Associate Professor
179 G Extended Education Complex
204-474-6552
steven.passmore@umanitoba.ca
Steven Passmore, DC, PhD
Biography
Dr. Passmore is an Associate Professor at the University of Manitoba. He maintains an active nationally grant funded (Health Canada – SUAP, Own the Podium, Canadian Chiropractic Research Foundation) research program, supervises undergraduate, Masters and PhD trainees, and he has published more than 50 peer reviewed journal articles.
He has expertise in perceptual motor control and learning, most specifically related to applications of Fitts’s Law, and Focus of Attention. His research interests include applying principles from Motor Learning and Control to the assessment of elite athletes (curling) and clinical populations (spine musculoskeletal issues), and the perceptual factors influencing delivery of manual therapy (spinal manipulation).
Clinically, he practiced as a WOC chiropractor at the VA Western New York Health Care System (2007-09), treating veterans with chronic pain conditions and complex comorbidities alongside a multidisciplinary team. He served on the Canadian Chiropractic Guideline Initiative (CCGI) guideline development committee for the creation of three clinical practice guidelines. In 2019, he was appointed by the Canadian Federal Government through Health Canada to a 3-year term on the External Advisory Panel of the Canadian Pain Task Force (CPTF). In 2020, he was named "Researcher of the Year" by the Canadian Chiropractic Association (CCA). Additionally, he was appointed to the World Federation of Chiropractic (WFC) Research Committee in 2020. He is on the World Spine Care Research Committee and is a Canadian Site co-lead on a Health Canada funded project serving the spine care needs of the Pimicikamak people in northern Manitoba. In 2023, Dr. Passmore was appointed to the Council on Chiropractic Education Canada (CCEC) as a Western Canada representative. He represents World Spine Care on the World Rehabilitation Alliance (WRA) primary care working group of the World Health Organization (WHO).
Research areas
- Dosage of Manual Therapies
- Elite Curling Performance
- Clinical Implementation
- Performance-Based Outcome Measures
- Motor Learning and Control
Education
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Kinesiology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Doctor of Chiropractic (DC), New York Chiropractic College (NYCC – now Northeast College of Health Sciences), Seneca Falls, New York, USA
- Master of Science (MS) in Kinesiology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
- Honours Bachelor of Kinesiology (Hons B Kin), McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Recent Courses
- Research and Practice in Applied Health Sciences (AHS 7000)
- Human Anatomy (KPER 2320)
Publications
Manansala, C, Ferbers, S., Johnson, M. Passmore, S. (2022). Factors associated with non pharmacological, non-operative treatment utilization prior to thoracolumbar spine surgery in Manitoba: A Canadian Spine Outcomes Research Network (CSORN) study. Musculoskeletal Science and Practice Journal. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2022.102695
Passmore, S.R., Malone, Q., MacNeil, B., Sanli, E., Gonzalez, D. (2022). Differing Characteristics of Human-Shaped Visual Stimuli Affect Clinicians’ Dosage of a Spinal Manipulative Thrust on a Low-Fidelity Model: A Cross-Sectional Study. Journal of Manipulative & Physiological Therapeutics. 45(3):171-178. doi: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2022.06.005
Reichardt, A., Passmore, S.R., Toth, A., Olin, G. (2022). Utilization of chiropractic services in patients with osteoarthritis and spine pain at a publicly funded healthcare facility in Canada: a retrospective study. Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation. doi: 10.3233/BMR-210192
Aloraini SM, Glazebrook CM, Pooyania S, Sibley KM, Singer J, Passmore S. (2020). An external focus of attention compared to an internal focus of attention improves anticipatory postural adjustments among people post-stroke. Gait & Posture,82, 100-105.
Malone, Q., Passmore S.R., Maiers, M. (2020). Comparing two moderate-to-vigorous physical activity accelerometer cut-points in older adults with neck and back disability undergoing exercise and spinal manipulation interventions. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity.28(2), 255-261.
Passmore, S.R., Gelley, G., Malone, Q., MacNeil, B. (2019). Tactile perception of pressure and volitional thrust intensity modulate spinal manipulation dose characteristics. Journal of Manipulative & Physiological Therapeutics,42(5), 335-342.
Manansala, C. Passmore, S.R., Pohlman, K., Toth, A., Olin, G., (2019). Change in young peoples’ spine pain following chiropractic care at a publicly funded healthcare facility in Canada. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 35, 301-307.
Aloraini, S., Sibley K., Glazebrook, C.M., Singer, J., Passmore, S.R. (2019). Anticipatory postural adjustments during a Fitts’ task: comparing young versus older adults and the effects of different foci of attention. Human Movement Science, 64, 366-377.
Bussières, A., Stewart, G., Al Zoubi, F., Decina, P., Descarreaux, M., Haskett, D., Hincapié, C.A., Pagé, I., Passmore, S., Srbely, J., Weisberg, J., Ornelas, J. Stupar, M. (2018). Spinal Manipulative Therapy for the Management of Low Back Pain: A Guideline from the Canadian Chiropractic Guideline Initiative. Journal of Manipulative & Physiological Therapeutics, 41(4), 265-293.
Pelleck, V., Passmore S. (2017). Location versus task relevance: the impact of differing internal focus of attention instructions on motor performance. Acta Psychologica, 176(1), 23-31.
Visit Steven Passmore's ResearchGate profile for a complete listing.