Joel Bialosky
Rehabilitation Research Career Development Scholar (K12 HDO55929), University of Florida
PhD, Rehabilitation Science, University of Florida
MS, Physical Therapy, University of Pittsburgh
BS, Physical Therapy, Ithaca College

Student Profile:
Joel Bialosky received his BS in Physical Therapy from Ithaca College, New York in 1990 and MS in Musculoskeletal Physical Therapy from the University of Pittsburgh in 1998. Joel entered the Rehabilitation Science Doctoral Program at the University of Florida in 2005 with more than 15 years of clinical experience. Prior to joining UF as a graduate student he was the Clinical Therapy Director in an orthopedic outpatient setting and clinical faculty at the University of Pittsburgh. Joel was mentored by Dr. Steven George in the department of physical therapy and successfully completed his PhD in August of 2008. Joel’s research focused on the mechanisms of manual therapy in the treatment of musculoskeletal pain and he oversaw an NIH-R21 grant (R21 AT002796-01). He received the Ellen Black teaching award, the Frederick Graduate Scholarship award, and the Dean’s Scholar award during his graduate training. Prior to accepting a position as a K12 scholar, Joel worked as a clinical assistant professor for the University of Florida Department of Physical Therapy. His current research focuses on a placebo model for manual therapy in the treatment of musculoskeletal pain.

Research Project Description:
Manual therapies are commonly used to treat musculoskeletal pain conditions, yet their mechanisms are unknown. Manual therapies have the potential to favorably alter how the nervous system processes pain at the spinal cord level and the neurobiology of manual therapies has recently been highlighted as a research priority (NCCAM, 2005). During his dissertation work, Joel was the lead author on a proposed model for the mechanistic study of manual therapy (Manual Therapy, 2008). A specific theory investigated by University of Florida researchers suggests that manual therapies have a direct neurophysiological effect on pain perception through dorsal horn mediated inhibition. Joel’s specific research at UF investigated if manual therapy alters temporal summation of thermal stimuli in human subjects. Temporal summation is a dorsal horn amplification of C-fiber mediated pain input that is involved in the development of chronic pain conditions. Joel’s pilot work observed decreased temporal summation in response to manual therapy (BMC Musculoskelet Disord, 2006). Additionally, he studied the influence of expectation on this finding (BMC Musculoskelet Disord, 2008). Joel’s dissertation project studied a specific type of manual therapy in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome and its influence on temporal summation. Decreases in temporal summation of pain would suggest that C-fiber input is not amplified, and decreases the probability of chronic pain conditions. Pain is an important limiting factor in rehabilitation and Joel’s research will add to the understanding of how the nervous system processes pain and how treatments we apply modulate pain perception. Through these studies Joel hopes to eventually provide information to improve the management of musculoskeletal pain conditions.

Award and Honors
2008 University of Florida College of Public Health and Health Professions Dean’s Scholar Award
2007 University of Florida Department of Physical Therapy Frederick Graduate Scholarship Award
2006 University of Florida Department of Physical Therapy Ellen Black Teaching Award

Quote from Joel Bialosky on how he benefited from participation in the Training Program: “The T-32 training grant provided me with an opportunity I had not thought possible. I worked as a clinical physical therapist for a number of years and was the sole provider of income while my wife stayed home with our two children. I achieved an advanced masters degree in musculoskeletal physical therapy from the University of Pittsburgh on a part time basis while working full time, but did not expect that I could continue my formal education. I loved the academic environment and was fascinated by research; however, I lacked the qualifications to work in such a setting. The T32 afforded me a modest salary with invaluable learning opportunities, including the ability to obtain my PhD and to gain the necessary training to perform sound research. Not only was I able to work towards my PhD on a full time basis, but I was also provided the opportunity to attend conferences, attend talks by local, national, and international leaders in the field of rehabilitation, and to network with scientists in my own and related fields. As I begin my career as a rehabilitation researcher, these experiences are invaluable and have provided me with numerous, successful mentors from whom I will model my career. I cannot say enough good things about the opportunity my participation in the T-32 training grant has provided me.”

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