Annalisa Na, PhD, PT, DPT, is an assistant professor in the Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences. She completed her postdoctoral training in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Division of Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston on clinical outcomes and multimorbidity management in older adults. She completed her doctorate in Physical Therapy at Duke University and PhD in Biomechanics and Movement Sciences at the University of Delaware. Before pursuing research, she worked in outpatient orthopedics, completed an orthopedic physical therapy residency through Proaxis Therapy and Evidence in Motion, and achieved board certification as an orthopaedic clinical specialist.
Academic Distinctions
- Helen Kaiser Alumni Award, Duke University (2009)
- Nominated for Excellence in Teaching Award, University of Delaware (2014)
- Emerging Leader Award, Delaware Physical Therapy Association (2015)
- Marilyn Gossman Research Award (2016)
- Emerging Leader Alumni Award, Duke University (2016)
- Adopt-A-Doc Research Award, Geriatric Section, American Physical Therapy Association (2016)
- Marilyn Gossman Research Award (2017)
- Geriatrics Research Fellowship Award, Academy of Geriatrics, American Physical Therapy Association (2018)
- Biomechanics SIG Post-doc Travel Award, Section on Research, American Physical Therapy Association (2018)
- Gerontological Society of America Diversity NIA Fellowship (2018)
Professional Society
American College of Rheumatology. American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine, Osteoarthritis Research Society International, Orthopaedics Research Society, American Society of Biomechanics, the Gerontological Society of America, and the Academies of Orthopaedic, Geriatric, Research, and Education of the American Physical Therapy Association
Selected Publications
Na, A. (2016). Self-reported walking difficulty: A sub-group for identifying difference sin gait
mechanics in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Doctoral Dissertation, University of
Delaware. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing (Publication No. 10255574).
Na, A., Piva, S. R., Buchanan, T. S. (2018). Influences of Knee Osteoarthritis and Walking Difficulty on
Knee Kinematics and Kinetics. Gait and Posture 61, 439-444.
Na, A., Buchanan, T. S. (2018) Clinical Predictors of Self-Reported Walking Difficulty in Patients with Moderate to Severe Knee Osteoarthritis. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 99(10), e84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2018.07.299
Na, A., Buchanan, T. S. (2019). Self-reported walking difficulty moderates the relationship between limb
dynamics and muscle co-contraction in people with knee osteoarthritis. Human Movement
Sciences 64, 409-419.
Na, A., Buchanan, T. S. (2019). Self-reported walking difficulty moderates the relationship between limb dynamics and muscle co-contraction in people with knee osteoarthritis. Human Movement Sciences 64, 409-419.
Na, A., Oppermann, L., Jupiter, D., & Coronado, R. (2019). Functional Recovery of Patients with Diabetes Mellitus Following an Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 27, S454-456. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joca.2019.02.495
Research Interests
Na’s research interest includes exploring the mechanistic relationships of multimorobidities commonly associated with knee pain, identifying biomechanical, clinical, and behavioral strategies that facilitate mobility and disrupt chronic diseases and examining strategies for the implementing effective interventions in clinic and community settings that facilitate long-term outcomes and promotes self-management of knee pain and multimorbidities among older adults.
Specialization
Na’s research targets the interactions of multimorbidity diseases on functional outcomes in older adults. Her work attempts to understand strategies for reducing the risk of developing or exacerbating metabolic diseases (e.g., diabetes and obesity) among older adults with mobility-limiting knee pain. Her current study examines the influence of existing interventions for knee osteoarthritis, total knee arthroplasty, and Type 2 diabetes mellitus on physical function and glycemic control outcomes. This study is funded by the geriatric research grant from the Foundation for Physical Therapy Research. Na’s research has also been supported by the Academy of Orthopaedic Physical Therapy and the Academy of Geriatric Physical Therapy for examining the biomechanical factors associated with self-reported walking difficulty in knee osteoarthritis.
EDUCATION:
Doctor of Philosophy, 2011 – 2016
Biomechanics and Movement Sciences
University of Delaware
Newark, DE
Doctor of Physical Therapy, 2006 – 2009
Duke University
Durham, NC
Bachelor of Arts, 2002 – 2006
Psychology
University of Texas at Dallas
Richardson, TX
TRAINING:
Post-doctoral Training, 2017 – 2019
Orthopaedic Surgery and Outcomes Research
University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston, TX
Credentialed Clinical Instructor, 2013
American Physical Therapy Association
University of Delaware, Newark, DE
Orthopedic Residency, 200 – 2011
Evidence in Motion/Proaxis Therapy
Greenville, SC