Researcher Profile:

Patrick Kitzman, PT, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Division of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences Doctoral Program

Dr. Kitzman is an associate professor and has been a full-time faculty member in the Division of Physical Therapy at the University of Kentucky since early 2000.

Dr. Kitzman’s research interests are focused on determining how the spinal cord circuitry changes following injury (neuroplasticity) and how these changes are involved with the development of secondary impairments such as spasticity and hyperreflexia.

By determining how the spinal cord changes following injury his laboratory has two main long term foci: First, by understanding the neuroplasticity that occurs following injury he hopes to develop new pharmacologic agents for the management of spasticity and hyperreflexia. Secondly, by understanding how the spinal cord changes following injury he hopes to develop novel therapeutic interventions that can slow or prevent this reorganization from occurring and thus reduce (or prevent) the development of spasticity and hyperreflexia.

Recent Publications

Kitzman P. (2007) VGLUT1 and GLYT2 labeling of Sacrocaudal Motoneurons in the Spinal Cord Injured Spastic Rat Exp. Neurology. 204: 195-204.

Kitzman P. (2006) Changes in Vesicular Glutamate Transporter 2, Vesicular GABA transporter and Vesicular Acetylcholine Transporter Labeling of Sacrocaudal Motoneurons in the Spastic Rat. Exp. Neurology. 197: 407-418.

Kitzman P. (2005) Alterations in Axial Motoneuronal Morphology in the Spinal Cord Injury Induced Spastic Rat. Exp. Neurology. 192:100-108.

Patrick Kitzman, PT, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Division of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences Doctoral Program
phkitz1@uky.edu