UNLV Physical Therapy

07/09/2025

📣 UNLVPT Students Helping Students — One Stretch at a Time!
What started as a collaboration between UNLV's Dance and Physical Therapy Department has grown into a full-fledged, student-run clinic offering free physical therapy to students in the College of Fine Arts 💪🎭🎶🩰

💡Under faculty supervision, PT students provide hands-on care for dancers, musicians, and other performers, treating sprains, strains, overuse injuries, and more. Each visit includes education on injury prevention and wellness.

🎓 "This clinic is a full circle moment", our students become the teachers," said Andrea Bejaran-Choto, a third-year PT student. "It's helping performers stay healthy without sacrificing their craft."

From posture assessments to performance injury screenings, this partnership is shaping the future of both clinicians and artists.

👏 Shout-out to professors Dustin Clow, Keoni Kins, Brandi Varnado, Dolly Kelepecz, and Stephen Caplan for leading this inspiring collaboration!

📍Serving UNLV's dance, music, theater, and architecture students
🗓️ Now in its 5th year and still growing!

https://www.unlv.edu/news/article/artists-get-leg-performance-through-collaboration-physical-therapy-clinic?utm_source=unlvtoday&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=unlvtoday-20250709

Like a perfect duet, physical therapy students to gain experience running a clinic while fine arts majors receive free services.

06/23/2025

🎙️ We’re thrilled to announce that our very own Danny Young, PT, DPT, PhD, is the new host of the Acute Care Academy Podcast from APTA Acute Care!

In his debut episode, Dr. Young leads an engaging conversation filled with honest reflections and real-world insights into the field of acute care physical therapy.

You can listen to it on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6gDLN9fMmScQwICS236EVr or Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-they-dont-tell-you-about-acute-care-honest-stories/id1658602394?i=1000711123454 or 📺 Watch the episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/jXgKSn82d5g?si=Ggk-8WkVinirEMHr

👏 Congratulations, Dr. Young! We’re proud to see you representing our community and helping elevate the conversation in our profession.

Podcast Episode · Acute Conversations · 06/04/2025 · 36m

05/20/2025

🎓 Congratulations, UNLV Physical Therapy Class of 2025! 🎓

We’re incredibly proud to celebrate your achievements. Your dedication, resilience, and passion have led you to this important milestone—and the journey ahead is full of promise. We can’t wait to see the difference you’ll make in the world of physical therapy!

🙏 A special thank you to our generous sponsor and proud alum, Suarez Physical Therapy, for your continued support for the second year in a row. Your commitment helps make moments like this possible, and we are sincerely grateful.

05/13/2025

📢 New Research Alert!

Dr. Kai-Yu Ho (from the Physical Therapy Department) and Ph.D. student Hiraku Nagahori have published a groundbreaking pilot study in Frontiers in Sports and Active Living 🧠🦵

🔍 Key Finding:
Thinner patellar (kneecap) cartilage is linked to more outward knee rotation during squats — which may contribute to or prolong patellofemoral pain.

💡 Why it matters:
Unusual knee movement patterns might affect cartilage health. Clinicians should monitor knee alignment during functional tasks to help protect joint health and reduce pain.

👏 Congrats to our UNLV scholars for advancing the science of rehabilitation and movement!

📖 Read the full study here: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sports-and-active-living/articles/10.3389/fspor.2025.1575115/full

The relationship between patellofemoral cartilage morphology and knee external rotation (KER), one of the possible factors increasing patellar cartilage stre...

04/18/2025

🚶‍♂️💪 Relearning to Walk—One Step at a Time

More than 5 million Americans live with limb loss or limb difference, and while prosthetics help restore mobility, learning to use them effectively is a skill that takes time, patience, and proper support.

UNLV clinical scientists Dr. Jenny Kent and Dr. Szu-Ping Lee are working to close a major gap in post-amputation rehab. With support from the U.S. Department of Defense and NIH, their team is developing innovative training methods to help amputees gain confidence walking on uneven terrain—not just flat surfaces.

Through collaborations with local support groups, their research is already showing how peer support and real-world practice can significantly improve mobility, reduce frustration, and enhance quality of life for those adjusting to limb loss.

👏 We’re proud of the groundbreaking work coming out of the UNLV Physical Therapy Clinical Locomotion Lab!

🔗 https://www.unlv.edu/news/article/step-step-how-new-unlv-training-method-peer-support-are-helping-prosthetic-users

As more Americans live with limb loss, UNLV physical therapy research teams explore novel ways to smooth the path to rehabilitation and recovery after amputation.

04/16/2025

🧠 Post-Stroke Research Participants Needed!

Have you had a stroke or know someone who has? You may qualify for an exciting research study at UNLV!

We’re investigating how reflexes respond to loading in people with post-stroke hemiparesis. This is a single-session study (2.5–3 hrs) on the UNLV main campus — and participants will receive monetary compensation!

✅ You may qualify if you:

Are 18 or older

Had a stroke at least 6 months ago or are a healthy control

Have no leg injuries or prior leg surgeries

Are not pregnant

💡 What to expect:
Sensors will be placed on your leg and you’ll receive nerve stimulation under different conditions to help us learn more about spinal reflexes after stroke.

🔗 Learn more & sign up: https://linktr.ee/unlvptstrokeresearch
📩 Questions? Email Dr. Jing Nong Liang at jingnong.liang@unlv.edu

Let’s move stroke research forward — share this post to spread the word!

