Dr. Besser Marcus P. Besser, PhD

Contact Dr. Besser

901 Walnut Street
Health Professions Academic Building, Room 514
Philadelphia, PA 19107

(215) 503-1645
(215) 503-3499 fax

Education
B.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan
M.S. Mechanical Engineering, Drexel University
Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering, Drexel University
Post-Doctoral Fellow in Rehabilitation Engineering, University of Virginia, Department of Biomedical Engineering

University Appointment:
Professor, Department of Physical Therapy
Director, Human Performance Laboratory

Research and Clinical Interests
Gait
Posture and Balance
Slips and Falls
Falls in the Elderly
Prosthetics and Orthotics
Instrumentation for quantification of human performance

Grants/Contracts
Innovative Neurotronics, 2011-12
Randomized Trial of the Innovative Neurotronics Walk Aide Compared to Conventional Ankle Foot Orthosis (AFO) in Stroke Patients (INSTRIDE)
Core Laboratory Coordinator

Presentations (peer reviewed)
Medoff HP, Besser MP, Marpet MI. Progress in the Characterization of Barefoot Pedestrian Friction. Presented at: 64th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences; March 2012; Atlanta GA.

Medoff HP, Besser MP, Marpet MI. Development and testing of a biofidelic medical grade silicone rubber barefoot test foot with skin friction ridges (plantar surface of heel). Presented at: International Conference on Slips, Trips and Falls 2011; Health and Safety Laboratory; April 2011; Buxton, Derbyshire, UK.

Medoff HP, Besser MP, Marpet MI. Biofidelity-based comparison of barefoot slip resistance (laboratory) against an in vivo tribometer and a standard tribometer. Presented at: International Conference on Fall Prevention and Protection; May 2010; Morgantown, WV.

Marpet MI, Besser MP, Medoff HP. A methodology for the analysis of lateral friction in curved-path walking. Presented at: International Conference on Fall Prevention and Protection; May 2010; Morgantown, WV.

Duff SV, Besser MP, DeLiso M, Humpl D, Finkel R. Reach to grasp control in infants with brachial plexus birth palsy. Presented at: Annual Conference of the American Occupational Therapy Association; April 2010; Orlando, FL.

Duff SV, Besser MP, DeLiso M, Igbinison O, Freshman D, Humpl D, Finkel R. Recovery of biceps function and reach-to-grasp control after brachial plexus injury. Presented at: Biannual Conference of the International Society of Infant Studies; March 2010; Baltimore, MD.

Besser MP, Medoff HP, Marpet MI. The relationship between the measured friction coefficient and the safety of a walkway surface. Presented at: 62nd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences; February, 2010; Seattle WA.
Medoff HP, Besser MP, Marpet MI. Progress in tribometer characterization since the Bucknell University/ASTM workshop. Presented at: 62nd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences; February, 2010; Seattle WA.

Besser MP, Marpet MI, Medoff HP. Visual characterization of tribometric reference surfaces using logistic regression. Presented at: 62nd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences; February, 2010; Seattle WA.

Elias I, Zoga AC, Roth CG, Besser MP, Morrison WB. Axial loaded knee MR Imaging for the evaluation of medial meniscus extrusion. Presented at: Radiological Society of North America; December 2009; Chicago, IL.

Duff SV, Besser MP, DeLiso M, Cooper L, Rawool N, Humpl D, Finkel R. Emergence of reach to grasp control following neonatal brachial plexus injury. Presented at: Society for Neuroscience; October 2009; Chicago, IL.

Elias I, Raikin SM, Besser MP, Nazarian LN. Surgical outcomes of chronic insertional achilles tendinopathy resulting in significant pain reduction. Presented at: American Academy of Pain Management, 20th annual meeting; October 2009; Phoenix, AZ.

Duff SV, DeLiso M, Besser MP, Cooper L, Rawool N, Humpl D, Finkel R. Reach-to-grasp control in infants with neonatal brachial plexus injury. Presented at: Section on Research, APTA: Seminar on Force Generation; Asilomar Conference Center; August 2009; Pacific Grove, CA.

Raikin SM, Elias I, Besser MP, Dheer S, Morrison WB, Zoga AC. Utilization of magnetic resonance imaging in assessing instability of the subtle lisfranc injury. Presented at: AAOS Annual Meeting; Feb 2009; Las Vegas, NV.

Professional and Community Service
Hands of Hope; co-faculty sponsor

Workshops Taught
Gait Analysis for Prosthetists and Orthotists. National Assembly of the American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association, Orlando, FL, September 2010.

Gait Analysis. National Assembly of the American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association, Las Vegas, NV, October 2007.

Assessment of Prosthetic/Orthotic Function. National Assembly of the American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association, Las Vegas, NV, October 2007.

Courses Taught
PT526 - Critical Inquiry I
PT626 - Critical Inquiry II
PT627 - Critical Inquiry III
PT802 - Research Methods in Physical Therapy
PT803 - Critical Inquiry - Evidence-Based Practice

Awards and Honors
Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching, 2006
Dean's Faculty Achievement Award, 2001

Publications

Most recent Peer-reviewed Publications

  1. Osteochondral lesions of the distal tibial plafond: localization and morphologic characteristics with an anatomical grid
  2. Prediction of midfoot instability in the subtle Lisfranc injury: Comparison of magnetic resonance imaging with intraoperative findings
  3. Outcomes of chronic insertional Achilles tendinosis using FHL autograft through single incision
  4. Bone stress injury of the ankle in professional ballet dancers seen on MRI
  5. Barefoot-pedestrian tribometry: In vivo method of measurement of available friction between the human heel and the walkway
  6. Reconstruction for missed or neglected achilles tendon rupture with V-Y lengthening and flexor hallucis longus tendon transfer through one incision
  7. Erratum: Osteochondral lesions of the talus: Localization and morphologic data from 424 patients using a novel anatomical grid scheme (Foot and Ankle International 28, 2)
  8. Osteochondral lesions of the talus: Localization and morphologic data from 424 patients using a novel anatomical grid scheme
  9. Test-retest reliability of temporal and spatial gait characteristics measured with an instrumented walkway system (GAITRite)
  10. The effects of transdermal fentanyl on driving, cognitive performance, and balance in patients with chronic nonmalignant pain conditions
  11. Comparison of an in-shoe pressure measurement device to a force plate: Concurrent validity of center of pressure measurements
  12. A comparison of Prostretch® and a conventional wall stretch using electromyography and goniometry
  13. Comparison of an in-shoe pressure measurement device to a force plate: Concurrent validity of Center of Pressure measurements
  14. Intrasubject reliability of phase portraits of the relationship between the center of mass and base of support while walking and turning
  15. Mounting and calibration of stairs on piezoelectric force platforms