Physical Therapists in the Rehabilitation Medicine Department at the NIH Clinical Center collaborate with investigators from among the 27 NIH institutes and Centers, including interdisciplinary researchers within the NIH Clinical Research Center.
Physical Therapists participate as associate investigators in many clinical research protocols. Physical Therapy assessments may include muscle strength, range of motion, cardiopulmonary function, gait, balance, pain, posture, foot and ankle alignment, edema, and pediatric developmental patterns. Physical therapists participate in protocol development, data management and analysis, presentation, and manuscript preparation and publication.
Examples of research protocols in which NIH Clinical Center Physical Therapists are involved:
- Assessment of muscle strength in patients with dermatomyositis,
- Evaluation of strength and function in people with Spinal Bulbar Muscular Atrophy, ALS4, Congenital Muscular Dystrophies, and RYR1- Related myopathies,
- Exercise intervention in post-COVID syndrome,
- Evaluation of motor function after gene therapy in children with giant axonal neuropathy (GAN),
- Assessment of functional mobility in patients with primary lymphatic anomalies.