Matthew Willett

Matthew Willett is a Lecturer in Neuromusculoskeletal Physiotherapy at the School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham. He serves as the programme lead for the MSc Exercise and Sports Medicine (Football) and contributes to teaching across multiple postgraduate and pre-registration physiotherapy programmes. His clinical background includes extensive experience in musculoskeletal physiotherapy, working with elite athletes and chronic pain patients.

• Bachelor of Physiotherapy, University of Otago, New Zealand (2003)
• MSc in Advanced Manipulative Physiotherapy, University of Birmingham (2014)
• Registered with HCPC, Member of MCSP and MMACP

His research focuses on the neurophysiological and psychosocial aspects of pain, interventions to improve physical activity in chronic pain patients, and sports medicine. He employs qualitative, systematic review, and clinical study methodologies to explore barriers to physical activity and central sensitization in conditions like osteoarthritis.

The recent articles highlight a strong trend in behaviour change techniques within physiotherapy, physical activity adherence in osteoarthritis, and injury prevention in football. His work spans clinical populations and elite sports, reflecting a dual focus on rehabilitation science and performance medicine.

He is actively involved in research supervision and welcomes MSc dissertation projects in areas such as pain mechanisms, behaviour change, and systematic review methodology.

Matthew combines his academic role with clinical practice as an extended scope practitioner, specializing in triage, injection therapy, and rehabilitation for sports injuries and chronic pain.