Research

Discover how the College of Public Health and Health Professions at the University of Florida is advancing the field through cutting-edge research that transforms lives. Our faculty, students, and collaborators engage in innovative studies that span clinical, translational, and basic science, addressing critical challenges in rehabilitation and movement science. From improving patient outcomes to pioneering new therapies, our research is dedicated to shaping the future of physical therapy and enhancing health and well-being for all.

Learn more about

Our Research

Neuromuscular Research

Neuromuscular Research

The Neuromuscular Research Program focuses on developing effective treatments to help individuals with neurological disorders such as stroke, brain injury and spinal cord injury. Our multidisciplinary team, which includes scientists, clinicians and engineers is committed to conducting research that is meaningful to patients and leads to advancements in clinical practice and rehabilitation science.

PHHP Brooks researchers and patient

Active Neuromuscular Research Studies


Musculoskeletal Research

The Musculoskeletal Research Program aims to improve the delivery of rehabilitation care for individuals experiencing a variety of musculoskeletal pain related conditions including low back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain and knee pain. Our primary goals are to prevent the transition from acute to chronic pain, explore rehabilitation approaches to treat chronic pain and to better understand the underlying factors of effective treatments for these conditions.

PHHP faculty researcher and patient

Active Musculoskeletal Research Studies

  • Patient-specific factors of recovery in rotator cuff tendinopathy (funded by NIH-NIAMS)
  • Physical therapy integrated with mindfulness for patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain and long-term opioid treatment (funded by NCCIH)
  • Mechanistic-based treatment of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (funded by NIH-NIDDK)
  • Identifying the magnitude and impact of pelvic floor disorders in veterans with lower limb amputation (funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs)
  • PROMPT: Phenotyping responses to optimize the management of pain treatment in endometriosis (funded by NIH-NICHD)
  • Underserved and undertreated: Musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction following gender affirmation surgery (funded by Academy of Orthopaedic Physical Therapy)
  • Mechanisms and modifications of pain modulatory capacity (Funded by NIH-NIAMS)
  • Biopsychosocial contributors to irritability in individuals with shoulder pain (funded by the Academy of Orthopaedics of the APTA)
  • Patient and physical therapist perspectives on spinal manipulative therapy for chronic low back pain (funded by American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists)
  • Patient centered outcomes for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction
  • Characterizing responses to massage in individuals with neck pain
  • Immediate effect of dry needling of the lumbar multifidus on pain sensitivity in a healthy population
  • Patient and physical therapist centered outcomes
  • Patient preferences for physical therapists
  • Patient centered assessment of healthcare seeking behaviors

Collaboration Publication Highlights

PHHP Brooks faculty/researchers

To see some of the research by the Collaboration Investigators, please visit the Brooks Rehabilitation Research Highlights listing.

Other Research Resources

The Brooks Rehabilitation Clinical Research Center has a listing of current research being conducted at their facilities.

The UF Clinical and Translational Science Institute has several resources for finding and participating in UF studies.

Clinicaltrials.gov has a searchable database of current and completed clinical studies from around the world.


Affiliate Centers

BREATHE

Breathing Research and Therapeutics Center

The UF BREATHE Center unites basic and clinician scientists across the university and beyond to understand challenges to breathing and airway defense and translate new findings into strategies for respiratory rehabilitation.

BRAIN

Brain Injury, Rehabilitation, and Neuroresilience Center

The UF BRAIN Center mission is to foster interactions between brain injury clinicians and researchers, harnessing collective strengths across UF to encourage cross-disciplinary collaborations and innovation in the field.

VA RR&D BRRC

Malcom Randall VA Brain Rehabilitation Research Center

At the BRRC, interdisciplinary teams of scientists conduct research to improve the effectiveness of neurorehabilitation. They work to improve current treatments as well as to create new treatments that help restore impairments caused by neurologic diseases and injuries such as stroke, spinal cord injury, and traumatic brain injury. BRRC investigators also study how such impairments affect Veterans as they age over time and how to treat those effects.