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Physical Therapy Department

Physical Therapy Department

Physical therapists are uniquely qualified practitioners in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of impairments or limitations related to movement, function, and health. ATSU physical therapy department faculty members and staff are committed to elevating the physical therapy profession and promoting the health of society by educating Doctor of Physical Therapy students in a supportive learning environment centered in whole person healthcare. The result is a progressive curriculum encompassing postprofessional education opportunities for practicing clinicians, community partnerships, scholarly work focused on improving the human condition, and advocacy that promotes access to physical therapy services.

ATSU-ASHS’ physical therapy programs are always looking for new, highly qualified, high-quality training sites. If you know of a facility interested in providing full-time or integrated clinical education experiences for student physical therapists, please contact the program at 480.219.6162.

Residential degree programs

Doctor of Physical Therapy Residential Program

Doctor of Physical Therapy Residential Program

As ATSU physical therapy department’s flagship program, the entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy is designed for the individual without a physical therapy degree. This three-year program develops high quality practitioners who go on to advance the profession and enhance community health. Offered in Mesa, Arizona, the program requires full-time attendance and includes supervised clinical internships. Courses are designed with emphasis on both a strong academic foundation and clinical practice. Enrollment is limited to 62-64 students per class. Class section size allows faculty and staff to work closely with students to help them develop clinical problem-solving skills necessary for optimum patient care.

Learn more | Request info | Apply

Online degree programs

Postprofessional Doctor of Physical Therapy Online Program

Postprofessional Doctor of Physical Therapy Online Program

Available 100 percent online, the postprofessional Doctor of Physical Therapy program is customized to the unique needs of each practicing professional, offering maximum flexibility and a full team of support for those who desire to maintain their relevancy while they continue practicing in physical therapy. Curriculum plans are personalized and student-centric, based on one-on-one assessments of personal experience. Coursework is based on the APTA’s preferred curricular guide, including but not limited to: pharmacology, radiology, differential diagnosis and evidence-based practice. See accreditation.

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Postprofessional Doctor of Physical Therapy Non-Degree Option

Postprofessional Doctor of Physical Therapy Non-Degree Option

The online Postprofessional Doctor of Physical Therapy Non-Degree program offers courses for international physical therapists looking to complete their U.S. licensure requirements.

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Other programs

Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency Program

Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency Program

This online residency program is designed for practitioners who want to advance their career by elevating their clinical skills and knowledge from a general practitioner to that of a clinical specialist in orthopedic physical therapy. Applying a base of strong clinical reasoning to maximize patient care, the postprofessional curriculum focuses on one-on-one patient mentoring with an emphasis on whole person healthcare. Upon completion of the residency program, the resident will be prepared to take the Orthopedic Board Certification exam with the American Physical Therapy Association and practice patient-centered, evidence-based orthopedic physical therapy at the competence level of an orthopedic clinical specialist. See accreditation.

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Physical Therapy Neurologic Residency Program

Physical Therapy Neurologic Residency Program

This online, postprofessional program is aimed at elevating the clinical skills and knowledge from a general practitioner to that of a clinical specialist in neurologic physical therapy. Operating as a a collaborative model with an emphasis on strong clinical reasoning skills, the Neurologic Physical Therapy Residency program provides expert clinical mentoring, personal engagement with ATSU faculty and NCS exam preparation. Residents will gain advanced critical thinking mastery and become expert clinicians who practice evidence-based, whole-person healthcare. See accreditation.

Learn more | Request info | Apply

Physical Therapy Continuing Education

Physical Therapy Continuing Education

The ATSU physical therapy department enhances physical therapy professionals’ lifelong learning and elevates the profession of physical therapy through quality continuing education opportunities designed to fulfill their potential throughout their careers, and ultimately impact patient care and wellbeing. A variety of accredited CEUs are offered to improve professional knowledge and skills, foster a positive impact on patient outcomes, glean new information, and develop an interdisciplinary, healthcare team approach to treating patients and improving community/population health through the development and implementation of cost-effective, evidence-based education programs. Check regularly for new schedules.

