RuiPing (Rebecca) Xia, Ph.D.
Adjunct Professor
EDUCATION
- BPh.D. in Neurophysiology, Department of Physiology, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Master of Science (M.S.) in Biomedical Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Biomedical Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
COURSES TAUGHT
- Evidence-based Practice and Research
- Motor Control Across the Lifespan
- Neuroanatomy
- Fundamentals of Neurological Rehabilitation
RESEARCH INTERESTS AND AREAS
- Motor control
- Neuroscience
- Neurological rehabilitation in Parkinson’s disease
- Educational research
Personal Interests: Travel, work out, and reading are among top of my personal interests.
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
Teaching Statement
My philosophy of teaching is based on a foundational belief, and also an old saying: “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” I strongly believe that the ultimate goal of education is to help students discover methods for lifelong learning and establish a sense of responsibility to seek knowledge. I am a strong advocate of the “Active Learning” paradigm because its effectiveness has been supported by literature in educational research.
Professional Memberships
- American Physical Therapy Association
- Society for Neuroscience
Grants Recieved
- Differentiation of Central Versus Peripheral Fatigue in Parkinson’s Disease
- Supplemental Grant to Physiological and biomechanical analyses of Parkinsonian
Service
- Member of Institutional Review Board, Franklin Pierce University
- Member of Admission Committee, Arizona Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), Franklin Pierce University
Conferences Attended
- American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meetings
- IV STEP 2016 Conference hosted by APTA Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy
- Educational Leadership Conference
- Society for Neuroscience Meetings
- International Congress of Parkinson’s disease and Movement Disorders
HONORS AND AWARDS
- 2010: Research Award, School of Pharmacy and Health Professions, Creighton University, Nebraska
- 2003: Sarah Baskin Award for Excellence in Research (1st Place), Northwestern University/Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Illinois
PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS
Publications
Xia R, Ronck TJ, Sanft RA, Eason RP. Relationship between amount of exercise and fatigue in people with Parkinson’s disease. EC Neurol 2020;12.7:58-66.
Powell DW, Blackmore SE, Puppa M, Lester D, Murray NG, Reed-Jones RJ, Xia R. Deep brain stimulation enhances movement complexity during gait in individuals with Parkinson's disease. Neurosci Lett. 2020;728:133588.
Henning M, Myers S, Ooton C, Semaan J, Xia R. Effectiveness of exercise program on reducing fatigue in Parkinson's disease: a systematic review. EC Neurology, 2017;9:12-19.
Xia R, Gillig C, Mueller D, Ludwig M, Schmith Z. Effect of cooling intervention on reducing rigidity in Parkinson’s disease: A case report. Ann Clin Case Rep. 2017;2:1-4.
Powell D, Muthumani A, Xia R. Normalizing EMG to background muscle activation masks medication-induced reductions in reflex amplitudes in parkinsonian rigidity. J Nat Sci. 2017;3:315-319.
Xia R, Muthumani A, Mao ZH, Powell DW. Quantification of neural reflex and muscular intrinsic contributions to parkinsonian rigidity. Exp Brain Res. 2016;234:3587-3595.
Powell DW, Muthumani A, Xia R. A comparison of the effects of continuous versus discontinuous movement patterns on parkinsonian rigidity and reflex responses to passive stretch and shortening. J Nat Sci 2016, 2(8): e201.
Xia R, Stone JR, Hoffman JE, Klappa SG. Promoting community health and eliminating health disparities through community-based participatory research. Phys Ther 2016;96:410-417. This article was featured in a Podcast interview with the Editor-in-Chief of Physical Therapy journal (PTJ), which is the official journal of the American Physical Therapy Association.
Powell D, Muthumani A, Xia R. Parkinson's disease is associated with greater regularity of repetitive voluntary movements. Motor Control 2014;18:263-277.
Lupu MF, Sun M, Xia R, Mao ZH. Rate of information transmission in human manual control of an unstable system. IEEE Transactions on Human-Machine Systems, 2013; 43:259-263.
