Valerie Block, PT, DPTSc

Photo of Valerie Block, PT, DPTSc
Title(s)Assistant Professor, Physical Therapy
SchoolSchool of Medicine
Address1651 4th Street, #612E
San Francisco CA 94158
ORCID ORCID Icon0000-0001-6199-5484 Additional info
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    Other Positions
    Title(s)UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences


    Collapse Biography 
    Collapse education and training
    Hillcrest Secondary School, KenyaO-Level 06/1998Baccalaureate
    Marlborough College, United KingdomA-Level06/2000Pre-University
    University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom BSc06/2004Veterinary Pathology – Equine Science
    Ramon Llull University, Barcelona, Spain PT06/2008Physical Therapy
    University of California, San Francisco / San Francisco State University, USADPTSc12/2016Doctorate of Physical Therapy Science – emphasis on multiple sclerosis
    University of California, San Francisco, USAPost-Doctoral researcherMultiple Sclerosis
    University of California, San Francisco02/2020Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion Training
    Collapse awards and honors
    The Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (FCMSC) and the International Organization of MS 2013Scholarship for Multiple Sclerosis Rehabilitation Fellowship
    ACTRIMS2014Student scholarship for CMSC Annual meeting. Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC)
    UCSF/SFSU2016Graduate Student Award for Distinguished Achievement
    International Symposium on Gait and Balance in Multiple Sclerosis2016  - 2018Top 5 abstract by a Trainee Award
    National Multiple Sclerosis Society. (FG-1707-28624) 2020  - 2020Postdoctoral Fellowship selected for support by the "Kenrose Kitchen Table Foundation and J. David P
    National Multiple Sclerosis Society. (TA-2006-36695)2021  - 2021Career Transition Award selected for support by the Marilyn Hilton MS Research Fund
    Northern chapter of the National MS Society 2022  - 2022Honoree at Bay Area dinner of champions - MS Healthcare Rising Stars and Champions
    Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ACTRIMS)2022  - 2022ACTRIMS Educational Grant
    Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ACTRIMS)2023  - 2023ACTRIMS Educational Grant

    Collapse Research 
    Collapse Featured Publications
    Collapse research activities and funding
    Wearables for the Bladder: Self-management tools to increase participation in daily life for people with multiple sclerosis
    ACL/ NIDILRR 90IFRE0118-01-00Sep 30, 2026 - Sep 29, 2029
    Role: Principal Investigator
    Description: The aim of this study is to evaluate whether home bladder wearables, paired with education and self-management strategies, can address unmet needs in bladder dysfunction (BD) and improve life for people with MS. By boosting self-efficacy and sustainable self-management of BD, we aim to improve bladder function, activity, and social participation, while identifying environmental factors affecting long-term device use at home. This work advances Wearables for the Bladder (WeB) research into whether home management of bladder symptoms can also improve physical activity, sleep, and participation.
    Functional Electrical Stimulation: Effect on Walking in the Real World and Participation in Daily Life in People with Multiple Sclerosis
    NIH R01HD118065Jul 1, 2026 - Jun 30, 2031
    Role: Principal Investigator
    Moving MS bladder dysfunction into the 21st Century: developing novel and accessible ways to treat, predict and prevent dysfunction in the home
    National Multiple Sclerosis Society - Career Transition Fellowships TA-2006-36695Jul 1, 2021 - Jun 30, 2026
    Role: Principle investigator
    Description: The goal of this study is to evaluate and treat bladder dysfunction remotely in people with multiple sclerosis
    Incorporating Continuous Daily Assessment of Remote Step Count Monitoring with Quantitative Spinal Cord and Brain MRI to Improve Characterization of MS-related Disability
    National Multiple Sclerosis Society FG-1707-28624Jul 1, 2018
    Role: Fellow. (Mentors: Drs Bruce Cree and Roland Henry)
    Collapse Clinical Trials

    Collapse Featured Content 

    Collapse Bibliographic 
    Collapse publications
    Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Researchers can login to make corrections and additions, or contact us for help. to make corrections and additions.
