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Doctor of Physical Therapy, University of Wisconsin - Madison
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Bryan Heiderscheit, PT, PhD

Photograph of Bryan Heiderscheit, PT, PhD

Associate Professor, Division of Physical Therapy

4120 Medical Sciences Center
1300 University Avenue
Madison, WI 53706

Office: (608) 263-5428

Fax: (608) 262-7809

Neuromuscular Biomechanics Laboratory Web Site

Send an email to Bryan Heiderscheit, PT, PhD Heiderscheit@pt.wisc.edu

Why I am a Physical Therapist, and Why I Teach Physical Therapy

I never really knew I wanted to be a physical therapist until after I became one. Seeing the impact of physical therapy on patients and their families was demonstration of the unique talents and skills that physical therapists possess. Most pronounced is the ability to reduce a challenging presentation of signs and symptoms to its cause…never forgetting that this diagnosis is a person.

Having the opportunity to contribute to the professional education and growth of future physical therapists is a true privilege. I enjoy being able to challenge the students’ thought-processes and problem-solving abilities in the classroom and laboratory. Their questions and insights have certainly benefited me.

Education

  • BS, Physical Therapy, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
  • MS, Biomechanics, University of Massachusetts
  • PhD, Biomechanics, University of Massachusetts

Courses Taught

  • PT 627: Neuromusculoskeletal Bases of Movement
  • PT 628: Clinical Decision Making: Neuromuscular Mechanics and Control
  • PT 641/643: Current Issues in Rehabilitation Research I and II

Clinical Interests

In conjunction with UW Sports Medicine, I developed and direct the Runners’ Clinic, which provides specialized care to the running community. While thoroughly enjoying working with this patient group, it offers a limitless supply of questions for current and future research.

Professional Activities

  • Member, American Physical Therapy Association (APTA); also member of the Sports and Research Sections of the APTA
  • Governance Team Leader, Sports Physical Therapy Section, APTA
  • Member, American Society of Biomechanics
  • Associate Editor, Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy
  • Manuscript Reviewer: Journal of Biomechanics, Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise and Physical Therapy

Honors and Awards

  • 2007: Margaret L. Moore Award for Outstanding New Academic Faculty Member, American Physical Therapy Association
  • 2003: Research with Distinction, Division of Physical Therapy, Des Moines University, Des Moines, IA
  • 1996: New Horizon Award, Sports Section of American Physical Therapy Association
  • 1994: Mary McMillan Scholarship, American Physical Therapy Association

Research Interests

My research addresses various aspects of human movement, with an emphasis primarily on the underlying mechanics and their relation to injury. My current projects include:

  • Defining the biomechanical factors that contribute to reduced gait performance in older adults. We will focus on translating our findings into clinical measures that can identify older individuals at greater risk of falling, and developing specific interventions for improving gait performance.
  • Understanding the immediate and long term changes in the morphology and function of the hamstring muscles in individuals with acute and chronic hamstring injuries. We currently have several ongoing studies to address this complex issue by determining muscle strength, passive tension, kinematics during high-speed running, and structure using a novel high resolution magnetic resonance sequence. The outcomes of this study are important for improving rehabilitation outcomes and will also lead to objective criteria by which to assess reinjury risk upon return to sport.
  • Characterizing neck and low back motion during normal daily activities in healthy individual and those with various spinal pathologies or mechanical dysfunctions. We have recently developed an unobtrusive measurement system that patients can wear throughout the day to determine the magnitude and frequency of motion occurring in the neck and low back.
  • Developing a web-based animated exercise library of rehabilitation exercises that can be accessed over the Internet by patients under the care of physical therapists. We are working with the industry leader in home exercise prescription software to develop a clinician-friendly software suite that will facilitate proper exercise technique by the patient and promote program adherence

Additional information regarding these projects can be found on the Neuromuscular Biomechanics Laboratory website.

Links related to my research:

Publications of Note

Journal Articles:

Schmitz A, Silder A, Heiderscheit BC, Mahoney J, Thelen DG (2008) Differences in lower extremity muscular activation during walking between healthy older and young adults, Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology [in press].

Heiderscheit, B.C. and W.B. Boissonnault. Reliability of joint mobility and pain assessment of the transverse spine and rib cage. Journal of Manual and Manipulative Therapy [in press].

Silder A, Heiderscheit BC, Thelen DG, Enright T, Tuite MJ. MR evidence of long-term musculotendon remodeling following an acute hamstring strain injury, Skeletal Radiology 37:1101-1109, 2008.

Chumanov, E.S., C. Wall-Scheffler, and B.C. Heiderscheit. Gender differences in walking and running on level and inclined surfaces. Clinical Biomechanics 23:1260-1268, 2008.

Sterling A, Cobian D, Anderson P, Heiderscheit BC. Annual magnitude and frequency of neck motion in healthy subjects, Spine, 33:1882-1888, 2008.

O'Leary, K., K. Anderson-Vorpahl, and B.C. Heiderscheit. Cushioned insoles reduce impacts during running. Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association 98:36-41, 2008.

Silder, A., B.C. Heiderscheit, and D.G. Thelen. Active and passive contributions to joint kinetics during walking in healthy older adults. Journal of Biomechanics 41:1520-1527, 2008.

