Lori Michener, P.T., Ph.D.,
A.T.C., S.C.S.

Associate professor

E-mail: lamichen@vcu.edu

Professional interests

Lori Michener is a member of the Department of Physical Therapy as well as a joint appointment in the School of Medicine’s Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology at Virginia Commonwealth University. She teaches courses on orthopedic and sports physical therapy in the entry level DPT and the transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy program. In the Ph.D. in Rehabilitation and Movement Science program, she teaches in the Neuromusculskeletal Dynamics Track. Her clinical practice is in orthopaedics and sports physical therapy at the VCU Sports Medicine Clinic. She is the director of the COOR Laboratory. Her research interests are in the areas of shoulder biomechanics, diagnosis of musculoskeletal conditions, assessment of treatment effectiveness and outcomes in patients with upper extremity and cervical dysfunctions.

Education

Ph.D. Orthopaedic Physical Therapy (2001), MCP Hahnemann University, Philadelphia, Pa.
M.Ed. Athletic Training (1985), University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Va.
B.S. Physical Therapy (1988), SUNY at Buffalo, Buffalo, N.Y.
B.S. General Studies (1984), Lock Haven University, Lock Haven, Pa.

Selected publications

Michener L.A. and Snyder A.R. Evaluation of healthy-related quality of life in patients with shoulder pain: are we doing the best we can? Clinical Sports Medicine. 27(3):491-505.

Snyder A.R., Parsons J.T., Valovich-McLeod T.C., Bay R.C., Michener L.A., Sauers E.L. Utilizing disablement models and clinical outcomes assessment to enable evidence-based athletic training practice: Part I: Disablement Models. Journal of Athletic Training (in press), 2008.

Valovich-McLeod T.C., Snyder A.R., Parsons J.T., Bay R.C., Michener L.A., Sauers E.L. Utilizing disablement models and clinical outcomes assessment to enable evidence-based athletic training practice: Part II: Clinical Outcomes Assessment. Journal of Athletic Training (in press), 2008.

Walsworth M.K., Doukas W.C., Murphy K.P., Mielcarek B.J., Michener L.A. Reliability and diagnostic accuracy of the history and physical examination for diagnosing glenoid labral tears. Am J Sports Med. 36(1):162-8, 2008.

Beattie P.F., Nelson R.M., Michener L.A., Cammarata J., Donley J. Outcomes after a Prone Lumbar Traction Protocol for Patients with Activity-limiting Low Back Pain: A Prospective Case Series Study. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 89(2):269-74, 2008.

Gabel, C.P., Michener, L.A., Burkett, B., & Neller, A. The Upper Limb Functional Index: development and determination of reliability, validity, and responsiveness. Journal of Hand Therapy, July-September, 19(3): 328-48, 2006.

McClure, P.W., Michener, L.A., & Karduna, A.R. Shoulder function and three-dimensional scapular kinematics in persons with and without shoulder impingement syndrome. Physical Therapy 86(8):1075-1090, 2006.

Leggin, B.G., Michener, L.A., Shaffer, M.A., Brenneman, S.K., Iannotti, J.P., & Williams, G.R. The Penn Shoulder Score: Reliability and Validity. Journal of Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy 36(3):138-151, 2006.

Michener, L.A., Boardman, N.D., Pidcoe, P.E., & Frith, A.M. Reliability and validity of scapular muscle strength testing in patients with shoulder pain and functional loss. Physical Therapy. 85(11): 1128-38, 2005.

Beattie, P., Turner, C., Dowda, M., Michener, L.A., & Nelson, R. Longitudinal continuity of care is associated with high patient satisfaction with physical therapy. Physical Therapy, 85(10): 1046-1052, 2005.

Beattie, P., Turner, C., Dowda, M., Michener, L., & Nelson, R. The MedRisk Instrument for measuring patient satisfaction with physical therapy care: a psychometric analysis. Journal of Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy. 35:861-868, 2005.

