Kristie Fay Bjornson, PT, PhD

Kristie Fay Bjornson, PT, PhD

Specialties

"One of the most energizing experiences I have as a pediatric physical therapist is seeing a child accomplish a motor skill (such as walking) that was not thought possible because of the child's problems. Parents' excitement and miraculous belief when their child walks, even though "everyone said they would never walk," motivates me. I love the challenge of figuring out ways to study, measure and improve physical activity and life participation for kids with physical limitations. I strive to support these kids to "do what they want to do when they want to do it" and have full and meaningful lives."

  • Biography

    Kristie Bjornson, PT, PhD, PCS is a Pediatric Physical Therapist with over 40 years of clinical experience in settings such as the NICU, public schools, birth-to-three centers, home-based private practice, joint orthotic management with orthotists and at Seattle Children's Hospital (SCH) in Seattle, Washington. Dr. Bjornson is currently a professor in Developmental Medicine, Pediatrics at the University of Washington and Seattle Children's Hospital Research Institute.

    Dr. Bjornson was the project coordinator for the randomized clinical trial and meta-analysis of selective dorsal rhizotomy, botulinum toxin-A and a descriptive cross sectional study of intrathecal baclofen (ITB) therapy. Bjornson's doctoral work focused on the assessment of physical activity, health and quality of life in ambulatory children with cerebral palsy and normative ambulatory data for the StepWatch accelerometer. In 2008, she was awarded the Section on Pediatrics, APTA dissertation award along with the best manuscript published by a student in the Pediatric Physical Therapy Journal Jeanne Hughes award in 2009. Presently, Dr. Bjornson is exploring training interventions and orthotic management to optimize walking in children with cerebral palsy. Specifically these protocols examine the use of treadmill training, strength/power training and the ankle foot orthoses footwear combination (AFO-FC) orthotic management approach.

    A member of the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine (AACPDM), Ms. Bjornson has served on the Membership, Research, Adaptive Sports and Recreation Committees, served on the Board of Directors, been the Annual meeting Scientific Program Chair as well as secretary on the AACPDM Board of Directors. She has been an item writer for the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Pediatric Board Certification exam and has participated on the APTA Section on Pediatrics program and research committees.

    Clinical Interests

    Physical Therapy

    Research Description

    Kristie Bjornson, PhD, PT, PCS is a Board Certified Pediatric Physical Therapist with over 30 years of clinical experience in settings such as the NICU, public schools, birth-to-three centers, and at Seattle Children's Hospital. Since 1989 she has been the Research Coordinator for the Spasticity Management Clinic at Seattle Children's, serving as the project coordinator for the randomized clinical trials of selective dorsal rhizotomy, botulinum toxin-A and a descriptive cross sectional study of intrathecal baclofen (ITB) therapy. Ms. Bjornson's recent research has focused on the assessment of physical activity, health and quality of life in ambulatory children with cerebral palsy and normative ambulatory data for the StepWatch accelerometer. Presently, she has an NICHD K23 career development award focusing on the measurement of physical activity and participation in daily life of ambulatory children with cerebral palsy.

    Research Focus Area

    Neuroscience / Neurodevelopment

  • Related Resources

    • Bjornson Lab

      Bjornson Lab

      The Bjornson laboratory’s research aims to improve the lives of children with cerebral palsy. We focus on gathering objective data around interventions in orthotics, gait training and power training that can dramatically enhance children’s balance, muscle strength, walking and general mobility in daily life.

  • Awards and Honors

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  • Publications

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