Ya Ching Hung

Professor and Deputy Chair,

Department of Family, Nutrition and Exercise Sciences

Education Background

Ed.D., Motor Learning and Control, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY

Ed.M., Motor Learning and Control, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY

M.A., Motor Learning and Control, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY

B.S., Physical Therapy, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan​

Research Interests

The focus of Dr. Hung’s research is to evaluate bimanual coordination and whole body posture and gait movement control and learning of children with and without movement impairments using three-dimensional kinematic analysis.

Movement control impairments and changes after training for children with unilateral spastic Cerebral Palsy

Children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy (USCP) have motor impairments located mainly on one side of their body. They have shown impaired motor control and slowness of their more affected upper and lower extremities. They are also found to have impaired bimanual coordination, posture control and gait performance.  Better understanding of their movement control impairments can help refine and increase the effectiveness their training. Recently, two types of intensive upper extremity training: constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) and bimanual training (e.g., hand-arm bimanual intensive therapy, HABIT) have shown strong levels of efficacy.  Both approaches include high intensity and follow motor learning principles. Besides high intensity, the specific benefits of each training, the factors influence training effects, and the underline mechanisms of improvements are not clear. More studies are required to help identify appropriate training for each child with USCP.

Movement control impairments for children who are overweight or obese

Child Obesity is a global growing health issue. 16% of children in the United States are considered obese. Several factors are suggested to be related to the childhood obesity, such as, genetics, nutrition, sleep pattern and lack of physical activities. Childhood obesity are correlated with adult obesity, cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes, fatty liver disease, psychosocial complications, and orthopedic complications. To decrease obesity prevalence, children are encouraged to participate in physical activities daily. Nevertheless, the childhood obesity prevalence is still growing. Besides those health conditions, children who are overweight or obese are found to have gross motor and fine motor movement control difficulties. These motor control and motor planning issues of overweight or obese children could impair their physical activity level, duration and learning capabilities. Better understanding of their movement control and learning impairments can help develop effective training targeting their needs to be successful in participating physical activities.​

Refereed Publications

Hung YC, Maxime R, Friel KM, Gordon, AM (2019). Relationship between integrity of the corpus callosum and bimanual coordination in children with Unilateral Spastic Cerebral Palsy. Frontiers Human Neuroscience 1-8. doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2019.00334.

Hung YC, Zeng W (2019). Influence of accuracy constraints for children with unilateral cerebral palsy during bimanual tasks. Developmental Neurorehabilitation 1-9. doi: 10.1080/17518423.2019.1616845. [Epub ahead of print].

Hung YC (2019). Influence of accuracy constraints on bimanual coordination and gait performance in children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy. Gait and Posture 68:106-110.

Hung YC, Spingarn A (2018). Whole body organization during a symmetric bimanual pick up task for children with unilateral cerebral palsy. Gait and Postural 64:38-42.

Hung YC, Gordon AM (2018). Virtual reality training for children with unilateral cerebral palsy. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology 60: 334-335.

Hung YC, Ferre CL, Gordon AM (2018). Improvements in kinematic performance after home-based bimanual intensive training for children with unilateral cerebral palsy. Physical Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics 38: 370-381.

Hung YC, Friel KM, Gordon AM (2017). Response: Commentary: Skilled bimanual training drives motor cortex plasticity in children with unilateral cerebral palsy. Frontiers Human Neuroscience 11: 619.

Gill SV, Yang Z, Hung YC (2017). Effects of singular and dual task constraints on motor skill variability in childhood. Gait Posture 53: 121-126.

Hung YC, Brandao JM, Gordon AM (2017). Structured skill practice during intensive bimanual training leads to better trunk and arm control than unstructured practice in children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy. Research in Developmental Disabilities 60:65-76.

Hung YC, Mangiafreno M, Gill SV (2016). Whole body organization during a symmetric bimanual pick up task in overweight and obese children. Gait Posture 52:95-99.

Gill SV, Keiming S, Kelty-stephen D, Hung YC, DeSliva JM (2016).The relationship between foot arch measurements and walking parameters in children. BMC Pediatr 16(1): 15-23.

