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
Phone: (623) 518-2386 Email:
Courses Taught
Neuroanatomy
Motor Control Across the Lifespan
Research Methods in Physical Therapy I, II, III, and IV
Fundamentals of Neurological Rehabilitation
Research Interests & Expertise Areas
Motor control
Neuroscience
Neurological rehabilitation in Parkinson’s disease;
Educational research
Publications and Presentations
Publications (within the past 10 years)
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.
Professional Memberships
American Physical Therapy Association
Society for Neuroscience
Service
Institutional Review Board
Admission Committee
Editorial board member of Open Journal of Molecular and Integrative Physiology
Conferences Attended
American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Combined Sections Meeting
IV STEP 2016 Conference hosted by APTA Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy
Society for Neuroscience
International Congress of Parkinson’s disease and Movement Disorders
