Overview
Deb Kegelmeyer, MS, DPT, FAPTA
Professor Emeritus Clinical Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
Faculty Geriatric Residency Program
Division of Physical Therapy
MEND Laboratory
516 Atwell Hall
453 W. 10th Ave.
Columbus, OH 43210
Phone: 614-814-0655
Email: kegelmeyer.1@osu.edu
Primary Professional Areas of Interest
Research Focus
Deb Kegelmeyer’s main research focus is mobility and exercise in aging individuals or those who have neurodegenerative disease. These focus areas cover diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson, and Huntington’s disease and involve investigating the ability of individuals to perform functional mobility in a safe manner including examination of underlying systems such as balance, gait and cognitive function.
Dr. Kegelmeyer was co-director of the M.E.N.D. lab (Mobility and Exercise for Neurodegenerative Disorders) with Dr. Anne Kloos and Dr. Sandra Kostyk. The The MEND Lab researchers developed a tool to assess stair climbing ability called the STEPS tool.
Dr. Kegelmeyer is also a co-author on an international publication "Guidelines for Physiotherapy in Huntington's Disease" produced by the European Huntington Disease Network, of which she is a member. She strives to help improve quality of life for individuals with diseases that are less prevalent and therefore garner less attention from mainstream researchers, such as Huntington’s disease.
Recent Research
Kegelmeyer DA, Minarsch RS, Marita K, Hoffmeister A, Schnaterbeck G, Wohl, T, Gokun Y, Kloos AD. Step Test Evaluation of Performance on Stairs (STEPS): Assessing Stair Safety Function in Older Adults. J Geriatr Phys Ther. 2024;47(4):214-221. doi:10.1519/JPT.0000000000000415
Kegelmeyer D, Minarsch R, Kostyk S, Kline D, Smith R, Kloos A. Use of a robotic walking device for home and community mobility in Parkinson disease: a randomized controlled trial. J Neurol Phys Ther. 2024;48(2):102-111. doi:10.1097/NPT.0000000000000467
Quatman CE, Wiseman JM, Dickinson C, Leach M, Hislop M, Kegelmeyer DA, Kloos AD, Quatman-Yates C. The role of community paramedicine in fall prevention: A SWOT analysis. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2024;72(2):512-519. doi:10.1111/jgs.18687
Fritz NE, Kegelmeyer DA, Rao AK, Quinn L, Kloos AD. Clinical Decision Trees to Guide Physical Therapy Management of Persons with Huntington’s Disease. J. Huntington’s Disease. 2022:11(4):435-453.
Recent Presentations
Crowner B Rafferty M, Kegelmeyer D, Criminger-Morris C. Implementation Strategies for the Clinical Practice Guideline for People with Parkinson Disease. Combined Sections Meeting of the APTA on February 24, 2023.
Martin RA, Kegelmeyer DA, Wells CL, Botkin RH. COVID-19 and PASC, or Long COVID: Dual Health Crises. Combined Sections Meeting two hour talk February 3, 2022.
Fritz N, Kegelmeyer D, Kloos A, Rao, A, Quinn L. Knowledge Translation of a Clinical Practice Guideline for Physical Therapy Management of Person’s with Huntington’s Disease. October 3, 2021, Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy Annual Conference.
Jones U, Kegelmeyer DA, Kloos AD. Results of the Physiotherapy Working Group Survey of therapists on use of the Huntington’s Disease Clinical Practice Guidelines for Physical Therapy. European Huntington’s Disease Network Plenary Meeting, Bologna, Italy
Awards
Selected as a Fellow of the American Physical Therapy Association (FAPTA)
Education
1983: BS Physical Therapy, The Ohio State University1990: MS Allied Medical Professions, The Ohio State University
2004: DPT Physical Therapy, Institute of Health Professions, MGH