Temerty Faculty of Medicine
Search this site
Menu

Molly (Mary) Caroline Verrier

Dip (P&OT), MHSc

Molly Verrier's headshot
Associate Professor Emeritus

m.verrier@utoronto.ca

416-597-3422 ext 6199 (Lab)

Publications

Professor Molly Verrier trained as a physical and occupational therapist at the University of Toronto graduating in 1970. She practiced neurological physical therapy at the Toronto Western Hospital. Upon graduation from graduate studies in Clinical Neurophysiology and Health Science at McMaster University, 1978 she joined the physical therapy teaching faculty at the University of Toronto and became the Lead Scientist of the U of T Human Neuromotor Control Laboratory at the Playfair Neuroscience Unit. Between 1988 and 1994 she was the Director of the Division of Physical Therapy in U of T’s Department of Rehabilitation Medicine. In 1994 Prof. Verrier became the first Chair of the Department of Physical Therapy and the Graduate Department of Rehabilitation Science in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto. As chair, over the next decade along with a group of talented PT and OT faculty, she implemented a BSc PT Evidence Based Curriculum, a Professional Master's Program in Physical Therapy, and U of T’s first MSc and PhD Programs in Rehabilitation Science.

Research & Scholarly Activities

Prof. Verrier has conducted research on pharmaceutical interventions, basic neurophysiology, spasticity, short and long latency responses in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) Parkinson's disease and stroke. She has investigated both disordered postural control and gait in stroke and acquired head injury and SCI. Prof. Verrier as well as studying cortical reorganization, sensorimotor recovery, rehabilitation interventions and service delivery following traumatic and non–traumatic spinal cord injury. Her research has included:

  • Utilization of electromyography, kinetic and kinematic analysis for understanding neurological disorders
  • Development of clinical neurological assessments for sensorimotor control Community Balance and Mobility Scale (CB&M), Graded Redefined Assessment of Strength, Sensibility  and Prehension (GRASSP), Toronto Rehabilitation Institute Hand Function Test (TRI-HFT) Standing and Walking Assessment Tool (SWAT )
  • Development of novel intervention strategies for restorative motor control for posture, mobility and function, and
  • Evaluation of neurotherapeutic techniques and neurorehabilitation service delivery.

Appointments

  • Associate Professor Emeritus, Department of Physical Therapy and Professor Emerita Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto
  • Emeritus Senior Scientist at the KITE/Toronto Rehabilitation Institute/University Health Network – Neuroengineering and Therapeutics Team, Lyndhurst Spinal Cord Centre, Toronto, Ontario
  • Member, Advisory Committee Ontario Internationally Educated Physical Therapy Bridging Program, University of Toronto
  • Vice-Chair, Board of Directors of the Banting Research Foundation

