Victoria A. Moerchen, PT, Ph.D. 

Assistant Professor 

Interests and Expertise
Dr. Moerchen's research focuses on sensorimotor processes that underlie the emergence of developmental motor control. She is particularly interested in visuomotor integration and in children's adaptation to the dynamics created by their own movement. A pediatric physical therapist by background, Dr. Moerchen has over 17 years of clinical experience with children and families, with particular interest in clinical populations with congenital hypotonia, spina bifida, and Down syndrome. Her research examines force production and adaptation in children with and without Down syndrome, treadmill stepping and the emergence of leg control in infants with spina bifida, skilled leg control in toddlers, femoral loading as a function of joint range and stander angle in children with cerebral palsy, and body composition and motor development in children with Prader Willi syndrome. Dr. Moerchen is committed to marrying basic and developmental research with clinical inquiry to provide an empirical base for physical therapy treatment of infants and children. Present research collaborators include Beverly Ulrich, PhD at the University of Michigan (Kinesiology); Kreg Gruben at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (Kinesiology/Engineering); Aaron Carrel, MD, at the University of Wisconsin Children's Hospital (Endocrinology), and Children's Hospital of Wisconsin.

Recent Publications
Peer-reviewed Journals
Carrel, A.L., Moerchen, V.A., Meyers, S.E., Bekx, M.T., Whitman, B.Y., Allen, D.B.
(2004). Growth hormone improves body composition and mobility in infants and toddlers with Prader-Willi syndrome. The Journal of Pediatrics, 145, 744-749.

Moerchen, V.A. & Gruben, K.G. (in review). Afferent contributions to digit force coupling and force level variation during performance of non-lift pinch. Neurocase.

Moerchen, V.A., Lazarus, J.C. & Gruben, K.G. (in review). Task dependent organization of pinch grip forces. Experimental Brain Research.

Myers, S.E., Whitman, B.Y., Carrel, A.L., Moerchen, V.A., Bekx, M.T., & Allen, D.B. (in review). Two years of growth hormone therapy in young children with Prader-Willi syndrome: Physical and neurodevelopmental effects. American Journal of Medical Genetics.

Chapters and Non-peer Reviewed Publications
Moerchen, V.A. & Crane, L.D. (1996). Cardiopulmonary physical therapy for neonatal and pediatric patients. In D. Frownfelter & E. Dean (Eds.), Principles and Practice of Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy (3rd edition). Mosby-Year Book, Inc. St. Louis, Missouri.

Moerchen, V.A. & Crane, L.D. (2006). Cardiopulmonary physical therapy for neonatal and Pediatric patients. In D. Frownfelter & E. Dean (Eds.), Principles and Practice of Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy (4th edition). Elsevier.

Moerchen, V.A. (1994). Respiration and motor development: A systems perspective.
Neurology Report, 18, 8-10.

Massery, M. & Moerchen, V.A. (1996). Coordinating transitional movements and breathing in patients with neuromotor dysfunction. NDTA Network, Nov/Dec 1996, 1-7.

Speaker Topics 
Motor Development and Developmental Motor Control
Pediatric Physical Therapy Curricula
Treadmill Use With Children
Evidence-based Practice
Motor Development and Ventilation

Education
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 2002-2003 Division of Kinesiology, Center for Human Movement Research Motor Development Laboratory, Postdoctoral Scholar
University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 1994 to 2002 Motor Control and Behavior, PhD
University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI. 1992 to 1994
Therapeutic Science, MS
Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, IL, 1986 to 1987
Physical Therapy, BS
Lawrence University, Appleton, WI., 1982 to 1986 Biopsychology, BA