Sarah M. Schwab

Sarah Schwab, PT, DPT, PhD (she/her/hers) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation, Exercise, and Nutrition Sciences at the University of Cincinnati. She earned her DPT from the University of Cincinnati in 2018, MA in Experimental Psychology in 2020, and PhD in Experimental Psychology in 2022, studying the influence of physical therapist assistance on the motor control patterns of individuals with chronic stroke. Sarah’s current research examines the impact of contextual factors (environmental and personal factors) on the motor control of individuals with neuromotor disabilities. Sarah’s research has been funded by the Foundation for Physical Therapy Research and the Ohio Physical Therapy Association.

PhD: University of Cincinnati 2022 (Experimental Psychology)

MA: University of Cincinnati 2020 (Experimental Psychology)

DPT: University of Cincinnati 2018 (Physical Therapy)

BS: University of Cincinnati 2015 (Health Sciences)

Motor Control & Motor Learning; Disability; Neurorehabilitation; Perception-Action; Nonlinear Dynamics & Complex Systems

Peer Reviewed Publications

Schwab, S.M., Andrade, V., Santos Moreira, T., Cavanaugh, J.T., Vaz, D.V., & Silva, P.L. (2023. ) Narrowing the physiotherapy knowledge-practice gap: Faculty training beyond the health sciences.Physiotherapy Theory and Practice, , 39 (4 ) ,675-689 More Information

Schwab, S.M., Spencer, C., Carver, N.S., Andrade, V., Dugan, S., Greve, K., & Silva, P.L. (2022. ) Personal factors understood through the ecological-enactive model of disability and implications for rehabilitation research.Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences, , 3 ,954061 More Information

Schwab, S.M., Carver, N.S., Forman, M.H., Abney, D.H., Davis, T.J., Riley, M.A., Paxton, A., & Silva, P.L. (2022. ) Child-caregiver interactions during a collaborative motor task in children with cerebral palsy: A descriptive exploratory study.Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, , 34 (2 ) ,255-277 More Information

Schwab, S.M., Dugan, S., & Riley, M.A (2021. ) Reciprocal influence of mobility and speech-language: Advancing physical therapy and speech therapy cotreatment and collaboration for adults with neurological conditions.Physical Therapy, , 101 (11 ) ,pzab196 More Information

Angeli, J.M., Schwab, S.M., Huijs, L., Sheehan, A., & Harpster, K. (2021. ) ICF-inspired goal-setting in developmental rehabilitation: An innovative framework for pediatric therapists.Physiotherapy Theory and Practice, , 37 (11 ) ,1167-1176 More Information

Schwab, S.M., Andrade Pinto, V., Kloos, H., Riley, M.A., & Silva, P.L. (2021. ) Unpredictable task demands and motor performance in individuals with neuromotor disability: A scoping review.Physical Therapy Reviews, , 26 (3 ) ,177-187 More Information

Schwab, S.M., Grover, F.M., Abney, D.H., Silva, P.L., & Riley, M.A. (2020. ) Children and adolescents with cerebral palsy flexibly adapt grip control in response to variable task demands.Clinical Biomechanics, , 80 ,105149 More Information

Grover, F.M., Schwab, S.M., & Riley, M.A. (2020. ) Grip force-load force coupling is influenced by altered visual feedback about object kinematics.Journal of Motor Behavior, , 52 (5 ) ,612-624 More Information

Schwab, S.M., & Zeleznik, A.J. (2020. ) Using the language of the ICF to distinguish physical therapy and occupational therapy services in the acute care setting.Journal of Acute Care Physical Therapy, , 11 (1 ) ,40-43 More Information

Grover, F.M., Schwab, S.M., Silva, P.L., Lorenz, T., & Riley, M.A (2019. ) Flexible organization of grip force control during movement frequency scaling.Journal of Neurophysiology, , 122 (6 ) ,2304-2315 More Information

Harpster, K., Sheehan, A., Foster, E.A., Leffler, E., Schwab, S.M., & Angeli J.M. (2019. ) The methodological application of goal attainment scaling in pediatric rehabilitation research: A systematic review.Disability and Rehabilitation, , 41 (24 ) ,2855-2864 More Information

Angeli, J.M., Peck, M.N., & Schwab, S.M. (2019. ) Self-perceived scholastic competence, athletic competence, and physical appearance are enhanced in children and young adults with physical disabilities following a community-based running program.Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, , 31 (5 ) ,701-723 More Information

