Steps Toward Change: Research Targets Mobility in Parkinson’s Disease

As a PhD student in UNC’s Human Movement Science Curriculum, Ben Killen works in the ReGaiN Lab (Recovery of Gait and Neurorehabilitation), where he is exploring a new approach to improve mobility in people with Parkinson’s disease (PD). His research focuses on a specific biomechanical challenge: reduced hip extension forces, which contribute to shortened step lengths and slower walking speeds—two key barriers to mobility for those living with Parkinson’s.

To address this, Killen is piloting a treadmill-based intervention that uses resistance bands to encourage stronger hip extension. As participants walk, they receive real-time visual feedback via a bar graph that shows the force they’re generating. The goal is to help people with PD learn to produce these forces independently, potentially improving their gait and overall mobility.

“This is a very early, single-session experiment,” Killen said. “But if it shows promise, we hope to develop it into a training paradigm and compare it to standard physical therapy.”

Killen’s journey to research began after earning his physical therapy degree in 2020 and working clinically for four years. While studying for his neurologic clinical specialist certification, he became deeply interested in the research behind rehabilitation. That curiosity led him to UNC School of Medicine and the ReGaiN lab run by Mike Lewek, PT, PhD, where he contributes to cutting-edge movement science.

Support from the Giuliani-Wellman PhD Scholarship Fund, made possible by donor Priscilla Raasch-Mason, has been instrumental in Ben’s progress. Established to honor Dr. Carol Giuliani, the fund provides financial assistance to PhD students in the Human Movement Science Curriculum, particularly those focused on geriatrics and neurology.

“The award gave me the flexibility to spend more time in the lab and less time working weekends as a physical therapist,” Killen said. “It’s made a real difference in my ability to focus on school and research. I’m genuinely thankful.”

Thanks to donors like Priscilla, students like Killen are not only advancing science—they’re shaping the future of care for patients across North Carolina and beyond.

To learn more about supporting the mission of UNC School of Medicine’s Department of Health Sciences and Division of Physical Therapy, please contact Liza Purcell, Director of Development, at [email protected].