About

Dr. Matt Terza is an Instructional Associate Professor in the Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology at the University of Florida. His doctoral research focused on locomotor variability, adaptations, learning, and transfer in healthy individuals and in individuals with Parkinson’s Disease. He has expertise in biomechanics applied to exercise and sport, passive marker-based motion capture instrumentation, motor control theory with a view to complex dynamical systems, and normal and abnormal gait mechanics. His teaching style emphasizes engaging students and building class community through embodiment and applied analysis of human movement. He has served as an advisor to several student organizations, including the Graduate Christian Fellowship.

Research topics

• Physical medicine and rehabilitation
• Psychology
• Medicine
• Physical therapy
• Neuroscience
• Computer Science
• Physics
• Simulation
• Engineering

Selected publications

• Regular Metronome, Fractal Metronome, and Music for Parkinson Gait

  JAMA Network Open · 2026-04-16

  articleOpen access

  Importance: Persons with Parkinson walk slowly, with short steps, reduced arm swing, and altered stride variability. Walking to a metronome or music may increase velocity, stride length, and cadence, yet few studies have directly compared the efficacy of these techniques. Objective: To determine the optimal auditory cue to improve Parkinson gait. Design, Setting, and Participants: This case-control study was conducted among persons with Parkinson disease (using medication) and healthy older adult controls at University of Florida Applied Neuromechanics laboratory in 2017. Changes in gait in participants with Parkinson disease and controls were compared with walking with no cue: walking to a regular metronome, walking to a fractal metronome, and walking to music. Condition order was randomized. Cueing frequency was set to natural cadence. Post hoc analyses restricted to participants with Parkinson disease were performed in 2026. Exposures: Auditory cueing with a regular metronome, fractal metronome, or music while walking. Main Outcomes and Measures: Outcomes of interest were stride time detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA), velocity, stride length, and arm swing velocity. Spatiotemporal gait measures and DFA of stride time were compared using repeated measures multivariate analysis of variance. Results: Analyses included 15 participants with Parkinson disease (mean [SD] age, 69 [6] years; 11 [73%] male; mean [SD] Hoehn and Yahr Parkinson disease stage. 2.3 [0.6]; mean [SD] age of onset, 63 [7] years) and 15 controls (mean [SD] age, 69 [5] years; 11 [73%] male). Stride time DFA was increased during the fractal metronome condition (α = 0.200; SE, 0.024; P < .001) vs no cue, the regular metronome (α = 0.320; SE, 0.032; P < .001), and music (α = 0.219; SE, 0.030; P < .001); worsened with the regular metronome vs no cue (α = -0.120; SE, 0.037; P = .003); and was not statistically different during music vs no cue (α = -0.019; SE, 0.031; P = .54). Music was associated with increased velocity (mean [SE] change, 0.041 [0.015] m/s; P = .01), stride length (mean [SE] change, 0.047 [0.013] m; P = .001), and arm swing velocity (mean [SE] change, 27.10 [7.33] °/s; P = .001) compared with no cue; velocity (mean [SE] change, 0.030 [0.011] m/s; P = .03), stride length (mean [SE] change, 0.034 [0.009] m; P = .002), and arm swing velocity (mean [SE] change, 34.7 [8.5] °g/s; P = .001) compared with the regular metronome; and increased stride length (mean [SE] change, 0.028 [0.009] m; P = .01) and arm swing velocity (mean [SE] change, 37.52 [7.89] °/s; P < .001) compared with the fractal metronome. Analyses restricted to participants with Parkinson disease found similar trends, with reduced levels of significance due to the smaller sample. Conclusions and Relevance: In this case-control study, walking to the fractal metronome was associated with improved stride time fluctuations compared with the regular metronome or music. Walking to music was associated with improved velocity, stride length, and arm swing velocity compared with either metronome condition.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Locomotor Adaptation Training to Prevent Mobility Disability: Dataset

  Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · 2022-05-26

  datasetOpen access

  Data for 3 groups of older adults at risk of mobility disability (1: control, 2: traditional treadmill intervention, 3: split-belt treadmill intervention) were collected at 2 timepoints 1) prior (PRE) and 2) following (POST) a 16-week intervention study. 5 dimensions of mobility disability were assessed: 1. Cognitive Function To include - Mini Mental-State Exam score (MMSE), Trail making test part A (TrailsA), Trail making test part B (TrailsB), and the difference between trail making test A &amp; B (TMT) 2. Clinical Function To include - Short Physical Performance Battery score (SPPB), Dynamic Gait Index (DGI), Timed Up-and-Go performance (TUG) 3. Spatiotemporal Gait Parameters To include - self-selected walking speed, cadence, stride length, stride time, step width, stance time (as % gait cycle), and standard deviations of each of these variables. 4. Kinetic Gait Parameters To include - Peak plantarflexion moment, peak eccentric plantarflexor power, and peak concentric hip flexor power. 5. Cardiovascular Fitness To include - maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), heart rate (HR), ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), and gait efficiency Data set displayed in first sheet ("Data"), description of codes provided in the second sheet ("Codes").

  PublisherDOI

• Changes to margins of stability from walking to obstacle crossing in older adults while walking fast and with a dual-task

  Experimental Gerontology · 2022 · 26 citations

  • Computer Science
  • Physical medicine and rehabilitation
  • Psychology
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Locomotor Adaptation Training to Prevent Mobility Disability

  Biomechanics · 2022-08-04 · 2 citations

  articleOpen access

  Mobility disability is prevalent in aging populations. While existing walking interventions improve aspects related to mobility, meaningful and sustained changes leading to preventing and reversing mobility disability have remained elusive. Split-belt treadmills can be used to train gait adaptability and may be a potential long-term rehabilitation tool for those at risk for mobility decline. As adaptability is necessary for community walking, we investigated the feasibility of a small, randomized controlled 16-week gait adaptability training program in a cohort of 38 sedentary older adults at risk for mobility disability. Individuals were randomly assigned to one of three groups: traditional treadmill training, split-belt treadmill training, or no-contact control. Both treadmill interventions included progressive training 3 days a week, focusing on increasing duration and speed of walking. Cognitive, functional, cardiovascular, and gait assessments were completed before and after the intervention. While individuals were able to complete split-belt treadmill training, only Timed Up and Go performance was significantly improved compared to traditional treadmill training. As the stimulus provided by the split-belt training was difficult to control, we did not observe a clear benefit for split-belt treadmill training over traditional treadmill training. Our findings indicate a cautionary tale about the implementation of complex training interventions.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Locomotor Adaptation Training to Prevent Mobility Disability: Dataset

  Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · 2022-05-26

  datasetOpen access

  Data for 3 groups of older adults at risk of mobility disability (1: control, 2: traditional treadmill intervention, 3: split-belt treadmill intervention) were collected at 2 timepoints 1) prior (PRE) and 2) following (POST) a 16-week intervention study. 5 dimensions of mobility disability were assessed: 1. Cognitive Function To include - Mini Mental-State Exam score (MMSE), Trail making test part A (TrailsA), Trail making test part B (TrailsB), and the difference between trail making test A &amp; B (TMT) 2. Clinical Function To include - Short Physical Performance Battery score (SPPB), Dynamic Gait Index (DGI), Timed Up-and-Go performance (TUG) 3. Spatiotemporal Gait Parameters To include - self-selected walking speed, cadence, stride length, stride time, step width, stance time (as % gait cycle), and standard deviations of each of these variables. 4. Kinetic Gait Parameters To include - Peak plantarflexion moment, peak eccentric plantarflexor power, and peak concentric hip flexor power. 5. Cardiovascular Fitness To include - maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), heart rate (HR), ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), and gait efficiency Data set displayed in first sheet ("Data"), description of codes provided in the second sheet ("Codes").

