Crystal Ramsey

Associate Professor of Physical Therapy Education

Gerald L. Francis Center, Office 100M 2085 Campus Box Elon, NC 27244

Brief Biography

Crystal Ramsey is a graduate of Elon’s Department of Physical Therapy Education (DPTE) with over 15 years of clinical experience working with individuals who have neuromuscular injuries or disorders. Dr. Ramsey joined Elon University’s School of Health Science in 2018. As a Board-Certified Neurologic Clinical Specialist, her teaching responsibilities include the evaluation and treatment of individuals who have vestibular disorders, brain injuries, or spinal cord injuries. Her research interests and publication history includes concussion in service members and brain injuries in older adults. Additionally, she co-authored a third edition of the textbook Mobility in Context. She is currently pursuing a PhD at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Human Movement Sciences with a concentration on brain injury/concussion.

News & Notes

Education

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

PhD student, Human Movement Sciences, August 2020 - Current.

Elon University

Doctor of Physical Therapy, December 2009.

Shenandoah University

Bachelor of Science, Biology, May 2006.

Courses Taught

DPT 7020: Management of Neuromuscular Disorders
DPT 8200: Advanced Clinical Practice Selective Tracks (Neuromuscular Track)

Leadership Positions

Dr. Ramsey is the Faculty Advisor for the Health Outreach Program at Elon (HOPE) Clinic and works with DPT students to provide pro bono physical therapy services to uninsured or underinsured clients.

Research

Peer-Reviewed Publications: Journal Articles

Haider MN, Cole WR, Willer B, McCulloch KL, Horn EC, Bertz PE, Ramsey C, Leddy J. Early Targeted Heart Rate Exercise is Safe and May Hasten Return-to-Duty in Service Members with Acute Concussion, A Feasibility Study. Brain Injury. Accepted for Publication.

Charles D, Clay R, Stewart A, Moroney B, Ramsey, C. The Lack of LGBTQIA Cultural Competency in Physical Therapy Education. Journal of Allied Health. Spring 2022; 51(1):47-51.

Andrews, AW, Vallabhajosula S, Ramsey C, Francis J, Jaffe W. Influence of Wheelchair Type on Wheelchair Propulsion Test Performance in Active Wheelchair Users. NeuroRehabilitation. February 2022. Online ahead of print.

McCulloch KL, Osborne MBA, Ramsey CR. Geriatric Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI). Current Geriatric Reports. September 2020; 9:142-153.

Andrews AW, Vallabhajosula, S, Ramsey C, Lane M, Smith M. Preliminary Investigation of the Clinimetric Properties of the Wheelchair Propulsion Test.

Ramsey C, Preston A, Barredo R, Lehman D. Teaching Neurological/Functional Physical Therapy using the International Classification of Function (ICF) Model: a course example using Aging with Multiple Sclerosis. Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation. July/September 2019;35(3):209-216.

Peer-Reviewed Publications: Published Abstracts

Ramsey C, Byom L. “Individual and Clinical Characteristics of Older Adults with Concussion”. Brain Injury. 2021.

Nunn K, Atwood N, Shah H, Ramsey C, Vallabhajosula S. “Do Individualized Physical Therapy Intervention Improve Balance and Gait Initiation in Persons with Parkinson’s Disease?” Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 2020 July; 52 (7S):850-851.

Current Projects

Dr. Ramsey is currently a co-investigator on a grant from the Department of Defense entitle "Exercise Reset for Concussion-Modifying the Buffalo Concussion Protocol for Application in a Military Environment." Additionally, she is leading a team including Elon DPT students to trial a new protocol to assess exercise intolerance in older adults who have sustained a concussion or mild traumatic brain injury.

Grants Awarded

December 2023. American Physical Therapy Association of North Carolina Diversity Community Impact Challenge Grant. Funded. $1500. Role: Faculty Mentor.

November 2023. Faculty Research and Development, Summer Fellowship with Financial Assistance. Elon University. Autonomic Dysfunction in Older Adults with mTBI. Funded. $2620. Role: Principal Investigator.

September 2023. United Way of Alamance County Community Investment Grant. Funding request for the Health Outreach Program at Elon (HOPE) Clinic. Funded. $10,000. Role: Principal Investigator.

