{"id":13395,"date":"2025-09-29T16:39:35","date_gmt":"2025-09-29T20:39:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/clario.com\/?post_type=articles&p=13395"},"modified":"2025-09-29T16:39:39","modified_gmt":"2025-09-29T20:39:39","slug":"researcher-spotlight-nora-fritz-ph-d-pt-dpt-ncs","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/clario.com\/resources\/articles\/researcher-spotlight-nora-fritz-ph-d-pt-dpt-ncs\/","title":{"rendered":"Researcher spotlight: Nora Fritz, Ph.D., PT, DPT, NCS"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Precision Motion<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\n \"Nora\n <\/div>\n
\n \"Nora\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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Nora Fritz, Ph.D., PT, DPT, NCS<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Professor, Wayne State University, Director of Research, Department of Health Care Sciences<\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Opal\u00ae V2R Technology has been used by thousands of researchers worldwide and together, these researchers have published more than 800 peer reviewed papers, greatly contributing to available body of evidence in human movement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

APDM, now owned by Clario, has delivered deep scientific expertise and broad endpoint technologies to help transform lives around the world for more than 50 years. Our endpoint data solutions have been deployed over 26,000 times to support clinical trials in more than 100 countries. Our global team of science, technology, and operational experts have supported over 60% of all FDA drug approvals since 2012. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For more information, visit our Wearable Biosensors for Research page<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Q:<\/mark> <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Would you please introduce yourself, your academic background and your research interests?<\/h2>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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A: <\/mark><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Hi! I\u2019m Nora Fritz. I\u2019m a Professor at Wayne State University jointly appointed in the Departments of Health Care Sciences and Neurology. I am a board-certified neurologic physical therapist, and my academic training was focused on neuroscience and translational science.<\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Q:<\/mark> <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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What research projects or questions are you currently working on?<\/h2>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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A: <\/mark><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Over the past 6 years, we have been studying how backward walking may be used as an assessment and intervention in persons with Multiple Sclerosis. We\u2019ve shown that backward walking better predicts falls than forward walking and are wrapping up the largest RCT of backward walking training in MS\u2014stay tuned for results!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are also wrapping up a multicenter trial aiming to develop a balance assessment for persons with Huntington\u2019s Disease.<\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Q:<\/mark> <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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What does a typical day at work look like for you?<\/h2>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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A: <\/mark><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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A typical day includes some combination of teaching within the PT program, mentoring students and fellows in my lab, meeting with collaborators, and writing manuscripts and grants.<\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Q:<\/mark> <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Where do you see the use of wearable IMU\u2019s in human movement research going in the next 5 years?<\/h2>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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A: <\/mark><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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I anticipate that IMUs will be useful for sensitive and hopefully early detection of postural changes in persons with neurodegenerative disease.<\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Q:<\/mark> <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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How has Clario\u2019s APDM Opal V2R\u00ae System been most useful in your research endeavors?<\/h2>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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A: <\/mark><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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We utilize the Opals in conjunction with clinical assessments; we have adopted a push-and-release paradigm to examine changes in reactive balance after training. We also use the Opals to evaluate static and anticipatory balance as well as walking.<\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Q:<\/mark> <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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What advice would you give a researcher just starting out in your field?\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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A: <\/mark><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Study what you\u2019re passionate about and surround yourself with mentors who support your well-being as well as your work.<\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Q:<\/mark> <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Fill in the blank:<\/strong><\/mark> When I\u2019m not working on a research project, you can find me\u2026<\/h2>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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A: <\/mark><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Spending time outside with my family \u2013 we like any activity \u2013 evening walks, biking, soccer, field hockey, swimming, etc.<\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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