Michener, L.A., Walsworth, M.K., & Burnet, E.M. Effectiveness of rehabilitation for patients with subacromial impingement syndrome: a systemic review. Journal of Hand Therapy. 17(2):152-164, 2004.

Walsworth, M.K., Mills, J.T., & Michener, L.A. Diagnosing suprascapular neuropathy in patients with shoulder dysfunction: a report of five cases. Physical Therapy. 84(4):359-72, 2004.

McClure, P.W., & Michener, L.A. Measures of adult shoulder function. Arthritis and Rheumatism. 49(5S):S50-58, 2003.

Michener, L.A., McClure, P.W., & Karduna, A.R. Anatomical and biomechanical mechanisms of subacromial impingement syndrome. Clinical Biomechanics. 18(5):369-379, 2003.

Michener, L.A., McClure, P.W., & Sennett, B.J. American shoulder and elbow surgeons standardized shoulder assessment form, patient self-report section: reliability, validity, and responsiveness. Journal of Shoulder Elbow Surgery. 11(6):587-594, 2002.

McClure, P.W., Michener, L.A., Sennett, B.J., & Karduna, A.R. Direct 3-dimensional measurement of scapular kinematics during dynamic movements in vivo. Journal of Shoulder Elbow Surgery. 10(3):269-77, 2001.

Karduna, A.R., McClure, P.W., Michener, L.A., & Sennett, B. Dynamic measurements of three-dimensional scapular kinematics: a validation study. Journal of Biomechanical Engineering. 123(2):184-90, 2001.

Michener, L.A. & Leggin, B.G. A review of self-report scales for the assessment of functional limitation and disability of the shoulder. Journal Hand Therapy. 14:68-76, 2001.

Karduna, A.R., McClure, P.W., & Michener, L.A. Scapular kinematics: effects of altering the euler angle sequence of rotations. Journal of Biomechanics. 33(9):1063-1068, 2000.

Lukasiewicz-Cole, A, McClure, P.W., Michener, L.A., & Pratt, N.E. Comparison of 3-dimensional scapular position and orientation between subjects with and without shoulder impingement. Journal of Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy 29(10):574-586, 1999.

Grant funding

Effectiveness of Rehabilitation for Subacromial Impingement Syndrome. Principal investigator. National Athletic Trainers’ Association Research and Education Foundation. 2007 – 2009.

Reliability and discriminate validity of ultrasonographic measurement of the subacromial space in patients with rotator cuff disease. Principal investigator. AD Williams Research Grant, Virginia Commonwealth University. 2006 - 2007.

Conservative Treatment of Cervical Radiculopathy: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Co-investigator. PI: Ian Young. Saunders Group Inc. 2006 - 2007.

Outcomes Research in Athletic Training. Role: Mentor. National Athletic Trainers' Association Research and Education Foundation. Post-doctoral Fellowship, Fellow: Alison Snyder, Ph.D., ATC, A.T. Still University. 2006 – 2009.

Effectiveness of the VAX-D Protocol for Chronic Low Back Pain: A case series design. Co-investigator; principal investigator: Roger Nelson and Paul Beattie. 2002 – 2004.

Reliability and Validity of Scapular Muscle Performance Testing. Principal investigator. Faculty Research Grant Program of the Department of Physical Therapy, Virginia Commonwealth University, 2002.

Mechanisms Associated with Shoulder Impingement Syndrome. Co-investigator; principal investigator: Philip McClure. Arthritis Foundation, 1998 - 2000.

Relationships between impairments, 3-D kinematics, functional limitations and disability in patients with subacromial impingement. National Athletic Trainers' Association Research and Education Foundation, Doctoral Research Grant, 1998 – 1999.

Effects of a six-week physical therapy treatment for shoulder impingement. Foundation for Physical Therapy Doctoral Research Award, 1997 – 1998.

Key professional service activities

Reviewer: Journal of Physical Therapy, Journal of Athletic Training, Journal of Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy, Clinical Biomechanics, Arthritis Care and Research.

Chair, Research Committee of the Orthopedic Section of the APTA; 2006 – 2009.

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