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Dr.Alham Jehad Ali Al-Sharman Academic RankASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
Alham Jehad Ali Al-Sharman

Specialization:

  • Physical therapy/neurorehabilitation

Research Interests:

  • MY research interests are aimed at understanding how non-motor symptoms impacts physical and cognitive function, learning, and overall health in adults both with and without neurologic injury or disease (multiple sclerosis). The current research focuses on examining the use of interventions to improve motor learning in people with multiple sclerosis and understanding the factors that might influence motor learning. The specific objective is to develop approaches to maximizing opportunities for these patients to live independently. The current research also focuses on examining and characterizing main motor and non-motor impairments that need to be targeted when planning therapeutic interventions for individuals with multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease. Our studies highlighted main issues in terms of balance, mobility, sleep, and cognitive impairments that need to be considered when designing exercise interventions for these individuals. Alongside this work, we identified a battery of outcome measures that needs to be translated into Arabic that have the utility to be used in exercise intervention studies in Jordan and other Arabic Speaking countries

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BSc Physical Therapy Jordan University of Science & Technology (J.U.S.T) PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences/ Kansas University Medical Center (Neurological Rehabilitation)
September 2019-2022: Associate professor, University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Irbid-Jordan September 2013-2019 present: Assistant professor, University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Irbid-Jordan Oct 2007- February 2013: Full time PhD student, Kansas University Medical Center, School of Health profession, Kansas (scholarships from Jordan University of Science and Technology) Oct 2008- February 2013: Full time Research Assistant, Kansas University Medical Center, School of Health profession, Kansas 2005-2007: Full Time Teaching Assistant, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Irbid-Jordan 2001 – 2005: Full time BSc student, Jordan University of Science & Technology (J.U.S.T)
September 2016- August 2017: a member of the scientific research committee, department of rehabilitation sciences, faculty of applied medical sciences, Jordan university of science and technology. September 2016-September 2017: representative of department of rehabilitation sciences in the council committee of faculty of applied medical sciences, Jordan university of science and technology. September 2013-September 2015: a member of the community service committee at the faculty of applied medical sciences. Jordan university of science and technology June 2016 till June 2017: member of the Jordanian Physiotherapy Society. March 2017-March 2018: Scientific committee at the Jordanian Physiotherapy Society
Member of Jordanian Physical Therapy Association The International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society .
Selected Research Projects Examining the relationship between motor learning and sleep quality, cognition, and depression in individuals with multiple sclerosis. (4520 JD) (PI- funded by JUST) (Completed) The effect of aerobic exercise on serum and saliva melatonin and cortisol, sleep disturbances, fatigue, depressive symptoms, and ambulatory function in individuals with multiple sclerosis (15.000); funded by Jordan University of Science and Technology; (PI- funded by JUST) (Completed) Understanding the Perception of Physical Therapists and Occupational Therapists in Jordan about the Importance of Sleep in the Rehabilitation and Motor Learning: A Survey Study. (2420 JD) (PI- funded by JUST) (Completed) The relationship between antioxidant gene (NRF2), sleep disturbances and physical activity in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) (5920 JD) (PI- funded by JUST) (Completed) Understanding Motor Learning in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis. (9955) (PI- funded by JUST) (Completed) Association between magnesium levels and mental and body well-being in neurodegenerative disease. (8850 JD) (CoPI- funded by JUST) (Completed) Physical Activity in Multiple Sclerosis: Which Clinical Characteristics Are Important? (6000 JD) (CoPI-Funded by JUST) (Completed). The relationship between pain, physical activity and blood biomarkers in people with Parkinson's disease. (6000 JD) (CoPI-Funded by JUST) (Completed). Virtual Reality Based Motor Control Learning for People with Multiple Sclerosis: A Pilot Study (25.000JD); Co-PI-funded by EU commission (Support to Research and Technological Development & Innovation initiatives and Strategies in Jordan scheme); (Completed).
