Emily J Fox, PT, PhD
Associate Professor & Director Of The Brooks-PHHP Research Collaboration; Director Of Neuromuscular Research And The Motion Analysis Center, Brooks Rehabilitation
About Emily J Fox
Emily Fox, PT, DPT, MHS, PhD is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy and Director of Neuromuscular Research at Brooks Rehabilitation. She also directs the Brooks Motion Analysis Center, a clinical and research assessment facility. She is the Director of the Brooks-PHHP Research Collaboration, an established collaboration between Brooks Rehabilitation and the UF College of Public Health and Health Professions. In this role, she brings strategic leadership to to grow rehabilitation research and enhance the missions of Brooks and PHHP.
Dr. Fox’s research is focused on control and recovery following neurologic injury and disease. Her objective is to apply intrinsic neural and biomechanical control principles to enhance rehabilitation and promote recovery. As a physical therapist and researcher, she has extensive experience working with individuals with stroke, spinal cord injury, and older adults. Her research represents an interdisciplinary, translational approach to investigate mechanisms underlying motor control and the use of activity-based interventions to restore function.
The specific objectives of her research are to: 1) identify mechanisms associated with motor function and recovery, 2) develop innovative approaches to enhance walking control and recovery, including community ambulation, 3) investigate novel approaches to enhance the delivery and effectiveness of rehabilitation interventions and 4) advance strategies to enhance respiratory recovery after spinal cord injury. Dr. Fox’s current funded projects investigate therapeutic approaches such as transcutaneous electrical stimulation and acute intermittent hypoxia to enhance neuromuscular plasticity and recovery.
Additional Positions:
Chair, Research Committee
2024 – Current
·
Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy, APTA
Clinical Associate Director
2023 – Current
·
UF Breathing Research and Therapeutics Center (BREATHE)
Steering Committee
2021 – Current
·
Rehabilitation Science PhD Program, Dept. of Physical Therapy, UF
Steering Committee
2019 – Current
·
BREATHE Center, University of FL
Director of Neuromuscular Research
2019 – Current
·
Brooks Rehabilitation
Director, Brooks Motion Analysis Center
2013 – Current
·
Brooks Rehabilitation
Related Links:
Accomplishments
Spinal Cord Injury Special Interest Group Research Award
2024
·
American Physical Therapy Association Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy
Eugene Michels Young Investigator Award
2019
·
American Physical Therapy Association
Teaching Profile
Courses Taught
2015-2016,2020-2024
RSD6910 Supervised Research
2013-2025
PHT6761C Neurorehabilitation 1
2017-2021,2025
RSD7980 Research for Doctoral Dissertation
2016-2025
RSD7979 Advanced Research
2016-2018,2024-2025
RSD6940 Supervised Teaching
2018
GMS7980 Research for Doctoral Dissertation
2015-2018,2022-2023
RSD6905 Individual Work
2014-2017,2022-2023
HSC4970 Public Health and Health Professions Senior Honors Thesis
2012-2015,2022
PHT6206C Basic Clinic Skills 1
2025
PHT6504 Hlth Promo/Wellness 3
Publications
Academic Articles
2024
Articulated ankle-foot-orthosis improves inter-limb propulsion symmetry during walking adaptability task post-stroke.
Clinical biomechanics (Bristol, Avon).
116
[DOI] 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2024.106268.
[PMID] 38795609.
2024
Cardiorespiratory Responses to Acute Intermittent Hypoxia in Humans With Chronic Spinal Cord Injury.
Journal of neurotrauma.
41(17-18):2114-2124
[DOI] 10.1089/neu.2023.0353.
[PMID] 38468543.
2024
Speed- and Endurance-Based Classifications of Community Ambulation Post-Stroke Revisited: The Importance of Location in Walking Performance Measurement.
Neurorehabilitation and neural repair.
38(8):582-594
[DOI] 10.1177/15459683241257521.
[PMID] 38813947.
2024
Stretching after spinal cord injury: a call for evidence for this common clinical practice.
Frontiers in rehabilitation sciences.
5
[DOI] 10.3389/fresc.2024.1505439.
[PMID] 39720626.
2024
Visuospatial cognition predicts performance on an obstructed vision obstacle walking task in older adults.
Experimental gerontology.