Ferre CL, Brandao JM, Hung YC, Carmel J, Gordon AM (2015). Feasibility of caregiver-directed home-based hand-arm bimanual intensive training. A brief report. Developmental Neurorehabilitation 18(1): 69-74.

Brandao JM, Ferre CL, Kuo HC, Friel K, Hung YC, Gordon, AM (2014) Bimanual training and constraint-induced movement therapy in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy: a randomized trial. Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair 28(5): 452-461.

Hung YC, Meredith GS (2014). Influence of dual task constraints on gait performance and bimanual coordination during walking in children with unilateral cerebral palsy. Research in Developmental Disabilities 35(4): 755-60.

Gill SV, Hung YC (2014). Effects of overweight and obese body mass on motor planning and motor skills during obstacle crossing in children. Research in Developmental Disabilities 35(1): 46-53.

Hung YC, Gordon AM (2013). Motor learning of a bimanual task in children with unilateral cerebral palsy. Research in Developmental Disabilities 34(6): 1891-6.

Hung YC, Gill SV, Meredith GS (2013). Influence of dual task constraints on whole body organization during walking in children who are overweight and obese. American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation 92(6): 461-7.

Gill SV, Hung YC (2012). Influence of Weight Classification on Children Stepping Over Obstacles. American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation 91(7): 625-30.

Hung YC, Enderson E, Akbasheva F, Valte L, Ke WS, Gordon AM (2011). Joint Coordination during a Reach-grasp-eat Task in Children with hemiplegia. Research in Developmental Disabilities 33(5): 1649-57.

Hung YC, Casertano L, Hillman A, Gordon, AM (2011). The Effect of Training Specificity on Bimanual Coordination in Children with Hemiplegia. Research in Developmental Disabilities 32(6): 2724-31.

Gordon AM, Hung YC, Brandao JM, Ferre CL, Kuo HC, Friel K, Petra E, Chinnan A, Charles, JR (2011). Bimanual training and constraint-induced movement therapy in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy: a randomized trial. Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair 25(8): 692-702.

Gordon AM, Chinnan A, Gill S, Petra E, Hung YC, Charles J (2008). Both constraint-induced movement therapy and bimanual training lead to improved performance of upper extremity function in children with hemiplegia. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology 50: 956-60.

Hung YC, Kaminski T, Fineman J,  Monroe J, Gentile AM (2008). Learning a Multi-joint Throwing Task: a Morphometric Analysis of Skill development. Experimental Bain Research 191: 197-208.

Eliasson AC, Forssberg H, Hung YC, Gordon AM (2006) Development of Hand Function and Precision Grip Control in Individuals with Cerebral Palsy: A 13-Year Follow Up Study. Pediatrics 118: e1226-1236.

Hung YC, Charles J, Gordon AM (2004) Bimanual Coordination during a Goal-Directed Task in Children with Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology 46: 746-753.​​

Presentations

Oral Presentations

Hung YC. (October 3, 2019). Change​​s in bimanual coordination and gait performance after intensive upper extremity training for children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy, Kinesiology program, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY.

Hung YC. (July 20, 2018). Changes in Kinematic Performance after intensive upper extremity training for children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy. Physical Therapy Program, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.

Hung YC, # Mangiafreno M. (2017). Whole body organization during a symmetric bimanual pick up task in overweight and obese children, in Biology symposium, Queens College, CUNY, NY.

#Hung YC, Endersen ER, Akbasheva F, Valte L, Ke W, Gordon AM. (2010). Both intensive bimanual and unimanual training improve unimanual reach-grasp-eat movement control in children with hemiplegia. American Association of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine Annual Meeting, Washington DC.

#Hung YC, Hillman A, Casertano L, Gordon AM. (2009). Intensive bimanual training in children with hemiplegia improves bimanual coordination more than intensive unimanaul training. American Association of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine Annual Meeting, Arizona.

