Research
Research Profile
Funded/In Review Grant Activity
Ongoing Support
DoD OP220013 Christiansen & Gaffney (Co-PI) 02/01/23-01/31/26
Transfemoral osseointegrated prosthesis limb load symmetry training (TOPLOAD)
This randomized controlled trial will 1) determine the feasibility of a 40-week limb-load biofeedback training intervention, 2) determine if there is an intervention signal of efficacy, and 3) identify functional movement priorities for people with transfemoral osseointegrated prostheses.
Amount: $ 349,939
Role: Co-PI
VA RR&D I01RX003917 Christiansen (PI) 11/01/22-10/31/26
Walking exercise sustainability through telehealth for Veterans with lower-limb amputation
The goal of this clinical trial is to 1) determine if telerehabilitation walking exercise self-management program produces clinically meaningful exercise sustainability compared to attention-control education after LLA and 2) evaluate potential for large-scale clinical translation of walking exercise self-management program with RE-AIM framework assessments using a mixed-methods (qualitative and quantitative) approach.
Amount: $982,159
Role: PI
NIH/NINDS 1U01NS113851 Corcos (PI) 09/25/19-07/31/24
Study in Parkinson disease of exercise Phase III clinical trial: SPARX3
The study goal is to establish the efficacy of high-intensity endurance exercise as first-line therapy for recently diagnosed people with Parkinson's disease (PD).
Annual Amount: $3,261,040 (Year 1)
Role: Site PI
NIH R01NR018450 Christiansen (PI) 08/01/19-05/31/24
Improving health self-management using walking biobehavioral intervention for people with dysvascular lower limb amputation
The goals of this study are to: 1) test if walking biobehavioral intervention improves physical activity and 2) evaluate the potential for clinical implementation of a walking biobehavioral intervention early after lower-limb amputation.
Amount: $1,305,250
Role: PI
VA RR&D I01RX003237 Christiansen (PI) 11/01/19-04/30/25
Optimizing gait rehabilitation for Veterans with non-traumatic lower limb amputation
The goal of this clinical trial is to compare two groups of error-manipulation intervention to a supervised walking group of Veterans with unilateral, non-traumatic transtibial amputation.
Amount: $629,855
Role: PI
NIH R01AG056585 Stevens-Lapsley (PI) 09/15/17-04/30/24
Movement Pattern Biofeedback Training Following Total Knee Arthroplasty
The goal of this study is to determine if the addition of a novel movement pattern training program (MOVE) to contemporary, progressive rehabilitation improves movement pattern quality more than contemporary progressive rehabilitation alone (CONTROL) after total knee arthroplasty.
Amount: $3,004,535
Role: Co-I
Completed Support
VA RR&D I21RX002054-01A1, Christiansen (PI), 7/1/16-6/30/19
Physical Activity Behavior Change for Older Veterans after Dysvascular Amputation
The goal of this project is to determine feasibility of a physical-activity behavior-change intervention targeting improved physical activity and reduced disability in Veterans 1-5 years following dysvascular lower limb amputation.
Amount: $194,264
Role: PI
NIH R56 AG048943, Stevens-Lapsley (PI), 09/15/15-09/14/17
Movement Pattern Training Following Total Knee Arthroplasty
The goal of this project was to determine if the addition of a novel movement pattern training program to contemporary rehabilitation after total knee arthroplasty improved movement pattern quality and functional outcomes compared to contemporary rehabilitation alone.
Amount: $382,625
Role: Co-I
NIH K12 HD055931, Mueller (PI), 09/01/13-06/30/16
Collaborative-care rehabilitation to improve functional outcomes after dysvascular amputation.
The goals of this project were to: 1) determine if a collaborative-care, home-based rehabilitation program improves physical function for people recovering from dysvascular transtibial amputation and 2) determine if the program improved functional activity for daily living.
Amount: $360,000
Role: Scholar, Project PI
NIH R01 NS074343, Schenkman & Corcos (PIs), 09/30/11-08/31/15
Exploratory Study of Different Doses of Endurance Exercise in People with Parkinson Disease
The aim of the study was to determine the futility or non-futility of conducting a Phase III randomized controlled trial to determine the effects of exercise on the progression of PD symptoms.
