Dr. Deborah Givens Heiss

Director of Physical Therapy
Associate Professor
Co-Director Human Movement Performance Lab

Contact Information:

Education:

Physical Therapy (B.S.), Virginia Commonwealth Unversity, 1982
Physical Therapy: Orthopedics/Sports (M.S.), MGH Institute of Health Professions, 1990
Exercise Science (Ph.D.), The University of Iowa, 1997
Physical Therapy (DPT), MGH Institute of Health Professions, 2005

Clinical Expertise:

Orthopaedics
Spinal Rehabilitation
Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist, American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties

Teaching Responsibilities:

Orthopaedics
Spine Rehabilitation
Differential Diagnosis
Evidence-Based Practice

Professional Activities:

Editorial Review Board, Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy
Adhoc Member (2006, 2007), Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Sciences (MRS) study section, NIH Center for Scientific Review
Member of the Orthopaedic Specialty Council of the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties overseeing the Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist (OCS) Examination 
Vice President, Ohio Physical Therapy Association Member, American Physical Therapy Association
Member, APTA Orthopaedics Section,  Research Section, and Education Section (including the Academic Administrator's Special Interest Group)
Awards/Recognition:

Faculty Research Award, School of Allied Medical Professions, 2002
Faculty Teaching Award, School of Allied Medical Professions, 2003
Faculty Service Award, School of Allied Medical Professions, 2003

Scholarly Activity:

My research involves the study of the motor control of postural responses for spinal stability. My long-term goals are to understand and analyze motor learning principles and control mechanisms for neuromuscular spine stability and their implications for exercise prescription.

I have a 2-year grant from the National Institutes of Health (NCMRR) to investigate the effects of a 10-week physical therapy exercise program augmented with rehabilitative ultrasound imaging (RUSI) for persons with recurrent low back pain. This research occurs in the Division of Physical Therapy Division's state-of-the-art Human Movement Performance Laboratory.

Publications:

Hemami H, Barin K, Jalics J, Heiss DG. Dynamics, stability and control of stepping. Annals of Biomedical Engineering. 2004;32:1155-1162.

Heiss DG, Fitch DS, Fritz JM, Sanchez WJ, Roberts KE, Buford JA. The interrater reliability among physical therapists newly trained in an acute low back pain classification system. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy; 2004;34:430-439.

Heiss DG, Basso DM. Physical therapy on trial: The rationale, organization, and impact of a mock trial on physical therapy students’ attitudes toward and confidence in research. Journal of Allied Health. 2003; 32: 202-210.

Buford JA, Yoder SM, Heiss DG, Chidley JV. Actions of the scalene muscles for rotation of the cervical spine of macaque and human. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy. 2002;32:488- 496.

Heiss DG, Pagnacco G. Effect of center of pressure and trunk center of mass optimization methods on the analysis of whole body lifting mechanics. Clinical Biomechanics. 2002;17:106-115.

Heiss DG, Shields RK, Yack HJ. Balance loss when lifting a heavier-than-expected load: effects of lifting technique. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 2002;83:48-59.

Heiss DG, Shields RK, Yack HJ. Anticipatory control of vertical lifting force and momentum during the squat lift with expected and unexpected loads. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy. 2001;31:708-729.

Pagnacco G, Heiss DG, Oggero E. Muscular contractions and their effect on the vertical ground reaction force during quiet stance - Part I: a hypothesis and experimental investigation. Biomedical Sciences Instrumentation. 2001;37: 227-232.

Pagnacco G, Heiss DG, Oggero E. Muscular contractions and their effect on the vertical ground reaction force during quiet stance - Part II: a mathematical model. Biomedical Sciences Instrumentation. 2001;37: 233-238.

Shields RK, Heiss DG. An electromyographic comparison of abdominal muscle synergies during curl and double straight leg lowering exercises with control of the pelvic position. Spine. 1997;22:1873-1879.

Barakatt E, Smidt GL, Dawson JD, Wei S, Heiss DG. Interinnominate motion and symmetry: comparison between gymnasts and nongymnasts. Journal of Orthopaedic& Sports Physical Therapy. 1996;23:309-319.

Fun Facts:

I have a great husband, two big dogs who adore me, and a cat who hates me. I enjoy OSU fooball and traveling. I am honored to lead the Physical Therapy Division as the 5th Director in its remarkble 50+ year history. The faculty, staff, students, and alumni here are superb.