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Physical therapy students and alumni

Stephanie Furnace, PT, DPT | ATSU Online DPT Program Alum '19

Andres Meza | ATSU Doctor of Physical Therapy Student ‘22

Itzel Jimenez | ATSU Doctor of Physical Therapy Student ‘22

Marc Pagaduan, PT, DPT | ATSU Online DPT Program Alum '19

Thenhinane Benaceur | ATSU Postprofessional Doctor of Physical Therapy Student '22

ATSU leadership and faculty

Lori M. Bordenave, PT, DPT, PhD, ’07 | Professor and Chair, A.T. Still University-Arizona School of Health Sciences

Ann Lee Burch, PT, EdD, MPH | Dean, Arizona School of Health Sciences

Craig Phelps, DO, FAOSM | President, ATSU

Clinton Normore, MBA | Director, ATSU Diversity Department

Amie Jasper, PT, DPT, PhD | Adjunct Assistant Professor, Postprofessional Doctor of Physical Therapy

PT Life Moments

Physical therapists make a huge difference every day. Through a commitment to lifelong learning, PTs enhance their patient care and professional standing to take on new leadership roles, start new practices, or add new skills to their daily clinical routine. Browse stories from seasoned PTs and become inspired with examples of how advanced providers with a doctorate implement practical solutions to improve care for movement dysfunction, rehabilitation, and PT education. Learn from PTs who are leaders in clinical practice, academia, and the industry to improve whole person, patient-centered care. Find out why PTs love ATSU's DPT program for their post-professional education. Browse PT Life Moments.

Looking to inspire the next generation of students? Share your story.

Physical therapy scholarly showcase

Faculty members of the ATSU physical therapy department are consistently acknowledged for their personal interactions and accessibility that create a supportive learning environment. Each faculty member has expertise in their area of teaching, and involves students in both their scholarly ​​work and community service activities.

All department core faculty are engaged in scholarly activities related to improving the human condition and related to best practices for physical therapy education. Faculty members have full access to a well-equipped research laboratory and encourage students to be directly involved with their research projects. Many department research publications and national presentations include students and graduates as co-authors. While faculty maintain their defined research agendas, they also desire to serve as mentors so students can become confident clinician scientists.

Publications

A Survey of Student Involvement in the American Physical Therapy Association
Adding Gabapentin to a multimodal regimen does not reduce acute pain, opioid consumption or chronic pain after total hip arthroplasty
Addressing plagiarism in online programmes at a health sciences university: a case study
Athletic trainers' perceptions of and experience with social determinants of health
Configuration Variability of the Six-minute Walk Test among licensed Physical Therapists working with neurological conditions: A pilot Survey.
Effect of a Matter of Balance Programme on avoidance behaviour due to fear of falling in older adults
Effects of Manual Lymphatic Drainage Techniques on Conditions Affecting the Musculoskeletal System: A Systematic Review
Effects of Patient-Provider Interactions on Diagnosis and Care for Women With Chronic Pelvic Pain: A Qualitative Study
Empathy During Patient-Provider Interactions for Women With Chronic Pelvic Pain: A Qualitative Study
Examining pain before and after total joint replacement (TKR): A retrospective chart review
Facilitators and Barriers to Use of Outcome Measures with Patients with Breast Cancer0Related Lymphedema
Faculty Survey on the Status of Lymphology Education in Entry-Level Doctorate Physical Therapist Programs
Gait asymmetry pattern following stroke determines acute response to locomotor task.
How people with lumbar spinal stenosis make decisions about treatment: A qualitative study using the Health Belief Model
Impact of a 7-Day Retreat for People with Parkinson's Disease: A Phenomenological Study
Impaired limb shortening following stroke: What's in a name?
Manual Lymphatic Techniques for the Orthopedic Manual Therapist
Pelvic excursion during walking post-stroke: A novel classification system
Peyton's Four-Step Approach for Teaching Lumbar Spine Thrust Joint Manipulation to Student Physical Therapists
Physical Therapists' Assessment of Patient Self-Efficacy for Home Exercise Programs
Pre-and Post-microsurgical rehabilitation interventions and outcomes on breast cancer-related lymphedema: a systematic review
Pregabalin reduces postoperative opioid consumption and pain for 1 week after hospital discharge, but does not affect function at 6 weeks or 3 months after total hip arthroplasty
Slower than normal walking speeds involve a pattern shift in joint and temporal coordination contributions.
Social determinants of health: considerations for athletic health care
Student and faculty perceptions of plagiarism in health sciences education
The lived experience of primary lymphoedema: a phenomenological study of personage and caregiver
The Self-Efficacy for Home Exercise Programs Scale: Development and Psychometric Properties
Use of Outcome Measures by Certified Lymphedema Therapists With Survivors of Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema
Virtual Grand Rounds: A Curricular Model of Translating Evidence-Based Practice From the Classroom to the Clinic

