Christopher Rhea

Christopher Rhea serves as the Associate Dean for Research & Innovation at the Ellmer College of Health Sciences, Old Dominion University (ODU), while maintaining an active research program as a Professor in the School of Rehabilitation Sciences. Prior to joining ODU in 2022, he was a faculty member at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro from 2011–2022, ascending from Assistant to Full Professor. His work integrates advanced technologies like virtual reality (VR) and smartphone apps to address health challenges including concussion recovery, fall prevention in older adults, and military rehabilitation.

• Ph.D., Kinesiology (Biomechanics), Purdue University (2009)
• M.S., Movement Science, Barry University (2004)
• B.S., Physical Education, University of Central Missouri (2002)

Research Interests Dr. Rhea’s research bridges neuromotor control and advanced technology to enhance human health. His funded projects explore:

• VR-based fall risk assessment for older adults
• mTBI screening using smartphone apps
• Blast exposure effects on service members
• Gender-specific neuroimaging studies
• Childhood movement quality interventions

Publication Trends His recent articles emphasize VR applications in rehabilitation, smartphone diagnostics for concussions, and dynamical systems theory to analyze brain-body interactions. Subfields include postural control development, movement asymmetries in neurological populations, and sensorimotor adaptations in chronic injury scenarios.

Grants His work has been supported by federal agencies (DoD, NIH, US Navy, HRSA) and private entities like the Women’s Football Foundation. Notable projects include a $958,937 DoD grant for longitudinal neuromotor control studies and a $1,246,118 NIH grant for balance research.