Languages

  • English, fluent.
  • German, fluent.
  • Spanish, basic.
  • Latin, basic.

Research Statement

Our collaborative research projects examining the effects of aerobic exercise on neurological status, physical fitness, function, fatigue and health-related quality of life in persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) have greatly contributed to a notable change of global perspective regarding management of MS.  Our experience with functional outcome measures in persons with neuromuscular disease has led to collaboration on clinical trials involving patients with DMD and FSH muscular dystrophy, Prader-Willi Sydnrome and propionic acidemia.  Currently we are expanding the investigation of the effects of exercise on patients with MS and other neuromuscular diseases to the area of resistance exercise  to explore the potential risks and adaptive capacity of muscle with neurological impairment in response to this mode of exercise.

Research Keywords

  • physical activity
  • neuromuscular disease
  • multiple sclerosis
  • functional mobility
  • exercise

Presentations

  • Multiple sclerosis from diagnosis to intervention: translating science into clinical practice. Preconference Course - Combined Section Meeting of the American Physical Therapy Association. San Diego, CA, January 20-21, 2013. Other, Presented, 01/21/2013.
  • Agreement between self-report and clinician-administered EDSS scores. Annual Meeting of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers, San Diego, CA, June 1, 2012. Poster, Presented, 06/01/2012.
  • Exercise for persons with multiple sclerosis. University of Utah – National MS Society – Teva Neuroscience MS Patient Education Series. Salt Lake City, UT, May 24, 2012. Invited Talk/Keynote, Presented, 05/24/2012.
  • Validity of self-reported expanded disability status scale scores. Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers, San Antonio, TX. Other, Other, 06/04/2010.
  • Effects of a high intensity eccentric resistance training program on strength and muscle endurance of individuals with multiple sclerosis. Combined Sections Meeting of the APTA, Las Vegas, NV. Other, Other, 02/11/2009.
  • Exercise Prescription and Tolerance in Individuals with Neurodegenerative Diseases. Combined Section Meeting of the American Physical Therapy Association. Nashville, TN. Invited Talk/Keynote, Other, 02/08/2008.
  • Clinical Exercise Testing and Prescription for Persons with MS: A Practical Approach. National Conference of Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC). Phoenix, AZ. Other, Other, 06/01/2006.
  • Effects of exercise training on fitness and physical function of persons with multiple sclerosis. Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine, Nashville, TN. Other, Other, 06/01/2005.

Publications

  • Dibble LE, Lopez-Lennon C, Lake W, Carrie Hoffmeister C, Gappmaier E. Utility of disease-specific measures and clinical balance tests in prediction of falls in persons with multiple sclerosis. JNPT 2013 July 18. doi: 10.1097/NPT.0b013e3182a18460. [Epub ahead of print]. Accepted, 07/2013.
  • Flanigan KM, Ceco E, Lamar KM, Kaminoh Y, Dunn DM, Mendell JR, King WM, Pestronk A, Florence JM, Mathews KD, Finkel RS, Swoboda KJ, Gappmaier E, Howard MT, Day JW, McDonald C, McNally EM, Weiss RB; United Dystrophinopathy Project. Ann Neurol. 2012 Nov 26. doi: 10.1002/ana.23819. [Epub ahead of print]. Published, 11/26/2012.
  • Garg H, Gappmaier E. Validation of an abbreviated activities-specific balance confidence scale in multiple sclerosis. Int J MS Care 2012, 14 (S2):82. Published, 06/01/2012.
  • Garg H, Gappmaier E. Validation of self-reported balance and mobility measures in multiple sclerosis. Int J MS Care 2012, 14 (S2):82. Published, 06/01/2012.
  • Gappmaier E, Frame A, Garg H, Motl RW. Agreement between self-report and clinician-administered EDSS scores. Int J MS Care 2012, 14 (S2):80. Published, 06/01/2012.
  • Gappmaier E. Exercise evaluations in the physical therapy clinic: the Submaximal Clinical Exercise Tolerance Test (SXTT) to establish safe exercise prescription parameters for patients with chronic disease and disability. Cardiopulm Phys Ther J 2012, 23(2):19-29. Published, 05/01/2012.
  • Dean E, Frownfelter D, Gappmaier E. Chapter 24: Exercise Testing and Training: Primary Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Dysfunction. In: Frownfelter D, Dean E, eds. Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy. Evidence and practice. (4th ed). St.Louis, MI: Mosby; 2012. Published, 03/01/2012.
  • Dean E, Frownfelter D, Gappmaier E. Chapter 25: Exercise Testing and Training: Secondary Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Dysfunction. In: Frownfelter D, Dean E, eds. Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy. Evidence and practice. (4th ed). St.Louis, MI: Mosby; 2012. Published, 03/01/2012.
  • Motl RW, Gappmaier E, Nelson K, Benedict RHB. Physical activity and cognitive function in multiple sclerosis. J Sport Exerc Psychol 2011, 33(5):734-41. Published, 10/01/2011.