Katrina S. Monroe

Katrina S. Monroe is a Professor in the School of Physical Therapy at San Diego State University (SDSU). She is a licensed physical therapist (CA #299206) with expertise in psychosocially and culturally informed physical therapy approaches to chronic musculoskeletal pain. Her research focuses on

• Mechanisms of chronic pain
• Telerehabilitation interventions
• Health disparities in spine pain rehabilitation
• Neurophysiological determinants of pain

Dr. Monroe leads the Applied Sensorimotor Research Laboratory and has secured over $5M in extramural funding from NIH, VA, and other institutions. She has mentored 22 funded research projects and specializes in

• Quantitative sensory testing
• Electromyography (EMG)
• Movement science
• Pain biomarkers

Her recent publications (2020-2025) examine

• Multilevel interventions for Latino patients with chronic spine pain
• Neuroimaging of brain network connectivity in veterans
• Pain-physical activity interactions in fibromyalgia
• Cortical inhibition in chronic neck pain

Scientific honors include

• WUSTL Distinguished Alumni Award
• SDSU Most Influential Faculty
• NOVEL Award for Outstanding Research

Dr. Monroe is also a member of the American Physical Therapy Association and International Association for the Study of Pain, with clinical expertise in

• Spine pain rehabilitation
• Neuromuscular retraining
• Stress-related pain conditions