Dr. Wendy Katzman is currently Professor Emeritus, Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science. Dr. Katzman had a long career as a physical therapist clinician, and later conducted clinical trials among older adults with age-related hyperkyphosis.
CLINICAL & RESEARCH INTERESTS
Musculoskeletal aging
Pelvic health
Effects of hyperkyphosis on physical function and health-related quality of life
Randomized controlled exercise trials
CURRENT RESEARCH
After receiving her post-professional doctoral training, Dr. Katzman completed the UCSF Advanced Training in Clinical Research certificate program, and she received a NIH/UCSF K12 Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women’s Health – BIRCWH Career Development award to study age-related hyperkyphosis. Hyperkyphosis, an increased spinal curvature in the upper back, affects approximately 20-40% of older adults, and has been associated with poor health outcomes, including falls, fractures, physical functional disability, and early mortality. Her research focused on the influence of excessive kyphosis on aging and the development of preventative and rehabilitative strategies for improving kyphosis and musculoskeletal aging. Her research was funded by the National Institutes of Health, including the National Institute of Aging, Office of Research in Women's Health, and the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, NIH/UCSF Pepper Center. Dr. Katzman continues to mentor junior faculty and collaborate on ongoing musculoskeletal research.