Michael L. Caruso

Michael L. Caruso, DPT, is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Department of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Science. With over four decades in physical therapy, his work focuses on orthopedic rehabilitation, low back pain management, and ergonomic interventions.

• BS in Business Administration, University of Dayton (1971)
• BS in Physical Therapy, Old Dominion University (1981)
• Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), College of St Scholastica (2020)

His research interests span Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, emphasizing Back Pain, Chronic Pain Management, and Functional Capacity Evaluation. Publications highlight industrial rehabilitation standards and acute low back pain protocols.

He has received notable awards including the Kendall Award (1998) and a Governor's Citation (1999). Caruso has presented extensively on workers' compensation, ergonomics, and pain behavior objectification.

As a Lifetime Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists and a long-standing member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), his career combines clinical expertise with policy contributions, including co-chairing the Maryland Joint Task Force on Rehabilitation of the Injured Worker.