189
[DOI] 10.1016/j.exger.2024.112403.
[PMID] 38490285.
2023
APOE4, Age & Sex Regulate Respiratory Plasticity Elicited By Acute Intermittent Hypercapnic-Hypoxia.
bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology.
[DOI] 10.1101/2023.01.06.522840.
[PMID] 36711653.
2023
APOE4, Age, and Sex Regulate Respiratory Plasticity Elicited by Acute Intermittent Hypercapnic-Hypoxia.
Function (Oxford, England).
4(5)
[DOI] 10.1093/function/zqad026.
[PMID] 37575478.
2023
Perceptions of Autonomous Shuttles for Adults With Spinal Cord Injuries.
OTJR : occupation, participation and health.
[DOI] 10.1177/15394492231182058.
[PMID] 37381903.
2023
Recovery of walking in nonambulatory children with chronic spinal cord injuries: Case series.
Journal of neuroscience research.
101(6):826-842
[DOI] 10.1002/jnr.25162.
[PMID] 36690607.
2023
Spatiotemporal strategies adopted to walk at fast speed in high- and low-functioning individuals post-stroke: a cross-sectional study.
Topics in stroke rehabilitation.
30(1):1-10
[DOI] 10.1080/10749357.2021.2008593.
[PMID] 36524626.
2023
Sympathetic nervous system responses during complex walking tasks and community ambulation post-stroke.
Scientific reports.
13(1)
[DOI] 10.1038/s41598-023-47365-5.
[PMID] 37974001.
2023
The 3-Meter Backward Walk Test (3MBWT): Reliability and validity in individuals with subacute and chronic stroke.
Physiotherapy theory and practice.
39(12):2698-2705
[DOI] 10.1080/09593985.2022.2085638.
[PMID] 35658807.
2023
The influence of backward versus forward locomotor training on gait speed and balance control post-stroke: Recovery or compensation?
Journal of biomechanics.
155
[DOI] 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2023.111644.
[PMID] 37229888.
2022
Acute intermittent hypercapnic-hypoxia elicits central neural respiratory motor plasticity in humans.
The Journal of physiology.
600(10):2515-2533
[DOI] 10.1113/JP282822.
[PMID] 35348218.
2022
Enhancing Locomotor Learning With Transcutaneous Spinal Electrical Stimulation and Somatosensory Augmentation: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial in Older Adults.
Frontiers in aging neuroscience.
14
[DOI] 10.3389/fnagi.2022.837467.
[PMID] 35309891.
2022
Feasibility of transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation combined with locomotor training after spinal cord injury.
Spinal cord.
60(11):971-977
[DOI] 10.1038/s41393-022-00801-1.
[PMID] 35477745.
2022
Locomotor-respiratory coupling in ambulatory adults with incomplete spinal cord injury.
Spinal cord series and cases.
8(1)
[DOI] 10.1038/s41394-022-00515-9.
[PMID] 35501342.
2022
Low Risk for Persistent Back Pain Disability Is Characterized by Lower Pain Sensitivity and Higher Physical Performance.
Physical therapy.
102(3)
[DOI] 10.1093/ptj/pzab283.
[PMID] 35079824.
2022
Therapeutic acute intermittent hypoxia: A translational roadmap for spinal cord injury and neuromuscular disease.
Experimental neurology.
347
[DOI] 10.1016/j.expneurol.2021.113891.
[PMID] 34637802.
2021
Diaphragm Pacing and a Model for Respiratory Rehabilitation After Spinal Cord Injury.
Journal of neurologic physical therapy : JNPT.
45(3):235-242
[DOI] 10.1097/NPT.0000000000000360.
[PMID] 34049339.
2021
Does Falls Efficacy Influence the Relationship Between Forward and Backward Walking Speed After Stroke?
Physical therapy.
101(5)
[DOI] 10.1093/ptj/pzab050.
[PMID] 33561276.
2021
Effect of acute intermittent hypoxia on cortico-diaphragmatic conduction in healthy humans.
Experimental neurology.
339
[DOI] 10.1016/j.expneurol.2021.113651.
[PMID] 33607080.
2021
Empirically derived back pain subgroups differentiated walking performance, pain, and disability.
Pain.
162(6):1806-1815
[DOI] 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002167.
[PMID] 33306502.
