Ryan William Schaefer DPT, SCS, CSCS.

Highly motivated Physical Therapist and Professor dedicated to serving the Father above by serving his people to the best of my ability. Continuously seeking wisdom and knowledge through scripture, prayer, professional development, and scientific research to provide a multi-faceted approach to client care and student learning and development.

Licensed Physical Therapist

ABPTS Sports Certified Specialist

NSCA Strength and Conditioning Specialist

SFMA Level 1 Certified

Level 1 OnBaseU Pitching Certification(4/13/19)

APTA Certified Clinical Instructor

Advanced Certification in Dry Needling through IDN

American Physical Therapy Association

National Strength and Conditioning Association

ABPTS Specialization Academy of Content Experts

The Effects of Whole Body Vibration, Cycling, and Dynamic Warm-Ups on Vertical Jump Performance in Men and Women. Marie Alexander, SPT, Caitlin Courtner, SPT, Jake Meyer, SPT, Ryan Schaefer SPT, and Melanie Taylor, SPT. December 2013.

The Use of an Inertial Motion Analysis System to Evaluate the Kinematics of Landing Before and After a Six-session Training Intervention Focused on Proximal Hip Strengthening, Motor Control, and Lower Extremity Loading Strategies. Jenny Ellison, DPT, Emily Jones, DPT, Abby Lester, DPT, Kayla Lydon, DPT, Craig Parker, DPT, Kevin Robinson, PT, DSc, OCS, Megan Rolfe, ATC, LAT, DPT, and Pat Sells, D.A.

-Served as Research Assistant, assisting Craig Parker with implementation of the intervention.

Investigation of an 8 Week Neuromuscular Re-Education Program on Adolescent Female Athletes. Craig Parker, DPT.

-Served as Research Assistant, assisting Craig Parker with implementation of the intervention.

Following graduation from Belmont University I had a strong interest in ACL and lower extremity injury prevention.  I assisted Craig Parker with two research projects assessing the effects of neuromuscular training on lower extremity and trunk biomechanics.  After assisting with these two projects I conducted an 8 week Neuromuscular injury prevention program with a local high school women's basketball team.  The program was progressive and focused on proper glute/core stability, squat mechanics(SL and DBL), jump mechanics(SL and DBL), cutting technique, and deceleration.  Formal research was not conducted but participants in the program did not suffer a LE injury that summer, fall, or winter.  Lower extremity injury prevention research has made substantial strides over the last 10 years and a large focus within the field of sports medicine has been placed on this and for good reason.  An epidemic of ACL injuries drove us in this direction but there's another epidemic occurring and its affecting more and more adolescents each year.  Secondary to this my interest has grown in reducing elbow and shoulder injuries in the overhead athlete.  Vast literature exists studying the biomechanics of the shoulder, elbow, and trunk but there is still work to be done in examining the effect the lower quarter has on the trunk and upper extremity during the throwing motion.  I am not only interested in how we can reduce the risk of injury with proper mechanics throughout the chain but also how we can optimize performance.  We know that increased strength and power in the lower quarter correlates with increased throwing velocity but to what level and how can we optimize this?  What impairments in the lower quarter are most limiting and destructive?  These are just a couple of my questions and finding/creating the most specific assessment to this unique motion is my goal.

Overhead Athlete: What Are We Missing?

Illinois Physical Therapy Association: Southern District Meeting

April 30, 2019

Professional Opportunities in the Field of Exercise Physiology

MTSU Exercise Science Department

1/27/2020

Private Practice Physical Therapy

Tennessee Physical Therapy Association: District Meeting

4/17/2021

Strength and Conditioning Specific to the Overhead Athlete

Belmont University DPT Program: Special Interest Group

11/15/2022