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Richard Shields, PT, PhD, FAPTA

Professor, Chair, and Department Executive Officer (DEO) of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science

Introduction

Central Research Theme: Prescribed Activity (Exercise) is medicine.

1) Neuro-musculoskeletal adaptation to various "activity based" interventions in humans with spinal cord injury: muscle molecular and physiological adaptations, segmental and central reflex adaptations, and trabecular bone image adaptations.

2) Neuromuscular control of movement in humans after acute and chronic perturbations from reduced activity (Age, ACL injury, muscle fatigue, CNS injury).

3) Acute responses to passive heat stress on extra-cellular proteins (HSP70, hormones), motor cortical excitability, and motor learning. Funding: NIH, Private Foundations, Industry.

Current Positions

  • Gary L. Soderberg Endowed Professor in Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science
  • Chair & Department Executive Officer, Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science

Education

  • BS (Biology), Catawba College, Salisbury, NC
  • Certificate in Physical Therapy, Mayo Clinic of Health-Related Sciences, Rochester, MN
  • MA (Exercise Physiology), The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
  • PhD (Exercise Physiology), The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA

Research Interests

  • Neuromuscular Control of Movement (age, fatigue, pathology)
  • Neuromuscular strategies for people with neuromuscular control problems (from neuromuscular disease to elite athletes with injury)
  • Molecular signaling and mitochondria function in humans
  • Cost effectiveness and quality of life research
  • Closed loop and open loop control of active stand in patients with CNS lesions
  • Molecular signatures of diabetes, in people with reduced activity from disability
  • Rehabilitation technology and transfer
  • Neurobiology of Muscle Fatigue (paralyzed and volitional)
  • Adaptive influence of Heat Shock Proteins on Muscle, Health and Quality of Life
  • Human Performance: A continuum from people with disability to elite athletes

Licenses & Certifications

  • Physical Therapy #00991, Iowa Department of Public Health Bureau of Professional Licensure (Board of Physical and Occupational Therapy), Iowa

Selected Publications

  • Petrie MA, Suneja M, Shields RK. Distinct Genomic Expression Signatures after Low-Force Electrically Induced Exercises in Persons with Spinal Cord Injury. Int J Mol Sci. 2024 Sep 23;25(18):10189. doi: 10.3390/ijms251810189. PMID: 39337673. PMCID: PMC11432617
  • Johnson KA, Shields RK. Influence of the Menstrual Cycle and Training on the Performance of a Perturbed Single-Leg Squatting Task in Female Collegiate Athletes. Orthop J Sports Med. 2024 Jun 2;12(6):23259671241251720.  Doi: 10.1177/23259671241251720. eCollection 2024 Jun. PMID: 38831876.
  • Becker M, Shields RK, Sass KJ. Psychometric analysis of an integrated clinical education tool for physical therapists. J Phys Ther Educ. 2024 Apr 30. PMID: 38684094. doi: 10.1097/JTE.0000000000000341.
  • Petrie MA, Dudley-Javoroski S, Johnson KA, Lee J, Dubey O, Shields RK. Low-Frequency Electrically Induced Exercise after Spinal Cord Injury: Physiologic Challenge to Skeletal Muscle and Feasibility for Long-Term Use. J Spinal Cord Med. 2024 Apr 15:1-7. PMID: 38619192. doi: 10.1080/10790268.2024.2338295.
  • Shields RK, Chevan J, Kennedy K, Bailey C, Dudley-Javoroski S. National Benchmarks to Understand how Doctor of Physical Therapy Learners from Minoritized Race and Ethnicity Groups Perceive their Physical Therapist Education Program. Phys Ther. 2024 Mar 22:pzae047. PMID: 38519116. doi: 10.1093/ptj/pzae047.
  • Dudley-Javoroski S, Cooper CS, Jackson JB, Zorn A, Carter KD, Shields RK. Tolerance for Ambiguity in Healthcare Trainees: Interprofessional Correlates among Medical and Physical Therapy Students. Acad Med. 2024 Jan 12. PMID: 38232084. doi: 10.1097/ACM.0000000000005631.
  • Yen CL, Petrie MA, Suneja M, Shields RK. Neuromuscular and gene signaling responses to passive whole-body heat stress in young adults. J Therm Biol. 2023 Oct 20;118:103730. PMID: 37890230. doi: 10.1016/j.therbio.2023.103730.
  • Shields RK, Suneja M, Shields BE, Tofte JN, Dudley-Javoroski S. Healthcare Educational Debt in the United States: Unequal Economic Impact within Interprofessional Team Members. BMC Med Educ. 2023 Sep 14;23(1):666. PMID: 37710228. PMCID: PMC10503048. doi: 10.1186/s12909-023-04634-1.
  • Kimball AL, Petrie MA, McCue PM, Johnson KA, Shields RK. Impaired Glucose Tolerance and Visceral Adipose Tissue Thickness among Lean and Non-Lean People with and without Spinal Cord Injury. J Funct Morphol Kinesiol. 2023 Aug 21;8(3):123. PMID: 37606417. PMCID: PMC10443282. doi: 10.3390/jfmk8030123.
  • Petrie MA, Johnson KA, Dubey O, Shields RK. Exercise Prescription Principles among Physicians and Physical Therapists for Patients with Impaired Glucose Control: A Cross-Sectional Study. J Funct Morphol Kinesiol. 2023 Aug 7;8(3):112. PMID: 37606407. PMCID: PMC10443365. doi: 10.3390/jfmk8030112.