College of Health and Human Services

Deborah Walker, PT, DPT, OCS, GCS

Assistant Professor

Physical Therapy | 559.278.0491 | Office: PTIA 117

Education

D.P.T, Physical Therapy
Regis University (2011)

M.P.T., Physical Therapy
University of Southern California (1990)

B.A., Psychology
California State University, Long Beach (1988)

Courses Taught

PhTh 539 Physical Diagnosis
PhTh 561 Pharmacology for Physical Therapists
PhTh 538 Physical Therapy Management in Geriatrics
PhTh 554 Muscoloskeletal Care Clinic
PhTh Doctoral Project

Dr. Deborah Walker is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at California State University Fresno. She received her Master’s Degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Southern California in 1990 and her Doctorate of Physical Therapy Degree from Regis University in 2011. She added additional qualifications of Orthopedic Certified Specialist in 1999/2009, Geriatric Certified Specialist in 2013, and holds an X-Ray Bone Densitometry License as of 2016. She has been a practicing physical therapist for twenty-eight years in private practice, government, and hospital-based settings with a focus on orthopedic concerns and geriatric patients.

Dr. Walker began teaching full-time at Fresno State in 2015 and was previously a lecturer at California State University, Long Beach. Dr. Walker's area of research interest is in geriatric physical therapy and includes health promotion for older adults, body composition of older adults, and sarcopenia prevention. Her orthopedic research focuses on the use of electrical stimulation as a novel intervention for scapular dyskinesis, shoulder pain and chronic ankle instability. She recently presented research on the effects of long-term exercise in athletes and published an article on the effect of electrical stimulation curing and exercise on scapular position and shoulder pain.

As a Fresno State professor, Dr. Walker teaches in the orthopedic curriculum, as is the course instructor for Geriatrics, Pharmacology, Physical Diagnosis, assists in supervision of the on-campus Musculoskeletal Care Clinic and oversees research and evidence-based projects.

Dr. Walker is married and has four children (all boys). She lives in the mountains and enjoys the fresh air and outdoor activities. You will find her hiking in the backcountry, walking her 3 dogs, or doing yoga.

Membership in scientific/professional organizations:

American Registry of Radiologic Technologists: 09/16 – current
International Society of Clinical Densitometry: 05/16- current
Nominating Committee, San Joaquin Valley District, CPTA: 10/15 – current
Member, American Physical Therapy Association (Orthopedic, Geriatric & Education Section): 1996 – current
PT-PAC: 2012-current

Peer Reviewed Publications:

Walker DL, Hickey CJ, Tregoning MB. The Effect of Electrical Stimulation Versus Sham Cueing on Scapular Position During Exercise in Patients with Scapular Dyskinesis. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2017; 12(3)425-436.

Peer Reviewed Scientific and Professional Presentations:

Walker DL, Hickey CJ The Effect of Electrical Stimulation Curing and Exercise on Scapular Position in a Patient with Scapular Dyskinesis and Shoulder Pain: A Case Study. CPTA Annual Conference. Santa Clara, CA. September 22, 2018.

The Long-Term Effects Of Eccentric Exercise Versus Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy In Athletes Aged 18-50 With Patellar Tendinopathy: A Meta-Analysis And Systematic Review. APTA's 2018 Combined Sections Meeting in New Orleans, LA, February 21-24, 2018; poster # 1183.

The Effect of Electrical Stimulation Cueing and Exercise on Scapular Position in a Patient with Scapular Dyskinesis and Shoulder Pain: A Case Study. APTA's 2018 Combined Sections Meeting in New Orleans, LA, February 21-24, 2018; poster # 3333.

A Pilot Study: A Comparison of Therapeutic Exercise with Remote Trigger Switch Electrical Stimulation Cueing, and Therapeutic Exercise with a Sham Cue, for a Motor Learning Effect in Scapular Dyskinesis. Trigger-switch-ES and three exercises resulted in significant changes in dyskinesis at 120° abduction (P<0.003).

Walker DL, Hickey CH, Tregoning MB; Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Human Service, California State University, Fresno, Fresno, CA, USA.

Abstracts:

Walker DL, Hickey CJ, Tregoning MB. Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Human Service California State University, Fresno, Fresno, CA, USA.