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Teresa Liu-Ambrose

Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Therapy
PT, PhD

Contact Information

Office: Centre for Hip Health and Mobility

357-2647 Willow Street,

Vancouver, BC, V5Z 3P1

Email
Phone: 604 – 875-4111 ext 69059

Teaching

  • RSPT 526 Clinical Decision Making 2
  • RSPT 528 (Hip Fracture Prevention)

Other Academic and Professional Activities

  • Editorial Board Member for the British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2007 to Present
  • Committee member of the Seniors Fall and Injury Prevention Executive Steering Committee (an initiative of the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority), 2006 to 2008
  • Member of the UBC Brain Research Centre
  • Member of the American College of Sports Medicine
  • Member of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association
  • Member of the Physical Therapy Association of BC

Research

Dr. Liu-Ambrose’s research laboratory, The Aging, Mobility and Cognitive Function Lab, focuses on defining the role of exercise to promote healthy aging and prevent cognitive and functional decline among seniors. Currently, she is conducting two randomized controlled trials among seniors at risk for dementia to determine the effect of exercise on cognitive performance, brain function as measured by functional MRI, and physical function. Dr. Liu-Ambrose works collaboratively with faculty in Psychology, Family Practice, Geriatric Medicine, and Health Care and Epidemiology.
Dr. Liu-Ambrose is an investigator with the Centre for Hip Health and Mobility and the Brain Research Centre. Her areas of methodological expertise include randomized controlled trials, exercise prescription for seniors, falls prevention, and neuropsychological assessments.

Current Projects:
  • EXCEL Study: Exercise for Cognition and Everyday Living among seniors with Memory Complaints (PI: Liu-Ambrose, Funded by the Pacific Alzheimer Research Foundation)
  • Exercise for Cognition and Function (PI: Liu-Ambrose, Funded by the Canadian Stroke Network)
  • Centre for Hip Health and Mobility: A Team Approach to Mobility in Vulnerable Seniors (PI: Karim Khan, Funded by CIHR)
  • Neurocognitive Impairments Associated with Recurrent Falling (PI: Liu-Ambrose, Funded by CIHR)
  • Does the Benefits of Resistance Training Persist? A Follow-up on the Brain Power Study (PI: Liu-Ambrose, Funded by Vancouver Foundation, BCMSF)
  • Doing Two Things at Once (PI: Lara Boyd, Funded by CIHR)
  • Are There Functional Differences in the Cerebellum between Senior Fallers and Non-Fallers? A Exploratory Analysis of fMRI Data (PI: Liu-Ambrose, Funded by MSFHR/BCNAR)
Training Opportunitis:
Dr. Liu-Ambrose is currently recruiting trainees who are interested in pursuing a MSc, PhD degree through the UBC Rehabilitation Sciences Research Program or those who are interested in Post-doctoral training.

  • The candidate will develop his/her research project in one or more of the following areas: clinical trials, falls prevention, exercise and cognitive performance, and/or exercise and cortical plasticity.
  • Funding is available for highly-qualified and suitable trainees who have yet to secure external scholarship funding.
  • It is highly recommended that potential trainees apply for all possible external sources of funding (e.g., MSFHR, CIHR) and contact Dr. Liu-Ambrose well in advance to these funding deadlines.
Interested? Forward the following information to Dr. Liu-Ambrose:
  • An updated CV
  • Unofficial transcripts
  • A one-page letter outlining your research experience and goals
  • Names of two academic referees
** Please note that UBC’s application deadline is February 1st for the fall term admission, and July 1st for the winter term admission. Check the UBC Rehabilitation Sciences Research Program.

Selected Publications


1.    Nagamatsu LS, Liu-Ambrose T, Carolan P, Handy TC. Are impairments in visual-spatial attention a critical factor for increased falls risk in seniors? An event-related potential study. Neuropsychologia, 2009; June 4, 2009 (Epub ahead of print: PMID:  19501605).

