Ron Pfeiffer, EdD, LAT, ATC

Professor and Chair

Ronald P. Pfeiffer is a professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Co-Director of the Center for Orthopaedic & Biomechanics Research (COBR). He is also a NATABOC Certified Athletic Trainer and a Licensed Athletic Trainer in the state of Idaho. For the past ten years his research focus has been determining the etiologic factors contributing to non-contact injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament in female athletes.  Dr. Pfeiffer continues to serve as a volunteer athletic trainer for club and high school girls basketball teams in the Treasure Valley.

Dr. Pfeiffer has conducted a number of studies aimed at learning more about landing strategies in both male and female athletes. He has also conducted research using an MRI examining the effectiveness of the McConnell taping procedure for correcting misalignment of the human patellofemoral joint. In addition, he continues to publish texts and book chapters in the general field of care and prevention of sports injuries in pediatric & adolescent aged athletes.

Publications

Journals

• Kuhlman, S., Sabick, M., Pfeiffer, R.P., Cooper, B. Forhan, J. (in press). Effect of loading condition on the traction coefficient between shoes and artificial turf surfaces.  Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part P, Journal of Sports Engineering and Technology.
• Nilsson, K. J., Womack, M. S., Pfeiffer, R. P., Harris, C., & DeBeliso, M. (2009). Does cardiac morphology predict plasma brain natriuretic peptide levels in adolescent athletes? Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine, 19(2), 130-133.
• Clark, D.A., Sabick, M.B., Pfeiffer, R.P., Kuhlman, S.M., Knigge, N.A., and Shea, K.G. (2009) Influence of towing force magnitude on the kinematics of supramaximal sprinting. J Strength Cond Res 23(4): 1162-1168.
• Pfeiffer, R. P., K. G. Shea, Roberts, D., Grandstrand, S., Bond, L. (2006). Lack of effect of a knee ligament injury prevention program on the incidence of noncontact anterior cruciate ligament injury. J Bone Joint Surg Am 88(8): 1769-74.
• Shea, K. G., P. J. Apel, Pfeiffer, R. P., Traughber, P. (2006). The anatomy of the proximal tibia in pediatric and adolescent patients: implications for ACL reconstruction and prevention of physeal arrest. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc.
• Grandstrand, S. L., R. P. Pfeiffer, Sabick, M., DeBeliso, M., Shea, K. G. (2006). The effects of a commercially available warm-up program on landing mechanics in female youth soccer players. J Strength Cond Res 20(2): 331-5.
• Guarino, J., Tennyson, S., Barrios, Y., Shea, K.G., Pfeiffer, R.P., Sabick, M. (2004). Modeling the growth plates in the pediatric knee: implications for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Computerized Medical Imaging and Graphicsl, 28(7):371-433.
• Shea, K.G., Pfeiffer, R.P., Wang, J.H., Curtin, M., Apel, P.J. (2004). Anterior cruciate ligament injury in pediatric and adolescent soccer players: an analysis of insurance data. Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics, 24:623-628.
• Irmischer, B., Harris, C., Pfeiffer, R.P., DeBeliso, M., & Adams, K. (2004). Effects of a knee ligament injury prevention (KLIP) exercise program on impact forces in females. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 18:703-707.
• Pfeiffer, R.P., DeBeliso, M., Shea, K.G., Kelley, L., Irmischer, B.S., Harris, C. (2004). Kinematic MRI assessment of McConnell taping before and after exercise. American Journal of Sports Medicine, 32, 621 - 628.
• Shea, K.G., Apel, P., Pfeiffer, R.P. (2003). Anterior cruciate ligament injury in pediatric and adolescent patients: a review of the basic science and clinical research. Sports Medicine, 33(6), 455-471.

Books/Book Chapters

• Pfeiffer, R.P., Mangus, B. (2008, 5th edition). Concepts of athletic training. Boston: Jones and Bartlett.
• Pfeiffer, R.P., Thygerson, A., Palmieri, N.F. (2008). Sports First Aid and Injury Prevention. Boston: Jones and Bartlett.
• Shea, K.G., Apel, P., Pfeiffer, R.P. (in-review). Reconstruction of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament in Skeletally Immature Patients: A Review of Basic Science and Clinical Studies. Minerva Ortopedica e Traumatologica.
• Pfeiffer, R.P., Shea, K.G., Apel, P. (2006). Pediatric and adolescent athlete. In Starkey, C. (Ed.)., Athletic Training and Sports Medicine, (4th ed.), Boston: Jones and Bartlett.
• Shea, K.G., Pfeiffer, R. P., Curtin, M. (2003). Idiopathic anterior knee pain in adolescents. In Stanitski, C.L. (Ed.)., The Orthopedic Clinics of North America- Sports Injuries in School-Age Athletes, Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders.

Courses Taught

• KINES 220 Intro to Athletic Injuries
• KINES 270 Applied Anatomy
• KINES 271 Applied Anatomy Lab
• KINES 500 Functional Anatomy