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.
Active Neuromuscular Research Studies
UP-2: Cognitively engaging walking exercise and neuromodulation to enhance brain function in older adults (funded by NIH-NIA)
Swallowing and respiratory function in chronic spinal cord injury (funded by Brooks Rehabilitation Clinical Research Center)
Characterizing cortical processes during walking post-stroke (funded by the American Heart Association)
Synergizing home health rehabilitation therapy to optimize patient activities of daily living (funded by NIH-NIA)
BRAVE: Brain and behavioral responses to backward walking post stroke (funded by the VA)
Physical activity in veterans with chronic neurological impairment living in rural communities: a mixed method study (funded by VA Office of Rural Health)
Transforming stroke care fo the future: A vision for the nation’s top stroke AI center at the University of Florida (funded by the University of Florida)
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.
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
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.