September 2022. United Way of Alamance County Community Investment Grant. Funding request for the Health Outreach Program at Elon (HOPE) Clinic. Funded. $10,000. Role: Principal Investigator.

September 2022. Faculty Research and Development, Summer Fellowship with Financial Assistance. Elon University. Exertion Intolerance in Older Adults with a Mild Traumatic Brain Injury. Funded. $2090.40. Role: Principal Investigator.

September 2021. Department of Defense (FY21 TBIPHRP CTA). Exercise reset for concussion- modifying the Buffalo Concussion Protocol for Application in a military environment. Application approved for Level III funding. Role: Co-Investigator.

June 2021. Department of Defense (CDTA). Exercise tolerance testing and progressive return to activity treatment: modifying the Buffalo Concussion Assessment and Treatment Protocol for application in a military environment. Proposal #PT180084. Funded. Role: Co-Investigator.

November 2019. Faculty Research and Development, Financial Assistance. Elon University, for prevalence of concussive symptoms in older adults who present to the emergency room. Proposal #1324. Funded. $2250. Role: Principal Investigator.

September 2019. LSVT Global. The effects of an aerobic training program with a cooling vest on dual-task cost and fatigability in persons with multiple sclerosis: a pilot study. $1500. Role: Co-Investigator/Research Mentor.

January 2019. Parkinson’s Foundation-2019 Community Grants. Do supervised home exercise programs improve compliance, physical functioning and emotional well-being in persons with Parkinson’s disease after physical therapy care? Awarded for use April 2019-June 2020. $20,000. Role: Principal Investigator.

October 2018. Faculty Research and Development, Hultquist Stipend with financial assistance, Elon University, for incidence of unrecognized concussive symptoms in the geriatric population following trauma. Proposal ID# 1085. Funded. $2280. Role: Principal Investigator.

November 2017. Parkinson’s Foundation, Tennessee State University, for effects of gym memberships guided by licensed therapists on patients with Parkinson’s disease. Awarded for use January 2018-December 2018. $5000. Role: Principal Investigator.

Publications

Charles D, Clay R, Stewart A, Moroney B, Ramsey, C. The Lack of LGBTQIA Cultural Competency in Physical Therapy Education. Journal of Allied Health. Spring 2022; 51(1):47-51.

McCulloch KL, Osborne MBA, Ramsey CR. Geriatric Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI). Current Geriatric Reports.Published online July 31 2020.

Andrews AW, Vallabhajosula, S, Ramsey C, Lane M, Smith M. Preliminary Investigation of the Clinimetric Properties of the Wheelchair Propulsion Test. NeuroRehabilitation. 2019; 45 (2):229-237.

Ramsey C, Preston A, Barredo R, Lehman D. “Teaching Neurological/Functional Physical Therapy using the International Classification of Function (ICF) Model: a course example using Aging with Multiple Sclerosis”. Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation. July/September 2019;35(3):209-216.

Presentations

Peer-Reviewed Presentations: Invited Speaker Presentations

Guill C, Barreda F, Wilson A, Ramsey C. “HOPE Clinic: Pursuing Dreams and Cultivating Growth”. 2024 Pro Bono Network Conference. Widener University. Chester, PA. Pending Review.

DeMarco D, Knuckles A, Evans E, Ramsey C. “Pilot Study for Feasibility of Treadmill Graded Exertion Testing in Older Adults”. American Physical Therapy Association of North Carolina Annual Fall Conference. Elon, NC. Platform Presentation. October 2023.

Guy Metcalf J, Vallabhajosula, Ramsey C, Crosby A, Wilson M. “Effectiveness of Dance Classes Delivered Virtually for Individuals with Parkinsons’ Disease”. International Association for Dance Medicine and Science. Interactive Presentation. Dublin, Ireland. October 2022.

Henry S, DeNeal A, Ramsey C, Vallabhajosula S. “Step Activity and Fall Risk Assessment in Persons with Parkinson’s Disease”. Platform Presentation. American Physical Therapy Association’s Combined Sections Meeting. San Antonio, TX, February 2022.

