Herbert Karpatkin, PT, DSc, NCS, GCS, MSCS

Herbert Karpatkin has been a full-time faculty member at Hunter College since 2009 and has over 40 years of clinical practice in physical therapy. In addition to being an associate professor, Herbert also serves as a faculty advisor for two to three research projects per class. His classes range from psychosocial and ethical aspects of physical therapy practice to neurologic evaluation and geriatrics.

Outside of teaching at Hunter College, Herbert is a practicing clinician, specializing in Multiple Sclerosis, and serves on the Medical Advisory Board of the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation. His research has been featured in multiple Journals including, the Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy, Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Disability and Rehabilitation, Multiple Sclerosis Journal, and Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders. Herbert’s research focuses primarily on physical therapy and exercise interventions for persons with Multiple Sclerosis and the impact of fatigue on motor performance in degenerative neurologic conditions.

Mission Statement: 

To learn, to teach, to love, to be loved.

• Research Design and Methods
• Ethical & Psychosocial Dimensions of Physical Therapy
• Neurological Examination & Intervention I, II, &  III
• Geriatric Physical Therapy

• Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions (D.Sc. in Health Sciences)
• Boston University, Sargent College of Allied Health Professions (MS in Physical Therapy)

Book chapters:

• Karpatkin, H. (2019). Exercise prescription in multiple sclerosis. In Multiple Sclerosis for the Non-Neurologist (1st ed.). Baltimore, MD: Wolters Kluwer Health.
• Karpatkin, H. (2018). Aging with a progressive neurologic disease: Physical therapy management of the elderly patient with Parkinson’s Disease and Multiple Sclerosis. In C. Lewis, K. Chui, D. Gray, et al., Physical Therapy for the Older Adult: Examination and Intervention: An Evidence-Based Approach (1st ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer.
• Karpatkin, H., & Aisen, M. (2000). Neurorehabilitation. In Baker’s Clinical Neurology (CDr ed.). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
• Karpatkin, H., & Aisen, M. (2001). Benzodiazepines and spasticity. In D. A. Gelber & Geoffrey M. (Eds.), Clinical Evaluation of Spasticity. Humana Press. pp. 137-146.

Articles:

