Harry von Piekartz

Prof. Dr. Harry von Piekartz is a Professor of Physiotherapy at the Institute for Health Professions, part of the Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences at Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences. His academic journey includes a B.Sc. in Physiotherapy (1985), M.Sc. (1999), and a PhD in Movement and Rehabilitation Science (2005). He has over three decades of clinical experience as a physical and manual therapist, specializing in orofacial pain, chronic injuries, and craniofacial therapy.

Key roles include founding the Cranial Facial Therapy Academy (CRAFTA) in 2002, serving as President of CRAFTA since 2006, and leading research in craniofacial dysfunction, chronic pain neurobiology, and manual therapy techniques. He is a Fellow of the International College of Craniomandibular Orthopaedics (ICCMO-DE) and collaborates with institutions like Curtin University (Australia) and the Neuro-Orthopaedic Institute (NOI). His teaching spans master's programs in musculoskeletal therapy and continues at Osnabrück.

Research focuses on facial laterality, emotion recognition in pain patients, functional sonography for nerve assessment, and musculoskeletal rehabilitation. Ongoing projects include the MusicPhysioAnalysis initiative, analyzing movement patterns in musicians. Over 50 peer-reviewed publications address topics like TMD treatment efficacy, neurodynamic testing, and posture-balance relationships.

Prof. von Piekartz chairs the Master of Science in Musculoskeletal Therapy program and serves on editorial boards for journals like Journal of Rehabilitation. His clinical expertise bridges manual therapy with advanced diagnostic tools, emphasizing evidence-based practice and interdisciplinary collaboration.