2021
Rehabilitation with accurate adaptability walking tasks or steady state walking: A randomized clinical trial in adults post-stroke.
Clinical rehabilitation.
35(8):1196-1206
[DOI] 10.1177/02692155211001682.
[PMID] 33722075.
2021
Single-session effects of acute intermittent hypoxia on breathing function after human spinal cord injury.
Experimental neurology.
342
[DOI] 10.1016/j.expneurol.2021.113735.
[PMID] 33951477.
2020
Clinical Practice Guideline to Improve Locomotor Function Following Chronic Stroke, Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury, and Brain Injury.
Journal of neurologic physical therapy : JNPT.
44(1):49-100
[DOI] 10.1097/NPT.0000000000000303.
[PMID] 31834165.
2020
Distributed Repetitive Learning Control for Cooperative Cadence Tracking in Functional Electrical Stimulation Cycling.
IEEE transactions on cybernetics.
50(3):1084-1095
[DOI] 10.1109/TCYB.2018.2882755.
[PMID] 30530349.
2020
Reliability of diaphragmatic motor-evoked potentials induced by transcranial magnetic stimulation.
Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985).
129(6):1393-1404
[DOI] 10.1152/japplphysiol.00486.2020.
[PMID] 33031020.
2020
Synergy between Acute Intermittent Hypoxia and Task-Specific Training.
Exercise and sport sciences reviews.
48(3):125-132
[DOI] 10.1249/JES.0000000000000222.
[PMID] 32412926.
2020
Targeted activation of spinal respiratory neural circuits.
Experimental neurology.
328
[DOI] 10.1016/j.expneurol.2020.113256.
[PMID] 32087253.
2019
Assessment of backward walking unmasks mobility impairments in post-stroke community ambulators.
Topics in stroke rehabilitation.
26(5):382-388
[DOI] 10.1080/10749357.2019.1609182.
[PMID] 31081491.
2019
Clinical application of backward walking training to improve walking function, balance, and fall-risk in acute stroke: a case series.
Topics in stroke rehabilitation.
26(7):497-502
[DOI] 10.1080/10749357.2019.1641011.
[PMID] 31311448.
2019
Interpreting Prefrontal Recruitment During Walking After Stroke: Influence of Individual Differences in Mobility and Cognitive Function.
Frontiers in human neuroscience.
13
[DOI] 10.3389/fnhum.2019.00194.
[PMID] 31316360.
2018
A Backward Walking Training Program to Improve Balance and Mobility in Acute Stroke: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.
Journal of neurologic physical therapy : JNPT.
42(1):12-21
[DOI] 10.1097/NPT.0000000000000210.
[PMID] 29232308.
2018
Dynamic balance during walking adaptability tasks in individuals post-stroke.
Journal of biomechanics.
74:106-115
[DOI] 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2018.04.029.
[PMID] 29724539.
2018
Mobility Function and Recovery After Stroke: Preliminary Insights From Sympathetic Nervous System Activity.
Journal of neurologic physical therapy : JNPT.
42(4):224-232
[DOI] 10.1097/NPT.0000000000000238.
[PMID] 30138228.
2018
Neuromuscular variability and spatial accuracy in children and older adults.
Journal of electromyography and kinesiology : official journal of the International Society of Electrophysiological Kinesiology.
41:27-33
[DOI] 10.1016/j.jelekin.2018.04.011.
[PMID] 29723799.
2018
Prefrontal over-activation during walking in people with mobility deficits: Interpretation and functional implications.
Human movement science.
59:46-55
[DOI] 10.1016/j.humov.2018.03.010.
[PMID] 29604488.
2018
Sympathetic nervous system activity measured by skin conductance quantifies the challenge of walking adaptability tasks after stroke.
Gait & posture.
60:148-153
[DOI] 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2017.11.025.
[PMID] 29216598.
2018
Usability of the ‘Kinect-ing’ with Clinicians Website: A Knowledge Translation Resource Supporting Decisions About Active Videogame Use in Rehabilitation.
Games for health journal.
7(6):362-368
[DOI] 10.1089/g4h.2017.0159.
[PMID] 30179519.
2017
Anatomy and physiology of phrenic afferent neurons.
Journal of neurophysiology.
118(6):2975-2990
[DOI] 10.1152/jn.00484.2017.