Selected Publications Khalil H, Aldaajani Z. Aldughmi M, Alham Al-Sharman et al. Validation of the Arabic version of the Movement Disorder Society- Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale. Movement disorders. Movement disorders. 2022. DOI: 10.1002/mds.28905. Alham Al-Sharman Aldughmi M , Hanan Khalil, Siengsukon CF, Khalid El-Salem. Knowledge and Attitudes of Physiotherapists Toward Sleep: A Survey Study (2021). Work. IN press Alham Al-Sharman Heba Mefleh Al-khazaaleh, Hanan Khalil, Ala' S Aburub, Khalid El-Salem. The Relationship between Sleep Quality, Sleep-Related Biomarkers and Motor Skill Acquisition in People with Multiple Sclerosis; a Pilot Study. (2021) Physical therapy. Modhi Z, bataineh R, Al-Sharman A. Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders among Jordanian Physiotherapists: Prevalence and Risk Factors. (2021) Work. IN press Mohammad A. Yabroudi; Zakariya H. Nawasreh; Wessam A. Dabas; Al-Sharman A; Ahmad A. Darwish;Hadi A. Samaneh; Khaldoon M. Bashaireh. The influence of Sleeping Quality and Quantity on Soccer Injuries in Professional Teams. (2021). In press Al-Sharman A, Abulhaj I, Khalil H, El-Salem K, Exploring the Relationship between Sleep Quality, Sleep-Related Biomarkers, and Motor Skill Acquisition using Virtual Reality in People with Parkinson Disease; a Pilot Study. Frontier in neurology. 2021. Khalil H, Rehan R, Al-Sharman A, El-Salem K. The clinical correlates of the chair sit to stand performance in people with multiple sclerosis. Physiotherapy theory and practice. 2021. DoI: 10.1080/09593985.2021.1931590 Khalil H. Allataifeh E. Kanaan S. AlSharman A. AlMahdawi K. El-Salem K. Translation, cross cultural adaptation, and construct validation of the Arabic version of the Frenchay Activities Index in people with multiple sclerosis. Physiotherapy research international. 2021. DoI: 10.1002/pri.1909 Hanan Khalil, Aseel Aburub, Saddam Kanaan, Alham Al-Sharman Shada Khazaaleh, Majdi Qawasmi and Khalid El-Salem. Convergent and criterion-related validity of the short form of the International Physical Activity and the Incidental and Planned Physical Activity Questionnaires in people with multiple sclerosis. NeuroRehabilitation. 2021. IN press Khalil H, Alissa N, Al-Sharman A, E'leimat I, Qawasmi M, El-Salem K. Understanding the influence of pain & fatigue on physical performance, fear of falling, & falls in people with Parkinson’s disease. Neurodegenerative Disease management. 2021. 11(2):113-124. El-Salem K, Khalil H, Al-Sharman A, Al-Mistarehi A, Yassinan A, Alhayk K. Al Qawasmeha M, Bashayreha S, Kofahia R, Obeidat A. Serum vitamin d inversely correlates with depression scores in people with multiple sclerosis. Multiple sclerosis and related disorders. 2021. 48 (102732). Aburub A, Khalil H, Al-Sharman A, El-Salem K. Measuring quality of life and identifying what is important to Jordanian living with multiple sclerosis using the Arabic version of the patient generated index. Physiotherapy research international. 2021. doi: 10.1002/pri.1893. El-Salem K, Al-Mistarehi A, Khalil H, Al-Sharman A, Yassin A. Serum Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha Levels Correlate with Cognitive Function Scales Scores in Multiple Sclerosis Patients. Multiple sclerosis and related disorders. 2020. 47:102621 Al-Momani F, Alghadir AH, Al-Momani MO, Alharethy S, Al-Sharman A, Al-Dibii R, Anwer S. Performance of the Arabic Population on the Adolescent-Adult Sensory Profile: An Observational Study. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2020;16:35-42. https://doi.org/10.2147/NDT.S232059 Aldughmi M, Al-Sharman A, Khalil H, El-Salem E, Alghwiri A. Translation and validation of the Arabic version of the patient determined disease steps in people with multiple sclerosis. Physiotherapy theory and practice. 2020. 6: 1-8. Allataifeh E, Khalil H, Almhdawi K, Al-Sharman A, Hawamdeh, El-Salem K, Bumin. The Clinical Correlates of Participation Levels in People with Multiple Sclerosis. NeuroRehabilitation. 2020. 47(2):153-160 Alghwiri A, Jamali F, Aldughmi M, Khalil H, Al-Sharman A, Alhattab D, Al-Radaideh, Abdalla Awidi.(2020) The effect of stem cell therapy and comprehensive physical therapy in motor and non-motor symptoms in patients with multiple sclerosis: A comparative study. Medicine. 