Overview
Deb Kegelmeyer, DPT, MS, GCS
Professor Clinical Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
Director Curriculum Physical Therapy Division
Co-director M.E.N.D. Research Laboratory
Coordinator Research and Education Geriatric Residency
Adjunct Faculty Neurology Division, Movement Disorders, Wexner Medical Center
she/her/hers
Division of Physical Therapy
MEND Laboratory
516 Atwell Hall
453 W. 10th Ave.
Columbus, OH 43210
Phone: 614-293-0214
Fax: 614-292-5921
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 is co-director of the M.E.N.D. lab (Mobility and Exercise for Neurodegenerative Disorders) with Dr. Anne Kloos and Dr. Sandra Kostyk. The MEND Lab researchers created a HD Exercise Video with support from the Ohio State Huntington's Disease Center of Excellence and the OSUMC Service Board.
Dr. Kegelmeyer is investigating novel ways to prevent injurious falls and subsequent institutionalization through a unique study examining the impact of a program designed to identify at-risk individuals and treat them before they have a fall. She is also one of a handful of researchers investigating mobility issues in individuals with Huntington’s disease and Lewy Body Dementia.
The Ohio State M.E.N.D. lab is one of a handful around the world involved in this area of research. To date they have published studies advancing knowledge regarding best outcome measures for physical therapists to use in these populations as well as a novel study of assistive devices and their impact on gait in individuals with basal ganglia disease.
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.
She is currently funded by the Institute for Optimal Aging, the Vaughan Family fund and the Mangurian Fund.
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. Submitted to Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy November, 2023, accepted February 2024.
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
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