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Health Science Specialist
Department of Veterans Affairs New York Harbor Healthcare System
New York, New York, United States
OMB No. 0925-0001 and 0925-0002 (Rev. 10/2021 Approved Through 09/30/2024)
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Provide the following information for the Senior/key personnel and other significant contributors.
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NAME: Alexis Sidiropoulos, PhD
eRA COMMONS USER NAME (credential, e.g., agency login): ALEXISSID
POSITION TITLE: Health Science Specialist
EDUCATION/TRAINING (Begin with baccalaureate or other initial professional education, such as nursing, include postdoctoral training and residency training if applicable. Add/delete rows as necessary.)
INSTITUTION AND LOCATION DEGREE
(if applicable)
Completion Date
MM/YYYY
FIELD OF STUDY
University of Delaware, Newark, DE BS 05/2010 Animal Science
East Carolina University, Greenville, NC MS 05/2010 Biomechanics
Teachers College, Columbia University, NY, NY MPhil 10/2017 Kinesiology
Teachers College, Columbia University, NY, NY PhD 02/2018 Kinesiology
A. Personal Statement
The purpose of this investigation is to determine the unique impact of amputation on women living with limb loss, including physical, psychological, and social needs. This research can directly impact the prosthetic-related healthcare provided to women with limb loss. Contribution of my research expertise in both quantitative and qualitative analyses support my role as Co-Investigator for this study. During my tenure at the Biomechanical Research for the Advancement of Veteran Outcomes (BRAVO) Laboratory at the Department of Veterans Affairs New York Harbor Healthcare System, I have developed research projects formulated by complex experimental design, empirical procedures, and innovative methodologies related to these analyses. My professional experiences have supported prosperous research collaborations with diverse groups of interdisciplinary professionals and my multifaceted skill set will prove crucial in the dissemination of an investigation of such clinical importance.
B. Positions, Scientific Appointments, and Honors
Positions:
2010-2012 East Carolina University, Department of Kinesiology: Graduate Research Assistant, Biomechanics Laboratory
2012 Animal Medical Center, Rehabilitation and Fitness Services Center: Canine Biomechanist
2013-2016 Center for Cerebral Palsy Research: Interventionist and Supervisor
2013-2018 Teachers College, Columbia University: Senior Academic Technology Fellow
2013-2015 Teachers College, Columbia University: Gait and Neurophysiology Laboratory Graduate Assistant
2015-2016 Teachers College, Columbia University: Graduate Course Assistant, Research Design in Movement Science and Education
2017 Teachers College, Columbia University: Graduate Course Assistant, Laboratory Methods in Biomechanics
2018-2020 Narrows Institute for Biomedical Research and Education in support of the New York Harbor Healthcare System: Research Scientist, VISN 2 BRAVO Lab
2019 Brooklyn College, City University of New York: Adjunct Assistant Professor, Research Methods and Design in Kinesiology
2019-Present Teachers College, Columbia University: Adjunct Assistant Professor, Laboratory Methods of Biomechanics, Biomechanical Analysis of Human Movement
2020-Present Department of Veterans Affairs, New York Harbor Healthcare System: Health Science Specialist, VISN 2 BRAVO Lab
Honors and Memberships:
2010 Golden Key International Honor Society Member
2010-2012 Non-Resident Tuition Scholarship, East Carolina University
2011 Human Movement Science Research Symposium Award, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
2011-2012 Thesis Supplemental Award, East Carolina University
2013 Tuition Exemption Scholarship, Teachers College, Columbia University
2013 Scholastic Achievement Award, American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association, Chapter 349
2014-2015 Teachers College General Scholarship, Teachers College, Columbia University
2015-2016 Teachers College Minority Scholarship, Teachers College, Columbia University
2016 Dean’s Grant for Student Research, Teachers College, Columbia University
2016 Sonja B. Stefanadis Graduate Scholarship, Daughters of Penelope Foundation, Inc.
2017 A.M. Gentile Endowed Scholarship in Motor Learning, Teachers College, Columbia University
2017 Guest Speaker, 55th Annual Scholastic Achievement Awards, American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association, Chapter 349
2016-Present American Society of Biomechanics Member
C. Contributions to Science
1. Coordination of the Upper and Lower Extremities during Walking in Children with Cerebral Palsy.
Children with cerebral palsy (CP) indicate poor continuous gait inter-limb coordination compared to typically developing children. Limited research exists in the understanding of the coordinative relationship between the arms and legs of these children and if the phasing relationship between limbs can be improved. This research aimed to determine which motor control factors impact coordination in children with CP and if coordination could be improved with intervention. The resulting literature review provides a comprehensive overview of the current knowledge of continuous coordination in a pediatric, pathologic population with an emphasis on inter-limb coordination. Results indicated that the coordination difficulties experienced by children with CP may originate from the deficits in motor control, muscle tone, and weakness caused by damage to the central nervous system, which is vital in motor control of inter-limb coordination. Coordination in children with CP may be improved with enhanced function of the arms through intensive motor-learning based rehabilitation or botulinum toxin injection of the more-affected arm. Importantly, analysis of limb movements should include continuous measures of relative phase, as it provides a more detailed description of coordination compared to discrete measures. This research provided vital information regarding coordination in this pathologic population and confirmed that this type of coordination should be analyzed using relative phase analysis.
