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Martha F. Somers, P.T., D.P.T., M.S.

Assistant Professor
Rangos School of Health Sciences
Physical Therapy

Rangos 110
Phone: 412.396.5957

Education:

D.P.T., Physical Therapy, Slippery Rock University, 2006
M.S., Physical Therapy, Duke University, 1979
B.A., Psychology, Earlham College, 1977
Courses

Foundational Skills (PHYT 447)

Prosthetics and Orthotics (PHYT 615)

Clinical Neurologic Science IV (PHYT 621)


Expertise

Spinal cord injury, prosthetics, orthotics.

Publications

Somers M. Spinal Cord Injury: Functional Rehabilitation (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, 2010.

Somers M. & Wlodarczyk S. (2002). Use of a Ppushrim-aActivated, pPower-assisted wWheelchair eEnhanced mMobility for an iIndividual with cCervical C5/6 tTetraplegia. Neurology Report, 27(1):, 22-28, 2002.

Somers M. (2001). Spinal Cord Injury: Functional Rehabilitation (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Somers M. (2000). SCI Lab - Developing and Modifying Interventions Based Functional Skills Analysis. In M. Schenkman & Gill-Body, K. (eds.) A Compendium for Teaching Professional Level Neurologic Content (pp. 67-68). Alexandria, VA: American Physical Therapy Association, 2000.

Somers D. & Somers M. (1999). Treatment of nNeuropathic pPain in a pPatient wWith dDiabetic nNeuropathy uUsing tTranscutaneous eElectrical nNerve sStimulation aApplied to the sSkin of the lLumbar rRegion. Physical Therapy, 79 (8): 767-775, 2000.

Somers M. (1993). Addressing the uUnique mMobility rRequirements of pParenting from a wWheelchair: Case rReport. Neurology Report, 17(4): 11-13.

Presentations

"Compensation and Restoration in Rehabilitation after Spinal Cord Injury: A Review of the Evidence and Implications for Practice," American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting, February 10, 2011.

"Conventional Gait Training vs. Body Weight-Supported Treadmill Training" 30th Annual Model Systems PT/OT Leadership Forum, October 18, 2008

"Incomplete Spinal Cord Injuries" Southwest District Pennsylvania Physical Therapy Association, September 9, 1997

"Control Options for Power Wheelchairs: Finding the Best Match" National Spinal Cord Injury Association Annual Conference, October 4, 1997

"Incomplete Spinal Cord and Cauda Equina Injuries", Fourth Annual Southeastern Spinal Cord Injury Conference, Charleston, SC, August 1996

"Early Management Following High Spinal Cord Injury," and "Case Presentations: Sometimes It Ain't So Simple" Third Annual Southeastern Spinal Cord Injury Conference, Charleston, SC, August 1995

Honors/Awards

Academy of Advanced Item Writers, Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy, September 2008

Clinician Educator Award, Chatham College, August 1996

Teacher of the Year, Medical University of South Carolina College of Health Professions, May 1993