#Hung YC, Ch​innan A, Gordon AM. (2008). Intensive unimanual and bimanual training in children with hemiplegia yield more frequent use of the involved hand during bimanual tasks measured by accelerometry. American Association of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine Annual Meeting, Georgia.​

Poster Presentations

#Hung YC, Zeng WH. (2019). Influence of accuracy constraints on symmetric bimanual coordination for children with and without unilateral cerebral palsy.  American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections, Washington DC.

#Hung YC, Spingarn A, Gordon AM. (2019). Intensive unimanual training leads to better reaching and head control than bimanual training in children with unilateral cerebral palsy. American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections, Washington DC.

# Hung YC, Gordon AM. (2016). Changes in Kinematic Performance between Structured and Unstructured Practice during Intensive Bimanual Training for Children with Unilateral Cerebral Palsy, American Association of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine Annual Meeting, Austin, Texas.

# Hung YC, Gordon AM. (2013). Motor learning of a bimanual task in children with unilateral cerebral palsy. American Association of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine Annual Meeting, Milwaukee.

#Nedeljkovic A, Hung YC, Gordon AM. (2009). Bimanual reach-to-tap and reach –to-grasp in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy. Progress in Motor Control, Marseille, France.

# Hung YC, Gordon AM. (2008). Quantification of movement patterns and stereotypy during bimanual control in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy. American Association of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine Annual Meeting, Georgia.

# Hung YC, Gordon AM. (2004). Bimanual coordination during a goal-directed task in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy. American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections, Tennessee.​

Grants

Hung YC. (2019). Clinical characteristics and bimanual coordination for children with unilateral cerebral palsy. PSC-CUNY Research Awards (awarded for $3,500).

Hung YC. (2018). Improvements of both unimanual and bimanual reaching and grasping movement control after unimanual and bimanual intensive training for children with USCP using kinematic analyses. Research Enhancement Fund (awarded for $9500). 

Hung YC. (2017). Whole body organization during a bimanual pick up and walk task in overweight and obese children. PSC-CUNY Research Awards (awarded for $3,500).

Hung YC. (2016). Effect of training specificity on unimanual eating movement control in children with Unilateral Cerebral Palsy. PSC-CUNY Research Awards (awarded for $3,500).

Hung YC. (2015). The influence of task constraints on whole body movement control for children with Unilateral CP. PSC-CUNY Research Awards (awarded for $2,890).

Hung YC. (2014). Effects of overweight and obese body mass on motor planning and motor skills in children. PSC-CUNY Research Awards (awarded for $2,500).

Hung YC. (2013). Intensive bimanual training for young children with hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy. PSC-CUNY Research Awards (awarded for $1000).

Hung YC. (2012). Bimanual coordination during standing in children with hemiplegia. Research Enhancement Fund Fall (awarded for $2400).

Hung YC. (2012). Intensive bimanual training for young children with hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy. DMNS Research Enhancement Fund (awarded for $13,500).

Hung YC. (2011) Bimanual coordination during standing in children with hemiplegia. PSC-CUNY Research Awards (awarded for $3300).

Hung YC. (2010). LabView software for laboratory and class use. Queens College Technology Fee (awarded for $5000).

Hung YC. (2009). Movement control for children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy. Research Enhancement Fund (awarded for $6000).

Hung YC. (2009). Changes in movement organization during learning a multi-joint kicking task. PSC-CUNY Research Awards (awarded for $2000).

Hung YC. (2008). Bimanual coordination for children with and without hemiplegic cerebral palsy. PSC-CUNY Research Awards out of cycle (awarded for $2250).

Courses Taught

FNES 730 Analysis of Human Movement (graduate class)

FNES 740 Motor Learning (graduate class)

FNES 235 Analysis of Human Movement (undergraduate class)

FNES 340 Kinesiology (Undergraduate class)

FNES 341 Biomechanics (Undergraduate class)

FNES 343 Motor Learning (Undergraduate class)

FNES 797-1 Research in Nutrition and Exercise Science (graduate class)

HMNS 102-02 Intro Science Honors research (Undergraduate class)

HMNS 3913-01 Advanced Science Honors Research (Undergraduate class)​