Aging Project
  • Neural Efficiency and the Motor Skill of Walking

Summary:

Jessie VanSwearingen is a professor in the Department of Physical Therapy, a Worthingham Fellow of the APTA, and a Fellow of the Gerontological Society of America. Teaching activities include graduate courses in neuroscience, neuromotor control applied in clinical neurological decision-making, clinical electrotherapy, and geriatric physical therapy. Her research interests are in assessment and treatment to enhance neuromotor control in walking in older adults and mechanisms underlying walking efficiency and neural efficiency related to motor skill in walking. (VanSwearingen JM, Studenski SA. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2014;16:1429-1436).

Departments

Department of Physical Therapy

Programs

Doctor of Philosophy in Rehabilitation Science
Doctor of Physical Therapy Residential and Hybrid Program
Doctor of Physical Therapy/Doctor of Philosophy in Bioengineering
Post Professional Program in Physical Therapy

Representative Publications