Xia R, Mao ZH. Progression of motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease. Neurosci Bull. 2012;28:39-48.
Powell D, Threlkeld AJ, Xiang Fang, Muthumani A, Xia R. Amplitude- and velocity-dependency of rigidity measured at the wrist in Parkinson’s disease. Clin Neurophysiol. 2012;123:764-773.
Xia R. Physiological and biomechanical analyses of rigidity in Parkinson’s disease. In: Rana A, eds. Etiology and Pathophysiology of Parkinson’s Disease, InTech, Vienna, Austria, 2011;pp.485-506.
Xia R, Powell D, Rymer WZ, Hanson N, Fang X, Threlkeld AJ. Differentiation of contributions between shortening reaction and stretch-induced inhibition in Parkinson’s disease. Exp Brain Res. 2011;209:609-618.
Powell D, Hanson N, Threlkeld AJ, Fang X, Xia R. Enhancement of parkinsonian rigidity with contralateral hand activation. Clin Neurophysiol. 2011;122:1595-1601.
Xia R. Effectiveness of nutritional supplements on reducing symptoms in autism spectrum disorder. J Altern Complement Med. 2011;17:271-274.
Presentations (selected ones within the past 10 years)
Hennessey V, Scott K, Suchsland M, Utech K, Morris SR, Xia R. Efficacy of manual therapy in the treatment of migraine headache: a systematic review. American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting. Washington DC, January 26, 2019.Morris SR, Xia R, Klaassen TS, Yosten MA, Johnson TA, Mills KE. Influence of participation in a pro bono clinic on cultural competence in in doctor of physical therapy students. Kansas Physical Therapy Association Spring Conference. Wichita KS, April 9, 2018
Kennebeck W, Gaston K, Tran Y, Zarich H, Xia R. Efficacy of cryotherapy on spasticity in people with neurological disorders: A systematic review. American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting. New Orleans, Louisiana; February 22, 2018
Xia R. Differentiation of neural reflex and muscular intrinsic contributions to rigidity in Parkinson’s disease. Platform Presentation at 1st World Congress of Biomedical Engineering. Xi’an, China; November 11, 2017
Ronck T, Sanft R, Eason R, Silvey R, Bliss B, Xia R. Relationship between Exercise and Fatigue Level in People with Parkinson’s Disease. APTA (American Physical Therapy Association) Combined Sections Meeting. San Antonio, Texas; February 18, 2017
Henning M, Myers S, Ooton C, Semaan J, Bahner C, Xia R. Effectiveness of Exercise Program on Reducing Fatigue in Parkinson's Disease: A Systematic Review. APTA Combined Sections Meeting. San Antonio, Texas; February 18, 2017
Xia R, Bahner C, Bliss B, Bond B, Dehan J, Hendricks C, Kinslow CD, Morris S, Yoder AW. Implementation of Journal Club in Facilitation of Doctoral Physical Therapy Students’ Appraisal Skills of Research Evidence: Qualitative Exploration of Students’ Experiences. APTA Combined Sections Meeting. San Antonio, Texas, February 17, 2017
Wang KJ, Sun M, Xia R, Mao ZH. Human-robot symbiosis framework on exoskeleton devices. 2016 IEEE International Conference on Industrial Technology, Taipei, Taiwan, March 14, 2016
Xia R, Bahner C, Bond B, Dehan J, Hendricks C, Kinslow CD, Yoder AW. Effect of Journal Club on Doctor of Physical Therapy Students' Appraisal Skills of Research Evidence. APTA Combined Sections Meeting. Anaheim, California, February 19, 2016
Yoder AW, Xia R. Effectiveness of Manual Therapy for Tension Type Headache: A Systematic Review. APTA Combined Sections Meeting. Anaheim, California, February 19, 2016
Xia R. Muthumani A, Mao ZH, Powell D. Natural history of rigidity in Parkinson’s disease. Society for Neuroscience 45th Annual Meeting, Chicago IL, USA, October 19, 2015
