Director
Ruth L. Chimenti, PT, PhD

Andrew Post, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT
BS, Grand Valley State University, 2010
DPT, Grand Valley State University, 2013
Hometown:  Grand Rapids, Michigan

Timothy Fleagle, PT
BA, Wartburg College, 2016
DPT, University of Iowa, 2019
Hometown:  Iowa City, Iowa
 

Sara McElroy
Major:  Biochemistry
Hometown:  Ottumwa, Iowa

Anwitha Vempati
Major:  Biomedical Engineering
Hometown:  West Des Moines, Iowa

Openings:
Our laboratory has funding for PhD and postdoctoral scholars who are highly motivated, passionate about research, and enjoy working within interdisciplinary scientific teams. If you are interested in joining our laboratory, please reach out via email: ruth-chimenti@uiowa.edu. 

Director

Jason M. Wilken, PT, PhD

Graduate Students

Kirsten Anderson, BSE
Wesley Gari, BSE

Postdoctoral Scholar

Sapna Sharma, PhD

Lab Staff

Molly Pacha, MS, ATC, LAT, Research Associate

Undergraduate Students

Karena Jensen
Sara Magdziarz
Ashley Streck
Taylor Wentz
 

Director

Ruth L. Chimenti, PT, PhD

Locations

• Main Hospital, Orthopaedic Gait Analysis Laboratory, 01421 JPP
• Directions

What We Do

The long-term goal of our research is to identify biomarkers, movement patterns, and psychosocial factors that enhance the ability to evaluate chronic musculoskeletal conditions and therefore improve treatment to reduce pain and maximize function. Current projects focus on tendinopathy pain mechanisms, including tissue pathology (ultrasound elastrography, 3D radiography), central sensitization (quantitative sensory testing), altered biomechanics (3D motion analysis), and psychological factors (self-report questionnaires).

Research (hyperlinks to recent publications)

• Achilles tendinopathy
• Ultrasound imaging

Capabilities

Movement analysis

• 34' level ground walkway with 3 force plates (AMTI)
• 12 Camera vicon motion capture system
• Vicon Vue camera to overlay 3D representation of kinematic model on video capture

Ultrasound imaging

• ACUSON Sequoia (Siemens) with linear transducers for shear wave ultrasound elastography, high quality b-mode imaging, and doppler flow quantification

Quantitative sensory testing

• Algometer type II (Somedic)

Software

• Nexus (Vicon)
• Matlab (MathWorks)
• Visual 3D software (C-Motion Inc.)
• CubeVue (CurveBeam LLC)

Director

Jason Wilken, PT, PhD

Locations

• 21D Eckstein Medical Research Building, Iowa City, IA 52242
• 1-152 Medical Education Building, Iowa City, IA 52242
• Phone: (319) 353-0431
• Directions

What We Do

We use reliable and valid evaluation techniques, ranging from simple timed tests to computerized motion analysis, to quantify and improve mobility and quality of life in individuals limited by injury or disease. We seek to advance clinical care by rapidly translating our findings to clinicians who can use the results in their daily practice. 

Research 

List of Publications

Our current areas of study include:

• Carbon fiber custom dynamic orthoses (CDOs)
• Prevention of post traumatic arthritis
• Development of novel gait training approaches
• Orthosis-related care for Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease
• Development of innovative methods to assess outcomes in the clinic

Clinical Impact

Medicine Iowa shares the story of Dr. Wilken's work with Dr. Charles Connerly who experienced bilateral amputation due to sepsis. The story highlights how ongoing research on carbon fiber custom dynamic orthoses and collaborative approach can have an impact.  Click here for the story.  

Capabilities

Motek M-Gait virtual reality system

• Dual belt instrumented treadmill
• 240 degree cylindrical screen (with floor projection)                 

Gait analysis

• 45’ level ground walkway
• 21’ rocky terrain walkway
• 24 camera Vicon motion capture system
• 3 AMTI (AMTI Inc.) force plates
• 32 channel Delsys Trigno EMG system
• Novel LoadSol in-shoe force measurement
• Novel EMED plantar pressure system

Software

• D-Flow (MotekForcelink)
• Nexus (Vicon)
• Matlab (Mathworks)
• Visual 3D (C-Motion Inc.)
• OpenSim (Simbios)

Physical performance assessment and questionnaires:  A range of non-computerized physical performance assessments, questionnaires, and patient reported outcomes are used to characterize individuals in areas such as physical function, pain, and fear of movement.  These assessments include tests of balance, agility, power, and speed, among others.

Potential Participants:  We are always seeking volunteers to participate in our research. If you are interested in volunteering or would like more information, please email us at wilkenlab@healthcare.uiowa.edu.

Lab Director

Stacey L. DeJong, PT, PhD
 

Graduate Student

Lei Zhu, BS
 

Lab Location

0714 JPP, UIHC
 

Director
Darren P. Casey, PhD, Director

Physician Support/Collaborators
Kenichi Ueda, MD, Medical Director (Anesthesia)
Andrew Feider, MD (Anesthesia)
Satoshi Hanada, MD (Anesthesia)

Kirsten Anderson, BMed
Faculty Mentor:  Jason Wilken

Olga Dubey, MA
Faculty Mentor:  Richard Shields

Timothy Fleagle, DPT
Faculty Mentor:  Ruth Chimenti

Wesley Gari, BSE
Faculty Mentor:  Jason Wilken

Adam Janowski, DPT
Faculty Mentor:  Kathleen Sluka

Omid Khoshavi, MSc
Faculty Mentor: Laura Frey Law

Andrew Post, DPT
Faculty Mentor: Ruth Chimenti

Michael Shaffer, MPT, OCS, ATC 
Faculty Mentor:  Richard Shields

Chishan Shiao, DPT
Faculty Mentor:  Richard Shields

Robert Wiederien, DPT
Faculty Mentor:  Laura Frey Law

Lei Zhu, BS
Faculty Mentor:  Stacey DeJong