Laura Prosser, PT, PhD
Areas of expertise: Research in the development of impaired movement and in designing treatment protocols for children with cerebral palsy that promote neural plasticity at a young age
About Laura Prosser, PT, PhD
Titles
Research Scientist
Certifications
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
Awards and Honors
2022, Top Abstract Award
2018,2018 Susan Harryman Cerebral Palsy Lecture, Kennedy Krieger Institute
2011, Nominated for the 2012 Gayle G. Arnold Award for Research Excellence from the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine. Prosser LA, Curatalo LA, Alter KE, Damiano DL. Acceptability and effectiveness of a foot drop stimulator in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy. (Presented at the AACPDM Annual Meeting 2011)
2011, NIH Fellows Award for Research Excellence
2010, AACPDM Travel Scholarship
2009, “Dean’s Award for Excellence” (First place). Prosser LA, Lee SCK, Lauer RT, Van Sant AF, Barbe MF. Trunk and hip muscle activity patterns in early walkers with and without cerebral palsy. College of Health Professions Research Day, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
2006, “Best Poster Presentation.” Ding J, Lee SCK, Tokay A, Prosser L, Stackhouse S, Wexler AS, Binder-Macleod SA. Modeling Isometric Contractions of Leg Muscles for Children with Cerebral Palsy. 3rd Annual Center for Biomedical Engineering Research Symposium, University of Delaware, Newark, DE
2004, Service Excellence Award (recognized by the families of patients), Children’s Specialized Hospital
2000, Honors graduate, University of Scranton, magna cum laude
1996-2001, Loyola scholarship, University of Scranton
1996, National Merit Scholar Semi-finalist
Leadership and Memberships
International
2022, World Congress of Biomechanics
National
2019-present, American College of Rehabilitation Medicine, Member
2005-present, American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine
1998-present, American Physical Therapy Association - Neurology, Pediatrics, and Research sections
Editorial and Academic Positions
Editorial Positions
Editorial board member
2013-present, Physical and Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics
Reviewer
2015-present, Journal of Motor Behavior
2014-present, Developmental Neurorehabilitation
2013-present, Journal of Applied Biomechanics
2013-present, Disability and Rehabilitation
2012-present, Pediatrics
2012-present, Physiotherapy Theory and Practice
2011-present, Transactions on Neural Systems & Rehabilitation Engineering
2011-present, Physical Therapy
2011-present, Prosthetics and Orthotics International
2010-present, Journal of Biomechanics
2007-present, Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology
2007-present, Pediatric Physical Therapy
Academic and Institutional Committees
2012-present, Member, Scientific Review Committee, Center for Rehabilitation, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Education & training
Graduate Degree
PhD in Physical Therapy - Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
MS in Physical Therapy - University of Scranton, Scranton, PA
Postdoctoral Fellowship in Functional and Applied Biomechanics - National Institutes of Health
Publications
Publications
2023
Prosser LA, Skorup J, Pierce SR, Jawad AF, Fagg AH, Kolobe THA, Smith BA.: Locomotor learning in infants at high risk for cerebral palsy: A study protocol. Frontiers in Pediatrics 11(2): doi: 10.3389/fped.2023.891633, Feb 2023 Notes: eCollection 2023.
Pierce SR, Skorup, J, Paremski A, Prosser LA. : The relationship between the family empowerment scale and fine motor, gross motor, and cognitive development in young children with cerebral palsy. Child: Care, Health & Development 49(4): 778-783, Jul 2023.
Prosser LA, Pierce SR, Skorup JA, Paremski AC, Alcott M, Bochnak M, Ruwaih N, Jawad AF: Motor training for young children with cerebral palsy: A single-blind randomized controlled trial. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology Aug 2023 Notes: Online ahead of print. DOI: 10.1111/dmcn.15729.
Jain D, Graci V, Beam ME, Ayaz H, Prosser LA, Master CL, McDonald CC, Arbogast KB.: Neurophysiological and gait deficits during a dual-task gait assessment in concussed adolescents. Clinical Biomechanics. doi: 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2023.106090. Oct 2023.
Kather C, Shofer FS, Park J, Bogen D, Pierce SR, Kording K, Zhang H, Prosser L, Johnson MJ.: Quantifying interaction with robotic toys in pre-term and full-term infants. Frontiers in Pediatrics 11, Oct 2023 Notes: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2023.1153841/full.
Pierce SR, Skorup J, Kolobe THA, Smith BA, Prosser LA.: Agreement between the Gross Motor Ability Estimator-2 and the Gross Motor Ability Estimator-3. Pediatric Physical Therapy Nov 2023 Notes: Online ahead of print.doi: 10.1097/PEP.0000000000001065.
50. Hatch E, Jaffe A, Prosser L: Clinical utility of a patient-reported outcome for assessing spasticity in a pediatric population. Journal of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine In press 2023.
51. Jain D, Graci V, Beam ME, Master CL, Prosser LA, McDonald CC, Arbogast KB. : Impaired Neuromotor Control During Gait in Concussed Adolescents - a Frequency Analysis. Journal of Applied Biomechanics 27: 1-9, Dec 2023 Notes: doi: 10.1123/jab.2023-0126. Online ahead of print.
2022
Prosser LA, Ovando Aguirre M, Zhao S, Bogen DK, Pierce SR, Nilan KA, Zhang H, Shofer FS, Johnson MJ: Infants at risk for physical disability may be identified by measures of postural control in supine. Pediatric Research 91(5): 1215-1221, Apr 2022.
Kornafel T, Paremski AC, Prosser LA: Unweighting infants reveals hidden motor skills. Developmental Science 26(2): e13279, May 2022.
Gaetz W, Graci V, Falciani C, Sanders O, Prosser LA.: A MEG compatible, interactive IR game paradigm for the study of visuomotor reach-to target movements in young children and clinical populations: The Target-Touch Motor Task. Journal of Neuroscience Methods 380(1): doi: 10.1016, Oct 2022 Notes: epub.
Prosser LA, Atkinson HL, Alfano JM, Kessler SK, Ichord RB: Walking speed influences spatiotemporal, but not symmetry, measures of gait in children and adolescents with hemiplegia. Gait & Posture 98(1): 233-236, Oct 2022.
Prosser LA, Atkinson HL, Alfano JM, Leff M, Kessler SK, Gouelle A, Ichord RB.: Normalizing step-to-step variability to age in children and adolescents with hemiplegia. Gait & Posture 98(4): 6-8, Oct 2022.
J. Panchal, O. F. Sowande, L. Prosser and M. J. Johnson : Design of pediatric robot to simulate infant biomechanics for neuro-developmental assessment in a sensorized gym. 9th IEEE RAS/EMBS International Conference for Biomedical Robotics and Biomechatronics (BioRob) 2022(1): 1-7, Nov 2022.
2021
Pierce SR, Skorup J, Paremski A, Prosser LA: The relationship between the Family Empowerment Scale and Gross Motor Function Measure-66 in young children with cerebral palsy. Child: Care, Health and Development 47(1): 112-118, Jan 2021. 37. Zarkou A, Prosser LA, Franklin C, Hwang S, Jeka J, Lee SCK: Foot and Ankle Somatosensory Deficits in Children with Cerebral Palsy. Journal of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine 14(2): 247-255, Jun 2021.
Books
Chapters
Prosser LA, Damiano DL. Biomechanical and neuromuscular aspects of motor development in children with cerebral palsy. In: De Ste Croix M, Korff T, eds. Paediatric Biomechanics and Motor Control: Theory and Application. UK: Routledge; 2011.