Xia R. Bringing neuroscience from classroom to community. Society for Neuroscience 45th Annual Meeting, Chicago IL, USA, October 17, 2015
Wang KJ, Sun M, Xia R, Mao ZH. Co-Adaptive optimal control framework for human-robot physical symbiosis. The 10th Annual ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction, Portland OR, March 3, 2015
Xia R, Klappa S. Relationship between learning outcomes and students’ attitudes toward evidence-based physical therapy course. APTA Combined Sections Meeting No. 2153, Indianapolis IN, February 6, 2015
Xia R, Powell D, Mao ZH. Comparison of progression rate between neural and non-neural rigidity components in Parkinson’s disease. Society for Neuroscience 44th Annual Meeting, Washington DC, USA, November 15, 2014
Powell D, Muthumani A, Fang X, Threlkeld AJ, Xia R. Contralateral activation and enhanced rigidity in Parkinson's disease: neural and non-neural contributions. 17th Canadian Society for Biomechanics, Barnaby BC, Canada, June 2012
Kremer L, Wagner L, Muthumani A, Powell D, Threlkeld A, Xia R. Quantitative Evaluation of Parkinsonian Rigidity Progression over Time. APTA Combined Sections Meeting, Chicago Illinois, February 2012
Gillman AC, Lindseth NM, Beisel LH, Powell D, Xia R, Threlkeld AJ. Assessing lower extremity muscle fatigue: Do isometric and isokinetic protocols provide equivalent measures? APTA Combined Sections Meeting, Chicago Illinois, February 2012
Delavan J, Simonson B, Xia R, Threlkeld AJ, Powell D+. Physical activity patterns are similar in old adults and individuals with Parkinson’s disease. APTA Combined Sections Meeting, Chicago Illinois, February 2012
Powell D, Benes A, Konor M, Hanson NJ, Kerschen K, Gustafson A, Xia R, Threlkeld AJ. Mechanical and neurophysiological manifestations of fatigue in Parkinson’s disease. APTA Combined Sections Meeting, Chicago Illinois, February 2012
Powell D, Muthumani A, Hanson NJ, Threlkeld AJ, Xia R. Velocity dependency of parkinsonian rigidity assessed at the wrist joint. 35th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Biomechanics. Long Beach CA, August 2011
Muthumani A, Powell D, Hanson NJ, Kremer L, Wagner L, Threlkeld AJ, Xia R. Relationship between neural-reflex torque and muscle reflex response in parkinsonian rigidity. 35th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Biomechanics. Long Beach CA, August 2011
Muthumani A, Powell D, Haider H, Threlkeld AJ, Xia R. Relationship between movement speed and regularity of movement in Parkinson’s disease. 35th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Biomechanics. Long Beach CA, August 2011
Xia R, Hanson NJ, Powell D, Muthumani A, Bertoni J, Threlkeld AJ. Efficacy of dopaminergic medication on neural and non-neural components of rigidity in Parkinson’s disease. The MDS 15th International Congress of Parkinson’s disease and Movement Disorders. Toronto Ontario, Canada. June 2011
Threlkeld AJ, Hanson NJ, Powell D, Kerschen K, Gustafson A, Xia R. Voluntary Activation of the Quadriceps Muscle in Parkinson's Disease. Platform presentation at the APTA Combined Sections Meeting, New Orleans LA, February 2011
Powell D, Hanson NJ, Threlkeld AJ, Xia R. Effect of Contralateral Hand Activation on Enhancement of Parkinsonian Rigidity. Poster presentation at the APTA Combined Sections Meeting, New Orleans LA, February 2011
Threlkeld AJ, Kerschen K, Gustafson A, Hanson NJ, Powell D, Xia R. Fatigue of the Quadriceps in Parkinson's Disease is Dependent on Contraction Speed. Poster presentation at the APTA Combined Sections Meeting, New Orleans LA, February 2011.
