Research
The mission of the Department of Physical therapy research program is to promote health, quality of life, and mobility across the lifespan through a better understanding of disease, injury, and behavior as they relate to musculoskeletal and neuromuscular disorders.
Our interdisciplinary faculty study human movement and movement disorders through mechanistic and translational investigations, examining influences ranging from cell to society. We pursue knowledge through collaborations within the ECU DPT research laboratories, across ECU and around the world.
Focus Areas
- Age-related Balance Control and Sensorimotor Processing
- Degenerative Disease Neurobiology
- Locomotion Optimization
- Muscle Physiology and Exercise
- Musculoskeletal Injury Biomechanics
- Musculoskeletal Injury Neuromechanics
- Pediatric Assessment and Rehabilitation
- Pediatric Perceptual Motor Skill and Obesity
- Physiology of Aging Muscle
Facilities
Movement sciences and disorders basic and translational collaborative research facilities
Training opportunities
Students enrolled in the Movement Sciences and Disorders concentration option of the Rehabilitation Science doctoral training program are prepared to become independent clinical scientists and leaders in physical therapy and movement science research