Ramsey C, Byom L. “Individual and Clinical Characteristics of Older Adults with Concussion”. Oral Presentation. 2021 International Brain Injury Association’s Virtual World Congress on Brain Injury. July 2021.

Johansson C, Ramsey C. “Teaching Clinical Reasoning Using Illness Scripts, Rehab Scripts, and ICF-Based Concept Mapping”. Educational Session Proposal. American Physical Therapy Association’s Combined Sections Meeting. Orlando, FL, February 2021.

Charles D, Ramsey C. “The Effects of Concussion and the Risk for Subsequent Musculoskeletal Injuries in Athletes”.Platform Presentation. American Physical Therapy Association’s NEXT Conference and Exposition. Chicago, Illinois, June 2019.

Peer-Reviewed Presentations: Poster Presentations

Ramsey CR, McCulloch KL, DeMarco D*, Knuckles A*, Mercer VS. “Graded Treadmill Test to Assess Exercise Intolerance in Older Adults: A Pilot Study”. Poster Presentation. American Physical Therapy Association’s Combined Sections Meeting. Boston, MA, February 2024.

DeMarco D*, Patrick D*, Tuisa O*, Ramsey C. “Use of the OPTIMAL Theory to Facilitate Confidence and Increase Independence Following a Hemorrhagic Stroke”. American Physical Therapy Association’s Combined Sections Meeting. Boston, MA, February 2024.

Ramsey C, McCulloch K, Mercer V, Byom L. “Older Adults with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: Demographics, Fracture, and Mechanism of Injury.” Poster Presentation. 2023 International Brain Injury Association’s 14th Biennial World Congress on Brain Injury. Dublin, Ireland, March 2023.

Harrison C, McCulloch K, Ramsey C, Gangwani R. “Changes in Patterns of Dual-Task Interference in Active Duty Service Members Following Rehabilitation”. Poster Presentation. 2023 International Brain Injury Association’s 14thBiennial World Congress on Brain Injury. Dublin, Ireland, March 2023.

McCulloch K, Harrison C, Ramsey C, Gangwani R. “Cognitive Dual-task Effects are More Common in Service Members with mTBI and Healthy Controls”. Poster Presentation. 2023 International Brain Injury Association’s 14thBiennial World Congress on Brain Injury. Dublin, Ireland, March 2023.

Ramsey C, Byom L, McCulloch KL. “Older Adults with mTBI: Demographics and Concomitant Fracture Incidence”. Poster Presentation. 2022 Human Movement Science Research Symposium. Chapel Hill, NC, April 2022.

Ramsey C, Byom L. “Demographics and Fracture Incidence in Older Adults with Concussion”. Poster Presentation. American Physical Therapy Association’s Combined Sections Meeting. San Antonio, TX, February 2022.

Henry S, DeNeal A, Ramsey C, Vallabhajosula S. “Step Activity and Fall Risk Assessment in Persons with Parkinson’s Disease”. Poster Presentation. American Physical Therapy Association of North Carolina Fall Conference. Winston-Salem, NC. October 2021.

DeNeal A, Henry S, Ramsey C, Vallabhajosula S. “Backwards Gait and Fall Risk Assessment in Individuals with Parkinson’s Disease.” Podium Presentation. 2021 Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine, Washington, DC, June 2021.

Crosby A, Wilson M, Metcalf J, Ramsey C, Vallabhajosula S. “Virtual Physical Assessments and Dance Intervention for Parkinson’s Disease.” Poster Presentation. 2021 Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine, Washington, DC, June 2021.

Barak H, Von Rentzell S, Yang N, Ramsey C*. “Effects of a CIDP-Based Wrist Strengthening Protocol on a Patient with Chronic Guillain-Barre Syndrome: A Case Study”. Poster Presentation. American Physical Therapy Association’s Combined Sections Meeting. Orlando, Florida, February 2021.

Bales KB, Reich M, Ramsey CR, Vallabhajosula S. “Individualized Physical Therapy Interventions Improve Backward Walking in Individuals with Parkinson’s Disease”. Poster Presentation. American Physical Therapy Association’s Combined Sections Meeting. Orlando, Florida, February 2021.

