Program Directors
 Dr. Kimberly Topp
UCSF
Degrees
BS PT - Northern Arizona University
PhD Anatomy and Cell Biology - UCD
Postdoctoral Training in Neuroscience - UCSF
Credentials
PT, PhD
Work Experience
- Acute neuro and orthopedic trauma and Inpatient Rehabilitation
- Outpatient Orthopedics
Area of Expertise
- Anatomy and the application of anatomical knowledge to clinical problems
- peripheral neuropathy research
Research
Dr. Topp's main interest is in the pathology of peripheral neuropathies. She has studied painful neuropathy induced by cancer chemotherapeutic drugs in animal models, and has demonstrated quantitative changes in sensory neuron microtubules and neurofilaments, as well as degenerative changes in primary sensory neurons in the dorsal root ganglia following cancer chemotherapy. In their studies of traumatic nerve injury, Dr. Topp and DPTSc student, Ben Boyd, have recently measured significant increases in nerve strain in the first three weeks after injury to the sciatic nerve in a rat model. They have correlated the alterations in biomechanical properties after injury with functional changes in animal gait. She and Ben recently published a review article describing the macroscopic and microscopic anatomy of peripheral nerve, and changes in nerve structure and biomechanics that occur in response to physical stresses placed on nerve during everyday activities (Physical Therapy, 2006). With the current doctoral students, Dr. Topp is investigating the subjective and objective responses to neurodynamic clinical tests in subjects with sciatica in the absence of clear lumbar pathology. Lastly, Dr. Topp has a long term collaboration with Dr. Patricia Painter, exercise physiologist, to quantify changes in skeletal muscle tissue in patients with end stage renal disease. To read more go to Dr. Topp's Research.
 Dr. Linda Wanek
Department Chair and Professor
SFSU
Research
Dr. Wanek's clinical research is in the area of adolescent medicine especially adolescents and children with back pain and other aches and pains. The first study in collaboration with Professor Arriaga surveyed high school students and found that a large percentage had back pain of long duration. There were no correlations with back pain and anything such as sports or time watching TV or time spent studying, etc. Pain spikes about the time of puberty. Dr. Wanek and Professor Arriaga then went on to determine the effects of education on proper biomechanics. They developed an education module for 5th grade students and taught these students prior to puberty about proper key boarding and lifting. Their first study showed that a brief intervention was retained for over one year. The same group will be retested this year and a pain survey will be added. The students will then have been studied in 5th, 6th, and now 8th grades. To read more go to Dr. Wanek's Research
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Directors
