Department of Physical Therapy
Professor of Physical Therapy
Phone: 828-227-2126
Email: twatson@email.wcu.edu
Office Address: HHSB 228
Education:
- Postdoctoral Fellowship, Johns Hopkins University, July 2001-June 2002
- D.P.T., University of St. Augustine for Health Services, 2000
- M.P.T., Idaho State University, 1991
- B.S., Idaho State University, 1989
Specialty Credentialing:
- Dry Needling Certification. Dry Needling Institute, 2012.
- Certificate of Clinical Research Conduct. Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, 2000; Western Carolina University, 2008
- Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy. Diplomat, American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties, 1999, 2009.
- Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists, 1999.
- Manual Therapy Certification through the University of St. Augustine, 1999
Recent Publications:
- McPherson, S., Watson, T. Reproducibility of Ultrasound Measurement of Transversus Abdominis During Loaded, Functional Tasks in Asymptomatic Young Adults. Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. 2012; 4 (6): 402-412.
- Watson, T., McPherson, S., Fleeman, S. Ultraound Measurement of Transversus Abdominis During Loaded, Functional Tasks in Asymptomatic Individuals: Rater Reliability. Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. 2011; 3 (8): 697-705
- Watson, T., McPherson, S. ADIM training for loaded functional tasks: healthy adults maintain similar levels of motor control and intrinsic motivation – a longitudinal study. In A. Vleeming (Ed), Proceedings of the 7th Interdisciplinary World Congress on Low Back and Pelvic Pain, 2010. La Jolla: The University of California at San Diego.
- Myers, J., Shanks, G., Watson, T., Hudson, D. G. Single Inclinometer vs. Double Inclinometer Measures of Lumbar Spine Range of Motion: A Validity Study. Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Practice. 2009; 21(4),146-148.
- Watson, T., McPherson, S., Starr, K. The association of nutritional status and gender with cross-sectional area of the multifundus muscle in establishing normative data. Journal of Manual Manipulative Therapy. 2008; 16 (4): E93-98.
- Irwin, R., Watson, T., Minick, R.P., Ambrosius, W. Age, body mass index and gender differences in sacroiliac joint pathology. American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 2007 Jan;86(1):37-44.
Recent Presentations:
- Watson, T., McPherson, S. (November 2010). ADIM training for loaded functional tasks: healthy adults maintain similar levels of motor control and intrinsic motivation – a longitudinal study. San Diego, CA: 7th Interdisciplinary World Congress on Low Back and Pelvic Pain
- McPherson, S., Watson, T. (June 2010). Abdominal drawing in maneuver training in healthy young adults using ultrasound imaging: Does the ability to activate the transversus abdominus in a supine position transfer to standing positions involving lifting and reaching tasks? Tuscon, AZ: NASPSPA Annual Conference.
- Watson, T., McPherson, S., Blankenship, J., Lenk, L. (October 2009). Transversus abdominis muscle activation during functional tasks: Implications for the practitioner dealing with spinal stabilization. Washington, DC: AAOMPT Annual Conference.
- Watson, T., Deyle, G., Teyhen, D., (June 2007). Differential diagnosis and imaging for the physical therapist. Denver, Co: APTA Annual Conference.
Biography:
Dr. Watson received his entry-level M.P.T. from Idaho State University. He was in private practice in southwest Florida prior to completing an orthopaedic manual therapy residency/fellowship in St. Augustine, FL.
Dr. Watson completed his post-professional doctorate from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences, with emphasis on orthopaedic manual physical therapy, and studied the effect of exercise on cancer-related fatigue while doing his post-doctoral research fellowship with Johns Hopkins University.
He is board certified as an Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Therapists. Currently, he teaches entry-level physical therapy students, focusing on examination and intervention of musculoskeletal conditions. Additionally, he teaches an advanced manual therapy elective, an evidence-based approach to joint manipulation.
Dr. Watson also serves as physical therapist consultant to a number of regional agencies, including Crossfire Ministries. He has served with the Crossfire / ACC Challenge All-Star Basketball game, working with standout Division I basketball players, including Christian Moody (Kansas), Trent Strickland (Wake Forest), Quentin Thomas (UNC), Luke Zeller (Notre Dame), Chad Williams (NC State), Greg Paulus & David McClure (Duke), Tyler Hansbrough & Danny Green (UNC).
He is an avid runner who enjoys racing, from distances of 5k to the marathon. He has completed a number of marathons, including the 2011 and 2012 Boston Marathon races, and is the 2012, and 2013 Master's Division winner of WCU's Valley of the Lilies Half Marathon.