Bedel N, Everett S, Vice C, Ramsey C*. “Telehealth Therapy is a Viable Option for Functional Improvements in a Patient Post-Stroke”. Poster Presentation. American Physical Therapy Association’s Combined Sections Meeting. Orlando, Florida, February 2021.

Osborn C, Sullivan B, Turcotte N, Ramsey C*. “Effect of High Intensity Interval Training on Cognitive Tasks in a Person with Parkinson’s Disease”. Poster Presentation. American Physical Therapy Association’s Combined Sections Meeting. Orlando, Florida, February 2021.

Chisholm R, Upham M, Phillips D, Johansson C, Ramsey C*. “Do Concussive Symptoms Differ in Older Adults and Adolescents?” Poster Presentation. American Physical Therapy Association’s Combined Sections Meeting. Orlando, Florida, February 2021.

Nunn K, Vallabhajosula S, Ramsey C*. “Individualized Physical Therapy Improves Balance and Stepping Velocity in Persons with Parkinson’s Disease”. Poster Presentation. American Physical Therapy Association’s Combined Sections Meeting. Orlando, Florida, February 2021.

Vallabhajosula S, Reich M, Nunn K, Ramsey, C*. “Gait Variability in Persons with Parkinson’s Disease after Individualized Physical Therapy”. Poster Presentation. American Society of Biomechanics Annual Conference. Atlanta, GA, August 2020.

Jaffe W, Little J, Poole C, Ramsey C*. “Improved Modified Functional Reach Test Scores Facilitate Independence with Transfers for Patient with C5 Tetraplegia”. Poster Presentation. American Physical Therapy Association’s NEXT Conference and Exposition, Phoenix, Arizona, June 2020. Conference cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns.

Charles D, Clay R, Ramsey C*. “The Lack of LGBTQIA Cultural Competency in Physical Therapy Education.” Poster Presentation. American Physical Therapy Association’s NEXT Conference and Exposition, Phoenix, Arizona, June 2020. Conference cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns.

Nunn K, Atwood N, Shah H, Ramsey C, Vallabhajosula S. “Do Individualized Physical Therapy Intervention Improve Balance and Gait Initiation in Persons with Parkinson’s Disease?” Thematic Poster. 2020 Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine, San Francisco, California, May 2020. Conference cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns.

Reich M, Ramsey C, Vallabhajosula S. “Effectiveness of Physical Therapy-Based Intervention Followed by a Home Exercise Program on Gait and Cognition in Individuals With Parkinson’s Disease”. Poster Presentation. Elon University’s Spring Undergraduate Research Forum. April 2020. Conference cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns.

Chisholm RS, Upham MC, Phillips DB, Johansson CA, Ramsey CR*. “Do Concussive Symptoms Differ in Older Adults and Adolescents?” Poster Presentation. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Human Movement Science Research Symposium. March 2020. Conference cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns.

Nunn K, Atwood N, Shah H, Ramsey C, Vallabhajosula S. “Individualized Physical Therapy Improves Balance and Stepping Velocity in Person’s with Parkinson’s Disease.” Poster Presentation. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Human Movement Science Research Symposium. March 2020. Conference cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns.

Comeau C, Everett S, Vallabhajosula S, Ramsey C. “Cooling Vests Acutely Improve Stride Length During Dual-Tasks in Persons with Multiple Sclerosis.” Poster Presentation. American Physical Therapy Association’s Combined Sections Meeting. Denver, Colorado, February 2020.

Knox Z, Graham L, Ramsey C*. “Management of a Central Vestibular Disorder in an Individual with a Chronic Traumatic Brain Injury”. Poster Presentation. American Physical Therapy Association’s Combined Sections Meeting. Denver, Colorado, February 2020.

Chisholm R, Upham M, Phillips B, Ramsey C, Johansson C. “Need for Acute Care Concussion Screening for Older Adults Following Trauma: A Theory Report”. Poster Presentation. North Carolina American Physical Therapy Association’s Fall Conference. Wilmington, North Carolina, October 2019.

Curtis J, DiBiasio P, Ramsey C*. “The Effect of International Clinical Rotations on the Cultural Competence of Physical Therapy Students: A Theory Report”. Poster Presentation. American Physical Therapy Association’s NEXT Conference and Exposition. Orlando, Florida, June 2018.