[PMID] 28835527.
2017
EMG synchrony to assess impaired corticomotor control of locomotion after stroke.
Journal of electromyography and kinesiology : official journal of the International Society of Electrophysiological Kinesiology.
37:35-40
[DOI] 10.1016/j.jelekin.2017.08.007.
[PMID] 28888972.
2017
Retraining walking adaptability following incomplete spinal cord injury.
Spinal cord series and cases.
3
[DOI] 10.1038/s41394-017-0003-1.
[PMID] 29449967.
2017
Sex differences in spatial accuracy relate to the neural activation of antagonistic muscles in young adults.
Experimental brain research.
235(8):2425-2436
[DOI] 10.1007/s00221-017-4968-6.
[PMID] 28500456.
2017
Walking on uneven terrain in healthy adults and the implications for people after stroke.
NeuroRehabilitation.
41(4):765-774
[DOI] 10.3233/NRE-172154.
[PMID] 28946584.
2016
Assessment of Haptic Interaction for Home-Based Physical Tele-Therapy using Wearable Devices and Depth Sensors.
Studies in health technology and informatics.
220:33-8
[PMID] 27046550.
2016
The effects of backward walking training on balance and mobility in an individual with chronic incomplete spinal cord injury: A case report.
Physiotherapy theory and practice.
32(7):536-45
[DOI] 10.1080/09593985.2016.1206155.
[PMID] 27482619.
2016
Toward a Transformed Understanding: From Pain and Movement to Pain With Movement.
Physical therapy.
96(10):1503-1507
[PMID] 27694519.
2015
“Kinect-ing” with clinicians: a knowledge translation resource to support decision making about video game use in rehabilitation.
Physical therapy.
95(3):426-40
[DOI] 10.2522/ptj.20130618.
[PMID] 25256741.
2015
High-gain visual feedback exacerbates ankle movement variability in children.
Experimental brain research.
233(5):1597-606
[DOI] 10.1007/s00221-015-4234-8.
[PMID] 25744054.
2014
Aging and limb alter the neuromuscular control of goal-directed movements.
Experimental brain research.
232(6):1759-71
[DOI] 10.1007/s00221-014-3868-2.
[PMID] 24557320.
2014
Altered activation of the antagonist muscle during practice compromises motor learning in older adults.
Journal of neurophysiology.
112(4):1010-9
[DOI] 10.1152/jn.00569.2013.
[PMID] 24848478.
2014
Neuromuscular control of goal-directed ankle movements differs for healthy children and adults.
European journal of applied physiology.
114(9):1889-99
[DOI] 10.1007/s00421-014-2915-9.
[PMID] 24906445.
2014
Walking adaptability after a stroke and its assessment in clinical settings.
Stroke research and treatment.
2014
[DOI] 10.1155/2014/591013.
[PMID] 25254140.
2013
Decreased expression of nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis receiving methotrexate.
The Journal of rheumatology.
40(5):741-2
[DOI] 10.3899/jrheum.120639.
[PMID] 23637381.
2013
Modular control of varied locomotor tasks in children with incomplete spinal cord injuries.
Journal of neurophysiology.
110(6):1415-25
[DOI] 10.1152/jn.00676.2012.
[PMID] 23761702.
2013
Modulation of force below 1 Hz: age-associated differences and the effect of magnified visual feedback.
PloS one.
8(2)
[DOI] 10.1371/journal.pone.0055970.
[PMID] 23409099.
2012
Age-associated impairement in endpoint accuracy of goal-directed contractions performed with two fingers is due to altered activation of the synergistic muscles.
Experimental gerontology.
47(7):519-26
[DOI] 10.1016/j.exger.2012.04.007.
[PMID] 22580059.
2010
Ongoing walking recovery 2 years after locomotor training in a child with severe incomplete spinal cord injury.
Physical therapy.
90(5):793-802
[DOI] 10.2522/ptj.20090171.
[PMID] 20299409.
2008
Interactions between cognitive tasks and gait after stroke: a dual task study.
Gait & posture.
27(4):683-8
[PMID] 17945497.
2007
Effects of stroke severity and training duration on locomotor recovery after stroke: a pilot study.
Neurorehabilitation and neural repair.
21(2):137-51
[PMID] 17312089.
