Marjorie Johnson Hilliard
Papers
2
Total Citations
65
H-Index
2
About
Dr. Marjorie Johnson Hilliard is a leading researcher in the neurorehabilitation of movement disorders, with a primary focus on Parkinson’s disease (PD). Her work centers on the critical interplay between posture and locomotion, specifically investigating how anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs)—the subtle shifts in weight and stability that precede voluntary movement—are disrupted in PD. Her seminal 2006 paper, “Acute effects of a lateral postural assist on voluntary step initiation in patients with Parkinson’s disease,” with 49 citations, demonstrated that individuals with PD exhibit significant delays in step initiation due to altered APA characteristics. This foundational work revealed that impaired interactions between postural control and gait are a key barrier to mobility. Building on this, her 2009 study on “Short-Term Effects of Posture-Assisted Step Training” showed that targeted, posture-assisted training can rapidly improve step initiation. Dr. Hilliard’s contributions are pivotal for designing rehabilitation strategies that address the specific postural deficits in PD, offering practical interventions to enhance stability and reduce fall risk. Her research remains highly influential for clinicians and scientists working to restore safe, independent movement in patients with neurodegenerative conditions.
Research Focus
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Top Papers
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