Presentations

Configurations of the Six-Minute Walk Test in People with Parkinson's Disease: Do the number of Turns matter?
Changing Minds, Changing Lives (CMCL)-Healthcare professionals as key influencers
Clinical Variability of Six-Minute Walk Test Protocols by Licensed Physical Therapists: A Survey
Comparison of Flexible Tape-Measure and Operator-Independent, High-Resolution Ultrasound in Assessment of Diasthesis Recti Abdominis
Configurations of the Six-Minute Walk Test for People with Parkinson Disease: Do the number of turns matter?
Confronting Plagiarism: A Process and Remediation Program that Works
Defining Adaptive Sports Experiences: A National Survey of PT and PTA Programs
Faculty Survey on the status of Lymphology Education in Entry-Level Doctorate Physical Therapist Programs
I Am An Athlete: The Lived Experience of Athletes with a Physical Disability Participating on School-Based Sports Teams
Influence of a Case-Based Activity on the Attitudes of Students Toward Interprofessional Collaborative Practice
Junior Faculty Mentorship in Physical Therapy Education
Locomotor Training using the AlterG in Individuals with Incomplete Spinal Cord Injuries
Measuring interrecti distance to screen for diastasis recti abdominis
Para Athletes: Spatial and Temporal Sprint Performance Measures in Athletes Competing in Classes T53 and T54
Para Athletes: Spatial and Temporal Spring Performance Measures in Athletes with Hypertonia, Ataxia, and Athetosis
Participation in Adaptive Sports Programs: Perceptions of the Parent and Child
Patient-Provider Interactions and Influence on Healthcare for Women with Chronic Pelvic Pain
Patterns of Physical Therapy Screening for Urinary Incontinence in Arizona
Physical Therapist's Utilization of Clinical Tests for Assessment of Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction: A 12-year Time Series Exploring Clinical Reasoning
Qualities of ATSU Graduates Identified as Contributing Factors to Leadership in the Physical Therapy Profession
The effects a Bal-A-Vis-X intervention on motor skills, particularly coordination and balance, in typically developing school-aged children.
The Experience of Evidence-Based Practice: The Clinician's Perspective
The International Centre for Disability and Rehabilitation
The Relationship Between Motor Capacity and Performance in Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Systematic Review

We are proud to showcase our student Capstone Research Projects. Our capstone projects are the culmination of a 2-year research project. The projects have been formatted as an ePoster which is delivered to a live audience in the spring of each year and archived so that a wider audience can access relevant project information. Please take a look at our students' scholarship here.



Physical therapy continuing education

CE COURSES CONDUCTED BY LEADERS IN THE PROFESSION

Explore the following courses that keep you compliant and connected.

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ATSU-ASHS Physical Therapy Department proudly offers continuing education to all physical therapy practitioners. We ensure excellence in the CE products offered through faculty review of every course. ATSU Physical Therapy Department is recognized by the Arizona State Board of Physical Therapy to provide category A continuing education courses.

A.T. Still University’s Continuing Education department provides support for the University’s schools, graduates and the professional community to fulfill their potential throughout their careers and ultimately impact patient care and well-being. The Continuing Education department serves to improve professional knowledge and skills; fosters a positive impact on patient outcomes; exposes clinicians to new information; and develops an interdisciplinary, healthcare team approach to treating patients and improving community/population health through the development and implementation of cost-effective, evidence-based education programs.

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