2.    Liu-Ambrose T, Katarynych LA, Ashe MC, Nagamatsu LS, Hsu CL. Dual-task gait performance among community-dwelling senior women: The role of falls-related self-efficacy and executive functions. Journal of Gerontology (Medical Sciences), 2009; May 9, 2009 (Epub ahead of print: PMID: 19429702).

3.    Liu-Ambrose T and Donaldson M. Exercise and Cognition in Older Adults: Is there a Role for Resistance Training Programs? British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2008; November 19, 2008 (Epub ahead of print: PMID: 19019904).

4.    Brown AK, Liu-Ambrose T, Tate R, Lord SR. The effect of group-based exercise on cognitive performance and mood in frail seniors residing in intermediate care and self-care retirement facilities: A randomized controlled trial. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2008; October 16, 2008 (Epub ahead of print: PMID: 18927162).

5.    Liu-Ambrose T, Ashe MC, Graf P, Beattie L, Khan KM. Increased risk of falling in older community-dwelling women with mild cognitive impairment. Physical Therapy, 2008; 88: 1482-1491.

6.    Liu-Ambrose T*, Donaldson MC, Ahamed Y, Graf P, Cook WL, Close JC, Lord SR, Khan KM. Otago home-based strength and balance retraining improves executive functioning in older adults: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 2008; 56: 1821-1830. *Joint first-authorship with Meghan Donaldson.

7.    Liu-Ambrose T, Nagamatsu L, Leghari A, Handy TC. Does impaired cerebellar function contribute to risk of falls in seniors? A pilot study using functional magnetic resonance imaging. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 2008; 56: 2153-2155.

8.    Liu-Ambrose T. Ahamed Y, Graf P, Feldman F, Robinovitch SN. Older fallers with poor working memory overestimate their postural limits. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 2008; 89: 1335-1340.

9.    Liu-Ambrose T, Ashe MC, Marra C. Physical activity and health care utilization in older adults with multiple chronic conditions. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2008; June 12, 2008 (Epub ahead of print; PMID: 18487254).

10.    Sawatzky R, Liu-Ambrose T, Miller WC, Marra CA. Physical activity as a mediator of the impact of chronic conditions on quality of life in older adults. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 2007; 5(1): 68 (Epub ahead of print). Open Access. Accessed 1967 times since December 2007. “Highly Accessed” Designation.

11.    Ahamed Y, MacDonald H, Reed K, Naylor PJ, Liu-Ambrose T, McKay HA. School-based physical activity does not compromise children’s academic performance. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 2007; 39: 371-376.

12.    Liu-Ambrose T, Pang M, Eng JJ. Executive function is independently associated with performances of balance and mobility in older adults with mild chronic stroke: Implications for falls prevention. Cerebrovascular Diseases, 2007; 23: 203-210.

13.    Liu-Ambrose T, Khan KM, Eng JJ, Donaldson MG, Lord SR, Mckay HA. Falls-related self-efficacy has an independent effect on balance and mobility in older women with low bone mass. Journal of Gerontology (Medical Sciences), 2006; 61: 832-838.

14.    Liu-Ambrose T, Khan KM, Eng JJ, Gillies GL, Lord SR, McKay HA. The persisting beneficial effect of resistance training and agility training on fall risk profile in older women with low bone mass: A 12-month follow-up. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 2005; 53: 1767-1773.

15.    Liu-Ambrose T, Khan KM, Eng JJ, Lord SR, Lentle B, McKay HA. Both resistance training and agility training reduce back pain and improve quality of life in older women with low bone mass. Osteoporosis International, 2005; 16: 1321-1329. 

16.    Liu-Ambrose T, Khan KM, Eng JJ, Janssen PA, Lord SR, McKay HA. Both resistance and agility training reduce fall risk in 75-85 year old women with low bone mass: A six-month randomized controlled trial. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 2004; 52: 657-665.

See Publications by Teresa Liu-Ambrose on PubMed