Faculty Profiles

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Dr. Rachel Rolfe

  • Associate Professor - Dept of Health & Human Performance
Portrait of Dr. Rachel Rolfe

Biography and education

Dr. Rachel M. Koldenhoven Rolfe is an Associate Professor in the Department of Health & Human Performance at Texas State University. She earned her B.S. in Athletic Training from Illinois State University, her M.Ed. in Athletic Training from the University of Virginia, and her Ph.D. in Education – Sports Medicine from the University of Virginia. Her research focuses on biomechanics, rehabilitation, and wearable technology, with an emphasis on understanding movement in individuals with chronic ankle instability and developing strategies to improve gait biomechanics. She utilizes traditional laboratory motion analysis and portable wearable sensors to study walking, running, balance, and occupational tasks, and has secured funding to support projects ranging from gait training to ergonomic assessment. In addition to her research and teaching, Dr. Rolfe is actively engaged in service and mentorship, serving on university committees, advising the Iota Tau Alpha Athletic Training Honor Society, and contributing to the Athletic Training Student Injury Clinic.
  • Valles Molina, Damian (Principal), Aslan, Semih (Supporting), Menezes De Carvalho, Marcelo (Supporting), Resendiz, Maria D (Supporting), Koldenhoven, Rachel Mary (Supporting), Farrell, John Wayland (Supporting), de la Cruz, Berenice (Supporting), Liu, Ting (Supporting). REU Site: Undergraduate Research Experience in Artificial Intelligence, Data Analytics, and Mixed Reality for Smart and Connected Health, National Science Fundation, Federal, $371758. (Submitted: August 2024, Funded: April 1, 2025 - March 31, 2028). Grant.
  • Koldenhoven, Rachel Mary (Principal), Lally, Erin Marie (Co-Principal). Clinically Accessible Gait Training Strategies for Individuals with Chronic Ankle Instability, Texas State University, $16000. (Submitted: October 6, 2023, Funded: January 2024 - May 2025). Grant.
  • Valles Molina, Damian, Liu, Ting (Co-Principal), Resendiz, Maria D (Supporting), Aslan, Semih (Supporting), Farrell, John Wayland (Supporting), Li, Yumeng (Supporting), Koldenhoven, Rachel M. (Supporting). REU Site: Undergraduate Research Experiences in Machine Learning, Analytics, and Augmented Reality for Smart and Connected Health, National Science Foundation, Federal, $344029. (Submitted: August 2021, Funded: January 2022 - December 2024). Grant.
  • Koldenhoven, Rachel Mary (Principal), Jimenez, Jesus (Co-Principal). Biomechanics of Lifting, Pushing, and Pulling Tasks in Inexperienced and Experienced Industry Workers, Texas State University, $16000. (Submitted: October 8, 2019, Funded: January 2020 - May 2021). Grant.
  • Lally, Erin Marie (Co-Principal), Koldenhoven, Rachel Mary (Principal). Impacts of music-based gait retraining and metronome-based gait retraining in runners with patellofemoral pain., Texas State University, $24000. (Submitted: September 2025). Grant.
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  • Ortega, C., Simpson, J. D., Donovan, L., Torp, D. M., Forsyth, L., & Koldenhoven, R. M. (2025). Gait Training Interventions for Individuals with Chronic Ankle Instability: A Systematic Review & Meta-Analysis. Journal of Athletic Training, 60(5), 332–351. https://doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-0499.23
  • Miller, K. C., Koldenhoven, R. M., & Lally, E. M. (2025). Validity of common body temperature sites and gait parameters during a heat tolerance test. Temperature, 12(3), 231–244. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1080/23328940.2025.2493456
  • Sharotry, A., Jimenez, J. A., Mendez, F. A., Wierschem, D. C., Koldenhoven, R. M., & Valles Molina, D. (2022). Manufacturing operator ergonomics: A conceptual digital twin approach to detect biomechanical fatigue. IEEE Access, (10), 12774–12791. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2022.3145984
  • Sharotry, A., Jimenez, J., Wierschem, D. C., Mendez, F. A., Koutitas, G., Valles Molina, D., … Rolfe, R. M. (2021). A Digital Twin Framework for Real-Time Analysis and Feedback of Repetitive Work in the Manual Material Handling Industry (pp. 2637–2648). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/WSC48552.2020.9384043
  • Koldenhoven, R. M., Martin, K., Jaffri, A. H., Saliba, S., & Hertel, J. (2021). Walking Gait Mechanics and Gaze Fixation in Individuals with Chronic Ankle Instability. Journal of Sport Rehabilitation, 30(2), 286–292. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsr.2019-0288
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  • Award / Honor Recipient: Presidential Distinction Award for Excellence in Service, Presidential Awards Program at Texas State University. 2025
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Free Communications Award for Early-Career, National Athletic Trainers' Association. February 18, 2020
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Top Cited Article 2021-2022, Wiley. February 21, 2023
  • Award / Honor Recipient: College Achievement Award, Presidential Awards Program at Texas State University. February 13, 2023
  • Award / Honor Nominee: David H. Perrin Doctoral Dissertation Award, National Athletic Trainers' Association Foundation. October 2021 - December 2021
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  1. Member

    National Athletic Trainers' Association, Convention Program Committee, District 6 Representative

  2. Chair

    International Ankle Consortium, Membership Committee

  3. Chair

    Faculty Evaluation Committee

  4. Member

    College of Education Research Office Advisory Committee

  5. Organizer

    Master of Science in Athletic Training Hooding Ceremony

  6. Graduate Advisor

    Iota Tau Alpha Athletic Training Honors Society

  7. View all activities