• Karpatkin, H., Siminovich-Blok, B., Rachwani, J., Langer, Z., & Winsor, S. (2022). Effect of acupuncture on sensorimotor function and mobility in patients with multiple sclerosis: A pilot study. Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine, 29(1), 42–49.
• Moving Forward Taskforce of the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy: Karpatkin, H., Hayes, H., Snowdon, L., Padgett, P. K., Doyle, L., Lotter, J., Knight, R., Zeleznik, H., & Hornby, T. G. (2022). Letter to the editor on “The effectiveness of the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation method on gait parameters in patients with stroke: A systematic review”. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 103(11), 2266–2267.
• Karpatkin, H., Rachwani, J., Rhodes, R., Rodriguez, L., Rodriguez, R., Rubeo, A., & Cohen, E. (2022). The effect of intermittent vs. continuous walking on distance to fatigue in persons with multiple sclerosis. Disability and Rehabilitation, 44(26), 8429–8435.
• Karpatkin, H., & Finkelstein, J. (2021). Physical telerehabilitation improves quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis. In Nurses and Midwives in the Digital Age (pp. 384-388). IOS Press.
• Finkelstein, J., Jeong, I. C., Doerstling, M., Shen, Y., Wei, C., & Karpatkin, H. (2020). Usability of remote assessment of exercise capacity for pulmonary telerehabilitation program. Studies in Health Technology and Informatics, 275, 72-76.
• Karpatkin, H. I., Benson, A., Gardner, N., Leb, N., Ramos, N., Xu, H., & Cohen, E. T. (2020). Pilot trial of speed-intensive gait training on balance and walking in people with multiple sclerosis. International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation, 27(11), 1-10.
• Cohen, E. T., Karpatkin, H. I., DiCarrado, S., & Zervas, M. (2020). A clinical reasoning framework for fatigue for neurologic physical therapy. Physical Therapy Reviews, 25(4), 271-282.
• Cohen, E. T., Cleffi, N., Ingersoll, M., & Karpatkin, H. I. (2021). Blood-flow restriction training for a person with primary progressive multiple sclerosis: A case report. Physical Therapy, 101(3), pzaa224.
• Jeong, I. C., Karpatkin, H., & Finkelstein, J. (2021). Physical telerehabilitation improves quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis. Studies in Health Technology and Informatics, 284, 384–388.
• Jeong, I. C., Karpatkin, H., Stein, J., & Finkelstein, J. (2020). Relationship between exercise duration in multimodal telerehabilitation and quality of sleep in patients with multiple sclerosis. Studies in Health Technology and Informatics s, 270, 658–662.
• Jeong, I. C., Karpatkin, H., & Finkelstein, J. (2021). Physical telerehabilitation improves quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis. Studies in Health Technology and Informatics, 284, 384–388.
• Karpatkin, H., Babyar, S., Gayeski, E., Meredith, L., Polster, E., Sheer, P., & Schroeder, D. (2020). The effect of fatigue on balance performance in Parkinson’s disease. Clinical Parkinsonism & Related Disorders, 100047.
• Kalb, R., Brown, T. R., Coote, S., Costello, K., Dalgas, U., Garmon, E., Karpatkin, H., … & Motl, R. W. (2020). Exercise and lifestyle physical activity recommendations for people with multiple sclerosis throughout the disease course. Multiple Sclerosis Journal, 26(12), 1459-1469.
• Karpatkin H. (2020). Critically appraised paper: Task-oriented gait training that focuses on the safe and correct use of a walking aid may reduce falls in people with multiple sclerosis [commentary]. Journal of physiotherapy, 66(1), 56.
• Karpatkin, H., & Cohen, E. (2019). Foreword: Aging with a progressive neurologic condition—implications for rehabilitation. Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation, 35(3), 171.
• Karpatkin, H., & Cohen, E. (2019). Aging with a progressive neurologic disease: Rehabilitation management of the adult aging with Parkinson disease or multiple sclerosis. Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation, 35(3), 172-182.
• Karpatkin, H., Babyar, S., DiCarrado, S., McDarby, M., Narovlianski, M., Perez, B., & Rimawi, I. (2018). Increases in fatigue do not change spasticity scores in persons with multiple sclerosis. Neurodegenerative Disease Management, 8(3), 143–150.
• Karpatkin, H. I., Cohen, E. T., Klein, S., Park, D., Wright, C., & Zervas, M. (2016). The effect of maximal strength training on strength, walking, and balance in people with multiple sclerosis: A pilot study. Multiple Sclerosis International, 2016, 5235971.
• Karpatkin, H. I., Cohen, E. T., DiCarrado, S., et al. (2016). The effect of intermittent vs. continuous training on walking endurance and fatigue in people with multiple sclerosis: A randomized crossover trial. Critical Reviews™ in Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, 28(1-2).
• Karpatkin, H., Cohen, E., et al. (2015). Effects of intermittent versus continuous walking on distance walked and fatigue in persons with multiple sclerosis: A randomized crossover trial. Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy, 39(3), 172-178.
• Karpatkin, H. I., Napolione, D., & Siminovich-Blok, B. (2014). Acupuncture and multiple sclerosis: a review of the evidence. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine : eCAM, 2014, 972935.
• Karpatkin, H., Cohen, E., et al. (2013). Performance on the Berg Balance Scale in fatigued versus nonfatigued states in people with multiple sclerosis. Critical Reviews™ in Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, 25(3-4), 223-230.
• Karpatkin, H., & Rzetelny, A. (2012). Effect of a single bout of intermittent versus continuous walking on perceptions of fatigue in people with multiple sclerosis. International Journal of MS Care, 14(3), 124-131.
• Salem, Y., Scott, A. H., Karpatkin, H., Concert, G., Haller, L., Kaminsky, E., & Spatz, E. (2011). Community-based group aquatic programme for individuals with multiple sclerosis: A pilot study. Disability and Rehabilitation, 33(9), 720-728.
• Hutchinson, B., Forwell, S. J., Bennett, S., Brown, T., Karpatkin, H., & Miller, D. (2009). Toward a consensus on rehabilitation outcomes in multiple sclerosis: Gait and fatigue: Report of a CMSC Consensus Conference November 28-29, 2007. International Journal of MS Care, 11(2), 67-78.
• Karpatkin, H. (2008). Respiratory changes in multiple sclerosis. Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy, 32(2), 105.
• Chen, C. C., Kasven, N., Karpatkin, H. I., & Sylvester, A. (2007). Hand strength and perceived manual ability among patients with multiple sclerosis. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 88(6), 794-797.
• Karpatkin, H. (2005). Multiple sclerosis and exercise: A review of the evidence. International Journal of MS Care, 7(2), 36-41.