Prof. Itshak Melzer

Prof. Itshak Melzer Profile

Professor
PT, Ph.D., 2001

Department : Recanati School for Community Health Professions
Physical Therapy
Room : 005
 בנין דייכמן למקצועות הבריאות
Phone : 972-8-6479521
972-8-6479560
972-8-6479564
Email : itzikm@bgu.ac.il
Office Hours :  
physical therapy, posture, falls

Education

  • 1985 B.PT. Bachelor of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
  • 1994 M. Med. Sc. Master of Medical Sciences with distinction, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel. Title of thesis: Osteoarthrosis of the Contralateral Knee Joint of Male Amputees Who Do and Do Not Play Volleyball.
  • 2001 Ph.D, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva. Title of dissertation: Postural Control in the Elderly.
  • 2001 - 2003 Post-doctoral research fellowship, NeuroMuscular Research Center, Boston University, Boston, USA.

Research Topics

  • Mechanism of postural control in the elderly.
  • Developing novel interventions to reduce the incidence of falls.
  • Developing improved methods of testing postural balance so as to increase our ability to identify individuals who are at risk of sustaining falls.

Major expertise and techniques in the lab

  • Surface EMG
  • Motion Analysis
  • Force platform - Center of pressure and ground reaction forces

Publications and funding summary / representative publications and grants

    1. Feuering R, Vered E, Kushnir T, Jette AM, Melzer I. Differences between self-reported and observed physical functioning in independent older adults. 2013 Sep 3, Disability and Rehabilitation.
    2. Kurz I, Oddsson L, Melzer I. Characteristics of Balance Control in Elderly Persons who Fall with Injury – A Prospective Study. Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology. 2013 Aug;23(4):814-9.
    3. Gimmon Y, Jacob G, Lenoble-Hoskovec C, B?la C, Melzer I. Relative and absolute reliability of the Clinical Version of the Narrow Path Walking Test under Single and Dual Task Conditions. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics. 2013 Jul-Aug;57(1):92-9.
    4. Shorer Z, Bachner Y, Guy T, Melzer I. The Effect of single dose Methylphenidate on Walking and Postural Stability under single and dual task conditions in older adults – A Double Blind Randomized Control Trial. Accepted Journal of Gerontology A Med Sci. 2013 Oct;68(10):1271-80.
    5. Melzer I, Oddsson L.I.E. Improving Balance Control and Self-Reported Lower Extremity Function in Community Dwelling Older Adults: A Randomized Control Trial. Clinical Rehabilitation, 2013 Mar;27(3):195-206.
    6. Shorer Z, Becker B, Jacobi-Polishook T, Oddsson L, Melzer I. Postural control among children with and without Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in single and dual conditions.European Journal of Pediatrics. 2012 Jul;171(7):1087-94.
    7. Gimmon Y, Riemer R, Oddsson L, Melzer I. The Effect of Plantar Flexor Muscle Fatigue on Postural Control. Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology. 2011 Dec;21(6):922-8.
    8. Melzer I, I. Kurz I, Shahar D, Oddsson L.I.E. Do voluntary step reactions under dual task condition have an added value over single task for fall prediction”– A Prospective Study. Aging Clinical and Experimental Research. 2010 Oct-Dec;22(5-6):360-6.
    9. Melzer I., Krasovsky T., Oddsson L.I.E., Liebermann D.G. Age-Related Differences in Lower Limb Force-Time Relation During the Push-Off in Rapid Voluntary Stepping. Clinical Biomechanics(Bristol, Avon). 2010 Dec;25(10):984-8.
    10. Melzer I, Goldring M, Melzer Y, Green E, Tzedek I. Voluntary Stepping Behavior under Single and Dual Task Conditions in Chronic Stroke Survivors, a Comparison between the Involved and Uninvolved Legs –Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology. 2010 Dec;20(6):1082-7.
    11. I. Melzer, I. Kurz, D. Oddsson. A retrospective analysis of balance control parameters in elderly fallers and non-fallers. Clinical Biomechanics (Bristol, Avon). 2010 Dec;25(10):989-94.