Preston A, Lehman L, Ramsey C, Barredo R. “Teaching Neurological/Functional Physical Therapy using the International Classification of Function (ICF) Model”. Poster Presentation. Accepted for presentation at Hawaii University International Conferences on STEM/STEAM and Education, June 2018.

Professional Activities

Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy Item Writer for the National Physical Therapy Examination, August 2021-December 2021

Reviewer for Brain Injury, August 2021-present

American Physical Therapy Association of North Carolina Annual Conference Proposal Reviewer, April-May 2021

Reviewer for Physiotherapy Theory and Practice, May 2019-present

FSBPT ProCert Reviewer, March 2018-December 2019

Service Activities

Faculty Advisor for Health Outreach Program of Elon (HOPE) Clinic. For more information on the HOPE clinic, please click here.

Skills

CERTIFICATIONS

LSVT-BIG; June 2020-current; renewed October 2022

Personalized Blood Flow Restriction Rehabilitation; May 2019

Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS); May 2019

American Institute of Balance Post-Concussion Management Certification; February 2019

American Institute of Balance Vestibular Rehabilitation Certification; October 2018

Board-Certified Neurologic Clinical Specialist; July 2018-current

American Physical Therapy Association Credentialed Clinical Instructor; November 2017

Professional Development

SELECTED CONTINUING EDUCATION

International Brain Injury Association Conference, Dublin, Ireland, March 29, 2023. Qualitative Research Summer Intensive, Odum Institute for Research in Social Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, July 24-August 4, 2022

Educational Leadership Conference, Atlanta, GA, October 22-24, 2021

2021 International Brain Injury Association’s Virtual World Congress on Brain Injury, July 28-31, 2021

APTA Combined Sections Meeting, Virtual Conference, February-March 2021

LSVT Global, June 24, 2020

APTA Combined Sections Meeting, Denver, CO, February 12-15

Educational Leadership Conference, Seattle, WA, October 19-20, 2019

North Carolina Physical Therapy Association Fall Conference, Wilmington, NC, October 4, 2019

Blood Flow Restriction, Owens Recover Science, Elon University, March 11, 2019

Post-Concussion Management, The American Institute of Balance, Elon University, February 15-17, 2019

Vestibular Rehabilitation, The American Institute of Balance, Largo, FL. September 19-21, 2018

Stroke and Physical Therapy Implications, Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN. June 8, 2018

Reviewer Training for ProCert, Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy, Alexandria, VA. March 3-4, 2018

Treatment of the Elite Athlete, Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN. February 23, 2018

MedBridge Online NCS Prep-Program. October 18, 2017-February 10, 2018

APTA Credentialed Clinical Instructor Course, Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN. November 10-11, 2017

Traumatic Brain Injury, Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN. September 22, 2017

Pelvic Floor Dysfunction, Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN. June 13, 2017

Dementia Workshop, Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN. March 3, 2017

Occupational and Physical Therapy Management of Spinal Cord Injury, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN. September 17-18, 2016

Partial Weight Bearing Gait Training, Life Care Center at Old Hickory Village, Old Hickory, TN. November 13, 2015

Lower Quadrant Patterned Electrical Neuromuscular Stimulation: An Accelerated Clinical Practice Series, Life Care Center at Old Hickory Village, Old Hickory, TN. June 16, 2015

Rehab Summit: The Apex of Discovery, Cross Country Education, Nashville, TN. July 24-26, 2014

Assessment of Movement, Belmont University, Nashville, TN. August 2014

Domestic Violence, Innovative Educational Services. March 6, 2014

Awards

Excellence in Neurological Education, Academy of Neurological Education, February 2025

Accepted to Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy’s Early Career Scientist Virtual Workshop, February 2021

Student Research Poster Award: 3rd Place, American Physical Therapy Association of North Carolina Fall Conference, October 2020

Faculty mentor on research project “Do concussion symptoms differ in adolescents and older adults?”

Hultquist Award, Elon University, Faculty Research and Development, Elon, NC. December 2018

Service Award, Tennessee State University, Department of Physical Therapy Education, Nashville, TN. May 2018.

Weavil Scholarship, Elon University, Department of Physical Therapy Education, Elon, NC. December 2009