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McKay Orthopaedic Research Laboratory > Soslowsky Lab > Stephen Thomas

Stephen J. Thomas, Ph.D., A.T.C.

Post-doctoral Fellow
University of Pennsylvania

HOMETOWN
Scranton, Pennsylvania

EDUCATION
Ph.D. Biomechanics & Movement Science, 2010, University of Delaware
M.S. Sports Medicine, 2005, Temple University
B.S. Sports Medicine, 2003, Temple University

AREAS OF SPECIAL INTEREST
Structural & neuromuscular adaptation of the shoulder to repetitive overhead tasks

PUBLICATIONS
  1. Dunkman AA, Buckley MR, Mienaltowski MJ, Adams S, Thomas SJ, Satchell L, Kumar A, Pathmanathan L, Beason DP, Iozzo RV, Birk DE, Soslowsky LJ: Decorin Expression Is Required for Age-Related Changes in Tendon Structure and Mechanical Properties, Matrix Biol, 2012 (in review).
  2. Thomas SJ, Swanik KA, Swanik CB, Kelly JD: Glenohumeral Rotation and Scapular Position Change Following Division I Collegiate Baseball, J Sports Rehab, 2012 (in review).
  3. Spencer BA, Dolinskas CA, Seymour PA, Thomas SJ, Abboud JA: Glenohumeral Articular Cartilage Lesions: Prospective Comparison of Non-Contrast MRI and Findings at Arthroscopy, J Shoulder Elbow Surg, 2012 (in review).
  4. Thomas SJ, Swanik CB, Kaminski TW, Higginson JS, Swanik KA, Nazarian L, Kelly JD IV: Neuromuscular and Stiffness Adaptations in Division I Collegiate Baseball Players, J Electromyography Kinesiol, 2012 (Epub ahead of print).
  5. Thomas SJ, Swanik CB, Kaminski TW, Higginson JS, Swanik KA, Nazarian L: Assessment of Subacromial Space and Its Relationship With Scapular Upward Rotation in Collegiate Baseball Players, J Sports Rehab, 2012 (in review).
  6. Rosen AB, Swanik CB, Thomas SJ, Knight CK, Kaminski TW: Differences in lateral drop-jumps from unknown heights among individuals with ankle instability, Journal of Athl Train, accepted.
  7. Thomas SJ, Swanik CB, Kaminski TW, Higginson JS, Swanik KA, Bartolozzi AR, Nazarian LN: Humeral Retroversion and Its Association with Posterior Capsule Thickness in Collegiate Baseball Players, J Shoulder Elbow Surg, 21(7):910-6, 2012.
  8. Needle AR, Swanik CB, Farquhar WB, Thomas SJ, Kaminski TW: Microneurographic Evaluation of Afferent Deficits in the Unstable Ankle during Anterior Loading and Inversion Stress, J Athl Train, In press 2012.
  9. Edelstein L, Thomas SJ, Soslowsky LJ: Rotator Cuff Tears: What have we learned from animal models?, J Musculoskelet Neuronal Interact 11(2):150-62, 2011.
  10. Vallejo RB, Iglesias ME, Zeni JA, Thomas SJ: Reliability and Repeatability of the Portable EPS-Platform Digital Pressure Plate System, J Am Podiatr Med Assoc, in press.
  11. Natale J, Swanik KA, Thomas SJ, Tierney RT: The Effects of Shoulder Plyometric Training on Scapular Upward Rotation, Athletic Training & Sports Health Care, 2012 (in review).
  12. Kibler BW, Sciascia A,Thomas SJ: Glenohumeral Internal Rotation Deficit: Pathogenesis and Response to Acute Throwing, Sports Med Arthrosc, 20(1):34-8, 2012.
  13. Kibler BW, Sewick A,,Thomas SJ: Pathomechanics of the Throwing Shoulder, Sports Med Arthrosc, 20(1):22-9, 2012.
  14. Thomas SJ,Miller KS, Soslowsky LJ: The Upper Band of the Subscapularis Tendon in the Rat has Inferior Mechanical Properties, J Shoulder Elbow Surg, 2012 Apr 6 (Epub ahead of print).
  15. Hsu JE, Reuther KE, Sarver JS, Lee CS, Thomas SJ, Glaser DL, Soslowsky LJ: Restoration of Anterior-Posterior Rotator Cuff Force Balance Improves Shoulder Function in a Rat Model of Chronic Massive Tears, J Orthop Res, 29(7):1028-33, 2011.
  16. Thomas SJ, Swanik CB, Higginson JS, Kaminski TW, Swanik KA, Bartolozzi AR, Abboud JA, Nazarian LN: A Bilateral Comparison of Posterior Capsule Thickness and Its Correlation with Glenohumeral Range of Motion and Scapular Upward Rotation in Collegiate Baseball Players, J Shoulder Elbow Surg, 20(5):708-16, 2011.
  17. Thomas SJ, Swanik KA, Swanik CB, Huxel KC: Glenohumeral Rotation and Scapular Position Change within a Competitive High School Baseball Season, J Sport Rehabil 19(2):125-35, 2010.
  18. Thomas SJ, Swanik KA, Swanik CB, Kelly JD: Internal Rotation and Scapular Position Differences: A Comparison of Collegiate and High School Baseball Players, J Athl Train 45(1):44-50, 2010.
  19. Thomas SJ, Swanik KA, Swanik CB, Kelly JD: Internal Rotation Deficits Affect Scapular Positioning in Baseball Players, Clin Orthop Rel Res, 468(6):1551-7, 2011.
