2022
Patrick Sparto
Vice Chair for Faculty Affairs, Department of Physical Therapy
Co-Director and Professor
Elsewhere Online
Bio
Patrick Sparto is a professor in the Department of Physical Therapy and founding co-director of the DPT-PhD in Bioengineering program at the University of Pittsburgh. He teaches in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program and is graduate faculty in the SHRS PhD program in Rehabilitation Science. His current areas of research include the investigation of postural control in older adults, with an emphasis on studying neural and biomechanical control of step initiation. His work has been funded by NIA, NIDCD, and the University of Pittsburgh Older Americans Independence Center. He has served on NIH ad hoc study sections, a VA Merit Review Panel, as well as other grant review panels (Foundation for Physical Therapy Research). He has participated in the training of 21 pre-doctoral students (6 as primary mentor). His clinical practice focuses on the treatment of individuals with balance and vestibular disorders.
Research
Publications
Peer-Reviewed Article
2023
Brain and Cognition
Exercise Interventions, postural control, and prefrontal cortex activation in older adults
Peer-Reviewed Article
2023
Sensors
The Effect of a Verbal Cognitive Task on Postural Sway Does Not Persist When the Task is Over
Conference Proceeding/Abstract
2022
International Society of Posture and Gait Research
Functional Gait Assessment Performance in Older Adults Associated with Wearable Sensor Derived Metrics
Conference Proceeding/Abstract
2022
International Society for the Measurement of Physical Behavior
Intervention Results in Higher Randomness of Postural Control Accelerations During Dual-Task Conditions
Peer-Reviewed Article
2022
Gait & Posture
Impact of strength and balance on functional gait assessment performance in older adults
Peer-Reviewed Article
2020
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
Gray Matter Regions Associated With Functional Mobility in Community-Dwelling Older Adults
Peer-Reviewed Article
2018
Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders
Perceptual Inhibition Associated with Sensory Integration for Balance in Older Adults
Peer-Reviewed Article
2018
Experimental Brain Research
Inhibition and Decision-Processing Speed are Associated with Performance on Dynamic Posturography in Older Adults
Peer-Reviewed Article
2018
Gait & Posture
Interpersonal interactions for haptic guidance during balance exercises
Peer-Reviewed Article
2018
Otology & Neurotology
The use of vibrotactile feedback during dual-task standing balance conditions in people with unilateral vestibular hypofunction
Conference Proceeding/Abstract
2017
International Ergonomics Association
Functional gait assessment score predicts individual sensitivity to multifocal lens during stair ascent
Conference Proceeding/Abstract
2016
American Society of Biomechanics
Effects of multifocal lens glasses on stair descent in older adults
Conference Proceeding/Abstract
2015
American Society of Biomechanics
Effects of ergonomic factors on stair navigation in older adult multifocal lens glasses wearers
Conference Proceeding/Abstract
2015
American Society of Biomechanics
Development of a novel proprioceptive perturbation during standing balance wearers
Peer-Reviewed Article
2015
Journal of Nature and Science
Test-retest reliability of postural stability on two different foam pads
Peer-Reviewed Article
2015
Journal of Neurophysiology
The effect of age on postural and cognitive task performance while using vibrotactile feedback
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