Joanne Parsons, PhD, MSc, BMR (PT)

Joanne Parsons is an associate professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of Manitoba’s College of Rehabilitation Sciences. Her research focuses on using resistance training to improve health, performance, and reduce sports injury risks across diverse populations. A key aspect of her work is examining how gendered environments in sports may increase injury risk and affect participation and performance, particularly for women and girls.

Parsons has a clinical background in outpatient orthopedic physical therapy and has worked with several sports teams and events, including the Maccabi Games in Israel. This experience informs her applied research, ensuring that her findings are practical and impactful for knowledge users in the field.

She co-founded the Environments Designed for Gender Equity (EDGE) in Sport & Physical Activity Lab and is an investigator at the Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba. Her research interests include gendered sport environments, sports injury prevention, resistance training, and orthopedic physical therapy.

Parsons earned a PhD in Applied Health Sciences, a Master of Science in Kinesiology, and a Bachelor of Medical Rehabilitation in Physical Therapy, all from the University of Manitoba.

Her contributions have been recognized with several awards, including the 2024 Leonore Saunders Mentorship Award from the Manitoba Physiotherapy Association and the CIHR-IMHA Inclusive Research Excellence Prize for her work on anterior cruciate ligament injuries. Parsons has also been featured in media outlets such as the British Journal of Sports Medicine podcast, the COYGIG Pod, and Science Friday.

Her research continues to focus on improving health outcomes and preventing injuries, with a particular emphasis on reducing the gender disparities in sports and rehabilitation.