国产传媒

Biography

Dr. Fietzer is a tenured associate professor in the department of physical therapy. She also serves as the department’s research curriculum coordinator and the director of the 国产传媒 sports physical therapy pro bono clinic. Dr. Fietzer graduated from Occidental College with an advanced bachelor’s degree in biology (biochemistry emphasis) and a minor in classical studies. She received her DPT from Mount Saint Mary’s University. She was involved in four years of full-time clinical PT practice in a broad range of settings. She received her PhD in Biokinesiology from the University of Southern California for her research focused on biomechanics and neuromotor control.    

Dr. Fietzer received several poster and platform presentation awards at various conferences, and is a two-time funding recipient of the Foundation for Physical Therapy. Her research focuses on the influence of altered biomechanical and neuromotor control factors related to the development and recurrence of overuse injury. Her recent studies employed uncontrolled manifold analysis to examine differences in the sources and types of movement variability in those with and without a history of Achilles tendinopathy. She has also explored the capacity for verbal cues directing attentional focus to alter neuromotor control as detected by movement variability. Her studies seek to inform interventions to prevent symptom recurrence and injury progression.

Dr. Fietzer maintains a small private practice in sports and orthopedic physical therapy. She has provided medical coverage for Cirque du Soleil, the Lucinda Childs Dance Company, and the Association of Volleyball Professionals. She is the treasurer for the Biomechanics special interest group of the American Physical Therapy Association’s (APTA’s) Academy of PT Research. She previously served as a representative of the Greater Los Angeles District to the California Chapter of the APTA.

Courses taught at Mount Saint Mary's University

• PT 402 – Biomechanics
• PT 403 – Applied Kinesiology
• PT 441-442 – Integrated Seminar Parts 1 & 2
• PT 471A – Pt/Client Management: Musculoskeletal I
• PT 491 – Research Design & Statistics
• PT 493 – Survey & Outcomes Research
• PT 494 – Scientific Writing
• PT 495A-C – Research Development Parts 1-3

Selected publications

• Fietzer AL, Winstein CJ, Kulig K. Changing one’s focus of attention alters the structure of movement variability. Human Movement Science. 2018;62:14-24.
• Rowley KM, Jarvis DN, Kurihara T, Chang YJ, Fietzer AL, Kulig K. Toe flexor strength, flexibility and function, and flexor hallucis longus tendon morphology in dancers and non-dancers. Medical Problems of Performing Artists. 2015;30(3):151-155.
• Fietzer AL, Chang YJ, Kulig K. Dancers with patellar tendinopathy exhibit higher vertical and braking ground reaction forces during landing. Journal of Sports Sciences. 2012;30(11):1157-1163.
• Kulig K, Fietzer AL, Popovich JM Jr. Ground reaction forces and knee mechanics in the weight-acceptance phase of a dance leap takeoff and landing. Journal of Sports Sciences. 2011;29(2):125-131.

Selected scientific presentations

• Feland JB, Johnson AW, Dunbar J, Fietzer AL. Uses of various ultrasound imaging techniques for lower extremity assessment: implications for pathology and rehabilitation. American College of Sports Medicine annual southwest regional chapter meeting, Costa Mesa CA USA, 2018.
• Baquet A, Ho KY, Chang YJ, Fietzer AL, Evers M, Strassberg CE, Bashford G, Kulig K. 2D ultrasound-based characterization of Achilles tendon micromorphology in runners using spatial frequency parameters. American College of Sports Medicine annual meeting LXV, Minneapolis MN USA, 2018.
• Fietzer AL, Kulig K. Tales from the uninvolved limb: motor control in unilateral Achilles tendinopathy. American Society of Biomechanics annual meeting XLI, Boulder CO USA, 2017.
• Fietzer AL, Koyama Y, Kulig K. Changes in movement variability with increased mechanical demand may be influenced by limb preference. International Society of Biomechanics congress XXVI, Brisbane Australia, 2017.
• Fietzer AL, Koyama Y, Kulig K. Symmetry of intra-limb variability response differs between internal and external foci. North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity annual conference L, San Diego CA USA, 2017.