Steve Karas, PT, DSc, CMPT, BA; ATr Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy (OCS)

Photo of Steve Karas
412-365-2798
Eastside - 208

Hometown: Forest Hills, PA
Joined Chatham: 2008

ACADEMIC AREAS OF INTEREST

Thoracic Spine treatment, Manual Therapy of the Spine, Research Fidelity, The effect of Nutrition on Back Pain

PERSONAL AREAS OF INTEREST

Travel, Triathlon, Hockey
Personal Website: Visit Website  

EDUCATION
  • DSc, Andrews University (Berrien Springs, MI) , 2011
  • MPT, Chatham University, (Pittsburgh, PA) 1996
  • MA, Western Michigan University (Kalamazoo, MI) 1994
  • BS, University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, PA) 1991
ORGANIZATIONS
  • American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy: Research Committee, Education Committee
  • Pennsylvania Physical Therapy Association: Research Committee
  • Reviewer: Journal of Manual and Manipulative Therapy, Manual Therapy, Journal of Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy, Trials Journal
  • International Federation of Manipulative Therapy : International Monitoring Resource Chair
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
  • J Chiro Med. Evaluation & treatment of trigeminal symptoms of cervical origin following a motor vehicle crash, (2022) Moses, J. Karas S.
  • Journal of Novel Physio, The Neurophysiological Effects of Cervical and Thoracolumbar Manipulation on Shoulder range of motion in Patients with Subacromial Impingement Syndrome. (2022) Brown J. Alexander D. Kearns G. Karas S.
  • J Bodywork and Move Ther, Adverse effects of extremity manipulation, (2022) Sheldon A. Karas S.
  • Physiotherapy. Appraisal of de Oliveira et al. (2021) Karas S. Windsor B.
  • JOSPT. Venous Malformation in the Gastrocnemius Muscle. (2020) Faville J. Karas S.
  • JMMT. Spinal Manipulation after multiple fusions in an adult with scoliosis. (2019) Cuka, C; McDevitt A; Hoke A; Karas S.
  • JMMT. The effects of directional thoracic spine manipulation on neck pain. JMMT (2108) Karas S. Windsor B.
  • Orthopedic Physical Therapy Practice. A novel biomechanical approach for a runner with plantar heel pain using regional interdependence: a case report. Cornell S. Faville J. Porter Hoke A. Karas S.
  • JMMT. We need to debate the value of manipulative therapy, Editorial. (2018) Karas, S; Mintken, P; Brismee, JM.
  • JMPT. T4 Syndrome: A Review of the Literature. (2017) Karas S. Pannone A.
  • JMMT. Factors affecting Confidence and Knowledge in Spinal Palpation among International Manual Physical Therapists. (2016) Karas S. Schneiders A. Reed D. Talisa V.
  • JMMT. Consideration of Treatment Fidelity to improve Manual Therapy Research. (2016) Karas S. Thompson L.
  • JOSPT. Diagnosis of Lumbar Instability using C-Arm Fluoroscopy. (2016) Temes B. Karas S. Manwill J.
  • European Journal of Physiotherapy. The Accuracy of Clinical Tests in Diagnosing Ankle Ligament Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. (2016) Schneiders A. Karas S.
  • Journal of Biomechanics. Effect of foot position on balance ability in single-leg stance with and without visual feedback. (2016) Schneiders A. Gregory K. Karas S. Mudermann A.
  • Orthopedic Physical Therapy Practice.The effect of Spinal Mobilization on Pain Pressure Threshold: A Systematic Review. (2016) Karas S. Wetzel A. Brence J.
  • Musculoskeletal Care. A knowledge translation program to increase the utilization of thoracic spine mobilization and manipulation for patients with neck pain. (2015) Karas S. Westerheide A. Daniel L.
  • SportEX Medicine. T4 Syndrome: An example of Regional Interdependence. (2014) Karas, S; Pannone, A.
  • JMMT. The effects of seated thoracic distraction as compared to specifically targeted thoracic thrusts. (2014) Karas, S. Olson Hunt, M.
  • J Nov Physiother Physical Therapy following a Hip Resurfacing Procedure. (2013) Karas S. Enseki K.
  • The Asian Journal of Sports Medicine. Outcomes of Birmingham Hip Resurfacing. (2011) Karas, S.
  • Rehabilitation after Birmingham Hip Resurfacing: a case study. (Abstract) JOSPT (2010) Karas S, Enseki K.
  • Pezzullo D. Karas S. Irrgang J. Functional Plyometric Exercises for the Throwing Athlete. Journal of Athletic Training. (1995)
 CERTIFICATIONS 
 AWARDS
  • American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists : Thoracic Spine Research Award (2013, 2014)
  • Cardon Manual Therapy Research Award; AAOMPT 2014
  • Pennsylvania Physical Therapy Association Research Committee Award
  • Journal of Athletic Training Manuscript of the Year: Functional Plyometric Exercises for the Throwing Athlete
ACHIEVEMENTS
SELECTED PRESENTATIONS
  • Kearns G. Karas S. Sheldon A. Windsor B. Implementation of International IFOMPT Cervical Framework into Musculoskeletal Cervical Vascular Screening Curricula in United States Physical Therapist Professional Degree Programs. AAOMPT. (St. Louis, MO) 2023.
  • Karas S. Carillo A. Floures A. Dinas P. Eat, Move, improve: Using nutrition to lessen inflammation and compliment PT management of CLBP. AAOMPT. (San Diego, CA) 2022.
  • Biernacki J. Pierce E. Unger R. Woollard J. Karas S. Use of Joint Mobilization After Total Joint Arthroplasty of the Knee, Hip, and Shoulder: A Scoping Review of the Literature. AAOMPT. (San Diego, CA) 2022.
