Chris Ashbeck

Chris Ashbeck serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point while maintaining active clinical practice as owner of Pinnacle Performance Therapy since 2023. He holds significant leadership positions within the American Physical Therapy Association, currently chairing the APTA-WI North Central District and co-chairing the Pain Special Interest Group.

His educational qualifications include:

• Doctorate in Physical Therapy (DPT) from UW-La Crosse (2017)
• ABPTS Board-Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (2019)
• ABPTRFE Orthopedic Residency Specialized Physical Therapy Education (2019)
• B.S. in Exercise and Sport Science from UW-La Crosse (2012)

Ashbeck's research focuses on orthopedic rehabilitation with specialized expertise in persistent pain management and neuromusculoskeletal conditions. His leadership in transforming the opioid abuse task force into the Pain Special Interest Group demonstrates his commitment to advancing evidence-based pain management practices. He actively promotes physical therapists as primary providers for pain conditions through statewide education initiatives targeting PTs, PTAs, OTs, and COTAs.

His scholarly contributions include a 2018 publication examining injury patterns in CrossFit training, reflecting his broader research interests in sports rehabilitation and exercise safety. This work contributes to understanding comparative risks across exercise modalities and informs injury prevention strategies in athletic populations.

Ashbeck received the APTA Emerging Leader Award in 2023 for his exceptional service to the profession. His leadership extends to organizing Wisconsin's state conferences through the professional development committee and advocating for the profession's advancement at district and state levels.

As Co-Chair of the Pain Special Interest Group, Ashbeck leads a multidisciplinary team focused on improving pain management knowledge among rehabilitation professionals. The group's initiatives position physical therapists as frontline providers for patients with persistent pain through evidence-based practice implementation and interdisciplinary collaboration.