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Linda Fetters

Dr. Linda Fetters, PhD, is Professor (Clinical Scholar) in the Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy at USC. Her research has focused on improving the quality of life of infants and children with movement difficulties due to neurological insults, and she currently directs the Developmental Motor Performance Laboratory.

Positions & Honors

Positions
2007-present Professor, Division of Biokinesiology & Physical Therapy, University of Southern California
2003-2006 Director, Transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy Programs, Boston University
2000-2005 Director, Physical Therapy Programs, Boston University
1994-2000 Director, Movement and Rehabilitation Sciences, Doctor of Science Program, Boston University
1991-2006 Associate Professor, Physical Therapy Programs, Boston University
1993-2006 Lecturer on Pediatrics, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
1993-2006 Research Associate in Medicine, Department of Pediatrics Children's Hospital, Boston, MA
1991-2000 Associate Professor, Director, ScD in Movement and Rehabilitation Sciences, Boston University
1991 Visiting Professor, Gothenburg College of Health and Caring Sciences, Gothenburg, Sweden
1985-1991 Assistant Professor, Boston University

Selected Honors & Awards
2008 Catherine Worthingham Fellow, FAPTA, American Physical Therapy Association
2007-2010 Member, Scientific Review Committee, Foundation for Physical Therapy
2005 Award of Merit, Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Boston University
2003-present Co-Editor, Critical Appraisal Topics, Pediatric Physical Therapy
2000-present Editorial Board Member, Pediatric Physical Therapy
1997-2006 Editorial Board Member, Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics

Education

Brandeis University Ph.D. 1986 Psychology
Boston University M.S. 1976 Physical Therapy
University of Wisconsin, Madison B.S. 1971 Physical Therapy

Selected Publications

  1. Sargent, B. & Fetters, L. (2008) Clinical Bottom Line Commentary on: Predictive contributions of Preterm Infant Assessment and Perinatal Risk Factors, Pediatric Physical Therapy, 21:11.
  2. Fetters, L. & Scholz, JP Commentary on: Ohgi, S., Morita,S., Loo, KK, Mizuike, C. (2008) Time-Series analysis of spontaneous upper-extremity movements in premature infants with brain injuries. Physical Therapy, 88: 1034-10362008.
  3. Figueiredo, E.M., Ferreira, G.B., Moreira, R.C.M., Kirkwood, R.N, Fetters, L. (2008) Efficacy of ankle-foot orthoses on gait of children with cerebral palsy: A systematic review of the literature, Pediatric Physical Therapy, 20, 207-223.
  4. Fetters, L. & Huang, H. (2007) Motor Development and Preferred Sleep, Play and Feeding Positions in Very Low Birth-Weight Infants with and without White Matter Disorder and Full Term Infants. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology 11, 807-813.
  5. Fetters, L. & Ellis, T (2006) A Perception-Action Framework for Physical Therapy for Persons with Neurologic Dysfunction: The Use of Therapeutic Affordances and Unitless Ratio. J Neurologic Physical Therapy, 30, 142-147.
  6. Keane-Miller, D., Ellis, T. & Fetters, L. (2005) Stroke Rehabilitation Outcomes: Acute Rehabilitation Facilities Versus Skilled Nursing Facilities. Physical Therapy, 85, 67-76.
  7. Fetters, L., Figueiredo, E.M., Keane-Miller, D., McSweeney, D. Tsao, C.C. (2004) Critically Appraised Topics. Pediatric Physical Therapy, 16, 19-21.
  8. Fonseca, S.T., Holt, K.G., Fetters, L. & Saltzman, E. (2004) The Utilization of Dynamic Resources in Spastic Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy: Relationship to Kinematics, Energetics and Asymmetries. Physical Therapy, 84, 344-356.
  9. Tronick, E.Z. & Fetters, L. (2004) Similar and Functionally Typical Kinematic Reaching Parameters in 7 and 15 Month Old In Utero Cocaine Exposed and Unexposed Infants. Developmental Psychobiology, 44,168-175.
  10. Fetters, L., Chen, Y.P., Jonsdottir, J. & Tronick, E.Z. (2004) Kicking Coordination Captures Differences Between Full-Term and Premature Infants with White Matter Disorder. Human Movement Science, 22, 729-748.