charrisadamson
Faculty Bio
Originally from the East Coast, I went to undergraduate school at Tufts University. There I was an avid sailor, competing for Tufts and as a member of the US Sailing Team, and was introduced to the field of Physical Therapy.
In 1997, I moved to California and pursued a Masters Degree of Art in in Kinesiology at San Francisco State University and looked at glucoregulation in post pancreatic and kidney patients. I then started the Masters of Science Program in Physical Therapy at the joint U.C. San Francisco/San Francisco State University Program.
After practicing in orthopedic and work related injury clinics for a few years, I started an Injury Prevention and Treatment consulting business (IPT Consulting) bringing prevention and treatment to the workplace.
I joined PreCare Inc. in 2005 as part of the upper management team, and led their R&D Team in developing services and products to help large companies reduce the occurrence and severity of workplace injuries.
In 2005, I also enrolled as a PhD Student at the School of Public Health in the Environmental Health Sciences Department. There I completed a prospective study on the Biomechanical Risk Factors associated with Wrist Tendinosis. I am currently doing similar research looking at Carpal Tunnel Syndrome as the outcome of interest.
I live in San Carlos with my husband, 2 small children and our dog. We enjoy kitesurfing and hiking with the kids--and of course are regulars at all of of the local playgrounds!
In 1997, I moved to California and pursued a Masters Degree of Art in in Kinesiology at San Francisco State University and looked at glucoregulation in post pancreatic and kidney patients. I then started the Masters of Science Program in Physical Therapy at the joint U.C. San Francisco/San Francisco State University Program.
After practicing in orthopedic and work related injury clinics for a few years, I started an Injury Prevention and Treatment consulting business (IPT Consulting) bringing prevention and treatment to the workplace.
I joined PreCare Inc. in 2005 as part of the upper management team, and led their R&D Team in developing services and products to help large companies reduce the occurrence and severity of workplace injuries.
In 2005, I also enrolled as a PhD Student at the School of Public Health in the Environmental Health Sciences Department. There I completed a prospective study on the Biomechanical Risk Factors associated with Wrist Tendinosis. I am currently doing similar research looking at Carpal Tunnel Syndrome as the outcome of interest.
I live in San Carlos with my husband, 2 small children and our dog. We enjoy kitesurfing and hiking with the kids--and of course are regulars at all of of the local playgrounds!
Program
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
Courses Taught at Samuel Merritt University
PT 724 & PT 726: Functional Anatomy, Biomechanics and Kinesiology
PT 746: Management of Physical Therapy Services
PT 756: Research Methods II
PT 746: Management of Physical Therapy Services
PT 756: Research Methods II
Research Interests
I am currently exploring the biomechanical risk factors predictive of carpal tunnel syndrome. This project is pooling data from 6 different research sites across the country.
Publications and Presentations
“A Prospective study of Wrist Tendinosis in Blue Collar Workers: The San Francisco Study”
UCSF Occupational & Environmental Medicine Grand Rounds San Francisco, CA January 2011
PREMUS Angers, France August, 2010;
Ergonomic Interventions & Research, Oakland CA December, 2010
“Building a Dynamic Prevention Program that Embraces Safety Loss & Control: The Costco Story.”
National Workers Compensation & Disability Conference, Las Vegas, NV November, 2010
“A Prospective Study of Wrist Symptoms in Blue Collar Workers: The San Francisco Study”
Human Factors & Ergonomics Society, San Francisco, CA September, 2010
“The Effect of Hand-Handle Interface on Exertion Efficiency and Physical Demands during Pallet Jack Operations.”
Human Factors & Ergonomics Society, San Francisco, CA September, 2010
“Ergonomic Evaluation of an alternative cake decorating tool,”
PREMUS, 2006 & AHFEI, 2008 (poster)
“Glucoregulation during an acute exercise bout in post pancreatic and kidney transplant patients.”
ACSM, 2003 (abstract)
UCSF Occupational & Environmental Medicine Grand Rounds San Francisco, CA January 2011
PREMUS Angers, France August, 2010;
Ergonomic Interventions & Research, Oakland CA December, 2010
“Building a Dynamic Prevention Program that Embraces Safety Loss & Control: The Costco Story.”
National Workers Compensation & Disability Conference, Las Vegas, NV November, 2010
“A Prospective Study of Wrist Symptoms in Blue Collar Workers: The San Francisco Study”
Human Factors & Ergonomics Society, San Francisco, CA September, 2010
“The Effect of Hand-Handle Interface on Exertion Efficiency and Physical Demands during Pallet Jack Operations.”
Human Factors & Ergonomics Society, San Francisco, CA September, 2010
“Ergonomic Evaluation of an alternative cake decorating tool,”
PREMUS, 2006 & AHFEI, 2008 (poster)
“Glucoregulation during an acute exercise bout in post pancreatic and kidney transplant patients.”
ACSM, 2003 (abstract)
Fellowships, Grants, and Awards
NIOSH Targeted Research Training Program Awardee
Award, Academic year of 2009-2010
This research examined the relationship between individual (force, repetition, and posture) and combinations of physical risk factors and the incidence of hand/wrist symptoms and tendinopathies using peak and mean time weighted average exposure values and controlling for potential confounders.
American Society of Safety Engineers & Liberty Mutual Research Institute
Fellowship, June & September, 2009
This research examined the common task of travelling with a pallet jack behind the operator and tested the ergonomic benefits of an alternative engineering design converting the typical pulling operation to a pushing one. The comparison provided an understanding of the physical exposures associated with this activity and identified ways to reduce exposure to increased pulling forces, awkward postures, and inefficient hand-handle interface, through ergonomic design.
Center for Occupational & Environmental Health
Grant, 2007
This research project examined the positive predictive value of hand/wrist pain in the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome in individuals who have a positive nerve conduction test.
Award, Academic year of 2009-2010
This research examined the relationship between individual (force, repetition, and posture) and combinations of physical risk factors and the incidence of hand/wrist symptoms and tendinopathies using peak and mean time weighted average exposure values and controlling for potential confounders.
American Society of Safety Engineers & Liberty Mutual Research Institute
Fellowship, June & September, 2009
This research examined the common task of travelling with a pallet jack behind the operator and tested the ergonomic benefits of an alternative engineering design converting the typical pulling operation to a pushing one. The comparison provided an understanding of the physical exposures associated with this activity and identified ways to reduce exposure to increased pulling forces, awkward postures, and inefficient hand-handle interface, through ergonomic design.
Center for Occupational & Environmental Health
Grant, 2007
This research project examined the positive predictive value of hand/wrist pain in the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome in individuals who have a positive nerve conduction test.
Professional and Community Service and Professional Memberships
Professional Memberships
American Physical Therapy Association
Human Factors and Ergonomics Society
Community Service
Treasure Island Sailing Center Foundation
1999-Present, Co-Founder & President of the Board of Directors
This non-profit organization provides experiential learning opportunities to develop life skills and respect for the environment to inner city youth and individuals with disabilities through the forum of sailing.
American Physical Therapy Association
Human Factors and Ergonomics Society
Community Service
Treasure Island Sailing Center Foundation
1999-Present, Co-Founder & President of the Board of Directors
This non-profit organization provides experiential learning opportunities to develop life skills and respect for the environment to inner city youth and individuals with disabilities through the forum of sailing.