04/08/2025

🎓 You're Invited! 🎓
Join us as the UNLV Doctor of Physical Therapy Class of 2025 presents their Capstone Research & Service-Learning Projects!

📅 Date: Wednesday, May 15, 2025
🕗 Time: 8:00 AM – 12:30 PM
📍 Location: Stan Fulton Ballroom
🎟️ Free to attend! No registration required – in-person only.
🎓 Earn 4 CEUs!

This is a wonderful opportunity to support our graduating G3 students as they showcase the culmination of their hard work, innovation, and dedication to the field of physical therapy.

📸 Check out the flyer for more details.
Proudly sponsored by Suarez Physical Therapy.

03/15/2025

📢 Support Future Physical Therapists! 📢

Our incoming UNLV DPT students need your help! 🎒🩺 Every student requires a PT kit the start of the program for hands-on learning, and your donation can make a difference.

Join us in equipping the next generation of Rebel PTs by contributing to the Rebel Raiser PT Kit Campaign today! Every donation, big or small, brings us closer to our goal.

🔗 Donate here: https://rebelraiser.unlv.edu/campaigns/physical-therapy-kits-2025

Thank you for supporting the future of physical therapy at UNLV! ❤️🖤

Please help us welcome our new class of UNLV physical therapy students with a kit of necessary medical supplies. Many of our students are already stretched thin to make tuition payments, so asking them to buy medical supplies for their program can present financial hardships. By donating a kit of...

02/10/2025

Exciting Research News from UNLV DPT! 🎉🔬

Congratulations to Dr. Kai-Yu Ho, Dr. Jing Nong Liang, and our incredible DPT Class of 2024 Alumni : Connan Wallace, Jeno Aquino, Bryce Broadwell, and Makenzie Whimple on their recent publication in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience!

Their study, "Exploring the Use of Bimodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation to Enhance Movement in Individuals with Patellofemoral Pain—A Sham-Controlled Double-Blinded Pilot Study," investigates innovative neuromuscular treatment options for improving movement in individuals experiencing kneecap pain.

This research is a testament to the dedication of our faculty and students in advancing physical therapy science. Join us in celebrating their achievement! 🎉👏

📖 Read more: https://www.unlv.edu/news/accomplishments/kai-yu-ho-connan-wallace-jeno-aquino-bryce-broadwell-makenzie-whimple-jing?utm_source=unlvtoday&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=unlvtoday-20250207

Kai-Yu Ho and Jing Nong Liang (both Physical Therapy), along with the DPT Class of 2024 students Connan Wallace, Jeno Aquino, Bryce Broadway, and Makenzie Whimple, published the article, "Exploring the use of bimodal transcranial direct current stimulation to enhance movement in individuals with pat...

01/09/2025

🎉 UNLV Alumnus Spotlight: Meet Nikkita Crozier! 🌟

As a graduate of UNLV’s Physical Therapy program, Nikkita works as a staff physical therapist with the U.S. Public Health Service, serving underserved communities and even providing rehabilitation for inmates. His journey showcases how adaptability, hard work, and a passion for helping others can lead to extraordinary opportunities.

Next up? Nikkita and his family are headed to Petaluma, California, where he’ll be supporting active-duty U.S. Coast Guard personnel as their physical therapist. 🚢

Check out his inspiring story and how UNLV helped him prepare for a career of service: https://www.unlv.edu/news/article/lifetime-change-sparks-future-success-unlv-physical-therapy-alumnus?utm_source=unlvtoday&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=unlvtoday-20250109

With the value of community impressed upon him at the School of Integrated Health Sciences, Nikkita Crozier builds career with U.S. Public Health Service.

12/12/2024

🎄❄️ Warmest Wishes for a Happy Holiday Season! ❄️🎄

From all of us at the Physical Therapy Department, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for being part of our community this year. As we reflect on 2024, we’re thankful for the dedication of our students, faculty, staff, and partners who make everything we do possible.

May this holiday season bring joy, relaxation, and the opportunity to recharge for the exciting year ahead! 🌟

💙 Happy Holidays and Best Wishes for the New Year! 💙

11/22/2024

🌟 Celebrating Diversity and Community in UNLV Physical Therapy 🌟

We’re proud to spotlight three exceptional students from Northern Nevada's Paiute tribes who are making a mark in our Doctor of Physical Therapy program:

👣 Ethan Greyhorse Hunter, second-year student, from the Pyramid Lake Paiute Reservation
🏀 Quintin Allen, first-year student, from Dayton, NV
💪 Zachery Burns, first-year student, from Fernley, NV

Each of these students brings a unique story of resilience, community, and determination to our program. From overcoming personal injuries to being inspired by the challenges of healthcare access on reservations, their shared goal is clear: to give back to their communities and improve representation in the physical therapy profession.

Less than 0.4% of physical therapists in the U.S. identify as Native American. Having three Paiute students in our program simultaneously is not just rare—it’s inspiring.

Their journeys remind us of the importance of diversity, cultural heritage, and the power of education to create change. We’re proud to have Ethan, Quintin, and Zach as part of our UNLV Physical Therapy family and can’t wait to see how they transform lives in their future careers.

💬 Join us in celebrating their achievements and sharing their stories!

After seeing a need for more physical therapists that can serve Native communities, three UNLV students take matters into their own hands.