    Newest   |   Oldest   |   Most Cited   |   Most Discussed   |   Timeline   |   Field Summary   |   Plain Text
    Altmetrics Details PMC Citations indicate the number of times the publication was cited by articles in PubMed Central, and the Altmetric score represents citations in news articles and social media. (Note that publications are often cited in additional ways that are not shown here.) Fields are based on how the National Library of Medicine (NLM) classifies the publication's journal and might not represent the specific topic of the publication. Translation tags are based on the publication type and the MeSH terms NLM assigns to the publication. Some publications (especially newer ones and publications not in PubMed) might not yet be assigned Field or Translation tags.) Click a Field or Translation tag to filter the publications.
    1. Reduced Paramagnetic Rim Visibility Signals Lesion Aging and Tissue Degeneration in Progressive Multiple Sclerosis: Impact on Clinical Trials. Neurol Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm. 2026 Nov; 13(6):e200655. Sacco S, Zhao H, Cheng S, Akula AV, Luskin E, Zhang J, Manouvakhova O, Cooper TP, Stern W, Block VJ, Virupakshaiah A, Gomez R, Santaniello A, Sati P, Papinutto N, Bove R, Gelfand JM, Goodin DS, Green AJ, Oksenberg J, Waubant E, Wilson MR, Zamvil SS, as the University of California, San Francisco MS-EPIC Team, Cree BAC, Hauser SL, Henry RG. PMID: 42766812.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:
    2. Association Between Neurofilament Light Chain and Real-World Ambulatory Function in Progressive MS. Ann Clin Transl Neurol. 2026 Sep 09. Joseph GB, McCune M, Bove R, Abdelhak A, Cree BAC, Block VJ. PMID: 42712237.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:
    3. Motor and non-motor outcomes post rehabilitation for persons with freezing of gait and Parkinson's disease: A systematic review and Meta-analysis. Clin Park Relat Disord. 2026; 15:100498. Bath JE, Allen DD, Block VJ. PMID: 42781534; PMCID: PMC13599663.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:
    4. Diurnal step count patterns in progressive multiple sclerosis. Mult Scler. 2026 Aug 17; 13524585261475910. Behal A, Block VJ, Cree BA, Abbasi-Asl R. PMID: 42608793.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:
    5. Lived Experiences of Bladder and Bowel Dysfunction for People With Multiple Sclerosis and Their Providers: A Qualitative Meta-Synthesis. International Journal of MS Care. 2026; 28(3):169-179. Lauren Van Valkenburgh, DPT, Sarah Poinski-McCoy, DPT, Valerie J. Block, DPTSc, PT, Heather Coats, PhD, APRN-BC, FAAN, Mark M. Mañago, DPT, PhD.
    6. Closing the referral gap: The role of a quality improvement initiative to enhance pelvic health physical therapy referrals for persons with multiple sclerosis-related bladder symptoms. Mult Scler J Exp Transl Clin. 2026 Apr-Jun; 12(2):20552173261443834. Winawer I, Bove R, Wijangco J, Joseph GB, Bradsby J, Eliaz A, Gonzalez M, Riehl S, Keyan L, Suskind A, Cree BA, Gelfand JM, Block VJ. PMID: 42011367; PMCID: PMC13091959.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:
    7. Digital patient experience tools in multiple sclerosis: a landscape analysis of the global Patient-Reported Outcomes in Multiple Sclerosis (PROMS) initiative. EClinicalMedicine. 2026 Apr; 94:103821. Tseriotis VS, Peeters LM, Geys L, D'Souza M, van Beek J, Kappos L, Block V, Vermersch P, Zaratin P, Hyde R, Leocani L, eHealth working group of the Patient-Reported Outcomes in Multiple Sclerosis initiative. PMID: 41908854; PMCID: PMC13018878.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:
    8. Validating wearable step counts in multiple sclerosis research: a replication study. Front Neurol. 2025; 16:1709389. Goldman MD, Chen S, Kunisetty B, Gelfand JM, Cree BAC, Block VJ. PMID: 41245861; PMCID: PMC12611647.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:
    9. Continuous Monitoring of Bladder Dysfunction in People With Multiple Sclerosis: Wearables for the Bladder. Ann Clin Transl Neurol. 2025 09; 12(9):1865-1874. Block VJ, Poole S, McIntyre L, Sisodia N, Park C, Joseph G, Van Kuiken ME, Suskind AM, Bove R. PMID: 40693719; PMCID: PMC12455868.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    10. Actionable Wearables Data for the Neurology Clinic: A Proof-of-Concept Tool. Ann Clin Transl Neurol. 2025 08; 12(8):1556-1565. Miller N, Chinedu-Eneh E, Wijangco J, Henderson K, Sisodia N, Sara N, Reihm J, Poole S, Rowson J, Guo CY, Gelfand JM, Block VJ, Bove R. PMID: 40491260; PMCID: PMC12343321.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    11. No evidence of fluctuations in daily step count between infusions in people with multiple sclerosis treated with anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies. Mult Scler J Exp Transl Clin. 2025 Jan-Mar; 11(1):20552173251329817. Block VJ, Henderson K, Poole S, Joseph GB, Gelfand JM, Cree BA, Bove R. PMID: 40144903; PMCID: PMC11938510.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:
    12. Wearables for the Bladder: Stakeholder Perspectives on Moving Multiple Sclerosis Bladder Dysfunction Interventions Into the 21st Century. Int J MS Care. 2024 Oct; 26(Q4):290-301. Block VJ, McIntyre Née Wylie L, Sisodia N, Van Kuiken ME, Suskind AM, Bove R. PMID: 39435303; PMCID: PMC11491565.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 3  
    13. Feasibility of Telerehabilitation-Monitored Functional Electrical Stimulation on Walking and Quality of Life in People With Multiple Sclerosis: A Case Series. Int J MS Care. 2024 May; 26(Q3):214-223. Gann EJ, Mañago MM, Allen DD, Celnikier E, Block VJ. PMID: 39135635; PMCID: PMC11317766.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:
    14. The global patient-reported outcomes for multiple sclerosis initiative: bridging the gap between clinical research and care - updates at the 2023 plenary event. Front Neurol. 2024; 15:1407257. Zaratin P, Samadzadeh S, Seferoglu M, Ricigliano V, Dos Santos Silva J, Tunc A, Brichetto G, Coetzee T, Helme A, Khan U, McBurney R, Peryer G, Weiland H, Baneke P, Battaglia MA, Block V, Capezzuto L, Carment L, Cortesi PA, Cutter G, Leocani L, Hartung HP, Hillert J, Hobart J, Immonen K, Kamudoni P, Middleton R, Moghames P, Montalban X, Peeters L, Sormani MP, van Tonder S, White A, Comi G, Vermersch P. PMID: 38974689; PMCID: PMC11225898.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 11  
    15. Cognitive function influences cognitive-motor interference during dual task walking in multiple sclerosis. Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2024 May; 85:105516. Hsu WY, Block VJ, Wijangco J, Henderson K, Nylander A, Koshal K, Poole S, Possin KL, Staffaroni AM, Bove RM. PMID: 38461729.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 4     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    16. A Closed-Loop Falls Monitoring and Prevention App for Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Practice: Human-Centered Design of the Multiple Sclerosis Falls InsightTrack. JMIR Hum Factors. 2024 01 11; 11:e49331. Block VJ, Koshal K, Wijangco J, Miller N, Sara N, Henderson K, Reihm J, Gopal A, Mohan SD, Gelfand JM, Guo CY, Oommen L, Nylander A, Rowson JA, Brown E, Sanders S, Rankin K, Lyles CR, Lyles CR, Sim I, Bove R. PMID: 38206662; PMCID: PMC10811573.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 8     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    17. Fall Assessment and Monitoring in People With Multiple Sclerosis: A Practical Evidence-Based Review for Clinicians. Neurol Clin Pract. 2023 Oct; 13(5):e200184. Gopal A, Gelfand JM, Bove R, Block VJ. PMID: 37720138; PMCID: PMC10503932.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 6  
    18. Association of daily physical activity with brain volumes and cervical spinal cord areas in multiple sclerosis. Mult Scler. 2023 03; 29(3):363-373. Block VJ, Cheng S, Juwono J, Cuneo R, Kirkish G, Alexander AM, Khan M, Akula A, Caverzasi E, Papinutto N, Stern WA, Pletcher MJ, Marcus GM, Olgin JE, Hauser SL, Gelfand JM, Bove R, Cree BA, Henry RG. PMID: 36573559; PMCID: PMC9972237.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 7     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    19. Accessibility to Telerehabilitation Services for People With Multiple Sclerosis: Analysis of Barriers and Limitations. Int J MS Care. 2022 Nov-Dec; 24(6):260-265. Gopal A, Bonanno V, Block VJ, Bove RM. PMID: 36545648; PMCID: PMC9749830.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 10  