    12. Jacobi-Polishook T, Shorer Z, Melzer I. The Effect of Methylphenidate on Postural Stability under single and dual task conditions in Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder - A Double Blind Randomized Control Trial. Journal of the Neurological Sciences. 2009 May 15;280(1-2):15-21.
    13. Melzer I, Tzedek I, Or M, Shvarth G, Nizri O, Ben-Shitrit K, Oddsson LE. Speed of Voluntary Stepping in Chronic Stroke Survivors under Single and Dual Task Conditions: A Case Control Study. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 2009 Jun; 90(6):927-33.
    14. Melzer I, Liebermann DG, Krasovsky T, Oddsson LI. Cognitive Load Affects Lower Limb Force-Time Relations during Voluntary Rapid Stepping in Healthy Old and Young Adults. Journal of Gerontology A Med Sci. 2010 Apr;65(4):400-6.
    15. Shapiro A, Melzer I. Balance Perturbation System to Improve Balance Compensatory Responses During Walking in Elderly Persons. Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation 2010 Jul 15;7:32.
    16. Melzer I, Kurtz I, Shahar D, Levi M , Oddsson LIE. Predicting Falls in the Elderly: Comparison of Voluntary Step Reaction Times in Fallers and Nonfallers – A Prospective Study. Journal of the American Geriatric Society. 2009 Apr; 57(4): 743-5.
    17. Melzer I., Yekutiel M., Sukenik S: "Comparative Study of Osteoarthrosis of the Contralateral Knee Joint of Male Amputees Who Do and Do Not Play Volleyball". Journal of Rheumatology, 2001, 28: 169-172.
    18. Melzer I., Benjuya N., Kaplanski J: "Age Related Changes of Postural Control: The Effect of Cognitive Task", Gerontology, 2001 47: 189-194.
    19. Melzer I., Benjuya N., Kaplanski J: “Effects of Regular Walking on Postural Stability in the Elderly”. Gerontology. 2003 July-Aug; 49(4):240-245.
    20. Benjuya N., Melzer I., Kaplanski J: “Aging-Induced shifts from Reliance on Sensory Inputs to Co-Contraction during Control of Postural Stability”. Journal of Gerontology A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2004 Feb; 59(2):166-171.
    21. Melzer I, Oddsson LIE. “The Effect of a Cognitive Task on Voluntary Step Execution in Healthy Elderly Individuals”. Journal of the American Geriatric Society. 2004 Aug;52(8):1255-1262.
    22. Melzer I, Benjuya N, Kaplanski J. “Postural Stability of Elderly: a Comparison between Fallers and Non-fallers". Age & Ageing. 2004 Nov; 33(6):602-607.
    23. Oddsson L.I.E., Boissy P, Melzer I. "How to Improve Gait and Balance Function in Elderly Individuals – Compliance with Principles of Training. European Review of Aging & Physical Activity. 2007; 1813-1861.
    24. Melzer I, Kurtz I, Shahar D, Levi M , Oddsson LIE. "Application of the Voluntary Step Execution Test to Identify Elderly Fallers". Age & Ageing 2007; 36(5): 532-7.
    25. Melzer I, Shtilman I, Rosenblit N, Oddsson LIE. "Reliability of Voluntary Step Execution Behavior under Single and Dual Task Conditions". Journal of NeuroEngeenering & Reabilitation. 2007 May 29;4:16.
    26. Melzer I, Sarid O, Kurtz I, Jette AM. "Relations Between Self-Reported Function and Disability and Balance Performance Measures in The Elderly". Journal of Rehabilitation Research & Development 2007; 44(5): 685-692.
    27. Melzer I, Marx R, Kurtz I. "Regular exercise in the elderly is effective to preserve the speed of voluntary stepping under single-task condition but not under dual-task condition. A case-control study". Gerontology, 2008;55(1):49-57.
    28. Melzer I, Kurtz I. Self-Reported Function and Disability in Late Life: A Comparison between Recurrent Fallers and Non-Fallers. Disability and Rehabilitation, 2008 Nov 25:1-8.

Existing collaborations

  • Lars Oddsson, USA– Mechanism of postural control in the elderly.
  • Amir Shapiro, BGU– Developing novel methods of testing and interventions to reduce the incidence of falls.

Suggested multi-disciplinary research project / research focus topics

  • Developing novel methods of testing balance control and interventions to reduce the incidence of falls.

Looking for expertise / project

  • Physical therapy / Mechanism of postural control in the elderly.
  • Bio-engineering / Developing novel tools to reduce the incidence of falls.
  • Geriatrics / reduce falls in older adults
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