  20. Thomas SJ, Swanik KA, Swanik CB, Huxel KC: Glenohumeral Rotation and Scapular Position Adaptation Following a Single High School Female Sports Season, J Athl Train 44(3):230-7, 2009.
  21. Choa S, Thomas SJ, Kelly JD, Swanik KA, Yucha D, Driban JB: An Electromyographic Assessment of the "Bear Hug": An Examination for the Evaluation of the Subscapularis Muscle, Arthroscopy 24(11):1265-70, 2008.
ABSTRACTS
  1. Reuther KE, Sarver JJ,Thomas SJ, Lee CS, Gray CF, Tucker JJ, Glaser DL, Soslowsky, LJ: Effect of Return to Overuse Activity Following an Isolated Supraspinatus Tendon Tear On Adjacent Intact Tendons and Glenoid Cartilage in a Rat Model, ORS Annual Meeting Poster Presentation, San Francisco, California, 2012.
  2. Hsu JE, Reuther KE, Sarver JJ, Lee CS, Thomas SJ, Glaser DL, Soslowsky LJ: Restoration of Anterior-Posterior Rotator Cuff Force Balance Improves Shoulder Function in a Rat Model of Chronic Massive Tears, American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons Annual Meeting Oral Presentation, San Francisco, CA, 2012.
  3. Thomas SJ, Sarver JJ, Tucker J, Reuther KE, Edelstein L, Ilkhani-Pour S, Gray C, Lee CS, Glaser DL, Soslowsky LJ: The Effect of Return to Overuse Activity After a Supraspinatus Tear on Joint Function and Biceps Mechanical Properties in a Rat Model. American Society of Mechanical Engineers Summer Bioengineering Conference Oral Presentation, Famington, Pennsylvania, 2011
  4. Thomas SJ, Swanik CB, Kaminski TW, Swanik KA, Higginson JS, Nazarian L, Bartolozzi, AR: Humeral Retroversion and Its Association with Posterior Capsule Thickness in Collegiate Baseball Players, NATA Annual Meeting Oral Presentation, New Orleans, Louisiana, 2011.
  5. Kim AS, Swanik CB, Higginson C, Thomas SJ: A Gender Comparison in Reactive Knee Stiffening Strategies under Cognitive Loads, NATA Annual Meeting Oral Presentation, New Orleans, Louisiana, 2011.
  6. Trasolini NA, Thomas SJ, Schultz SM, Sehgal CM, Lee CS, Glaser DL, Soslowsky LJ: Glenoid Cartilage Thickness Decreases after Rotator Cuff Tendon Tears in a Rat Model, ORS Annual Meeting Oral Presentation, Long Beach, California, 2011.
  7. Hsu JE, Reuther KE, Sarver JJ, Lee CS, Thomas SJ, Glaser DL, Soslowsky LJ: Restoration of Anterior-Posterior Rotator Cuff Force Balance Improves Shoulder Function in a Rat Model of Chronic Massive Tears, ORS Annual Meeting Oral Presentation, Long Beach, California
  8. Miller KS, Thomas SJ, Trasolini NA, Soslowsky LJ: The Upper Band of the Subscapularis Tendon in the Rat has Inferior Mechanical Properties, ORS Annual Meeting Poster Presentation, Long Beach, California, 2011.
  9. Kim AS, Swanik CB, Higginson C, Thomas SJ, Kaminski TW: Reactive Knee Stiffening is Diminished Under Cognitive Loads, NATA Annual Meeting Oral Presentation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 2010.
  10. Hinsey ML, Swanik CB, Thomas SJ, Rudolph KS, Kaminski KS, Chang B: Comparison of Reactive Knee Stiffening Strategies Between Sexes, NATA Annual Meeting Poster Presentation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 2010.
  11. Needle AR, Swanik CB, Farquhar WB, Thomas SJ, Kaminski TW: Microneurographic Evaluation of Afferent Deficits in the Unstable Ankle during Anterior Loading and Inversion Stress, NATA Annual Meeting Oral Presentation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 2010.
  12. Needle AR, Farquhar WB, Kaminski TW, Thomas SJ, Rose WC, Swanik CB: A Novel Technique for Simultaneously Measuring Somatosensory Traffic, Joint Loading and Motion at the Ankle, American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting Oral Presentation, Baltimore, Maryland, 2010.
  13. Needle AR, Swanik CB, Farquhar WB, Thomas SJ, Kaminski TW: Microneurographic Evaluation of Afferent Deficits in the Unstable Ankle during Anterior Loading and Inversion Stress, EATA Annual Meeting Oral Presentation, Boston, Massachusetts, 2010.
  14. Thomas SJ, Swanik CB, Swanik KA, Nazarian L, Bartolozzi AR, Reisman AS: Bi-lateral Posterior Capsule Thickness and Its Correlation with Glenohumeral Internal Rotation in Collegiate Baseball Players, NATA Annual Meeting Oral Presentation, San Antonio, Texas, 2009.