    20. The Role of Remote Monitoring in Evaluating Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis: A Review. Front Neurol. 2022; 13:878313. Block VJ, Bove R, Nourbakhsh B. PMID: 35832181; PMCID: PMC9272225.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 11  
    21. Making Every Step Count: Minute-by-Minute Characterization of Step Counts Augments Remote Activity Monitoring in People With Multiple Sclerosis. Front Neurol. 2022; 13:860008. Block VJ, Waliman M, Xie Z, Akula A, Bove R, Pletcher MJ, Marcus GM, Olgin JE, Cree BAC, Gelfand JM, Henry RG. PMID: 35677343; PMCID: PMC9167929.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 6  
    22. Challenges to Longitudinal Characterization of Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction in Multiple Sclerosis. Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2022 Jun; 62:103793. Kaplan TB, Gopal A, Block VJ, Suskind AM, Zhao C, Polgar-Turcsanyi M, Saraceno TJ, Gomez R, Santaniello A, Consortium S, Ayoubi NE, Cree BAC, Hauser SL, Weiner H, Chitnis T, Khoury S, Bove R. PMID: 35461057.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 6     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    23. Research interrupted: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on multiple sclerosis research in the field of rehabilitation and quality of life. Mult Scler J Exp Transl Clin. 2021 Jul-Sep; 7(3):20552173211038030. Maguire R, Hynes S, Seebacher B, Block VJ, Zackowski KM, Jonsdottir J, Finlayson M, Plummer P, Freeman J, Giesser B, von Geldern G, Ploughman M. PMID: 34471543; PMCID: PMC8404642.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 4  
    24. Identifying falls remotely in people with multiple sclerosis. J Neurol. 2022 Apr; 269(4):1889-1898. Block VJ, Pitsch EA, Gopal A, Zhao C, Pletcher MJ, Marcus GM, Olgin JE, Hollenbach J, Bove R, Cree BAC, Gelfand JM. PMID: 34405267; PMCID: PMC8370664.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 17     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    25. Effects of COVID-19 "Sheltering in Place" on Activity in People With Multiple Sclerosis. Neurol Clin Pract. 2021 Apr; 11(2):e216-e218. Block VJ, Bove R, Gelfand JM, Cree BAC. PMID: 33842099; PMCID: PMC8032435.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 4  
    26. Effectiveness of Physical Therapy in Addressing Sexual Dysfunction in Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Int J MS Care. 2021 Sep-Oct; 23(5):213-222. Gopal A, Sydow R, Block V, Allen DD. PMID: 34720761; PMCID: PMC8550487.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 4  
    27. CoachMS, An Innovative Closed-Loop, Interdisciplinary Platform to Monitor and Proactively Treat MS Symptoms: A Pilot Study. Multiple Sclerosis Journal, Experimental, Translational and clinical. 2021; 7(1). Block, VJ, Gopal, A, Rowles, W, Chu-Yueh, G, Gelfand JM, Bove, R.
    28. CoachMS, an innovative closed-loop, interdisciplinary platform to monitor and proactively treat MS symptoms: A pilot study. Mult Scler J Exp Transl Clin. 2021 Jan-Mar; 7(1):2055217321988937. Block VJ, Gopal A, Rowles W, -Yueh C, Gelfand JM, Bove R. PMID: 33796329; PMCID: PMC7970691.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 6  
    29. Underutilization of physical therapy for symptomatic women with MS during and following pregnancy. Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2021 Feb; 48:102703. Block VJ, Mestas O, Anderson A, Singh J, Wylie L, Guo CY, Green AJ, Gelfand JM, Bove R. PMID: 33387862.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    30. Safety and efficacy of MD1003 (high-dose biotin) in patients with progressive multiple sclerosis (SPI2): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial. Lancet Neurol. 2020 12; 19(12):988-997. Cree BAC, Cutter G, Wolinsky JS, Freedman MS, Comi G, Giovannoni G, Hartung HP, Arnold D, Kuhle J, Block V, Munschauer FE, Sedel F, Lublin FD, SPI2 investigative teams. PMID: 33222767.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 54     Fields:    Translation:HumansCTClinical Trials
    31. Effects of COVID-19 “Sheltering in Place” on Activity in People with Multiple Sclerosis. Neurol. Clin Pract. 2020. Block VJ, Bove R, Gelfand JM, Cree BAC. , 2020. 10.1212/CPJ.0000000000000982.
