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
Fellowship |
VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System |
Postdoctoral Fellow |
---|---|---|
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Center |
Postdoctoral Fellow | |
Diploma |
University of Utah |
MS |
University of Utah |
PHD | |
Diploma |
University of Utah |
DPT |
University of Utah |
BS |
Selected Publications
Journal Article
- Christensen JC, Kline PW, Murray AM, Christiansen CL (2020). Movement asymmetry during low and high demand mobility tasks after dysvascular transtibial amputation. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon), 80, 105102. (Read full article)
- Christensen JC, Capin JJ, Hinrichs LA, Aljehani M, Stevens-Lapsley JE, Zeni JA (2020). Gait mechanics are influenced by quadriceps strength, age, and sex after total knee arthroplasty. J Orthop Res. (Read full article)
- Kittelson AJ, Elings J, Colborn K, Hoogeboom TJ, Christensen JC, van Meeteren NLU, van Buuren S, Stevens-Lapsley JE (2020). Reference chart for knee flexion following total knee arthroplasty: a novel tool for monitoring postoperative recovery. BMC Musculoskelet Disord, 21(1), 482. (Read full article)
- 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. (Read full article)
- 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. Disabil Rehabil, 1-8. (Read full article)
- Christensen JC, Kittelson AJ, Loyd BJ, Himawan MA, Thigpen CA, Stevens-Lapsley JE (2019). Characteristics of young and lower functioning patients following total knee arthroplasty: a retrospective study. BMC Musculoskelet Disord, 20(1), 483. (Read full article)
- Christensen JC, Marland JD, Miller CJ, Horton BS, Whiting DR, West HS (2019). Trajectory of clinical outcomes following hip arthroscopy in female subgroup populations. J Hip Preserv Surg, 6(1), 25-32. (Read full article)
- Christensen JC, Mizner RL, Bo Foreman K, LaStayo PC, Peters CL, Pelt CE (2018). Preoperative quadriceps weakness preferentially predicts postoperative aberrant movement patterns during high-demand mobility following total knee arthroplasty. Knee, 26(1), 79-87. (Read full article)
- Christensen JC, Mizner RL, Foreman KB, Marcus RL, Pelt CE, LaStayo PC (2018). Quadriceps weakness preferentially predicts detrimental gait compensations among common impairments after total knee arthroplasty. J Orthop Res, 36(9), 2355-2363. (Read full article)
- Kagan R, Anderson MB, Christensen JC, Peters CL, Gililland JM, Pelt CE (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. J Arthroplasty, 33(8), 2471-2474. (Read full article)
- Christensen JC, Foreman KB, LaStayo PC (2018). The Positive Benefits of Negative Movement Patterns Following Total Knee Arthroplasty. Geriatr Orthop Surg Rehabil, 9, 2151458518757796. (Read full article)
- Christensen JC, LaStayo PC, Mizner RL, Marcus RL, Pelt CE, Stoddard GJ, Foreman KB (2017). Joint mechanical asymmetries during low- and high-demand mobility tasks: Comparison between total knee arthroplasty and healthy-matched peers. Gait Posture, 60, 104-110. (Read full article)
- Christensen JC, LaStayo PC, Marcus RL, Stoddard GJ, Bo Foreman K, Mizner RL, Peters CL, Pelt CE (2018). Visual knee-kinetic biofeedback technique normalizes gait abnormalities during high-demand mobility after total knee arthroplasty. Knee, 25(1), 73-82. (Read full article)
- Christensen JC, Wilson CR, Merryweather AS, Foreman KB (2016). Kinematics of the Pelvis, Torso, and Lower Limb During Obstacle Negotiation While Under Temporal Constraints. Anat Rec (Hoboken), 300(4), 732-738. (Read full article)
- Christensen JC, Brothers J, Stoddard GJ, Anderson MB, Pelt CE, Gililland JM, Peters CL (2016). Higher Frequency of Reoperation With a New Bicruciate-retaining Total Knee Arthroplasty. Clin Orthop Relat Res, 475(1), 62-69. (Read full article)
- Smith JW, Marcus RL, Tracy BL, Foreman KB, Christensen JC, LaStayo PC (2015). Stance time variability during stair stepping before and after total knee arthroplasty: A pilot study. Hum Mov Sci, 45, 53-62. (Read full article)
- Smith JW, Christensen JC, Marcus RL, LaStayo PC (2014). Muscle force and movement variability before and after total knee arthroplasty: A review. World J Orthop, 5(2), 69-79. (Read full article)
- Dibble LE, Christensen J, Ballard DJ, Foreman KB (2008). Diagnosis of fall risk in Parkinson disease: an analysis of individual and collective clinical balance test interpretation. Phys Ther, 88(3), 323-32. (Read full article)