Research Program in Musculoskeletal Disorders (RPMD)

The mission of the Research Program in Musculoskeletal Disorders (RPMD) is to train individuals with clinical backgrounds to become effective rehabilitation researchers. All participating faculty members have broad areas of clinical and research expertise centered by their common interest in effective rehabilitation management of musculoskeletal disorders. Their primary goal is to influence clinical practice through their research findings. The RPMD emphasizes a collective and collaborative approach and focuses on two main areas: Pain Mechanisms & Rehabilitation, and Biomechanics and Movement Analysis. Investigators study these areas across a variety of models including tibiofemoral arthritis, anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, carpal tunnel syndrome, rotator cuff pathology, and low back pain.

The investigators leading the RPMD are Drs. Joel E Bialosky, Mark Bishop, Terese Chmielewski and Steven George. The RPMD program is highly committed to translate and disseminate their findings to rehabilitation scientists and practitioners, to successfully compete for extramural funding, and to publish their findings in peer-review journals. All faculty members have received funding from the National Institutes of Health and the University of Florida, with additional funding to individual faculty from sources such as the National Football League, the James and Esther King Biomedical Research Program, the Department of Defense, and the Brooks Rehabilitation Foundation.