Gena Priest

Georgia State University – Atlanta, Georgia – 2020
PhD in Kinesiology

Belmont University – Nashville, Tennessee - 2008
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)

Mississippi College – Clinton, Mississippi - 2002
BS in Biology/Medical Sciences

Clinical Expertise
Board-certified Pediatric Clinical Specialist

Research Interests
Development of typical and atypical movement patterns
Role of spasticity and spasticity management in atypical movement patterns
Effects of treadmill training in pediatric populations
Effects of motor intervention on cognitive and language outcomes in pediatric populations

Selected Publications
Gena Henderson, PT, DPT, PCS; Diego Ferreira; Jianhua Wu, PhD. The effects of direction and speed on treadmill walking in typically developing children. Gait & Posture. 2020. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gaitpost.2020.11.028.

Huaqing Liang, PhD; Gena Henderson, PT, DPT, PCS; Jianhua Wu, PhD. Neuromuscular response to a single session of whole-body vibration in children with cerebral palsy: A pilot study. Clinical Biomechanics. 2020. 5;80:105170.

Gena Henderson, PT, DPT, PCS; Matthew Beerse, PhD; Huaqing Liang, PhD; Diego Ferreira; Jianhua Wu, PhD. Improvement in Overground Walking After Treadmill-Based Gait Training in a Child with Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum. Physical Therapy. 2020. 100(1): 157-167.

Matthew Beerse, PhD; Gena Henderson, PT, DPT, PCS; Huaqing Liang, PhD; Toyin Ajisafe, PhD; Jianhua Wu, PhD. Variability of spatiotemporal gait parameters in children with and without Down syndrome during treadmill walking. Gait & Posture. 2019 68: 207- 212.

Selected Presentations
Diego Ferreira, PhD; Gena Priest, PT, DPT, PhD, PCS; Haneol Kim; Jianhua Wu, PhD. Effect of a single session of whole-body vibration on motor and cognitive function in children with Down syndrome: A pilot study
- Poster presented at the International Congress of Infant Studies (Ottawa, Canada), July 2022.

Gena Priest, PT, DPT, PhD, PCS; Diego Ferreira, PhD; Jianhua Wu, PhD. The effects of speed and incline on treadmill walking in typically developing children
- Poster presented at the American Society of Biomechanics Annual Meeting (virtual conference), August 2021.

Diego M. Ferreira, PhD; Gena Priest, PT, DPT, PhD, PCS; Haneol Kim; Jianhua Wu, PhD. Effect of whole-body vibration on knee joint kinematics and muscle activity in children with Down syndrome during the pendulum test: A series of case studies
- Poster presented at the American Society of Biomechanics Annual Meeting (virtual conference), August 2021.

Diego M. Ferreira, PhD; Gena Priest, PT, DPT, PhD, PCS; Robert Zeid, PT, DPT; Jianhua Wu, PhD.. Effect of body position and external load on knee joint kinematics and muscle activity in children with Down syndrome during the pendulum test: A preliminary study
- Poster presented at the American Society of Biomechanics Annual Meeting (virtual conference), August 2021.

Gena Priest, PT, DPT, PhD, PCS; Diego Ferreira, PhD; Jianhua Wu, PhD. The effects of direction and incline on treadmill walking in typically developing children
- Poster presentation at the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity Annual Conference (virtual conference), June 2021.

Gena Henderson, PT, DPT, PhD, PCS; Diego Ferreira; Jianhua Wu, PhD. Effect of Whole-Body Vibration and Treadmill Walking on Ankle Function in Children with Cerebral Palsy
- Poster presentation at the American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting (virtual conference), February 2021.

Gena Henderson, PT, DPT, PCS; Diego Ferreira; Jianhua Wu, PhD. Correlation between forward and backward treadmill walking in school-aged children.
- Poster presentation at the American Society of Biomechanics Annual Meeting (Atlanta, GA), August 2020.
- Verbal presentation at the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity Annual Conference (virtual conference), June 2020.

Gena Henderson, PT, DPT, PCS; Diego Ferreira; Jianhua Wu, PhD. Variability of response to whole-body vibration and treadmill training in ambulatory children with cerebral palsy.
- Verbal presentation at the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity Annual Conference (virtual conference), June 2020.
- Poster presentation at the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine Annual Conference (virtual conference), October 2020.

Gena Henderson, PT, DPT, PCS; Diego Ferreira; Jianhua Wu, PhD. The effects of direction and speed on treadmill walking in typically developing children.
- Verbal presentation at the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity Annual Conference (Baltimore, MD), June 2019.

Gena Henderson, PT, DPT, PCS; Matthew Beerse, MS; Jianhua Wu, PhD. Changes in gait kinematics after treadmill training in a child with agenesis of the corpus callosum: A case study
- Poster presented at the American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting (New Orleans, LA), February 2018.

Funding
09/08/2021 – 08/31/2023
Co-investigator
NIH R21 HD105879
Role of early motor experience in infants with Down syndrome

07/14/2021 – 07/13/2023
PI
Georgia Foundation for Physical Therapy Research Grant
Effects of a Single Bout Combined Whole-Body VIBRAtioN and Treadmill (VIBRANT) Training on Gait and Spasticity in Ambulatory Children with Cerebral Palsy

03/15/2019 - 09/14/2020
Student PI
Healthcare Innovation Program/Georgia Clinical & Translational Science Alliance Seed Grant Program
Effects of the addition of a single bout of whole-body vibration to a single bout of treadmill training on gait and spasticity in ambulatory children with cerebral palsy

Memberships
Member, American Physical Therapy Association (2005 - present)
Member, Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy (2007 - present)
Member, Academy of Physical Therapy Education (2016 - present)
Member, American Physical Therapy Association Section on Research (2016 - present)
Member, American Physical Therapy Association Biomechanics SIG (2017-present)

Service
2022 - present
Alternate member, Institutional Review Board - Georgia State University
Atlanta, GA

2015 – present
"Camp ImpAACt" volunteer - The Ellis Center
Atlanta, GA

2010 – 2013
“Music City Trykes” Chapter Secretary and member of Executive Board
Nashville, TN

Awards and Honors
2019-2020 Provost’s Dissertation Fellowship, Georgia State University
2015-2019 Dean’s Research Fellow, Georgia State University
2008 Award for Academic Excellence, Belmont University School of Physical Therapy