Christopher Papic

Dr Christopher Papic is a Research Fellow at The University of Queensland's RECOVER Injury Research Centre within the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences. He is also an Affiliate of the Centre for Innovation in Pain and Health Research (CIPHeR) and holds an honorary academic position at the University of New England as a Lecturer in Clinical Exercise Physiology. With 10 years of clinical experience as an Exercise Physiologist (ESSA), he specializes in musculoskeletal rehabilitation and pain management following traumatic injuries.

Education:

• Bachelor of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, University of Sydney
• Masters (Research) of Exercise and Sport Science, University of Sydney
• Doctor of Philosophy of Exercise and Sport Science, University of Sydney

Dr Papic has a dual research focus spanning sports biomechanics (particularly swimming performance) and health outcomes following road traffic injuries. His work in implementation science centers on translating research into practice, notably through the development of Australian whiplash clinical guidelines. He co-leads the 'Knowledge translation, education and implementation' theme for CIPHeR, focusing on optimizing pain management after traumatic injury.

His publication record demonstrates expertise across two seemingly disparate fields: swimming biomechanics and rehabilitation medicine. The swimming research focuses on hydrodynamics, drag measurement, and technique optimization, while his clinical work addresses pain management, work incapacity after traffic injuries, and guideline implementation. This unique interdisciplinary approach bridges sports science with clinical rehabilitation.

Scientific Recognition:

• World Physiotherapy Congress 2023 - Best Paper Award
• Presentations at International Association for the Study of Pain 2024
• Workshop presentations at Australian Physiotherapy Association 2023 and Australian Pain Society 2024

Dr Papic is actively involved in knowledge translation, with his whiplash guidelines informing training packages used by insurance claims managers across Australia and the Netherlands. He currently supervises students and has secured funding from the Motor Accident Insurance Commission for projects including 'StressModex' for inpatient care following orthopedic road trauma and the 'RISE' text messaging pilot study for road traffic injury recovery. His clinical background as an Exercise Physiologist informs both his research methodology and practical implementation strategies.

Dr Papic leads international guideline development efforts for chronic non-specific neck pain and has created the MyWhiplashNavigator platform with educational resources for healthcare professionals and insurers. His work bridges biomechanical research with clinical application, creating measurable impact in both sports performance and trauma rehabilitation fields.