  • Hill E. Kinney S. Karas S. Pain Neuroscience Education may Enhance the Effects of Manual Therapy in Patients with Low Back Pain: A Scoping Review. AAOMPT. (San Diego, CA) 2022.
  • Brown J. Alexander D. Kearns G. Karas S. The Effects of Cervical and Thoracic Thrust Manipulations on Shoulder Range of Motion in Patients with Rotator Cuff Related Shoulder Pain. AAOMPT. (Cleveland, OH) 2021.
  • Giannangeli N. Karas S. Structure and function of the alar ligament, a systematic review. PPTA Conference. (Lancaster, PA) 2018.
  • Karas S. Rehabilitation after Birmingham Hip Resurfacing: a case study. Combined Sections Meeting of the American Physical Therapy Association, San Diego February, 2010.
  • Pearson J. Karas S. A critical appraisal of the Orthopedic Section’s Lumbar Spine CPGs. AAOMPT. (Cleveland, OH) 2021.
  • Hollis J. Karas S. Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder a Benign Low Back Pain Comorbidity? AAOMPT. (Cleveland, OH) 2021.
  • Dubrow K, Karas S, Young. How to start, finish, & present research. AAOMPT (Salt Lake City, UT), October 2017.
  • Tudin F. Devaney L. Chui K. Karas S. Clinton S. Regional Approach to Management of a Runner with Chronic Hamstring Pain: A Case Report. The American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists. Salt Lake City,UT) October, 2017.
  • Mercader I. Karas S. Pratt T. Kearns G. The Addition of a Weight-Bearing -Portland test- to the Gluteal Tendinopathy Cluster. AAOMPT. (Cleveland, OH) 2021.
  • Rufener M. Karas S. Regional Interdependence for assessment and treatment of lateral knee pain in a runner: A case report. The American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists. (Salt Lake City, UT) October, 2017.
  • Jacobson C. Karas S. Effects of Acromioclavicular Joint Manipulation on Shoulder Pain, Range of Motion and Outcomes: Case Series. CSM 2021.
  • Karas S. Thompson L. Consideration of Treatment Fidelity to improve Manual Therapy Research. International Federation of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists. Glasgow, Scotland. July, 2016.
  • Karas S. Williams-Hatala EM. A cadaveric assessment of the alar ligament. International Federation of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists. Glasgow, Scotland. July, 2016.
  • Young J. McDevitt A. Emerson A. Karas S. Mintken P. Upping your A game in OMT research. AAOMPT. (Orlando, FL) 2019.
  • Borchart J. Karas S. Ripani A. Chronic Low Back Pain & Nutrition: A Literature Review. Pennsylvania Physical Therapy Association. (Champion, PA) October 2017.
  • Ramiscal L, Henry L, Pettman E, Karas S. Pain Prevalence in Upper Cervical Stability Testing in Healthy Individuals. AAOMPT. (Orlando, FL) 2019.
  • Brence J. Karas S. Wetzel A. The Effect Of Spinal Mobilization on Pain Pressure Thresholds: A Review of the Literature. Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy. 2014.
  • Cuka C, McDevitt A, Karas S. Spinal manipulation after multiple fusions in an adult with scoliosis: A Case Report. AAOMPT. (Reno, NV) 2018.
  • Karas S. Sawhney R. Clinical Reasoning in a patient with left shoulder and cervical spine pain. American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Therapists Annual Conference (San Antonio, TX), October 2014.
  • Thurston C. Karas S. The Manubrial Test: A Novel Assessment for Regional Interdependence in Adolescent Overhead Athletes. AAOMPT. (Reno, NV) 2018.
  • Pannone A. Karas S. T4 Syndrome: A review of the literature. The American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists. Louisville, KY, 2015.
  • Karas, S. Knowledge Translation and Manual Therapy: Improving the Interaction of Clinicians and Researchers. AAMOPT Anual Conference (Cincinnati, OH), October 2013
  • Karas S. Olson, M. The effects of seated thoracic distraction as compared to specifically targeted thoracic thrusts on cervical pain and range of motion. The International Federation of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy & The World Conference of Manual / Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy. Quebec City, October 2012.
  • Karas S. Barnett, J. Specificity of Spinal Manual Therapy: A survey of manual Physical Therapists. The International Federation of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy & The World Conference of Manual / Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy. Quebec City, October 2012.
  • Clinton S. Karas S. Luethcke, R. Evidence based treatment of pelvic pain: comparison of orthopedic and antepartum populations. Course Workshop. The International Federation of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy & The World Conference of Manual / Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy. Quebec City, October 2012.
  • Barnett J. Karas S. Specificity of Spinal Manual Therapy: A survey of manual Physical Therapists. Pennsylvania Physical Therapy Association. October, 2012.
  • Karas S. Clinical Update: Manual Therapy of the Thoracic Spine. South West District PA PT Association, September, 2012.
  • Karas S. The effects of seated thoracic distraction as compared to specifically targeted thoracic thrusts on cervical pain and range of motion: A case series. American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy, October, 2010.