profile - Sandra Webber | College of Rehabilitation Sciences

Professor/Associate dean, academic
College of Rehabilitation Sciences
Department of Physical Therapy
R120 Rehabilitation Sciences, 771 McDermot Avenue
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, MB R3E 0T6
sandra.webber@umanitoba.ca

Research summary

Dr. Webber studies physical activity, ambulation, exercise and sedentary behaviour in older adults and people with chronic conditions to optimize function and quality of life, and in healthy populations with the goal to prevent disease and disability.

She uses self-report and objective measures to evaluate physical capacity and activity performance (what people do in their everyday lives).

Research affiliations
- Affiliate, Centre on Aging, University of Manitoba
Keywords
- accelerometers
- ambulation
- exercise
- physical activity
- physical capacity
- physical performance

Biography

Dr. Sandra Webber is a physiotherapist and a professor in the department of physical therapy at the College of Rehabilitation Sciences, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba. Her research focuses on the study of physical capacity and activity performance in older adults and people with chronic diseases, using objective techniques such as accelerometers, global positioning system devices, and smart watches.

Dr. Webber is recognized for her expertise in using technology to measure activity performance and physiological responses to activity, and frequently collaborates with researchers from rehabilitation, kinesiology, community health sciences, and other health-related fields.

In addition to her research, Dr. Webber teaches and mentors students in the Master of Physical Therapy, Master of Science in Rehabilitation Sciences, and Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Health Sciences programs. Currently, she is serving as the director of the Applied Health Sciences PhD program and as the associate dean academic in the College of Rehabilitation Sciences.

Education

Doctor of Philosophy in an Independent Inter-Disciplinary Program, University of Manitoba (2010)

Master of Science in Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Manitoba (1996)

Bachelor of Medical Rehabilitation in Physical Therapy, University of Manitoba (1990)

Awards

2024

Susan A. Macdonald Award for outstanding contributions, perpetuating excellence and positively influencing others towards higher levels of achievement in the physiotherapy profession. Manitoba Physiotherapy Association

2022