  PublisherDOI

• Persons with Parkinson's disease show impaired interlimb coordination during backward walking

  Parkinsonism & Related Disorders · 2021 · 11 citations

  • Physical medicine and rehabilitation
  • Psychology
  • Physical therapy
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Upper and Lower Limb Movement Kinematics in Aging FMR1 Gene Premutation Carriers

  Brain Sciences · 2020-12-24 · 4 citations

  articleOpen access

  Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) is a neurodegenerative disorder associated with a premutation cytosine-guanine-guanine (CGG) trinucleotide repeat expansion of the FMR1 gene. FXTAS is estimated to be the most common single-gene form of ataxia in the aging population. Gait ataxia and intention tremor are the primary behavioral symptoms of FXTAS, though clinical evaluation of these symptoms often is subjective, contributing to difficulties in reliably differentiating individuals with FXTAS and asymptomatic premutation carriers. This study aimed to clarify the extent to which quantitative measures of gait and upper limb kinematics may serve as biobehavioral markers of FXTAS degeneration. Nineteen premutation carriers (aged 46–77 years), including 9 with possible, probable, or definite FXTAS and 16 sex- and IQ-matched healthy controls, completed tests of non-constrained walking and reaching while both standing (static reaching) and walking (dynamic reaching) to quantify gait and upper limb control, respectively. For the non-constrained walking task, participants wore reflective markers and walked at their preferred speed on a walkway. During the static reaching task, participants reached and lifted boxes of different sizes while standing. During the dynamic reaching task, participants walked to reach and lift the boxes. Movement kinematics were examined in relation to clinical ratings of neuromotor impairments and CGG repeat length. During non-constrained walking, individuals with FXTAS showed decreased stride lengths and stride velocities, increased percentages of double support time, and increased variabilities of cadence and center of mass relative to both asymptomatic premutation carriers and controls. While individuals with FXTAS did not show any static reaching differences relative to the other two groups, they showed multiple differences during dynamic reaching trials, including reduced maximum reaching velocity, prolonged acceleration time, and jerkier movement of the shoulder, elbow, and hand. Gait differences during non-constrained walking were associated with more severe clinically rated posture and gait symptoms. Reduced maximum reaching velocity and increased jerkiness during dynamic reaching were each related to more severe clinically rated kinetic dysfunction and overall neuromotor symptoms in FMR1 premutation carriers. Our findings suggest kinematic alterations consistent with gait ataxia and upper limb bradykinesia are each selectively present in individuals with FXTAS, but not asymptomatic aging premutation carriers. Consistent with neuropathological and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies of FXTAS, these findings implicate cerebellar and basal ganglia degeneration associated with neuromotor decline. Our results showing associations between quantitative kinematic differences in FXTAS and clinical ratings suggest that objective assessments of gait and reaching behaviors may serve as critical and reliable targets for detecting FXTAS risk and monitoring progression.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Upper and Lower Limb Movement Kinematics in Aging

  Brain Sciences · 2020-01-01

  articleOpen access
  Publisher

• Higher relative effort of the knee relates to faster adaptation in older adults at risk for mobility disability

  Experimental Gerontology · 2020 · 6 citations

  • Physical medicine and rehabilitation
  • Psychology
  • Physical therapy
  PublisherDOI

• Spatiotemporal gait parameters and tremor distribution in essential tremor

  Gait & Posture · 2019-04-14 · 9 citations

  article
  PublisherDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Jaimie A. Roper

  Auburn University

  19 shared

• Chris J. Hass

  University of Florida

  18 shared

• Tiphanie E. Raffegeau

  George Mason University

  15 shared

• Amanda E. Stone

  University of Washington

  9 shared

• Sidney T. Baudendistel

  Washington University in St. Louis

  8 shared

• Ryan T. Roemmich

  Kennedy Krieger Institute

  6 shared

• Grace K. Kellaher

  University of Delaware

  5 shared

• Zheng Wang

  University of Florida

  4 shared