Whittington B, Silder A, Heiderscheit BC, Thelen DG. The contribution of passive elastic mechanisms to lower extremity joint powers during walking. Gait Posture 27:628-634, 2008

Syed F, Oza A, Vanderby R, Heiderscheit BC, Anderson PA. A method to measure cervical spine motion over extended periods of time. Spine 32:2092-2098, 2007.

Chumanov ES, Heiderscheit BC, Thelen DG. The effect of speed and influence of individual muscles on hamstring mechanics during the swing phase of sprinting, Journal of Biomechanics, 40:3555-3562, 2007.

Silder A, Whittington B, Heiderscheit BC Thelen D G. Identification of passive elastic joint moment–angle relationships in the lower extremity, Journal of Biomechanics, 40:2628-2635, 2007.

McClinton S, Donatell G, Weir J, Heiderscheit BC . Influence of step height on quadriceps onset timing and activation during stair ascent in individuals with and without patellofemoral pain syndrome, Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy, 37:239-244, 2007.

Plisky M, Rauh M, Heiderscheit BC, Underwood F, Tank R. Medial tibial stress syndrome in high school cross-country runners: incidence and risk factors, Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy,37:40-47, 2007.

Book Chapters:

Vardeny O, and Heiderscheit BC. Pharmacokinetics, Pharmocodynamics and Disease Management: Implications for Physical Therapists (monograph). Geriatrics Section, American Physical Therapy Association, Independent Study Course 4.6, 2008.

Heiderscheit BC and Sherry MA. What effect do core strength and stability have on injury prevention and recovery? In MacAuley D and Best T (eds), Evidence-based Sports Medicine (2nd Ed). BMJ Books: London, 2007.

Davies GJ, Wilk K, Ellenbecker T, Tyler T, Reinhold M, Heiderscheit BC , Clark MJ, Manske R, Matheson JW, Kraushaar DJR, Mullaley M. The Shoulder: Physical Therapy Patient Management Utilizing Current Evidence (monograph). Orthopedic Section, American Physical Therapy Association, Independent Study Course 16.2.4, 2006.Manske R, Giangarra C, Turman K , Heiderscheit BC. Complications with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. In Manske R (ed), Rehabilitation for the Post Surgical Sports Patient: Knee and Shoulder. Elsevier: Philadelphia, PA, 2006.

Hamill J, JM Haddad , BC Heiderscheit, REA van Emmerik, L Li. Clinical relevance of coordination variability. In Davids K, Bennett SJ, Newell KM (ed), Variability in the Movement System: A Multi-Disciplinary Perspective. Human Kinetics: Champaign, IL , 2004.

Heiderscheit BC. Optimizing treatment of joint contracture following knee ligament reconstruction. In Ellenbecker T (ed), Knee Ligament Rehabilitation. Churchill-Livingstone, 2000.

Davies GJ, BC Heiderscheit, MJ Clark. Scientific and clinical rationale for the use of open and closed chain rehabilitation. In Ellenbecker T (ed), Knee Ligament Rehabilitation. Churchill-Livingstone, 2000.

Davies GJ, BC Heiderscheit, K Brinks. Test interpretation. In Brown L (ed), Isokinetic Performance Enhancement. Human Kinetics, 2000.

Davies GJ, BC Heiderscheit, J Konin. Open and closed kinetic chain exercise - functional applications in orthopaedics. In Wadsworth C (ed), Strength and Conditioning Applications in Orthopaedics. Home Study Course 98-A, La Crosse, WI : Orthopaedic Section, APTA, Inc., 1998.

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Grant Funding

  • Internet Delivery of Animated Rehabilitation Exercises (IDARE) (Heiderscheit, PI, subcontract)
    • The primary goal of this project is to develop a web-based animated exercise library of rehabilitation exercises that can be accessed over the Internet by patients under the care of physical therapists.
    • Source: NIH/NICHD (2 R44 HD051064-02)

  • Continuous Motion Analysis of the Spine (Heiderscheit, PI)
    • The purpose of this project is to characterize the motion in the cervical and lumbar spine during normal daily living in both healthy individuals and those with various spinal disorders.
    • Source: Medtronic, Inc

  • Falls Risk Detection and Gait Instabilties in Older Adults (Heiderscheit, PI)
    • The proposed research project will seek to validate a falls prediction measure in older adults with and without a falls history, as well as in individuals having completed a balance training program.
    • Source: Wisconsin Partnership MERC New Investigator Program

  • Biocom putation of the Links between Muscle Morphology, Coordination and Injury (Thelen, Co-PI)
    • In this study, we propose to develop a novel suite of biomechanical modeling and dynamic imaging tools to investigate the influence of muscle morphology and neuromuscular coord ination on mechanisms of injury.
    • Source: NIH/NIAMS (1 R01 AR056201)

  • Institutional Clinical and Translational Science Award (Drezner, PI)
    • The goal of the UW Institute for Clinical and Translational Research (ICTR) is to create an environment that facilitates the transformation of research at the University into a continuum extending from investigation through discovery to translation into practice
    • Source: NIH/NCRR (1 KL2 RR025012

  • Rehabilitation of Acute Hamstring Strain Injuries: Effects of Treatment on Muscle Morphology, Running Mechanics and Reinjury Potential (Heiderscheit, PI)
    • In this study, we will evaluate a promising new rehabilitation program, involving early mobilization, agility exercises and trunk stablization training, to improve recovery following an acute hamstring injury.
    • Source: National Football League Charities Medical Research Grant

 

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First published: 01/01/04 Last updated: 11/05/09 webmaster@pt.wisc.edu
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