Joanne Parsons, PhD, MSc, BMR (PT)

  • portrait of Joanne Parsons

  • Associate professor

    College of Rehabilitation Sciences
    Department of Physical Therapy
    University of Manitoba – Bannatyne Campus
    771 McDermot Avenue
    Winnipeg, MB R3E 0T6

    joanne.parsons@umanitoba.ca

Research

Dr. Joanne Parsons is a co-creator of the gendered environmental approach to sports injury. Her research program focuses on examining how the gendered socio-cultural and physical environments surrounding girls and women in sports may impact their injury risk and experiences. 

Dr. Parsons has a particular interest in resistance training and how it can be optimized to encourage participation and decrease injury risk across diverse populations. Her research is deeply informed by her clinical experience in orthopedic physical therapy and time working on the sidelines of competitive sports, ensuring that research findings translate into real-world impact.

Research affiliations

Keywords

  • Gendered sport environments
  • Sports injury prevention
  • Resistance training
  • Orthopedic physical therapy

Biography

Dr. Joanne Parsons is an associate professor in the Department of Physical Therapy, and chair of the MSc Rehabilitation Sciences program at the University of Manitoba’s College of Rehabilitation Sciences. Her research program focuses on examining how the gendered socio-cultural and physical environments surrounding girls and women in sports may impact their injury risk and experiences.

Parsons has a clinical background in outpatient orthopedic physical therapy and has worked with sports teams and events at the local, national, and international level. This experience informs her applied research, ensuring that her findings are practical and impactful for knowledge users in the field.

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 Guardian, the Observer, NBC Today Digital, 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 injury rates and rehabilitation.

Awards

  • Leonore Saunders Mentorship Award, Manitoba Physiotherapy Association
  • CIHR-IMHA Inclusive Research Excellence Prize for "Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury: Towards a Gendered Environmental Approach"
  • Canadian Association of University Teachers Dedicated Service Award
  • British Journal of Sports Medicine Editor’s Choice Topic Collection (Chosen by the Editor-in-Chief): "Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury: Towards a Gendered Environmental Approach" by Parsons JL, Coen SE, Bekker S
  • The Winnipeg Foundation Martha Donovan Leadership Development Award
  • National Strength and Conditioning Association Foundation Women’s Professional Development Scholarship
  • Nominee, Physical Therapy Graduating Class Excellence in Teaching Award

Education

  • Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Applied Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
  • Master of Science (MSc) in Kinesiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
  • Bachelor of Medical Rehabilitation (BMR) in Physical Therapy, School of Medical Rehabilitation, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

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Contact us

College of Rehabilitation Sciences
P304 - 770 Bannatyne Avenue
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, MB R3E 0W2 Canada

cors.info@umanitoba.ca
204-789-3897
204-789-3927