Publications

  • Milosevic M, Masani K, Kuipers MJ, Rahouni H, Verrier MC, McConville KM, Popovic MR. Trunk control impairment is responsible for postural instability during quiet sitting in individuals with cervical spinal cord injury. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon). 2015 Jun 30(5):507-12. doi: 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2015.03.002. Epub 2015 Mar 14.
  • Wissel J, Verrier M, Simpson DM, Charles D, Guinto P, Papapetropoulos S, Sunnerhagen KS. Post-stroke spasticity: predictors of early development and considerations for therapeutic intervention. PM R. 2015 Jan 7(1):60-7. doi: 10.1016/j.pmrj.2014.08.946. Epub 2014 Aug 27.
  • Marinho-Buzelli AR, Bonnyman AM, Verrier MC. The effects of aquatic therapy on mobility of individuals with neurological diseases: A systematic review. Clin Rehabil. 2014 Nov 13. pii: 0269215514556297. [Epub ahead of print] Review.
  • Jaglal SB, Guilcher SJ, Bereket T, Kwan M, Munce S, Conklin J, Versnel J, Packer T, Verrier M, Marras C, Pitzul KB, Riopelle R. Development of a Chronic Care Model for Neurological Conditions (CCM-NC). BMC Health Serv Res. 2014 Sep 19 14:409. doi: 10.1186/1472-6963-14-409.
  • Gabison S, Verrier MC, Nadeau S, Gagnon DH, Roy A, Flett HM. Trunk strength and function using the multidirectional reach distance in individuals with non-traumatic spinal cord injury. J Spinal Cord Med. 2014 Sep; 37(5):537-47. doi: 10.1179/2045772314Y.0000000246.
  • Kalsi-Ryan S, Beaton D, Curt A, Popovic MR, Verrier MC, Fehlings MG. Outcome of the upper limb in cervical spinal cord injury: Profiles of recovery and insights for clinical studies. J Spinal Cord Med. 2014 Sep; 37(5):503-10. doi: 10.1179/2045772314Y.0000000252.
  • Craven BC, Balioussis C, Hitzig SL, Moore C, Verrier MC, Giangregorio LM, Popovic MR. Use of screening to recruitment ratios as a tool for planning and implementing spinal cord injury rehabilitation research. Spinal Cord. 2014 Oct 52(10):764-8. doi: 10.1038/sc.2014.126. Epub 2014 Aug 19.
  • Schleifer Taylor J, Verrier MC, Landry MD. What Do We Know about Knowledge Brokers in Paediatric Rehabilitation? A Systematic Search and Narrative Summary. Physiother Can. 2014 Spring;66(2):143-52. doi: 10.3138/ptc.2012-71.
  • Desveaux L, Verrier MC. Physical Therapists' Perceptions of Leadership across the Health Care Continuum: A Brief Report. Physiother Can. 2014 Spring 66(2):119-23. doi: 10.3138/ptc.2013-02.
  • Munce S, Wodchis WP, Guilcher SJ, Couris CM, Verrier M, Fung K, Craven BC, Jaglal SB. Direct costs of adult traumatic spinal cord injury in Ontario. Spinal Cord 2013; 51(1):64-9.
  • Kalsi-Ryan S, Beaton D, Curt A, Duff S, Popovic MR, Rudhe C, Fehlings MG, Verrier MC. Defining the Role of Sensation, Strength and Prehension on Upper Limb Function in Cervical Spinal Cord Injury (SCI). Neuororehabilitation and Neural Repair, accepted NNR-11-1411.R1.
  • Desveaux L, Nanavaty G, Ryan J, Howell P, Sunder R, Macdonald AA, Schleifer Taylor J, Verrier M.C. (2012). Exploring the concept of leadership from the perspective of physical therapists in Canada. Physiotherapy Canada 64 (4) 367-375.
  • Craven BC, Balioussis C, Verrier MC, Hsieh JT, Cherban EM, Rasheed A, Noonan V, Wolfe D. Using scope review methods to describe current capacity and prescribe change in Canadian SCI rehabilitation service delivery.  The Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine 2012; 35(5):392-399.
  • Kalsi-Ryan S, Curt A, Verrier MC, Fehlings MG. Development of the Graded Redefined Assessment of Strength, Sensibility and Prehension (GRASSP); Reviewing Measurement Specific to the Upper Limb in Tetraplegia. Journal of Neurosurgery Spine, 2012 Sep; 17(1):89-93. PMID: 2298537
  • Kalsi-Ryan S, Beaton D, Curt A, Duff S, Popovic MR, Rudhe C, Fehlings MF, Verrier MC. The Graded Redefined Assessment of Strength Sensibility and Prehension (GRASSP) – reliability and validity. Journal of Neurotrauma 29(5):905-914. Kapadia N, Zivanovic V, Verrier M, Popovic MR (2012). Toronto Rehabilitation Institute’s hand function test: assessment of gross motor function. Topics in Spinal cord Injury Rehabilitation 2012; 18(2):167-186.
  • Wilson JR, Singh A, Craven C, Verrier MC, Drew B, Ahn H, Ford M, Fehlings MG. Early versus late surgery for traumatic spinal cord injury: the results of a prospective Canadian cohort study. Spinal Cord 2012; 50(11):840-3.
  • Marinho AR, Flett HM, Craven C, Ottensmeyer CA, Parsons D, Verrier MC. Walking-related outcomes for individuals with traumatic and non-traumatic spinal cord injury inform physical therapy practice. The Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine 2012; 35(5):371-381.
  • Landry MD, Hastie R, Onate K, Gamble B, Deber RB, Verrier MC. Attractiveness of Employment Sectors for Physical Therapists in Ontario, Canada (1999-2007): Implication for Long Term Care Sector. BMC Health Services Research 2012; 12(1):133.