Michelle Sandrey, PhD, ATC

Research Interests

Overall, the general focus of my research relates to:  

• Lower extremity overuse musculoskeletal injuries affecting tendon, ligament, fascia, muscle, and bone. 
• Training/rehabilitation programs for overuse injuries and the SIJ incorporating proprioception, dynamic postural control and core stabilization via outcomes-based studies or randomized control studies.  
• The healing cascade or lack of and damage that follows for overuse injuries using animal models, finite element models, and human subjects.     

Specifically,  my research has evolved into the study of lower extremity overuse/chronic injuries including tendon, fascia, muscle, ligament, and bone centered on the etiology, pathophysiology, healing cascade and treatment of overuse injuries.  These repetitive injuries can leave an individual with persistent pain, loss of range of motion and dysfunction.  This can prevent a return to full activity as during the healing process connective tissue replacement occurs instead of regeneration. If cared for improperly, the tissue structure does not adapt to external and internal stress very well and further injury or rupture may ensue.   

Most recently my work is based on human outcome-based rehabilitation studies, systematic reviews or meta-analysis, and critically appraised topics (CATS) to evaluate available outcomes-based studies in the literature.  A secondary focus is to evaluate: 

• The effects of chronic injuries in humans on static and dynamic movement patterns and perturbations for tendinopathy, lateral ankle sprains, hamstring injuries and stress fractures.   
• The effect of those chronic injuries on joint position sense, muscle activity, forces, and dynamic postural control.  

Publications

Sandrey MA. The inclusion of a complementary running progression program in the rehabilitation of acute hamstring injuries: a critically appraised topic. International Journal of Athletic Therapy and Training. 2022 (in print)

Sandrey MA. Which specific angle measurement criteria should be used to define forward head and rounded shoulder posture: an evidence-based commentary. International Journal of Athletic Therapy and Training. 2021;26(6):294- 298. 2021 ahead of print https://doi.org/10.1123/ijatt.2019-0141

Brun A, Sandrey MA. The effects of hip joint mobilizations using a mobilization belt on hip range of motion and functional outcomes. Journal of Sport Rehabilitation. 2021;30(4):559-567.

Sandrey MA. The efficacy of a passive stretching intervention for overhead athletes: a critically appraised topic. International Journal of Athletic Therapy and Training. 2021;26(2):75-79.

Sandrey MA, Lancellotti C, Hester C. The Effect of Foam Rolling versus IASTM on Knee Range of Motion, Fascial Displacement and Patient Satisfaction. Journal of Sport Rehabilitation. 2021;30(3):360-367.

Sandrey MA. Which Low Back Instability Tests should be Incorporated into a Stabilization Classification Exam for Athletes: A Critically Appraised Topic. International Journal of Athletic Therapy and Training. 2020;25(2):57- 61.

Sandrey MA, Chang YJ, McCrory JL. The Effect of Fatigue on Leg Muscle Activation and Tibial Acceleration during a Jumping Task. Journal of Sport Rehabilitation. 2020;29(8):1093-1099.

Burcal CJ, Sandrey MA, Hubbard-Turner T, McKeon PO, Wikstrom EA. Predicting dynamic balance improvements following 4-weeks of balance training in chronic ankle instability patients. Journal of Science Medicine in Sport. 2019;22(5):538-543.

Anguish B, Sandrey MA. Two Four-Week Balance Training Programs for Chronic Ankle Instability. Journal of Athletic Training. 2018;53(7):662-671.