Angeli, J.M., Harpster, K., Huijs, L., Seid, M., Sheehan, A., & Schwab, S.M. (2019. ) Patient-centered goal setting in developmental therapy: Discordance between documented goals and caregiver-perceived goals.Pediatric Quality and Safety, , 4 (4 ) ,e199 More Information

Angeli, J.M., Harpster, K., Hanson, E., Sheehan, A., & Schwab S.M. (2019. ) Patient- and caregiver-identified preferences: Dimensions of change in developmental therapy treatment goals.Developmental Neurorehabilitation, , 22 (1 ) ,39-46 More Information

Dugan, S., Schwab, S.M., Seward, R., Avant, J., Zhang, T., Li., S.R., Eary, K., Mast, T.D., Riley, M.A., & Boyce, S. (2023. ) A qualitative analysis of clinician perspectives of ultrasound biofeedback for speech sound disorders.American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, , More Information

Invited Presentations

Schwab, S.M. (05-2022. ) Innovative use of biomechanical tools and technologies to understand leader-follower dynamics .American Physical Therapy Association Academy of Research Biomechanics SIG Spring Webinar: Innovation in Biomechanics, Virtual. Level:National

Schwab, S.M., & Dugan, S. (04-2022. ) Better together: Advancing speech therapy and physical therapy collaborative practice .Implementation Science, MGH Institute of Health Professions. Level:National

Schwab, S.M., Grover, F.M., Cavanaugh, J.T., Silva, P.L., & Riley, M.A. (02-2022. ) Theme and variation: Capturing the complex, adaptive nature of motor behavior with nonlinear data analysis .Combined Sections Meeting of the American Physical Therapy Association, San Antonio, TX. Level:National

Li, S.R., Annand, C., Dugan, S., Schwab, S.M., Eary, K., Swearengen, M., Stack, S., Boyce, S., Riley, M.A., & Mast, T.D. (08-2021. ) An automatic, simple ultrasound biofeedback parameter for distinguishing accurate and misarticulated rhotic syllables .Interspeech, Brno, Czech Republic. Level:International

Schwab, S.M., Grover, F.M., Abney, D.H., Silva, P.L., & Riley, M.A. (11-2020. ) Unpredictable task demands facilitate grip control in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy .American Physical Therapy Association Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy Virtual Conference, Virtual. Level:National

Schwab, S.M., Carver, N.S., Forman, M., Abney, D.H., Riley, M.A., Paxton, A., & Silva, P.L. (11-2020. ) Collaborative motor task performance in children with cerebral palsy and their caregivers: A case series .American Physical Therapy Association Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy Virtual Conference, Virtual. Level:National

Schwab, S.M., Andrade Pinto, V., Riley, M.A., & Silva, P.L. (09-2020. ) Unpredictable task demands facilitate motor performance in individuals with neuromotor disability .Ohio Physical Therapy Association Virtual LEAP Conference, Virtual. Level:State

Schwab, S.M., Carver, N.S., Forman, M., Abney, D.H., Riley, M.A., Paxton, A., & Silva, P.L. (09-2020. ) Where you lead, I will follow: The influence of child-caregiver interactions on motor performance in children with cerebral palsy .Ohio Physical Therapy Association Virtual LEAP Conference, Virtual. Level:State

Schwab, S.M., Grover, F.M., Silva, P.L., & Riley, M.A. (02-2020. ) Task variability and grip control in unilateral cerebral palsy: A case study .Combined Sections Meeting of the American Physical Therapy Association, Denver, CO. Level:National

Peck, M., Angeli, J., & Schwab, S. (10-2018. ) Running toward enhanced self-concept: Wellness programming in children and young adults with developmental disability .American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine 72nd Annual Conference, Cincinnati, OH. Level:National

Angeli, J.M., Schwab, S.M., Garcia, M., Peck, M., & Long, J. (05-2018. ) A community-based running program enhances temporal-spatial parameters of gait in children and young adults with developmental disabilities .Gait and Clinical Movement Analysis Society Annual Conference, Indianapolis, IN. Level:National

Schwab, S.M., Angeli, J.M., Garcia, M., Peck, M., & Long, J. (05-2018. ) A comparison of two postural control measurement systems following a running intervention in children and young adults with developmental disabilities .Gait and Clinical Movement Analysis Society Annual Conference, Indianapolis, IN. Level:National

McGuire, M., Angeli, J., Bailes, A., Sunderland, J., & Schwab, S. (11-2017. ) Community collaboration to enhance participation in children and adolescents with developmental disabilities .American Physical Therapy Association Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy Annual Conference, Cincinnati, OH. Level:National