2004
Integrated models of pediatric physical and occupational therapy: regional practice and related outcomes.
Pediatric physical therapy : the official publication of the Section on Pediatrics of the American Physical Therapy Association.
16(2):121-8
[PMID] 17057537.
2004
Locomotor training with partial body weight support on a treadmill in a nonambulatory child with spastic tetraplegic cerebral palsy: a case report.
Pediatric physical therapy : the official publication of the Section on Pediatrics of the American Physical Therapy Association.
16(2):106-13
[PMID] 17057535.
Grants
Sep 2024
ACTIVE
Trunk control after human spinal cord injury
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH NICHD
Apr 2024
ACTIVE
Spinal Direct Current Stimulation to Enhance Breathing Following Cervical Spinal Cord Injury
Role: Other
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH NINDS
Apr 2024
ACTIVE
"Intermittent Visual Perturbations to Enhance Balance Training"
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH NINDS
May 2023
ACTIVE
Cognitively engaging walking exercise and neuromodulation to enhance brain function in older adults
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH NIA
Sep 2022
ACTIVE
Genetic Biomarkers of Intermittent Hypoxia-Induced Respiratory Motor Plasticity in Chronic SCI
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: US ARMY MED RES ACQUISITION
Sep 2022
ACTIVE
Transcutaneous Spinal Direct Current Stimulation to Enhance Locomotor Rehabilitation after SCI
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: CRAIG H NEILSEN FOU
Jan 2022
– Dec 2024
Swallowing and respiratory function in chronic spinal cord injury
Role: Co-Project Director/Principal Investigator
Funding: BROOKS REHABILITATION CLINICAL RES CNTR
Jan 2021
– Jan 2023
Locomotor Training with Testosterone to Promote Bone and Muscle Health
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: NORTH FL FOU FOR RES AND EDU
via CRAIG H NEILSEN FOU
Sep 2020
– Aug 2022
Acute Intermittent Hypoxia to Improve Breathing in Humans with SCI
Role: Other
Funding: CRAIG H NEILSEN FOU
Jun 2019
– May 2021
Perceptions of individuals living with spinal cord injury toward autonomous vehicles
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding: PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA
Dec 2018
– Dec 2020
VA IPA for Emily Fox
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: US DEPT OF VET AFF GAINESVILLE MED CTR
Oct 2018
– Jun 2021
National Resource Center for High-Impact Clinical Trials in Medical Rehabilitation: Pilot Projects Component
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: UNIV OF ALABAMA BIRMINGHAM
via NATL INST OF HLTH NICHD
Sep 2018
– Sep 2023
Acute Intermittent Hypoxia and Respiratory Strength Training to Improve Breathing Function after SCI
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: US ARMY MED RES ACQUISITION
Aug 2018
– Mar 2020
Phrenic Afferents and Neuromuscular Plasticity Following Spinal Cord Injury
Role: Consultant
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH NHLBI
Jul 2018
– Jun 2020
Neuromodulation of spinal circuits to enhance practice-related performance on a complex walking task (Pilot Project).
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: MEDICAL UNIV OF SOUTH CAROLINA
via NATL INST OF HLTH NICHD
Sep 2016
– Jul 2022
Functional mapping of peripheral and central circuits for airway protection and breathing
Role: Project Manager
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH OD
Sep 2015
– Dec 2019
Intramuscular pacing to enhance voluntary diaphragm activation
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: CRAIG H NEILSEN FOU
Jul 2007
– Aug 2016
Clinical and Translational Science Institute
Role: Project Manager
Funding: UF RESEARCH FOU
Education
Post-Doctoral Research Associate
2011-2012
·
Applied Physiology & Kinesiology, University of Florida
PhD, Rehabilitation Science
2007-2011
·
University of Florida
Doctor of Physical Therapy (transitional)
2004-2005
·
University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences
Masters of Health Science
1997-2000
·
University of Florida
Bachelor of Science, Physical Therapy
1992-1994
·
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
Contact Details
Phones:
- Business:
- (352) 273-6117
Emails:
- Business:
- ejfox@phhp.ufl.edu
Addresses:
- Business Mailing:
-
PO Box 100154
GAINESVILLE FL 32610 - Business Street:
-
1225 CENTER DR
GAINESVILLE FL 32610