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Julius P. A. Dewald, PhD, PT
- Associate Professor and Department Chair , NUPTHMS
- Associate Professor, PM&R and BME, Feinberg School of Medicine, NU
- Senior Clinical Research Scientist, SMPP, RIC
Locations
Research Interests
Julius P. A. Dewald, PhD, PT is currently researching Research in this lab is focused on understanding discoordination of the upper limb after stroke, in learning the involvement of brain plasticity in recovery, and in developing novel neurotherapeutic training programs to enhance motor control of the upper limb even years after a stroke.
Using multi-channel EMG and a 6 degree-of-freedom load cell, we can quantify discoordination in the impaired arm and begin to investigate the mechanisms underlying this reduction in muscle and torque combinations between the elbow and shoulder joints. One main objective is in understanding the relationship between the reduction in movement capabilities and brain reorganization. Determination of the nature of reorganization of motor cortices during controlled mechanical experiments in hemiparetic stroke subjects is expected to answer fundamental questions regarding brain plasticity and its effects on motor recovery.
Additional research interests involve the development of novel neurotherapeutic training programs using quantitative computer driven feedback that seek to improve the ability to produce necessary muscle and torque combinations for reaching and retrieval motions with the impaired arm. I am also planning some future work on pharmacological interventions that seek to alter spinal interneuronal bias. Abnormal interneuronal excitability is believed to be the source of altered spinal reflex activity following brain lesions and may very well be an important contributor to movement discoordination..
Education & Training
Education
- Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California
- Doctor of Philosophy in Neurophysiology, 1992
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- Master of Science in Neurophysiology and Rehabilitation Medicine, 1980
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Medicine, 1978
Awards & Recognition
2001 Nominated ‘Profesor Extraordinario’ de la Universidad San Sebastian, Concepcion, Chile, for excellence in combining rehabilitation sciences with quantitative biomedical engineering techniques.
2000 RIC Women’s Board Award Direct Cost (DC) $25,000
1997 RIC Women’s Board Award (DC) $35,000
Recent or Important Publications
Peer Reviewed Journal Articles (selected)
Dewald, JPA, Rymer, WZ, Schmit, BD. Reflex torque responses to multiple movement velocities in the spastic elbow: Evidence for changes in reflex threshold and gain. Submitted to: Muscle & Nerve 2003.
Ricamato, AL, Dhaher, YY, and Dewald, JPA. Electrical cortical activity associated with joint torque direction in the human arm. Submitted to the Journal of Neurophysiology 2002.
Dewald, JPA, Beer, RF. Evidence for abnormal joint torque patterns in the paretic upper limb of subjects with hemiparesis. Muscle & Nerve 24 (2): 273-283, 2001.
Dewald, JPA, Sheshadri, V, Dawson, ML, Beer, RF. Upper limb discoordination in hemiparetic stroke: Implications for neurorehabilitation. Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation 8(1) 1-12, 2001.
Beer RF, Dewald JPA and Rymer WZ. Deficits in the coordination of multijoint arm movements in hemiparetic subjects. Evidence for disturbed control of limb dynamics. Experimental Brain Research 131 (3): 305-319, 2000.