Assistant Professor
School of Physical Therapy, Western University
Gray Centre for Mobility and Activity, Parkwood Institute
About
Dr. Sue Peters
Assistant Professor School of Physical Therapy Faculty of Health Sciences Western University; Bachelors in Kinesiology Western University (2005); Master of Physical Therapy Western University (2007); PhD Rehabilitation Sciences, Neurophysiology University of British Columbia (2018); Postdoctoral Fellow (Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Michael Smith Foundation of Health Research); Rehabilitation Research Lab, GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre University of British Columbia (2019-2021);
Link to Google Scholar Page for a List of Publications
Biography
Through Dr. Peters’ clinical work as a physiotherapist, she became passionate about improving mobility outcomes after stroke. She observed first-hand the challenges patients can experience when mobility is too difficult for community living. The problem is that many patients do not fully maximize their mobility recovery, highlighting that we do not fully understand the neurophysiological mechanisms that underlie mobility, and the intersection of these mechanisms with other factors like cognition. At Western University, Dr. Peters’ program of research incorporates exploration of brain mechanisms like neuroplasticity using EEG and fNIRS, non-invasive brain stimulation via TMS, together with peripheral physiology measures like heart rate, to increase our understanding of the neural mechanisms that support naturalistic locomotion. Importantly, her work translates evidence-based mobility protocols that consider each individuals’ physiology into clinical practice after stroke.