Michel Mertens

Michel, a physiotherapist (2006, Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences) and human movement scientist (2008, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam), has dedicated nearly a decade to specializing in various fields, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and vascular training, sports and knee rehabilitation, and more recently, shoulder rehabilitation. Alongside his clinical work, he pursued further academic studies, earning a Master’s in Sports Physiotherapy (2013, Utrecht University of Applied Sciences) and completing numerous specialized courses.

Transitioning from clinical practice, Michel joined the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy at the University of Antwerp in late 2017 as a graduate teaching and research assistant. There, he engaged in teaching, thesis supervision, and program development for rehabilitation sciences and physiotherapy students. He was also an active member of the internship committee and contributed significantly to research, culminating in a PhD dissertation on the prognosis and natural history of frozen shoulder. To date, Michel has 25 peer-reviewed publications (16 as the first author, 2 as the last author), has co-authored one book, contributed to three books, and written five blog articles.

His contributions extend beyond academia; Michel has delivered 11 presentations and workshops at (inter)national conferences, conducted over 20 courses for clinicians and athletes, and served in various committee roles, including as a steering committee member of the Pain in Motion research network. His expertise is widely recognized, placing him in the top 0.096% worldwide for bursitis, as ranked by www.expertscape.com.