Deborah Thorpe, PT, PhD, PCS
Division of Physical Therapy
Department of Allied Health Sciences
3006 Bondurant Hall, CB# 7135
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7135
OFFICE: (919)843-8679 FAX: (919)966-3678
Email address: [email protected]
Research website: PROJECT ACT NOW
Research Background &
Interests
Effects of aquatic-based intervention on fitness
and functional outcomes in children, adolescents
adults with cerebral palsy
Development of lifespan community-based
fitness programs for persons with developmental
disabilities
Effects of aging on fitness and functional
outcomes in persons with developmental
disabilities
Long term retention of cognitive strategies used
to learn novel motor skills in children with
cerebral palsy
Application of motor learning principles to
physical therapy interventions for persons with
cerebral palsy.
Current Research
The effects of aquatic resistive exercise on
fitness, function and participation of persons
with cerebral palsy across the lifespan. (Project
ACT NOW)
The effects of aging on adults with cerebral
palsy.
The effects of aquatic exercise compared to
treadmill training on fitness and function in
adolescents with cerebral palsy.
Education
PhD, Medical College of Pennsylvania and
Hahnemann University, 1998, Pediatric Physical
Therapy
MS, West Virginia University, 1983, Early
Childhood Motor Development and Motor
Learning
BS, University of New England,1988, Physical
Therapy
BS, West Virginia University,1979, Elementary
Education
Teaching
PHYT 820: Advanced Patient Management I
(Cerebral Palsy)
PHYT 726: Exercise Perscription (Aquatic
Therapy)
HMSC 701: Scientific Basis for Human
Movement (Motor Learning)
Selected Publications
Referred Papers/Articles
Thorpe, DE. The role of fitness in health and
disease: State of adults with cerebral palsy.
Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology,
2009; 51, (s4): 52-58.
David FJ, Baranek GT, Giuliani CA, Mercer
VS, Thorpe DE. Grip and Load for Coordination
during Precision Grip in Persons with Autism.
Accepted with revisions. Resubmitted to
Pediatric Physical Therapy. 2009; 21(2): 205211.
D.A. Rubin, R.G. McMurray, D.E. Thorpe, J.S.
Harrell, and A.C. Hackney. Vigorous physical
activity and cytokines in adolescents. European
Journal of Applied Physiology, 2008; 103(5):
495-500.
Dusing SC, Thorpe DE, Poe M, Rosenberg A,
Mercer V, Escolar M. Gross Motor
Development of Children with Hurler Syndrome
Post Umbilical Cord Blood Transplant. Physical
Therapy, 2007; 87(11): 1433-40.
Fowler E, Kolobe T, Damiano D, Thorpe D,
Brunstromm J, Coster W, Henderson R, Morgan
D, Pitetti K, Rimmer J, Rose J, Stevenson R.
APTA Pediatric Research Summit: Promotion of
Fitness & Prevention of Secondary
Complications for Children with Cerebral Palsy.
Physical Therapy. 2007; 87(11): 1495-1510.
Ondrak K, Thorpe DE. Physiologic responses of
adolescents with cerebral palsy when walking on
land and in water: A case series. Aquatic
Physical Therapy, 2007; 15(2): 10-15.
Dusing SC, Thorpe DE, Mercer V, Rosenberg
A, Poe M, Escolar M. Temporal and Spatial Gait
Characteristics of Children with Hurler
Syndrome, Post Umbilical Cord Blood
Transplant. Physical Therapy. 2007; 87(8): 978985.
Dusing SA, Thorpe DE. A Normative Sample of
Temporal and Spatial Gait Parameters in
Children using the GAITRite Electronic
Walkway. Gait and Posture, 2007; 25: 135-139.
Dusing SC, Thorpe DE, Rosenberg A, Mercer
V, Escolar M, Gross Motor Abilities in Children
with Hurler Syndrome. Developmental Medicine
and Child Neurology, 2006; 48: 927-930.
Thorpe DE, Reilly MA, Case LE. The Effects of
an Aquatic Resistive Exercise Program on
Ambulatory Children with Cerebral Palsy. The
Journal of Aquatic Physical Therapy. 2005;
13(2): 21-34.
Thorpe DE, Dusing SC, Moore CG.
Repeatability of Temporo-Spatial Gait Measures
in Children using the GAITRite Electronic
Walkway. Archives of Physical Medicine and
Rehabilitation. 2005; 86(12); 2342-2346.
Dusing SC, Mercer VS, Yu B, Reilly M, Thorpe
DE. Trunk position in supine of infants born
preterm and at term: An assessment using a
computerized pressure mat. Pediatr Phys Ther.
2005; 17(1): 2-10.
Huang HJ, Mercer VS, Thorpe DE, Effects of
different concurrent cognitive tasks on temporaldistance gait variables in children. Pediatr Phys
Ther. 2003; 15(2):105-113.
Mehta TB, Thorpe DE, Freburger JK.
Development of a survey to assess backpack use
and neck and back pain in seventh and eighth
graders. Pediactr Phys Ther. 2002; 14(4): 171184.
Thorpe DE, Valvano JA. The effects of
knowledge or performance and cognitive
strategies on motor skill learning in children
with cerebral palsy. Pediatr Phys Ther. 2002;
14(1): 2-5.
Thorpe DE, Reilly MA. The effect of aquatic
resistive exercise on lower extremity strength,
energy expenditure, functional mobility,
balance, and self-perception in an adult with
cerebral palsy; A retrospective case report. The
Journal of Aquatic Physical Therapy. 2000;
8(2): 18-24.
Thorpe DE, Foxworth JL. The Use of Aquatic
Resistive Exercise for a patient with anterior
knee pain. Physical Therapy Case Reports.
2000; 3(3): 114-119.
Thorpe DE, Baker CP. Addressing Cultural
Competence in Health Care Education. Pediatr
Phys Ther. 1995; 7(3): 143-144.
Professional Societies
North Carolina Physical Therapy Association
North American Society for the Psychology of
Sport and Physical Activity (NASPSPA)
American Physical Therapy Association Aquatic
Section
American Physical Therapy Association
Pediatric Section
American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and
Developmental Medicine