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FACULTY

Joseph Godges, DPT, MA, FAPTA

FACULTY PROFILE

Clinical Professor of Physical Therapy

MAILING ADDRESS

1540 Alcazar St., CHP 155,
Los Angeles, CA 90089-9006

PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS

Dr. Joe Godges is a clinical professor of physical therapy in the USC Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy. Godges began his PT experience as an officer in the U.S. Army in 1980. He is certified as a manual therapist, Rolfer, and PNF practitioner. His professional development also includes receiving his MA in counseling psychology. He was one of the original 29 individuals who first received board certification as a clinical specialist in orthopaedic physical therapy in 1989. He achieved recertification in 1999, 2009 and 2019. He has spent the last 34 years of his career training physical therapy residents and fellows in clinical residency and fellowship programs for Kaiser Permanente and USC.

 

From 2008 to 2017, Joe served as the ICF-based clinical practice guidelines coordinator & editor for the Academy of Orthopaedic Physical Therapy of the American Physical Therapy Association. During this period, 15 CPGs were published in the Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy. He has also served terms on the Orthopaedic Specialty Council of the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties, on the APTA’s Committee on Clinical Residency and Fellowship Credentialing and on the AOPT and JOSPT Board of Directors. Recently, Dr. Godges has served as the coordinator of Practice Guideline Integration for the Academy of Orthopaedic Physical Therapy.

 

Dr. Godges has been the lead or contributing author of more than 20 peer-reviewed journal publications on several topics in orthopaedic and sports physical therapy.

 

He was an intercollegiate athlete in the ’70s at Pepperdine University and has put in effort in continuing to move well on running trails, ski slopes, golf links and ocean surf.

EDUCATION
  • Doctor of Physical Therapy, Loma Linda University
  • Master of Arts, Counseling Psychology, Loyola Marymount University
  • Master of Physical Therapy, U.S. Army-Baylor University
  • Bachelor of Science, Sports Medicine, Pepperdine University
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
  • Godges JJ, Norman KS, George SZ, Fritz JM, Silfies SP, Schneider M, Beneciuk JM, Lentz TA, Gilliam JR.  Low back pain decision tree. Orthopaedic Practice. 2022;34:262-267.
  • Cunningham S, Jackson R, Herbal K, Godges J. The development of a reliable assessment tool to measure clinical performance of orthopaedic physical therapy residents during patient management. J Phys Ther Educ. 2019;33:31-39.
  • Kelley MJ, Shaffer MA, Kuhn JE, Michener LA, Seitz AL, Uhl TL, Godges JJ, McClure PW. Shoulder pain and mobility deficits: adhesive capsulitis – clinical practice guidelines linked to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health from the Orthopaedic Section of the American Physical Therapy Association. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2013;43(5):A1-A31
  • Delitto A, George SZ, Van Dillen L, Whitman JM, Sowa G, Shekelle P, Denninger TR, Godges JJ. Low back pain: a clinical practice guideline linked to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health from the Orthopaedic Section of the American Physical Therapy Association. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2012;42(4):A1-A57
  • Yung E, Asavasopon S, Godges JJ. Screening for head, neck, and shoulder pathology in patients with upper extremity signs and symptoms. J Hand Ther. 2010;23:173–186
  • Godges JJ, Anger MA, Zimmerman G, Delitto A. The effects of education on return-to-work status for patients with fear-avoidance beliefs and acute low back pain. Phys Ther. 2008;88:231–239.
  • Jones S, Bellah C, Godges JJ. A comparison of professional development and leadership activities between graduates and non-graduates of physical therapist clinical residency programs. J Phys Ther Educ.2008:22:85-88.
  • Childs JD, Cleland JA, Elliott JM, Teyhen DS, Wainner RS, Whitman JM, Sopky BJ, Godges JJ, Flynn TW. Neck pain: a clinical practice guideline linked to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health from the Orthopaedic Section of the American Physical Therapy Association. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2008;38(10): A1-A3.
  • Johnson A, Godges JJ, Zimmerman G. The effect of anterior versus posterior glide joint mobilization on external rotation range of motion of patients with shoulder adhesive capsulitis pain. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther.2007;37:88-99.
  • Pho C, Godges JJ. Management of whiplash-associated disorders addressing thoracic spine impairments: a case report. J Ortho Sports Phys Ther.2004;34:511-523.
  • Godges JJ, Matson-Bell M, Thorpe D. The immediate effects of soft tissue mobilization with proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation on glenohumeral external rotation and overhead reach. J Ortho Sports Phys Ther. 2003;33:713-718.
  • Godges JJ, Varnum DR, Sanders KM. Impairment-based examination and disability management of an elderly woman with sacroiliac region pain. Phys Ther. 2002;82:812-821.
  • Milidonis MK, Godges JJ, Jensen GM. The nature of expert practice for specialists in orthopaedic physical therapy: a descriptive analysis. J Ortho Sports Phys Ther. 1999;29:240-247.
  • Godges JJ, MacRae PG, Engelke KA. Effects of exercise on hip range of motion, trunk muscle performance, and gait economy. Phys Ther. 1993;73:468-477.
  • Godges JJ, MacRae H, Longdon C, Tinberg C, MacRae P. The effects of two stretching procedures on hip range of motion and gait economy. J Ortho Sports Phys Ther. 1989;10:350-357.

 

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