    32. A Precision Medicine Tool for Patients With Multiple Sclerosis (the Open MS BioScreen): Human-Centered Design and Development. J Med Internet Res. 2020 07 06; 22(7):e15605. Schleimer E, Pearce J, Barnecut A, Rowles W, Lizee A, Klein A, Block VJ, Santaniello A, Renschen A, Gomez R, Keshavan A, Gelfand JM, Henry RG, Hauser SL, Bove R. PMID: 32628124; PMCID: PMC7381029.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 16     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    33. We should monitor our patients with wearable technology instead of neurological examination - Yes. Mult Scler. 2020 08; 26(9):1024-1026. Block VJ, Bove R. PMID: 32755299.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 2     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    34. We should monitor our patients with wearable technology instead of neurological examination – Yes. Multiple Sclerosis Journal. 2020; 26(9):1024-1026. Block VJ, Bove R.
    35. E-health and multiple sclerosis. Curr Opin Neurol. 2020 06; 33(3):271-276. Matthews PM, Block VJ, Leocani L. PMID: 32324706.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 21     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    36. Validation of a consumer-grade activity monitor for continuous daily activity monitoring in individuals with multiple sclerosis. Mult Scler J Exp Transl Clin. 2019 Oct-Dec; 5(4):2055217319888660. Block VJ, Zhao C, Hollenbach JA, Olgin JE, Marcus GM, Pletcher MJ, Henry R, Gelfand JM, Cree BA. PMID: 31803492; PMCID: PMC6876176.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 18  
    37. Changes in standing stability with balance-based torso-weighting with cerebellar ataxia: A pilot study. Physiother Res Int. 2020 Jan; 25(1):e1814. Widener GL, Conley N, Whiteford S, Gee J, Harrell A, Gibson-Horn C, Block V, Allen DD. PMID: 31749254; PMCID: PMC7050535.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 8     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    38. Practical Neurology. Multiple Sclerosis Minute: Telemedicine and Multiple Sclerosis. Telemedicine is acceptable to patients and clinicians in the continuum of clinic-to-in-home care and reduces barriers to care. 2019. Block VJ, Bove R. View Publication.
    39. Association of Continuous Assessment of Step Count by Remote Monitoring With Disability Progression Among Adults With Multiple Sclerosis. JAMA Netw Open. 2019 03 01; 2(3):e190570. Block VJ, Bove R, Zhao C, Garcha P, Graves J, Romeo AR, Green AJ, Allen DD, Hollenbach JA, Olgin JE, Marcus GM, Pletcher MJ, Cree BAC, Gelfand JM. PMID: 30874777; PMCID: PMC6484622.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 60     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    40. Continuous daily assessment of multiple sclerosis disability using remote step count monitoring. J Neurol. 2017 Feb; 264(2):316-326. Block VJ, Lizée A, Crabtree-Hartman E, Bevan CJ, Graves JS, Bove R, Green AJ, Nourbakhsh B, Tremblay M, Gourraud PA, Ng MY, Pletcher MJ, Olgin JE, Marcus GM, Allen DD, Cree BA, Gelfand JM. PMID: 27896433; PMCID: PMC5292081.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 81     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    41. Remote Physical Activity Monitoring in Neurological Disease: A Systematic Review. PLoS One. 2016; 11(4):e0154335. Block VA, Pitsch E, Tahir P, Cree BA, Allen DD, Gelfand JM. PMID: 27124611; PMCID: PMC4849800.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 98     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    42. Do Physical Therapy Interventions Affect Urinary Incontinence and Quality of Life in People with Multiple Sclerosis?: An Evidence-Based Review. Int J MS Care. 2015 Jul-Aug; 17(4):172-80. Block V, Rivera M, Melnick M, Allen DD. PMID: 26300703; PMCID: PMC4542712.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 6  
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