Publication: Sidiropoulos, A., Magill, R., & Gordon, A. (2021). Coordination of the upper and lower extremities during walking in children with cerebral palsy. Gait & Posture, 86, 251-255.
2. Modulation of gait inter-limb coordination in children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy after intensive upper extremity intervention.
Unilateral spastic cerebral palsy (USCP) is characterized by impaired movement coordination and muscle tone regulation on one side, which impacts functional mobility including gait. Previously, gait analysis in children with USCP focused mainly on the lower extremities with little attention paid to the upper extremities and how an upper extremity intervention can influence gait. We aimed to assess the effect of upper extremity interventions on coupling between the arms and legs during walking. We found that inter-limb coordination during walking can be improved after an upper extremity intervention in children with USCP with poor coordination. These findings can directly influence the type of rehabilitation prescribed for children with coordination deficits. By increasing the amount of time spent practicing continuous or gross-motor tasks, these children can improve their coordination beyond the upper extremity to include coordination between the upper and lower extremities. Practice of such tasks may advance their inter-limb coordination skills further than an intervention focused solely on discrete tasks and result in greater independence and quality of life. Leading this project, my role included study concept and design, therapy implementation, collection, processing, analysis, and interpretation of the data, and dissemination of the findings via a peer reviewed publication in the journal of Experimental Brain Research.
Publication: Sidiropoulos, A.N., Chen, S., Kaminski, T.R.M., & Gordon, A.M. (2019). Modulation of gait inter-limb coordination in children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy after intensive upper extremity intervention. Experimental Brain Research, 902, 1-11.
Conference Presentation:
2015 Gait pattern modulations in children with CP after intensive intervention. Interdisciplinary/Lab Sharing Data Meeting; Connecticut, NYU, Teachers College, and Columbia. New York University, New York
Conference Posters and Published Abstracts:
2016 Interlimb Coordination Modulations after Intensive Therapy in Children with Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy. Proceedings of the 40th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Biomechanics.
2016 Inter-limb Coordination Modulations After Intensive Therapy in Children with Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy. Proceedings of the 1st Annual Ann Gentile Memorial Conference.
3. The Influence of Upper Extremity Intensive Intervention on Inter-Limb Coordination in Children with Unilateral Spastic Cerebral Palsy.
Individual relationships associated with continuous coordination provide insights into neuromuscular deficiencies and their corresponding coordination difficulties, such as those affecting children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy (USCP). Stability of these relationships is optimized when maximal continuous coordination is achieved. Our previous research demonstrated that spatiotemporal measurements indicate improvements in discrete coordination. However, these measurements have limitations, which can be overcome with the use of continuous parameters. Prior to this research, no study evaluated whether inter-limb continuous coordination of this population during a gross motor task could be improved with treatment. The study goals were to evaluate continuous inter-limb coordination and stability in children with USCP compared to typically developing children (TDC) and determine if these parameters in children with USCP could be improved with intensive upper extremity intervention. Results indicated that all children have difficulty producing consistent movements with their arms, regardless of pathology. Upper extremity treatment improved coordination between the arms and indicated a change towards improvement in coordination between the arms and legs in children with USCP. This was the first study to identify similarities in stability between TDC and children with USCP and to demonstrate improvements in coordination after upper extremity interventions in this pathologic population. The finding that TDC do not demonstrate greater stability in their motor patterns may imply that their patterns are not yet mature, indicating that it may be efficacious to intervene at a young age. Improvements in function and coordination post-intervention suggest that increased gross-motor practice may improve continuous coordination in a variety of tasks. Due to the prominence and accessibility of upper extremity interventions, implementation of more gross motor tasks may be an economical way to advance coordination, which can positively impact activities of daily living and increase participation in community activities in children with USCP. This study constituted my doctoral dissertation. Therefore, leading the project included creation of the study concept and design, participant recruitment, data collection, processing, analysis, and dissemination of results in a published manuscript.
Publication: Sidiropoulos, A.N., Santamaria, V., & Gordon, A.M. (2020). Continuous inter-limb coordination deficits in children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy. Clinical Biomechanics, 18, 105250.
Conference Presentation:
2016 Coordination and arm swing in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy after intensive motor learning intervention. International Society for Posture and Gait Research: Sensorimotor Function in Neurotypical and Atypical Development Training School. University of North Texas Health Science Center
Conference Posters and Published Abstracts:
2016 Methods to Evaluate Improvement in Inter-Limb Coordination in Children with Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy After an Intensive Upper Extremity Intervention. Proceedings of the 1st Annual Ann Gentile Memorial Conference.