Amount: $2,930,000
Role: Co-I
Research Core Pilot Award (PM&R UCD), Christiansen (PI), 07/01/14-06/30/15
Movement Strategies and Physical Activity after Dysvascular Amputation.
The goals of this project were to: 1) identify compensatory movement strategies for participants with diabetes after unilateral transtibial amputation using instrumented movement analysis and 2) determine the correlations between asymmetry in movement and; gait speed, overall physical activity, and self-reported disability.
Amount: $10,000
Role: PI
The Foundation for PM&R, Christiansen (PI), 11/01/12-10/31/14
Early physical function during rehabilitation following dysvascular transtibial amputation.
The goals of this project were to: 1) examine common physical function measures and 2) characterize standard of care rehabilitation for patients with diabetes following dysvascular transtibial amputation.
Amount: $30,000
Role: PI
Foundation for PT Research, Christiansen (PI), 01/01/11-06/30/13
Improving Function after Total Knee Arthroplasty with Weight-Bearing Biofeedback
The goal of this pilot study was to: determine the effects of the weight-bearing biofeedback intervention on WB asymmetry and functional task performance.
Amount: $40,000
Role: PI
Bob Doctor Research Award, Christiansen & Stevens-Lapsley (PIs), 01/01/09-06/1/12
Limb Loading Asymmetry with Total Knee Arthroplasty
The major goals of this study were to: 1) quantify limb-loading asymmetry during functional activities before and after TKA and 2) quantify the relationship between asymmetries in limb loading, functional mobility, and muscle strength before and after TKA.
Amount: $8,000
Role: Co-PI
President’s Teaching Scholars Program, Christiansen (PI), 09/01/11-08/31/12
Student Perceptions of Classroom Response System Use in a DPT Curriculum
The goals of this project were to: 1) determine DPT student perception of classroom response system use in the course DPTR5101-Movement Science I, and 2) determine if perceptions differ based on student learning styles, age, and sex.
Amount: $1500
Role: PI
R01 HD043770, Schenkman (PI), 04/01/08-03/31/11
Exercise, Physical Function, and Parkinson’s Disease
The aim of the study was to determine whether targeted exercise intervention improves physical functional abilities in patients with mild to moderately severe Parkinson’s disease.
Amount: $1,125,000
Role: Study Coordinator
Academic Enrichment Fund UCD, Schenkman (PI), 01/01/09-12/31/11
The major goal of this funded activity was to establish an interdisciplinary movement analysis lab for use by researchers across the health sciences campus.
Amount: $149,000
Role: Co-I
Publications and Presentations
Scholarly Agenda
Dr. Christiansen’s research focuses on developing and testing novel interventions to help older adults with movement dysfunction better self-manage their health through movement.
List of Published Work in My Bibliography:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/1Jej8lwG4vxAc/bibliography/public/
Non-Peer Reviewed Scientific and Professional Presentations
Christiansen CL. Optimizing physical activity outcomes for people with dysvascular lower limb amputation [Keynote presentation]. Hanger Educational Fair, Las Vegas, NV; Feb 2019.
Christiansen CL. VA rehabilitation research [invited presentation]. Comprehensive Opportunities in Rehabilitation Research Training, Washington University, St. Louis, MO; May 2018.
Christiansen CL. Physical activity rehabilitation for Veterans with total knee arthroplasty [invited presentation]. GRECC Associate Director for Research Conference, VA, Teleconference to all GRECC locations; August 2017.
Christiansen CL. Observational gait analysis [invited presentation]. Resident Didactic Training, Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO; June 2017.
Christiansen CL. Physical activity behavior change for older Veterans after dysvascular amputation [invited presentation]. GRECC Associate Director for Research Conference, VA, Teleconference to all GRECC locations; October 2016.
Christiansen CL. Rehabilitation after lower limb amputation [invited presentation]. Grand Rounds, Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO; June 2016.