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Jesse C. Christensen, DPT, PhD

Academic Information

Departments Primary - Physical Therapy & Athletic Training

Dr. Christensen attended the University of Utah for his undergraduate and masters degree education. He later completed his Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree at the University of Utah. He completed his residency training at Howard Head Sports Medicine / Steadman & Hawkins Sports Medicine Center in Vail, Colorado. After his residency, he spent the next several years as a clinical physical therapist at The Orthopedic Specialty Hospital working with patients following both surgical and non-surgical related injuries. He transitioned into clinical biomechanics research, completing his PhD in Rehabilitation Science (Applied Biomechanics) at the University of Utah and Postdoctoral training at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Center and VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System.

Dr. Christensen is now the Gait Lab Director at the VA Salt Lake City Health Care system and also serves as a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training and Adjunct Research Professor in the Department of Orthopaedics at the University of Utah. His research uses innovative and multifaceted approaches to evaluate treatment strategies designed to enhance the effectiveness of rehabilitation in adult populations.

Education History

Diploma University of Utah
 BS
Diploma University of Utah
 DPT
Diploma University of Utah
 MS
Doctoral Training University of Utah
 PHD
Fellowship University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Center
 Postdoctoral Fellow
Fellowship VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System
 Postdoctoral Fellow

Selected Publications

Journal Article

  1. Kittelson AJ, Christensen JC, Loyd BJ, Burrows KL, Iannitto J, Stevens-Lapsley JE (2020). Reliability, responsiveness, and validity of handheld dynamometry for assessing quadriceps strength in total knee arthroplasty.(Epub ahead of print) Disabil Rehabil, 1-8.
  2. Christensen J, Peters C, Gililland J, Stoddard G, Pelt C (2020). Physical activity, pain interference and comorbidities relate to PROMIS physical function in younger adults following total knee arthroplasty. Disabil Rehabil, 43(26), 1-7.
  3. Christensen JC, Brothers J, Stoddard GJ, Anderson MB, Pelt CE, Gililland JM, Peters C (2017). Higher Frequency of Reoperation With a New Bicruciate-retaining Total Knee Arthroplasty. Clinical orthopaedics and related research, 475(1), 62-69.
  4. Kagan R, Anderson MB, Christensen JC, Peters CL, Gililland JM, Pelt C (2018). The Recovery Curve for the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Patient-Reported Physical Function and Pain Interference Computerized Adaptive Tests After Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty. The Journal of arthroplasty, 33(8), 2471-2474.
  5. Christensen JC, Capin JJ, Hinrichs LA, Aljehani M, Stevens-Lapsley JE, Zeni J (2020). Gait mechanics are influenced by quadriceps strength, age, and sex after total knee arthroplasty. Journal of orthopaedic research,
  6. Christensen JC, Mizner RL, Foreman KB, Marcus RL, Pelt CE, LaStayo P (2018). Quadriceps weakness preferentially predicts detrimental gait compensations among common impairments after total knee arthroplasty. Journal of orthopaedic research, 36(9), 2355-2363.
  7. Dibble LE, Christensen J, Ballard DJ, Foreman K (2008). Diagnosis of fall risk in Parkinson disease: an analysis of individual and collective clinical balance test interpretation. Physical therapy, 88(3), 323-32.
  8. Christensen JC, LaStayo PC, Mizner RL, Marcus RL, Pelt CE, Stoddard GJ, Foreman K (2018). Joint mechanical asymmetries during low- and high-demand mobility tasks: Comparison between total knee arthroplasty and healthy-matched peers. Gait & posture, 60, 104-110.
  9. Christensen JC, Kline PW, Murray AM, Christiansen C (2020). Movement asymmetry during low and high demand mobility tasks after dysvascular transtibial amputation. Clinical biomechanics (Bristol, Avon), 80, 105102.
  10. Christensen JC, Mizner RL, Bo Foreman K, LaStayo PC, Peters CL, Pelt C (2019). Preoperative quadriceps weakness preferentially predicts postoperative aberrant movement patterns during high-demand mobility following total knee arthroplasty. The Knee, 26(1), 79-87.
  11. Christensen JC, LaStayo PC, Marcus RL, Stoddard GJ, Bo Foreman K, Mizner RL, Peters CL, Pelt C (2018). Visual knee-kinetic biofeedback technique normalizes gait abnormalities during high-demand mobility after total knee arthroplasty. The Knee, 25(1), 73-82.
  12. Kittelson AJ, Elings J, Colborn K, Hoogeboom TJ, Christensen JC, van Meeteren NLU, van Buuren S, Stevens-Lapsley J (2020). Reference chart for knee flexion following total knee arthroplasty: a novel tool for monitoring postoperative recovery. BMC musculoskeletal disorders, 21(1), 482.
  13. Christensen JC, Kittelson AJ, Loyd BJ, Himawan MA, Thigpen CA, Stevens-Lapsley J (2019). Characteristics of young and lower functioning patients following total knee arthroplasty: a retrospective study. BMC musculoskeletal disorders, 20(1), 483.
  14. Smith JW, Marcus RL, Tracy BL, Foreman KB, Christensen JC, LaStayo P (2016). Stance time variability during stair stepping before and after total knee arthroplasty: A pilot study. Human movement science, 45, 53-62.
  15. Christensen JC, Wilson CR, Merryweather AS, Foreman K (2017). Kinematics of the Pelvis, Torso, and Lower Limb During Obstacle Negotiation While Under Temporal Constraints. Anatomical record (Hoboken, N.J., 300(4), 732-738.
  16. Smith JW, Christensen JC, Marcus RL, LaStayo P (2014). Muscle force and movement variability before and after total knee arthroplasty: A review. World journal of orthopedics, 5(2), 69-79.
  17. Christensen JC, Foreman KB, LaStayo P (2018). The Positive Benefits of Negative Movement Patterns Following Total Knee Arthroplasty. Geriatric orthopaedic surgery & rehabilitation, 9, 2151458518757796.
  18. Christensen JC, Marland JD, Miller CJ, Horton BS, Whiting DR, West H (2019). Trajectory of clinical outcomes following hip arthroscopy in female subgroup populations. Journal of hip preservation surgery, 6(1), 25-32.