Cristina Col\u00f3n-Semenza is interested in making a difference through clinical work as a physical therapist, teacher, and researcher. She has dedicated her career to improving outcomes for patients and diversity in the field itself.<\/p>\n
Col\u00f3n-Semenza was attracted to a career in physical therapy because, unlike many other fields of medicine, it is an active and ongoing collaboration between practitioners and patients.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo me it was exciting to be able to interact with an intervention that can give the patient some control back in an otherwise uncontrollable situation,\u201d Col\u00f3n-Semenza says.<\/p>\n
Col\u00f3n-Semenza says one of the most rewarding aspects of her work is seeing how quickly physical therapy can improve patients\u2019 mobility.
\n
\nIt was exciting to be able to interact with an intervention that can give the patient some control back in an otherwise uncontrollable situation — Cristina Col\u00f3n-Semenza<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/blockquote><\/p>\n
\u201cIt was really exciting to see how an intervention can make immediate changes,\u201d Col\u00f3n-Semenza says. \u201cIt\u2019s really gratifying to see how quickly we can make a positive impact.\u201d<\/p>\n
Col\u00f3n-Semenza joined the Department of Kinesiology in the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources<\/a> as an assistant professor last fall. She previously worked at UConn from 2003 to 2014 as a physical therapist at the Nayden Rehabilitation Clinic<\/a> at UConn Health. The Clinic is primarily focused on treating patients, but also provides instruction for physical therapy and athletic training students.<\/p>\n
Working as a physical therapist, Col\u00f3n-Semenza began to realize how many unanswered questions there were in the relatively young field that could only be addressed through research. \u00a0She decided to gain the skills she would need to help answer her questions by going back to school for her Ph.D.<\/p>\n
Saying Yes to Exercise <\/strong><\/p>\n
Col\u00f3n-Semenza received her Ph.D. from Boston University. Her dissertation focused on how individuals make the decision to \u201csay yes\u201d to exercise. She found those who rated higher on an apathy scale were less likely to engage in physical activity. She also found that those who had higher anticipation of pleasure were more willing to exercise.<\/p>\n
While at Boston University, Col\u00f3n-Semenza\u2019s work focused on behavioral strategies to help motivate individuals to exercise by using mobile health technology and developing personalized plans with patients that take their specific goals and potential barriers into account.<\/p>\n
Col\u00f3n-Semenza now works on using exercise to assist in managing Parkinson\u2019s disease. Parkinson\u2019s disease affects neurotransmitters implicated in motor and non-motor impairments. This results in impaired movement as well as decreased motivation to exercise, despite the benefits.<\/p>\n
One part of her dissertation looked at the use of peer support for this group. She found individuals with Parkinson\u2019s disease who were engaging in regular physical activity could act as peer coaches. Peer pairs then gave each other challenges, became FitBit friends, and met up virtually to share experiences. This friendly competition in a supportive community led to those who had peer support increasing their physical activity by more than 30%.<\/p>\n
During her clinical work, Col\u00f3n-Semenza established a weekly exercise group<\/a> for people living with Parkinson\u2019s disease. The group focused on finding community and strength through connections with others. This group has now been running for nearly a decade, most recently under the direction of physical therapist, Colleen Bonadies.<\/p>\n
Given the promising evidence that exercise interventions may slow Parkinson\u2019s disease progression, in addition to symptom management, makes these kinds of interventions critical.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis was huge and impactful and I wanted to be part of the process of allowing more people access to this knowledge and improving disease management,\u201d Col\u00f3n-Semenza says.<\/p>\n
Homecoming to UConn<\/strong><\/p>\n
Col\u00f3n-Semenza joined UConn as a faculty member in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, which is not quite the homecoming she had in mind.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy colleagues in the program have been very welcoming and creative in how they’ve been keeping in touch with us,\u201d Col\u00f3n-Semenza says. \u201cAs scientists we\u2019re naturally problem solvers. The pandemic pushed us a little harder to be creative and innovative.\u201d<\/p>\n
After an article<\/a> came out in the Journal of the American Medical Association<\/em> calling for the need to adopt exercise to benefit mental health, Col\u00f3n-Semenza advocated for the role of physical therapists on an interprofessional healthcare team to support \u00a0those living with a mental health condition.<\/p>\n