Poster Presentations

Schwab, S.M., Mayr, R., Davis, T.J., Riley, M.A., & Silva, P.L. (12-2022. ) Physical therapist postural assistance after stroke and underlying motor control strategies .World Federation for Neurorehabilitation 12th World Congress for Neurorehabilitation, Vienna, Austria. . Level:International

Schwab, S.M., Mayr, R., Davis, T.J., Silva, P.L., & Riley, M.A. (12-2022. ) Toward the promotion of task-sensitive postural control patterns in individuals with chronic stroke .World Federation for Neurorehabilitation 12th World Congress for Neurorehabilitation, Vienna, Austria. . Level:International

Li, S.R., Dugan, S., Schwab, S.M., Annand, C., Masterson, J., Boyce, S., Riley, M.A., & Mast, T.D. (08-2022. ) Comparing tongue movement vs. shape representations from ultrasound imaging of /ɑɹ/ articulatory strategies .International Conference on Speech Motor Control, Groningen, The Netherlands. . Level:International

Schwab, S.M., Mayr, R., Davis, T.J., Riley, M.A., & Silva, P.L. (02-2022. ) Movement time is associated with postural control in individuals with chronic stroke: A pilot study .Combined Sections Meeting of the American Physical Therapy Association, San Antonio, TX. . Level:National

Schwab, S.M. (02-2021. ) A consideration of liberal arts post-professional studies for the physical therapist .Combined Sections Meeting of the American Physical Therapy Association, Virtual. . Level:National

Li, S.R., Dugan, S., Annand, C., Schwab, S., Eary, K., Swearengen, M., Terrell, G.A., Stack, S., Boyce, S., Riley, M.A., & Mast, T.D. (12-2020. ) Classification of accurate and misarticulated rhotic syllables for simplified ultrasound biofeedback therapy .Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America, Virtual. . Level:National

Schwab, S.M., Alt, J.M., Riley, M.A., & Silva, P.L. (02-2020. ) Emphasizing interactions: Advancing the movement system concept in physical therapy research and practice .Combined Sections Meeting of the American Physical Therapy Association, Denver, CO. . Level:National

Huijs, L., Schwab, S.M., Garcia, M.C., Livecchi, A., & Angeli, J.M. (02-2020. ) Meaningful interventions in developmental rehabilitation – It’s as easy as riding a bike .Combined Sections Meeting of the American Physical Therapy Association, Denver, CO. . Level:National

Grover, F.M., Schwab, S., Silva, P.L., Lorenz, T., & Riley, M.A. (07-2019. ) Online organization of grip force control during continuous scaling of load force oscillations .Progress in Motor Control, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. . Level:International

Grover, F., Schwab, S., Silva, P., Lorenz, T., & Riley, M. (07-2019. ) Online organization of grip force control during continuous scaling of load force oscillations .International Conference on Perception and Action, Groningen, The Netherlands. . Level:International

Schwab, S.M., Angeli, J.M., Harpster, K., Huijs, L., & Sheehan, A. (06-2019. ) Agreeing to disagree in pediatric goal setting? Discordance between documented goals and caregiver perception of goals .NEXT Conference & Exposition, Chicago, IL. . Level:National

Vargus-Adams, J., Angeli, J., Garcia, M., Livecchi, A., Long, J., Peck, M., & Schwab, S. (05-2019. ) A community-based running program enhances gait parameters in children and young adults with developmental disabilities .Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine, Orlando, FL. . Level:National

Schwab, S., Angeli, J., Harpster, K., & Hanson, E. (02-2018. ) Something to be desired: Dimensions of change in client-identified goals .Combined Sections Meeting of the American Physical Therapy Association, New Orleans, LA. . Level:National

Angeli, J., Harpster, K., Hanson, E., & Schwab, S. (09-2017. ) What does the finish line look like? A thematic analysis of desired end-of-treatment scenarios in client-identified goals .American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine 71st Annual Conference, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. . Level:International

2022 Student/Post-Doc Travel Award, APTA Academy of Research, Biomechanics SIG

2020 Promotion of Doctoral Studies (PODS) Level II Scholarship, Foundation for Physical Therapy Research

2020 Outstanding Research Abstract, APTA Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy

2019 Promotion of Doctoral Studies (PODS) Level I Scholarship, Foundation for Physical Therapy Research

2017 Physical Therapy Rock Star, Ohio Physical Therapy Association

2017 Regional Finalist, Regional Three Minute Thesis Competition, Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools

-PSYC-5055 RES METH:PERC&ACT

-HLTH-3098 RES MTHDS HLTH SCI

Academic - Health Sciences Building - 262
Phone: 513-556-4508
schwabsr@ucmail.uc.edu