4. Evaluation of Weight Shift and X-Factor during Golf Swing of Veterans with Lower Limb Loss
Veterans with lower limb loss experience deficits in two important aspects of golf swing mechanics, X-Factor and weight shift. Deficits in such sports mechanics can lead to decreased physical and psychological health due to the lack of participation in physical activity observed in this population. The purpose of this research was to assess the weight shift and X-Factor values of golfers with lower limb amputation. Veterans with either above- or below-the-knee amputation participated in a 3-day adaptive sports golf event hosted by the Department of Veterans Affairs, after which kinematic analysis of trunk rotation and kinetic analysis of weight transfer between the legs during the golf swing were evaluated using motion capture and force platforms. Results indicated that golfers with below-the-knee amputation and those with trail limb amputation performed better than golfers with above-the-knee amputation and those with lead limb amputation, respectively. However, a golf-centered rehabilitation program may improve golf swing mechanics of all golfers with lower limb amputation, which can ultimately lead to increased participation in physical activity and improved physical and mental health outcomes of these Veterans. This research highlighted the need for sports rehabilitation programs to focus on increased weight bearing on the prosthetic limb to achieve appropriate weight shift and increased flexibility to increase X-Factor values. Since participation in such programs can offer both physical and psychosocial benefits, these programs may be a valid tool to increase the overall quality of life of Veterans with lower limb loss.
Publication: Sidiropoulos, A.N., Nelson, L.M., Pruziner, A., Glasberg, J., & Maikos, J. (2021). Evaluation of weight shift and X-Factor during golf swing of Veterans with lower limb loss. Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. In Press.
5. Control of Walking Speed in Young and Old Adults.
Walking is a basic form of locomotion and walking velocity is a good predictor of human health, with faster velocities indicating better health. While faster walking velocities have been attributed to overall increases in lower extremity joint torques and powers, the precise relationships of torque and power outputs at each joint to walking velocity were unknown. We proposed that these relationships are fundamental in developing effective training programs aimed at increasing walking velocity in mobility-challenged populations, such as older adults. Based on the previously established argument that aging induces asymmetric changes in joint torques and powers, we hypothesized that walking velocity is more strongly related to hip torque and power than ankle torque and power in older adults than young adults. We identified the relationships among maximum, sagittal plane hip, knee, and ankle joint torques and powers and walking velocity in young and old, healthy adults. We also identified the biomechanical correlates associated with modulating walking velocity. Gait biomechanics indicated that both young and old adults used mechanical output at the hip as the primary biomechanical correlate of walking velocity, whereas mechanical output at the ankle was most weakly correlated. The finding that aging does not cause a mechanical plasticity in relation to walking velocity can influence the common prescription of gait interventions to increase velocity in older adults, as the previously accepted notion that age causes a redistribution of joint torques and powers was refuted. Instead, interventions focused on different aspects of gait may prove to have better gains in this population. This study constituted my graduate thesis project, and therefore my responsibilities included participant enrollment, data collection, processing, and analysis, and presentation and dissemination of the results in symposia and poster format at various conferences.
Conference Presentations:
2011 Biomechanical correlates of walking velocity in young adults. Human Movement Science Research Symposium, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
2012 Manipulation of walking velocity in old adults. Human Movement Science Symposium.
Conference Posters and Published Abstracts:
2011 Biomechanical correlates of walking velocity in young adults. ECU Research and Creative Achievement Week, 5, 85.
2012 Modulating stride length and walking velocity by young and old adults. Meeting of the American Society of Biomechanics.
Complete List of Published Work in MyBibliography:
1. Brady, R., Sidiropoulos, A., Bennett, H., Rider, P., Marcellin-Little, D. & DeVita, P. (2013). Evaluation of the effect of obesity on gait parameters at the trot in dogs. American Journal of Veterinary Research, 74, 757-762.
2. Bleyenheuft, Y., Ebner-Karestinos, D., Surana, B., Paraid, J., Sidiropoulos, A., Renders, A. …Gordon, A. (2017). Intensive upper- and lower-extremity training for children with bilateral cerebral palsy: A quasi-randomized trial. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 59(6), 625-633.
3. Sidiropoulos, A.N., Chen, S., Kaminski, T.R.M., & Gordon, A.M. (2019). Modulation of gait inter-limb coordination in children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy after intensive upper extremity intervention. Experimental Brain Research, 902, 1-11.
4. Sidiropoulos, A.N., Santamaria, V., & Gordon, A.M. (2020). Continuous inter-limb coordination deficits in children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy. Clinical Biomechanics, 18, 105250.
5. Sidiropoulos, A., Magill, R., & Gordon, A. (2021). Coordination of the upper and lower extremities during walking in children with cerebral palsy. Gait & Posture, 86, 251-255.
6. Sidiropoulos, A.N., Nelson, L.M., Pruziner, A., Glasberg, J., & Maikos, J. (2021). Evaluation of weight shift and X-Factor during golf swing of Veterans with lower limb loss. Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. In Press.
Women with Limb Loss: The Unique Needs of an Underserved Population
Tuesday, October 31, 2023
3:15 PM – 3:30 PM