Elizabeth Wellsandt, PT, DPT, PhD, OCS

Associate Professor

Department of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences
Physical Therapy Program
University of Nebraska Medical Center
984420 Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, NE 68198-4420
402-559-4309
Email

Curriculum Vitae

Academic Appointments:
Associate Professor, Physical Therapy Program, UNMC: 2022
Assistant Professor, Physical Therapy Program, UNMC: 2016-2022
Director, Clinical Movement Analysis (CMOVA) Laboratory, 2018-present
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Biomechanics, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 2016-present
Courtesy Appointment, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation, UNMC, 2018-present

Degrees/Certifications:
MS: Clinical and Translational REseasrch, UNMC, 2020
PhD: Biomechanics and Movement Science, University of Delaware, 2016
DPT: Physical Therapy Program, UNMC, 2009
BS: UNMC, 2009
OCS (Orthopedic Certified Specialist): American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties, 2015-present

Primary Teaching Responsibilities:
PHYT 505, Human Movement 2
PHYT 606, Musculoskeletal Physical Therapy 3

Scholarly Activity:
Research Interests of the Wellsandt Research Group: Biomechanical and functional outcomes analysis in individuals with knee injuries, with a primary interest in the influence of these factors on the secondary development of osteoarthritis

Recent Publications:
Werner DM, Golightly YM, Tao MA, Post A, Wellsandt E. Environmental Risk Factors for Osteoarthritis and Their Impact on Individuals with Knee Joint Injury. Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 2022 Nov;48:907-930.

Thoma LM, Wellsandt E, Wipfler K, Michaud K. Examining rehabilitation dose in adults with rheumatoid arthritis: Association with baseline factors and change in clinical outcomes. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2022 Sep 12;. doi: 10.1002/acr.25019. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 36094858.

Larson D, Vu V, Ness BM, Wellsandt E, Morrison S. A Multi-Systems Approach to Human Movement after ACL Reconstruction: The Musculoskeletal System. IJSPT. 2021;17(1):27-46. doi: 10.26603/001c.29456.

Rosen AB, Wellsandt E, Nicola M, Tao MA. Current Clinical Concepts: Clinical Management of Patellar Tendinopathy. J Athl Train. 2021 Oct 8. doi: 10.4085/1062-6050-0049.21. Online ahead of print.

Wellsandt E, Emory JR, Golightly YM, Dudley AT, Michaud K, Tao MA, Manzer MN, Sajja BR. Individual and Cumulative Measures of Knee Joint Load Associate with T2 Relaxation of Knee Cartilage in Young, Uninjured Individuals: A Pilot Study. Knee. 2021 Aug 6;32:19-29.

Wellsandt E, Kallman T, Golightly Y, Podsiadlo D, Dudley A, Vas S, Michaud K, Tao M, Sajja B, Manzer M. Knee Joint Unloading and Daily Physical Activity Associate with Cartilage T2 Relaxation Times 1 Month After ACL Injury. J Orthop Res. 2021 Mar 29. doi: 10.1002/jor.25034. Online ahead of print.

Wellsandt E, Khandha A, Capin J, Buchanan TS, Snyder-Mackler L. Operative and nonoperative management of anterior cruciate ligament injury: Differences in gait biomechanics at 5 years. J Orthop Res. 2020 Dec;38(12):2675-2684.

Holden MA, Button K, Collins NJ, Henrotin Y, Hinman RS, Larsen JB, Metcalf B, Master H, Skou ST, Thoma LM, Wellsandt E, White DK, Bennell K. Guidance for implementing best practice therapeutic exercise for people with knee and hip osteoarthritis: what does the current evidence base tell us? Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2020 Aug 29. doi: 10.1002/acr.24434. Online ahead of print.

Grants:
2021 - 2023 Collaborative Initiative Seed Grant, University of Nebraska, "Optimizing Movement and Physical Activity after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury"

2020 - 2022 R21AR075254, National Institutes of Health, "Osteoarthritis After ACL Injury: Establishing Cumulative Joint Loading as A Preventative Target"

2020 - 2022 Science, Engineering and Medicine Grant, University of Nebraska, "Wearable Sensor System to Monitor Knee Joint Motion"

2020 - 2022 George Blanton Grant, Nebraska Foundation for Physical Therapy, "Return-To-Sport Testing after ACL Injury: Translation to Clinical Outpatient Care"

2019 - 2022 Investigator Award, Rheumatology Research Foundation, "Role of Biomarkers in the Osteoarthritis Pathway After Joint Injury"

Service:
Member, American Physical Therapy Association, 2006-present
Member, Orthopedic Section of the American Physical Therapy Association, 2011-present
Member, Sports Section of the American Physical Therapy Association, 2013-present
Member, Research Section of the American Physical Therapy Association, 2015-present
     Secretary, Biomechanics Special Interest Group of the Research Section, 2018-present
Member, Nebraska Physical Therapy Association 2006-present
Board Member, Secretary, Nebraska Foundation for Physical Therapy, 2016-2021
Member, Osteoarthritis Research Society International, 2016-present
     Steering Committee Member (Elected), Rehabilitation Discussion Group, 2019-present
Member, American College of Rheumatology/Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals, 2017-present
     Member (Invited), Annual Meeting Planning Committee, 2019-2020
Member, Orthopaedic Research Society, 2020-present
Guest Editor, Special Issue on Osteoarthritis Prevention, Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 2020-2021
Member, American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, 2021-present
Member, Translational/Clinical Study Section, Rheumatology Research Foundation, 2021-present
Member (Elected), Scientific Advisory Council, Rheumatology Research Foundation, 2021-2024

Clinical Experience:
Outpatient orthopedic and sports rehabilitation with an emphasis on knee injuries.

Awards:
2022 Combined Sections Meeting Best Abstract Award, American Academy of Sports Physical Therapy
2021 Early Career Investigator Award in Biomechanics Research, Biomechanics Special Interest Group of the Academy of Research, American Physical Therapy Association
2021 New Investigator Award, Vice Chancellor for Research Office, UNMC
2020 Significance in Research Award for Junior Faculty, College of Allied Health Professions, UNMC
2019 Rheumatology Research Foundation – Investigator Award Recipient
2017 Foundation for Physical Therapy Research – New Investigator Fellowship Training Initiative Recipient
2017 Emerging Leader Award, American Physical Therapy Association
2015 Excellence in Research Award, Sports Section of the American Physical Therapy Association