2020. 99(34): e21646 Al-Sharman, A; Khalil,H; El-Salem, K; Al-dughmi M; AseelAburub (2019). The effects of aerobic exercise on sleep quality measures and sleep-related biomarkers in individuals with Multiple Sclerosis: a pilot randomised controlled trial" Neuro rehabilitation. Al-Sharman, A; Khalil,H; El-Salem, K; Alghwiri, A. A; Shada Khazaaleh; Mohammad Khraim (2019). Motor Performance Improvement through Virtual Reality Tasks is Related to Fatigue and Cognition in People with Multiple Sclerosis. Physiotherapy research international. Alghwiri, A. A ; Khalil,H ; Al-Sharman, A., & El-Salem, K. (2018). Depression is a predictor for balance in people with multiple sclerosis. Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disordes. Alham Al‐Sharman, Hanan Khalil, Mohammad Nazzal, Nihaya Al‐Sheyab, Alia Alghwiri, Khalid El‐Salem. (2018). Living with multiple sclerosis: A Jordanian perspective. Physiotherapy research international. Hanan Khalil, Alham Al‐Sharman, Khalid El‐Salem; Alia, Alghwiri.(2018).The Development and Pilot Evaluation of Virtual Reality Balance Scenarios in People with Multiple Sclerosis (MS); a Feasibility Study” . Neuro rehabilitation Hadoush, H., Banihani, S. A., Khalil, H., Al-Qaisi, Y., Al-Sharman, A., & Al-Jarrah, M. (2018). Dopamine, BDNF and motor function postbilateral anodal transcranial direct current stimulation in Parkinson's disease. Neurodegenerative Disease Management Hikmat Hadoush, Alham Al-Sharman Hanan Khalil, Saleem A. Banihani, Muhammed Al-Jarrah. (2018) Sleep Quality, Depression, and Quality of Life After Bilateral Anodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease. Medical Science Monitor Basic Research Hikmat Hadoush, Muhammed Al-Jarrah, Hanan Khalil, Alham Al-Sharman Sadik AL-Ghazawi. (2017) Bilateral anodal transcranial direct current stimulation effect on balance and fearing of fall in patient with Parkinson's disease. Neuro rehabilitation. Hanan Khalil ; Alham Al-sharman; Khalid El-Salem: NourAbdo: Alia A. Alghwiri: AseelAburub.(2017) Fear of falling in people with multiple sclerosis: which clinical characteristics are important? Physical Therapy. 97(7):698-706. Aseel Aburub, Hanan Khalil, Alham Al-Sharman Mahmoud Alomari , Omar Khabour. (2017) The association between physical activity and sleep characteristics in people with multiple sclerosis. Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders. 12 29–33 Siengsukon, CF, Al-dughmi M, Al-Sharman A, Stevens S. (2015) Sleep parameters, functional status and time post-stroke are associated with off-line motor skill learning in people with chronic stroke. Frontiers in Neurology. 30(6):225. Al-dughmi M, Stevens S, Siengsukon, CF, Al-Sharman A. (2015) Sleep characteristics of individuals with chronic stroke: A pilot study. Nature and Science of Sleep. 21(7):139-45. Al-Sharman A and Siengsukon CF. (2014) Sleep-Dependent Learning of a Functional Motor Task Declines with Age. Journal of the American Geriatric Society. 62(9):1797-8 Al-Sharman A and Siengsukon CF. (2014) Performance on a Functional Motor Task is Enhanced by Sleep in Middle-Aged and Older Adults. Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy. 38(3):161-9
Theses and Projects Supervision Parental awareness regarding the shaken baby syndrome in Jordan [Co- supervisor [student name; Roqyah bwaneh]-[Ongoing] Sleep Quality among Refugees in Jordan: Which Factors Are Important? [Co- supervisor [student name; Roaa alkateeb]-[Ongoing] Physical activity among Refugees in Jordan: Which Factors Are Important? [Co- supervisor [student name; Sondos hyari]-[Ongoing] Cross Cultural Adaptation and Psychometric Evaluation of the Physical Activity and Disability Survey - Revised in People with Multiple Sclerosis [Main supervisor [student name; Raffat Masri]-[Completed] Investigating the Factors that Affect Quality-of-Life in Jordanian Women with Breast Cancer. [Main supervisor [student name; Areen Al-Sarhan]-[Completed] Physical activity in people with multiple sclerosis: barriers and facilitators [Main supervisor (student name; Farah Salameh)]-[Completed] Virtual and augmented reality in people with multiple sclerosis: a systematic review [Main supervisor (student name; Bayan Jaradat)]-[ Completed] Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders