ABOUT ME
I hold a PhD in Rehabilitation Science from the University of Alberta (Transferred from the Biomedical Engineering PhD program at Hong Kong Polytechnic University). My bachelor's and master’s studies are both in Orthotics and Prosthetics from the Iran University of Medical Sciences. Prior to joining the NCBL, I was a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of Alberta from 2018-2020. Before this, I was a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Radiology at the University of Calgary (2017-2018).
Supervisors
Prof. Chester Ho
Dr. Hossein Rouhani
Research Interests
Functional Electrical Stimulation-Assisted Cycling
Wearable sensors for monitoring human movement and health
Advanced medical imaging and image processing
Orthotics
PROJECT
Early functional electrical stimulation cycling in acute spinal cord injury
Electrical stimulation for spasticity in spinal cord injury
PUBLICATIONS
1. Abdollah V, Parent EC, Dolatabadi S, Marr E, Wachowicz K, Battié MC. Use of Machine Learning to Select Texture Features in Investigating the Effects of Axial Loading on T2-maps of the Lumbar Discs. Eur Spine J. 2021
2. Abdollah V, Dief T, Ho C, Ralston J, Rouhani H Investigating the Validity of a Single Tri-axial Accelerometer Mounted on the Head for Monitoring the Activities of Daily Living and the Timed-Up and Go Test. Gait Posture. 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gaitpost.2021.08.020
3. Abdollah V, Parent EC, Dolatabadi S, Marr E, Croutze R, Wachowicz K, Kawchuk G. Texture Analysis in the Classification of T2 Weighted Magnetic Resonance Images in Persons with and Without Low Back Pain. 2021 Oct 39. doi: 10.1002/jor.24930
4. Abdollah V, Parent EC, Su A, Wachowicz K, Battié MC. The Effects of Axial Loading on the Morphometric and T2 Characteristics of Lumbar Discs in Relation to Disc Degeneration. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon). 2021 Mar;83:105291. doi: 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2021.105291.
5. Lemieux JA, Kawchuk G, Kongsted A, Hartvigsen J, Abdollah V, Jones A. The feasibility of implementing an English language version of GLA:D Back. Pilot Feasibility Stud. 2021 Feb 1;7(1):38. doi: 10.1186/s40814-020-00758-z.
6. Everaert DG, Okuma Y, Abdollah V, Ho C. Timing and Dosage of FES Cycling Early After Acute Spinal Cord Injury: A Case Series Report. J Spinal Cord Med. 2021 Jul 22;1-6. doi: 10.1080/10790268.2021.1953323.
7. Lemieux JA, Abdollah V, Kawchuk G. Comparing the Effectiveness of Group-Based Exercise to Other Non-Pharmacological Interventions for Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review. 2020 Dec 30;15(12):e0244588. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0244588.
8. Abdollah V, Parent EC, Su A, Wachowicz K, Battié MC. Could Compression and Traction Loading Improve the Specificity of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in People with Low Back Pain? 2020 Dec; 50:102250. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2020.102250.
9. Mahdiyar Z, Saeedi H, Vasaghi-Gharamaleki B, Abdollah V. The Immediate Effect of Prefabricated and UCBL Foot Orthoses on Alignment of Mid- and Fore-Foot in Young Subjects with Symptomatic Flexible Flatfoot: A Radiographic Evaluation, Prosthet Orthot Int. Aug 1;45(4):336-342. doi: 10.1097/PXR.0000000000000010.
10. Abdollah V, Parent EC, Battié MC. Reliability, and Validity of Lumbar Disc Height Quantification Methods using Magnetic Resonance Images. Biomed Tech (Berl). 2019 Feb 25;64(1):111-117. doi: 10.1515/bmt-2017-0086.
11. Abdollah V, Parent EC, Battié MC. MRI Evaluation of the Effects of Extension Exercises on the Disc Fluid Content and Direction of the Fluid Movement, Musculoskelet Sci Pract. 2018 Feb;33:67-70. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2017.11.008.
12. Abdollah V, Parent EC, Battié MC. Is the Location of the Signal Intensity Weighted Centroid a Reliable Measurement of Fluid Displacement within the Disc? Biomed Tech (Berl). 2018 Jul 26;63(4):453-460. doi: 10.1515/bmt-2016-0178.
13. Payehdar S, Saeedi H, Ahmadi A, Kamali M, Mohammadi M, Abdollah V. Comparing the Immediate Effect of UCBL and Modified Foot Orthoses on Postural Sway in People with Flexible Flatfoot, Prosthet Orthot Int. 2016 Feb;40(1):117-22. doi: 10.1177/0309364614538091.
14. Mortaza N, Ebrahimi I, Jamshidi AA, Abdollah V, Kamali M, Abas WA, Osman NA. The Effects of a Prophylactic Knee Brace and Two Neoprene Knee Sleeves on the Performance of Healthy Athletes: A Crossover Randomised Controlled Trial. PLoS One 2012;7(11):e50110. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0050110.
awards
2020 Alberta Innovates Postdoctoral Fellowship in Health Innovation 2+1 Competition (2021-24)
Campus Alberta Neuroscience's Spinal Cord Injury Postdoctoral Fellowship (2021-22, declined)
University of Alberta Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine’s Postdoctoral Scholars Recruitment Award (2018-20).
The International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine’s Young Investigator Travel Award (2018).
The International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine’s Trainee (Educational) Stipend Award (2018).
University of Alberta Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine’s Physical Therapy Department’s Doctoral Fellowship Award (2015-16).
University of Alberta Faculty of Graduate Studies’ Graduate Students Travel Award (2016).
Graduate Student Association’s Travel Award (2016).
University of Alberta Graduate Student’s Research Assistant Award (2015).
University of Alberta’s Myer Horowitz Scholarship (2015).
University of Alberta Faculty of Graduate Studies’ Doctoral Recruitment Scholarship (2014).
Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s Graduate Students Travel Award (2013).
Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s International Postgraduate Scholarship (2011-14).
Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s Ph.D. Recruitment Scholarship (2011-14).