Jillian McDonald

About

Dr. Jillian McDonald is a leading researcher in neurorehabilitation and locomotor recovery following spinal cord injury (SCI). Her work focuses on harnessing activity-dependent plasticity to restore walking function, particularly through innovative perturbation-based treadmill training. In her seminal 2016 study, "Repeat Exposure to Leg Swing Perturbations During Treadmill Training Induces Long-Term Retention of Increased Step Length in Human SCI," Dr. McDonald demonstrated that repeated exposure to force perturbations during treadmill training can produce lasting improvements in step length and overall gait symmetry in individuals with chronic SCI. This work, cited 24 times, provided critical evidence that the injured spinal cord can retain motor adaptations, challenging prior assumptions about the limits of recovery. Her research bridges biomechanics and neural plasticity, offering practical protocols for clinical rehabilitation. Dr. McDonald’s contributions have advanced understanding of how targeted, repetitive training can drive functional gains, making her a key figure in the movement toward more effective, evidence-based therapies for SCI patients. Her ongoing work continues to explore the mechanisms underlying long-term retention of locomotor improvements.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   Repeat Exposure to Leg Swing Perturbations During Treadmill Training Induces Long-Term Retention of Increased Step Length in Human SCI

   24 citations · 2016

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links