Faculty

Nia Irene Mensah

Associate Professor, Physical TherapyAssistant Director of Clinical Education, Physical Therapy

D.P.T. Doctor of Physical Therapy, University of Southern CaliforniaPh.D Doctor of Philosophy Kinesiology, Motor Control and Motor Learning Program, Teachers CollegeB.S. Psychology/Neuroscience, Vanderbilt University

nia.mensah@liu.edu

Description

A native New Yorker, Dr. Mensah is an advocate for children with disabilities and has been working with the pediatric population for over 15 years. Her research areas of interest include task specific training to improve brain function, utilizing outcome measures for the brain injured population and motor control acquisition as it effects physical activity, gait velocity and function. Dr. Mensah is recognized as a Board-Certified Specialist in Pediatrics as earned through the American Board of Specialties in Physical Therapy and is certified in Neurodevelopmental Treatment (NDT) that promotes critical thinking and strategic recruitment of muscles to improve function through play for children with neurological deficits. She is an active member of the American Physical Therapy Association and currently serves on the Diversity Task Force Committee for the Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy. Dr. Mensah’s most celebrated achievements include serving the global community via international medical outreach to underserved communities in Ghana, Dominican Republic, Trinidad, and South Africa. She believes that her participation in a multidisciplinary approach locally and abroad aides to her success as a clinician but most importantly to the success of her patients. 

Specialties

Lectures and Presentations

Dewan B, Mensah N, Lynam P, States R. Group Exercise for Balance in People with Parkinson’s Disease: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis.
Poster Presentation: APTA 2023 Combined Sections Meeting, San Diego, CA, February 2023.

Mensah NI. AACPDM 74th Annual Meeting: “Measuring physical activity in children with severe and profound disability: An exploratory study” Demonstration Poster Meeting: September 24-26, 2020, New Orleans, LA - virtual.

Mensah NI. “Effects of Underwater Treadmill Training in Child with Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy: A Case Study” – Published in PT journal (online) Meeting cancelled due to COVID-19 (Phoenix, AZ) June 2020.

Mensah NI. “Navigating Racial Disparities within the Physical Therapy Profession”. Panel member of Plenary Presentation. Pediatric Section: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force. Plenary Session/Presentation: Combined Sections Meeting (CSM) American Physical Therapy Association, Denver, Colorado February 2020.

Mensah NI, Savage R, Camejo M et al. Does Multidisciplinary and Intense Rehabilitation in a post-acute Brain Injury School produce positive outcomes? A retrospective cohort review. Poster & Platform Presentation: NABIS Conference Tampa, FL March 2016.

Fieback L, Toomer-Mensah NI, Smith T, Felsenfeld M. A Balance Master ® Intervention providing sequence training to improve a child’s ability to cross a community traffic signal in a safe and timely manner. A Randomized Control Trial. Poster Presentation: American Physical Therapy Association NEXT Conference, Tampa, Fl. June 2012.