If your child was three times more likely to be injured than a friend on her sports team, how could you learn about her high risk of injury? What could you do to help her stay healthy and active?
This month, the University of Evansville’s Think Outside the Lunch Box Faculty Speaker Series will feature physical therapy faculty members Dr. Kyle Kiesel and Dr. Phil Plisky, who will discuss their internationally acclaimed research on injury risk identification and prevention.
Kiesel and Plisky will speak at noon on Thursday, February 2, in the Blue & Gold Room on the first floor of Old National Bank’s headquarters in Downtown Evansville. The event is free and open to the public.
“We have conducted research on professional, collegiate, and high school athletes, as well as U.S. Army soldiers, to help them prevent injuries and improve their performance,†Plisky said. “We look forward to speaking at February’s Think Outside the Lunch Box event and discussing how this research can benefit local families with active children or grandchildren.â€
“Participating in sports and other physical activities can teach a child valuable lessons such as discipline and teamwork, but of course, they also bring a risk of injury,†Kiesel added. “The good news is that many sports injuries are preventable. It’s crucial that parents and other family members of active children learn to recognize the warning signs.â€
Dr. Kyle Kiesel, PT, PhD, ATC, CSCS, is an associate professor of physical therapy at the University of Evansville. He conducts research related to core function and the use of ultrasound imaging for patients with low back pain. He also is active in research related to functional movement testing and injury prediction in athletes. Kiesel serves as a strength and conditioning consultant for professional, college, and high school sports teams. He has extensive experience teaching lecture and lab seminars emphasizing core training and functional movement assessment and intervention, and has authored several articles and a book chapter on this topic. He has 15 peer-reviewed publications and presented numerous abstracts and invited speaking engagements nationally and internationally. Kiesel is engaged in patient care in orthopedics and sports at ProRehab, PC in Evansville.
Dr. Phil Plisky, PT, DSc, OCS, ATC, CSCS, is an assistant professor in UE’s Department of Physical Therapy. He also currently practices at ProRehab, PC in Evansville with emphasis in orthopedic and sports physical therapy. Plisky is the residency program director for the ProRehab & University of Evansville Sports Residency Program. He received his Master of Physical Therapy degree from the University of Evansville and his Doctor of Science degree in orthopedic physical therapy from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions. He is a board certified clinical specialist in orthopedics through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. He is also a certified athletic trainer and certified strength and conditioning specialist.
Plisky has published and lectured internationally on injury prevention and field expedient movement testing. He has received research grants from multiple federal and private agencies for injury prevention studies and has published numerous peer-reviewed manuscripts in leading scientific journals. His current research is focused on comprehensive movement testing and interventions in athletes, military personnel, and school aged children. Plisky consults with collegiate and professional teams for injury risk identification and injury prevention. In addition, he serves as a manuscript reviewer for several scientific journals.
UE’s Think Outside the Lunch Box Faculty Speaker Series is in its second year and is typically held the first Thursday of every month.
“One of the great things about an institution of higher learning such as the University of Evansville is our intellectual capital — our faculty’s depth of knowledge on a wide variety of subjects,†said UE President Thomas A. Kazee. “This series is a tremendous opportunity to partner with the community and share expert perspectives on current issues.â€
Kiesel and Plisky will speak for about 30 minutes, with 15 minutes allotted for questions and answers. Attendees are welcome to eat lunch during the presentation. There is a restaurant conveniently located in the Old National Bank lobby.