  15. Swanik CB, Thomas SJ, Hinsey ML, Reisman AS: Differences in Knee Stiffness Regulation During Drop Jumps from Unknown Heights, NATA Annual Meeting Thematic Poster Presentation, San Antonio, Texas, 2009.
  16. Rosen AB, Swanik CB, Kaminski TW, Thomas SJ, Knight CK: Differences in lateral dropjumps from unknown heights among individuals with ankle instability, NATA Annual Meeting Oral & Thematic Presentation, San Antonio, Texas, 2009.
  17. Swanik KA, Swanik CB, Thomas SJ, Huxel KC, Kelly JD: The Effect of Shoulder Plyometric Training on Selective Muscle Recruitment and Glenohumeral Force Couple Coactivation Strategies, NATA Annual Meeting Oral Presentation, San Antonio, Texas, 2009.
  18. Chrusch A, Swanik CB, Hinsey ML, Thomas SJ, Gutierrez GM, Reisman AS: The Role of Vision on Knee Kinetic and Kinematic Variables during Drop Jumps from Unknown Heights, American Medicine Society for Sports Medicine Annual Meeting Oral Presentation, Tampa, Florida, 2009.
  19. Thomas SJ, Swanik KA, Swanik CB: Pitchers vs. Position Players: A Comparison of GIRD and Total Motion, NATA Annual Meeting Oral Presentation, St. Louis, Missouri, 2008.
  20. Swanik KA, Swanik CB, Huxel KC, Thomas SJ, Kelly JD: The Effects of Shoulder Plyometric Training on Glenohumeral Kinematics, NATA Annual Meeting Oral Presentation, St. Louis, Missouri, 2008.
  21. Thomas SJ, Swanik KA, Swanik CB, Kelly JD: The Effect of GIRD on Scapular Upward Rotation and Protraction in Competitive Baseball Players, 2008 American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons Annual Meeting Poster Presentation, San Francisco, CA, 2008.
  22. Thomas SJ, Swanik KA, Swanik CB, Kelly JD: Glenohumeral Rotation and Scapular Position Change Following Division I Collegiate Baseball, 2008 American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons Annual Meeting Poster Presentation, San Francisco, CA, 2008.
  23. Thomas SJ, Swanik KA, Swanik CB, Kelly JD: Internal Rotation and Scapular Position Differences: A Comparison of Collegiate and High School Baseball Players, 2008 American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons Annual Meeting Oral Presentation, San Francisco, CA, 2008.
  24. Thomas SJ, Swanik KA, Swanik CB, Huxel KC: Glenohumeral Rotation and Scapular Position Change Following Competitive High School Sports, NATA Annual Meeting Oral Presentation, Anaheim CA, 2007.
  25. Kelly JD, Choa S, Swanik KA, Thomas SJ, Yucha D, Driban JB: An Electromyographic Assessment of the Bear Hug Test for Subscapularis Tears, NATA Annual Meeting Poster Presentation, Anaheim, CA, 2007.
  26. Natale J, Swanik KA, Thomas SJ: The Effects of Shoulder Plyometric Training on Scapular Upward Rotation, NATA Annual Meeting Oral Presentation, Anaheim, CA, 2007.
  27. Fath PL, Swanik KA, Thomas SJ, Huxel KC, Tierney RT: The Effects of Scapular Fatigue on Glenohumeral and Elbow Kinematics During Overhead Throwing in Collegiate Baseball Players, NATA Annual Meeting Oral Presentation, Anaheim, CA, 2007.

Steve joined the McKay Orthopaedic Laboratory at the start of 2010, as a post-doctoral fellow, under the guidance of Dr. Louis Soslowsky. Steve's doctoral work focused on structural and neuromuscular adaptations to the throwing arm of healthy overhead athletes. In particular, Steve's study determined that the posterior capsule is adaptively thickening in response to the repetitive overhead stress and that this increased thickness correlates with the loss of glenohumeral internal rotation and joint stiffness. In addition, Steve found that athletes with more humeral retroversion had an adaptively thicker posterior capsule that may be placing them at an increased risk for shoulder and elbow injuries

Steve's masters work was done at Temple University, where he examined shoulder and scapular range of motion over the course of the sports season in healthy high school overhead athletes. Steve's study determined that both shoulder and scapular range of motion significantly changed over the course of the season. This change in shoulder and scapular range of motion was similar to those seen in injured athletes suggesting that these changes may play a role in overuse shoulder injuries.
Steve enjoys working out, cooking, spending time with family and friends, hunting and fishing, and traveling when he can.

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