Leonard N. Matheson, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Director Work Performance Clinical Laboratory, Program in Occupational Therapy at Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

Dr. Matheson has developed tests in use throughout the world.		Dr. Leonard Matheson is an internationally recognized pioneer in the field of Occupational Rehabilitation, with more than 30 years of experience as a clinician and researcher. He is an "idea developer" and service delivery model builder. He designed and implemented the first work hardening and work capacity evaluation programs in the 1970’s and has trained more than 10,000 health care professionals in his techniques. He is a consultant to Fortune 500 employers, as well as to rehabilitation centers and governmental agencies in various countries.

He has testified concerning rehabilitation and disability determination before the United States House of Representatives in Washington, DC. He has designed many tests and treatment protocols that are in use today throughout the world. He is a scientist, having published more than two dozen refereed scientific journal articles, and numerous professional papers and textbook chapters. He is an Assistant Professor at the Washington University School of Medicine Occupational Therapy Program where he directs the Work Performance Clinical Laboratory. At Washington University, he works as a senior scientist and team leader in the United States’ Social Security Administration's Disability Determination Re-Design project. He is a psychologist, certified rehabilitation counselor, and certified vocational evaluator.
RESEARCH SUMMARY

The ability to perform remunerative work is central to the successful adult experience. It is a key to every adult's sense of pride, participation in the community, and his or her roles as spouse, parent, and child. We all have difficulty if we can't “earn a living”. Many people can't earn a living because their abilities are not adequate to the demands of the workplace, often due to illness or injury that has led to functional limitations that interfere with the person's ability to work. This is our research focus. The research questions that Dr. Matheson is addressing include:

How well do people match to their jobs? If there is a mis-match, how do some people become injured while other people avoid being injured? How can employers tell the difference?

After an injury or illness, why do some people become disabled, while other people return to work? How can employers tell the difference? How can employers control their injury costs? How can we help people to avoid disability-induced retirement?

How can we help people get matched to their jobs? How can people “grow into” their jobs? How can people avoid “outgrowing” their jobs?

How should we measure the fit between a person and work demands? What standards should we use to design such measures? What are the best measures? What measures need to be developed?

What is the best way to determine who should receive public and private disability benefits? If present models are inadequate what should replace them?

How can our governmental agencies and private insurance carriers best help people whose impairments are disabling? How can current service delivery models be improved?

Over the course of his career and extending out to his "occupational horizon", Dr. Matheson is seeking answers to these questions through collaborative relationships with scientists, governmental officials and business people throughout the world. While many of the questions have partially developed answers, most are still open and available as appropriate and meaningful challenges.


Link to Research Lab Description: Work Performance Laboratory
SOME RECENT PUBLICATIONS

Leggett S, Mooney V, Matheson LN, Nelson B, Dreisinger T, Van Zytveld J, Vie L. (1999). Restorative exercise for clinical low back pain. A prospective two-center study with 1-year follow-up. Spine, May 1;24(9):889-98.

Matheson, LN, Bohr, P., & Hart, D. (1998). Use of maximum voluntary effort grip strength testing to identify symptom magnification syndrome in persons with low back pain. Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, 10, 125-135.

Matheson, LN, Brophy, RG. Aggressive early intervention after occupational back injury: Some preliminary observations. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation. 1997;7(2):107-117.

Matheson, LN. Relationships among age, body weight, resting heart rate and performance in a new test of lift capacity. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation. 1996;6(4):225-237.

Matheson, LN, Mooney, V, Grant J, Leggett S, Kenny K. Standardized evaluation of work capacity. Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation. 1996;(6): 249-264.

Wolf L, Matheson, L. Relationship between grip strength, work capacity and recovery. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation. 1996;6(2):112-121.

Matheson, LN, Mooney, V, Holmes, D, Leggett, S, Grant, J, Negri, S, Holmes, B. A test to measure lift capacity of physically impaired adults: Part II - Reactivity in a patient sample. Spine, 1995;20(19): 2130-2134.

Matheson, LN, Mooney, V, Grant, J, Affleck, M, Hall, H, Melles, T, Lichter, R, McIntosh, G. A test to measure lift capacity of physically impaired adults: Part I - Development and reliability testing. Spine, 1995;20(19): 2119-2129.

Matheson, LN, Brophy RG, Vaughan KD, Nunez C, Saccoman KA. Workers’ compensation managed care: Preliminary findings. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 1995;5(1) 27-36.

CONTACT INFORMATION

E-mail: mathesonl@msnotes.wustl.edu
Phone: (314) 286-1605 office
Fax: (314) 286-1601
Mailing address:
Program in Occupational Therapy
4444 Forest Park Ave.
Campus Box 8505
St. Louis, MO 63108