Faculty and Staff

Abigail Anderson, PT, DPT, PhD is an Assistant Professor in the School of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Central Florida and Director of the Rehabilitation and Modulation of Pain (RAMP) Research Laboratory. Anderson earned a PhD in Rehabilitation Science at the University of Florida and graduated with a Doctor of Physical Therapy from Mercer University. She has clinical experience in the outpatient orthopedic and acute care settings and is passionate about conducting innovative research. She also regards mentoring and teaching Doctor of Physical Therapy students as an important aspect of her role. Her research advances a mechanistic-based approach for pain management by, first, using quantitative sensory testing to examine underlying mechanisms of rehabilitation interventions and, second, applying novel treatment stratification approaches by underlying mechanism. It was her experience treating patients with musculoskeletal pain that inspired her to pursue research aimed at understanding the variability of pain and treatment mediators/moderators that account for individual responses to rehabilitation interventions. She is also interested in investigating the translation of her mechanistic work to the clinic through research examining clinical applications of quantitative sensory testing, such as pain phenotyping. Anderson has published and presented nationally on these topics and enjoys working alongside students in the laboratory and classroom.

Credentials

  • PT, Licensed Physical Therapist
  • DPT, Doctor of Physical Therapy, Mercer University
  • Ph.D., Doctor of Philosophy, Rehabilitation Science, University of Florida
Areas of Specialty
  • Quantitative Sensory Testing
  • Mechanisms of Rehabilitation Interventions for Musculoskeletal Pain
  • Treatment Stratification by Underlying Mechanism
  • Pain Phenotypes
Research Lab Affiliations

Research Grants

Physical Therapy

Biopsychosocial Contributors to Irritability in Individuals with Shoulder Pain

  • PI: Abigail Anderson
  • Amount: $40,000 | Timeframe: 01/01/2024 - 12/31/2025
    Funding Type: Foundation/Industry
    Funding Agency: Foundation for Physical Therapy Research
  • PHT 6306: Pathology in Physical Therapy Practice

  • PHT 7730C: Primary Care for the Physical Therapist

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