Prue Plummer, PhD, PT, BPhysio(Hons), is a Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at MGH Institute of Health Professions.

She is an Australian-trained physiotherapist and earned a PhD in Physiotherapy from La Trobe University in 2004.  She completed post-doctoral training at the University of Florida (2004-2006) and the University of California Los Angeles (2006-2008).  Before joining the MGH Institute of Health Professions in 2019, Dr. Plummer held faculty appointments in physical therapy at Northeastern University (2008-2013) and The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2013-2019).

Dr. Plummer’s research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, the American Heart Association, and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.  Currently, she serves as Chair of the Clinical Research Network for the American Society of Neurorehabilitation, Critically Appraised Paper Editor for the Journal of Physiotherapy, and scientific reviewer for the Clinical, Translational, and Rehabilitation Research Committee for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.  In 2019, Dr. Plummer received the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Annual Volunteer Award in the category of Health Professional.

  • BPhysio(Hons), La Trobe University, Victoria, Australia
  • PhD, School of Physiotherapy, La Trobe University, Victoria, Australia

Dr. Plummer’s interdisciplinary research focuses on investigating the interaction between cognition and motor performance during walking in people with neurological disorders (mainly stroke and multiple sclerosis) and developing rehabilitation approaches that target individualized contributing impairments as well as environment and lifestyle factors contributing to mobility disability.

Dr. Plummer has published numerous papers - some titles are highlighted below. You can view a complete listing of Dr. Plummer's publications on Google Scholar or in her CV. 

Brief composite mobility index predicts post-stroke fallers after hospital discharge. 

Utility of an obstacle-crossing test to classify future fallers and non-fallers at hospital discharge after stroke: A pilot study. 

Dalfampridine for mobility limitations in people with multiple sclerosis may be augmented by physical therapy: a non-randomized two-group proof-of-concept pilot study.

Cognitive-motor dual-task gait training within 3 years after stroke: A randomized controlled trial. 

Attentional prioritization in dual-task walking: effects of stroke, environment, and instructed focus. 

 

see google scholar profile

 

In addition, Dr. Plummer regularly presents at conferences and industry events. Please see her CV for a complete list of presentations.

Comparative discriminative and predictive validity of fall-risk assessment at inpatient discharge post stroke at the World Congress of Neurorehabilitation. 

Functional Ambulation Category (FAC) in acute stroke predicts disability at 3 months at the American Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy. 

Brief composite mobility index predicts post-stroke fallers after hospital discharge at  Circulation 2021.

Development of a discharge risk assessment for future falls and inactivity after stroke at the World Congress of NeuroRehabilitation. 

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Awards and Honors

Excellence in Research Mentoring Award, 2022

The purpose of this award is to honor a MGH Institute of Health Professions faculty who has excelled as mentor. Mentoring could include research mentoring, professional development and research networking, and guidance on integrating teaching and research. 

Multiple Sclerosis Certified Specialist, 2021

Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers

Annual Volunteer Award (Health Professional), 2019

National Multiple Sclerosis Society