Diane E. Nicholson, PT, PhD, NCS
Faculty Position
Associate Professor
Director of Graduate Studies
Research Coordinator, Movement Analysis Laboratory, Intermountain Shriners Hospital for Children
Contact Information
diane.nicholson@hsc.utah.edu
Phone: 801.581.3593
Degrees
Doctor of Philosophy in Kinesiology
University of California, Los Angeles
Degree awarded 1992
Master of Science in Kinesiology
University of California, Los Angeles
Degree awarded 1989
Master of Science in Physical Therapy
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Degree awarded 1984
Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy
University of Delaware, Newark
Degree awarded 1979
Courses Taught
PH TH 7200 Motor Control
PH TH 7910 Doctoral Seminar I
PH TH 7920 Doctoral Seminar II
PH TH 7930 Doctoral Seminar III
PH TH 7940 Doctoral Seminar IV
PH TH 7970 Doctoral Project
Research Interests
My research interests focus on the effects of neuromusculoskeletal interventions on kinematics, activities, participation and quality of life in children with ambulatory cerebral palsy.
I am specifically interested in interventions that enhance gait - especially those that might enhance gait speed, kinematics, adaptation and/or endurance.
Publications (for the past five years)
Marcus RL, Nicholson DE, MacWilliams BA, Dibble LE. Effects of compression garments on single limb standing balance and gait in children with cerebral palsy. Pediatric Physcial Therapy (in progress).
Sullivan E,Barnes D, Linton JL, Calmes J, Damiano D, Oeffinger D, Abel M, Bagley A, Gorton G, Nicholson D, Rogers S, Tylkowski C. Relationships among functional outcome measures used for assessing children with ambulatory CP. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2007 May;49(5):338-44.
Bagley AM, Gorton G, Oeffinger D, Barnes D, Calmes J, Nicholson D, Damiano D, Abel M, Kryscio R, Rogers S, Tylkowski C. Outcome assessments in children with cerebral palsy, part II: discriminatory ability of outcome tools. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2007 Mar;49(3):181-6.
Oeffinger D, Gorton G, Bagley A, Nicholson D, Barnes D, Calmes J, Abel M, Damiano D, Kryscio R, Rogers S, Tylkowski C. Outcome assessments in children with cerebral palsy, part I: descriptive characteristics of GMFCS Levels I to III.
Dev Med Child Neurol. 2007 Mar;49(3):172-80.
Damiano D, Abel M, Romness M, Oeffinger D, Tylkowski C, Gorton G, Bagley A, Nicholson D, Barnes D, Calmes J, Kryscio R, Rogers S. Comparing functional profiles of children with hemiplegic and diplegic cerebral palsy in GMFCS Levels I and II: Are separate classifications needed? Dev Med Child Neurol. 2006 Oct;48(10):797-803.
Oeffinger DJ, Tylkowski CM, Rayens MK, Davis RF, Gorton G, Astous JD, Nicholson DE, Damiano DL, Abel MF, Bagley AM, Luan J. Gross Motor Function Classification System and outcome tools for assessing ambulatory cerebral palsy: a multi-center study. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology 46:311-9; 2004.
Dibble LE, Nicholson DE, Shultz B, MacWilliams BA, Marcus RL, Moncur C. Sensory cueing effects on maximal speed gait initiation in persons with Parkinson's disease and healthy elders. Gait and Posture 19:215-25;2004.
Dibble LE, Nicholson DE, MacWilliams BA, Shultz B, Marcus RL, Moncur C. Maximal Speed Gait Initiation in Persons with Parkinson's Disease and Healthy Controls. Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy, Volume 28 (1), March 2004, 2-12. .
MacWilliams BA, Cowley MS, Nicholson DE: Foot kinematics and kinetics during adolescent gait. Gait & Posture 2003:17:214-24.
Current Funding
Multi-Center Project: Outcomes Following Repeated Botulinum Toxin-A Injections to Multi-Joint Lower Extremity Muscles in Children with Cerebral Palsy. 3 year grant (Jan 2006 – Dec 2008), multi-center co-investigator (and local principal investigator).
Designing a Randomized Clinical Trial to Evaluate Efficacy of Muscle Tendon Lengthening in Ambulatory Children with Cerebral Palsy: FARGS II. 2 year planning grant (Jan 2006 – Dec 2007), multi-center co-investigator (and local principal investigator).
Multi-Center Project: The Effects of Intensive Functional Exercise on Function and Participation of Children with Ambulatory Cerebral Palsy. Shriners Hospitals for Children. Year 1 of 2 year planning grant (Jan 2005-Dec 2007), multi-center principal investigator (and local principal investigator).
DE Nicholson. Research Contract with Movement Analysis Laboratory. Shriners Hospitals, Intermountain Unit; September 1996-present.
