John Gilliam

Post-Doctoral Research Associate

Dr. John R. Gilliam is a licensed physical therapist and Postdoctoral Researcher at the Laboratory for Rehabilitation Neuroscience. He earned his Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree from Western Carolina University and completed his PhD in Exercise Science at the University of South Carolina, where he investigated cortical sensorimotor brain dynamics during movement in individuals with chronic low back pain.

Research Interests

Dr. Gilliam’s research is dedicated to exploring the intricate relationships between brain structure/function and chronic musculoskeletal pain, with a particular focus on the interplay between movement and pain. His current work employs diffusion and functional imaging techniques to examine brain alterations in individuals suffering from chronic shoulder pain associated with rotator cuff pathology.

Selected Publications

Gilliam JR, Mandal D, Wattananon P, Banerjee S, Herter TM, Silfies SP. Vibration-Induced Alteration in Trunk Extensor Muscle Proprioception as a Model for Impaired Trunk Control in Low Back Pain. Brain Sciences. 2024; 14(7):657. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci14070657

Gilliam JR, Song A, Sahu PK, Silfies SP. Test-retest reliability and construct validity of trunk extensor muscle force modulation accuracy. PloS one. 2023 Aug 17;18(8):e0289531. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0289531.

Gilliam JR, George SZ, Norman KS, Hendren S, Sahu PK, Silfies SP. Mind-Body Exercise Performed by Physical Therapists for Reducing Pain and Disability in Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review with Meta-analysis. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2022 Dec 17:S0003-9993(22)01674-4. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2022.10.004.

George SZ, Fritz JM, Silfies SP, Schneider MJ, Beneciuk JM, Lentz TA, Gilliam JR, Hendren S, Norman KS. Interventions for the Management of Acute and Chronic Low Back Pain: Revision 2021. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2021 Nov;51(11):CPG1-CPG60. doi:10.2519/jospt.2021.0304. PMID: 34719942.

johngilliam@ufl.edu