among Physiotherapists in Jordan: Prevalence, risk factors, and impacts. [student name; Ruba Batainih]-[ Completed] Gait and balance difficulties under cognitive-dual task conditions in people with multiple sclerosis: which clinical and personal characteristics are important? [Main supervisor (student name; Wala Azayzeh)]-[ Completed] Examining the relationship between motor learning, cognition, and sleep quality and related biomarkers in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD). [Main supervisor (student name; Ismail Ismail)]-[ Completed] Examining the relationship between motor learning and sleep quality, cognition, and depression in individuals with multiple sclerosis. [Main supervisor (student name; Heba Khazaleh)]-[ Completed] Physical Activity in Multiple Sclerosis: Which Clinical Characteristics Are Important? [Co-supervisor (student name; Shada Khazaleh)]-[Completed] The association between sleep deficits sleep biomarkers and physical activity in people with multiple sclerosis. [Co-supervisor (student name; Aseel Aburub)]-[completed] The relationship between antioxidant gene (NRF2), sleep disturbances and physical activity in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). [Main supervisor (student name; Ahmad Namarneh)]-[ completed]
Co-Developed a virtual reality system that can be used for both motor control training and biomechanical assessment for people with movement disorders. This work was accomplished as a result of a project that was funded by the European Union (25,000 EU) (Support to Research and Technological Development & Innovation initiatives and Strategies in Jordan scheme). A business plan is under writing which will be submitted to JUST incubator to work on commercialization the system
2016: Best poster prize at the 2nd MENA- Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (MENACRTIMS) congress, Amman, Jordan. 2013: Best presentation prize at the Students Research Forum. Kansas University Center 2007-2012: Scholarships from Jordan University of Science and Technology for PhD studies at Kansas University Medical Center 2001-2005: Honors in 3 semesters in Bsc study
Participated in free medical day that included providing voluntary physiotherapy services in Kuferyopa- village in Irbid in April 2019. Participated in free medical day that was specifically devoted to raise awareness in Jordan about role of physical therapy in improving health. Participation included providing voluntary screening for neurological patients, providing two physiotherapy awareness lectures to people with multiple sclerosis and people with Parkinson’s disease. The event was held in Amman in April 2017. Participated in free medical day that included providing voluntary physiotherapy services in Beit Rass village in Irbid in May 2016. Participated in a radio program to increase the awareness about role of physiotherapy in managing people with multiple sclerosis (University of Jordam FM, in March 2016). Participated in free medical day that included providing voluntary health screening at Al-Mazar school in Irbid in May 2015.
Teaching Philosophy Effective teaching requires knowledge of the material, creativity in teaching methods, and a passion to instill curiosity in the learner to go beyond what is written in the textbook. Successful physical therapists must apply knowledge to critically evaluate clients and devise individualized, evidence-based plans to help them. The foundation for this success lies in a drive to learn more and a motivation to improve client care. Thus, I strive to teach my students in a way that will instill a curiosity in them so they have this drive. My goal for teaching is to help students become critical thinkers in the field of physical therapy so they can integrate concepts to become quality, evidence-based practitioners. Because the field is constantly evolving, I want students to develop a commitment to lifelong learning. As a teacher, my role is to be the guide that helps students on their journey to becoming evidence-based practitioners. It is my responsibility to provide students with experiences that allow them to engage with course material by bringing real life experiences and increasing curiosity
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