Biosketch

A physical therapist for more than 25 years, Dr. Rasch was one of the first clinical specialists in neurology to be board certified by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. From 2001 to 2007 she was a service fellow in the Office of Analysis and Epidemiology at the National Center for Health Statistics, CDC. During this time, she was actively involved in the Washington Group on Disability Statistics, an international working group developing measures of disability suitable for censuses and surveys worldwide.

Her research interests include the health of people with disabilities, specifically the development and impact of secondary conditions; functional trajectories; and the use, quality, effectiveness of, and access to health-care services by people with disabilities. She has been involved in research since 1985 and has published articles and book chapters on topics related to disability and rehabilitation.

Awards

Dr. Rasch received faculty awards from the University of Delaware and the University of Southern California, as well as a Graduate School Merit Award from the University of Maryland Baltimore. She was the recipient of a service award and a director's award from the National Center for Health Statistics. Since joining the Rehabilitation Medicine Department in 2007, she has been given a Special Act of Service award.

Selected Publications

BOOKS and BOOK CHAPTERS

Gardner E Rasch, Baker LL: Functional Electrical Stimulation of Paralytic Muscle. In: The Dynamics of Human Biological Tissues. Eds: DP Currier, RM Nelson. FA Davis Co, Philadelphia, PA, 182-204, 1992

JOURNAL ARTICLES

Winstein CJ, Gardner E Rasch, McNeal DR, Barto PS, Nicholson DE: Standing balance training: effect on balance and locomotion in hemiparetic adults. Arch Phys Med Rehab 70:755-762, 1989.

Rodgers MM, Keyser RE, Gardner E Rasch, Russell PJ, Gorman PH: Influence of trunk flexion on biomechanics of wheelchair propulsion. J Rehabil Res Dev 37(3):283-295, 2000

Rodgers MM, Keyser RE, Rasch EK, Gorman PH, Russell PJ: Influence of training on biomechanics of wheelchair propulsion. J Rehabil Res Dev 38(5):505-511, 2001

Rodgers MM, McQuade KJ, Rasch EK, Keyser RE, Finley MA. Upper-limb fatigue-related joint power shifts in experienced wheelchair users and nonwheelchair users. J Rehabil Res Dev, 40(1):27-37, 2003

Altman BM, Rasch EK: Disability among Native Americans. In: Using Survey Data to Study Disability: Results from the National Health Interview Survey on Disability. Research in Social Science and Disability, 3:299-326, 2003

Rasch EK, Hirsch R, Paulose-Ram R, Hochberg MC: Prevalence of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Persons 60 Years of Age and Older in the U.S.: Effect of Different Methods of Case Classification. Arthritis & Rheumatism, 48(4):917-926, 2003

Rasch EK, Altman BM, Madans JH: The impact of assistive device use on disability measurement. In: International Views on Disability Measures: Moving Toward Comparative Measurement. Research in Social Science and Disability, 4:247-262, 2006

Altman BM, Rasch EK, Madans JH: Disability measurement matrix: A tool for the coordination of measurement purpose and instrument development. In: International Views on Disability Measures: Moving Toward Comparative Measurement. Research in Social Science and Disability, 4:263-284, 2006

Dillon CF, Rasch EK, Gu Q, Hirsch R: Prevalence of Knee Osteoarthritis in the United States: Arthritis Data From the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1991-1994. Journal of Rheumatology, 33(11):2271-9, 2006

Dillon C, Hirsch R, Rasch EK, Gu Q: Symptomatic Hand Osteoarthritis in the United States: Prevalence and Functional Impairment Estimates from the Third U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1991-1994). American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 86(1):12-21, 2007

Rasch EK, Hochberg MC, Magder L, Magaziner J, Altman BM: Health of Community Dwelling Adults with Mobility Limitations in the United States: Prevalent Health Conditions. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 89(2):210-8, 2008

Rasch EK, Magder L, Hochberg MC, Magaziner J, Altman BM: Health of Community Dwelling Adults with Mobility Limitations in the United States: Incidence of Secondary Health Conditions. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 89(2):219-30, 2008