Kelli Brizzolara, PT, PhD

Contact

kbrizzolara@twu.edu
214-689-7722
IHSD 8814

Biography

Kelli Brizzolara, PT, PhD, OCS is an Associate Professor in the School of Physical Therapy at Texas Woman's University. Her professional experience in physical therapy is focused on orthopedic manual physical therapy working with adults in various out-patient settings. Her research has examined the efficacy of therapeutic interventions for those with spinal pain. More recently, she is also interested in health promotion and wellness in  physical therapy students. She is currently serving as a Dean's Distinguished Fellow and is a member of the Research Committee for the American Academy of the Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists (AAOMPT). This year, she was selected to be a member of the American Council on Education's (ACUE) Course in Effective Teaching where she is studying best practices for teaching in higher education.

Education

Ph.D., Physical Therapy, Texas Woman's University, Dallas, Texas
M.S., Physical Therapy, Texas Woman's University, Houston, Texas
B.S., Exercise Physiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas

Research Interests

Musculoskeletal conditions; Manual Therapy; Therapeutic Exercise; Deep Abdominal Muscles; Physical Activity; Mindfulness

Latest Articles

Combined transcranial direct current stimulation and pain neuroscience education for chronic low back pain: a randomized controlled trial
Pain Medicine (2025)
Cory Alcon, Christopher Zoch, Riley Luetkenhaus, Emily Lyman, Kelli Brizzolara

The effects of dry needling on muscle blood flow of the infraspinatus muscle in individuals with shoulder pain - a randomized clinical trial
Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy (2025)
Jace Brown, Gary Kearns, Kelli Brizzolara, Mark Weber, Sharon Wang-Price

Characterizing chronic pelvic pain: the relationship between extrapelvic muscle stiffness, pain level, health history and pelvic floor symptoms in women with chronic pelvic pain
Journal of Women's & Pelvic Health Physical Therapy (2024)
Laurel Proulx, Kelli Brizzolara, Mary Thompson, Sharon Wang-Price, Patricia Rodriguez

Test-retest reliability and concurrent validity of the Health Leads Screening Tool in outpatient orthopedic physical therapy patients
JOSPT Open (2024)
Allison Butcher, Wayne Brewer, Rupal Patel, Kelli Brizzolara, Gregory Marchetti

Effectiveness of spinal stabilization exercises on movement performance in adults with chronic low back pain
International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy (2023)
Khalid Alkhathami, Yousef Alshehre, Sharon Wang-Price, Kelli Brizzolara, Mark Weber

Effectiveness of spinal stabilization exercises on dynamic balance in adults with chronic low back pain
International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy (2023)
Yousef Alshehree, Khalid Alkhatkami, Kelli Brizzolara, Sharon Wang-Price, Mark Weber

Women with chronic pelvic pain demonstrate increased lumbopelvic muscle stiffness compared to asymptomatic controls
Journal of Women's Health (2023)
Laurel Proulx, Kelli Brizzolara, Mary Thompson, Sharon Wang-Price, Patricia Rodriguez

Reliability and validity of the Y-balance Test in young adults with chronic low back pain
International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy (2021)
Yousef Alshehre, Khalid Alkhathami, Kelli Brizzolara, Sharon Wang-Price, Mark Weber

Effect of rehabilitative ultrasound imaging (RUSI) biofeedback on improving pelvic floor muscle function in individuals with stress urinary incontinence: a systematic review
Journal of Women's Health Physical Therapy (2021)
Jennifer Lacross, Laurel Proulx, Kelli Brizzolara

Reliability and validity of the Functional Movement ScreenTM with a modified scoring system for young adults with low back pain
International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy (2021)
Khalid Alkhatkami, Yousef Alshehre, Sharon Wang-Price, Kelli Brizzolara

Short-term effects of two deep dry needling techniques on pressure pain thresholds and electromyographic amplitude of the lumbosacral multifidus in patients with low back pain - a randomized clinical trial
Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy (2020)
Sharon Wang-Price, Jason Zafereo, Zach Couch, Kelli Brizzolara, Taylor Heins

Psychometric properties of pressure pain thresholds measured in two positions for adults with and without neck-shoulder pain and tenderness
Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics (2019)
Sharon Wang-Price, Jason Zafereo, Kelli Brizzolara, Brendan Mackin, Larry Lawson

Assessment of abdominal muscle thickness in post-partum women who have undergone cesarean section as compared to vaginal births: a pilot study
Journal of Women's Health Physical Therapy (2019)
Kelli Brizzolara, Sharon Wang-Price, Jason Zafereo

The validity and reliability of the Vail Sport Test™ as a measure of performance following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction
Physical Therapy in Sport (2019)
Joseph Hannon, Sharon Wang-Price, Chad Swank, Kelli Brizzolara, Craig Garrison

Regional manual therapy and motor control exercise for chronic low back pain: a randomized clinical trial.
Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy (2018)
Jason Zafereo, Sharon Wang-Price, Toni Roddey, Kelli Brizzolara

Effects of tactile feedback on lumbar multifidus muscle activity in asymptomatic healthy adults and patients with low back pain
Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies (2018)
Sharon Wang-Price, Jason Zafereo, Kelli Brizzolara, Elizabeth Anderson

Head control changes after HeadpodTM use in children with poor head control: a feasibility study
Journal of Pediatric Physical Therapy (2018)
Julie Brown, Mary Thompson, Kelli Brizzolara

Effectiveness of adding a pelvic compression belt to lumbopelvic stabilization exercises for women with sacroiliac pain: a feasibility randomized clinical trial
Journal of Women's Health Physical Therapy (2018)
Kelli Brizzolara, Sharon Wang-Price, Toni Roddey, Ann Medley

Effects of different verbal instructions on change of lumbar multifidus muscle thickness in asymptomatic adults and in patients with low back pain
Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy (2017)
Sharon Wang-Price, Jason Zafareo, Kelli Brizzolara

The effect of pelvic compression on deep abdominal muscle thickness during the active straight leg raise
International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation (2015)
Kelli Brizzolara, Sharon Wang-Price, Toni S Roddey

Externally Funded Projects

Effects of Spinal Stabilization Exercises on Dynamic Balance and Functional Performance in Adults with Subacute and Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Texas Physical Therapy Foundation | 2018
Role: Co-Investigator

Internally Funded Projects

Protokinetics Zeno Walkway
Texas Woman's University TARGET | 2018
Research Grant

Predictive validity of lumbopelvic stress tests to determine those who benefit from lumbar traction: a pilot study
TWU Research Enhancement Program | $10,000.00 | 2016
Research Grant

Professional Affiliations

• Academy of Orthopaedic Physical Therapy, APTA
• Texas Physical Therapy Association (TPTA)