Yannick Tousignant-Laflamme

Yannick Tousignant-Laflamme is a Full Professor in the Physiotherapy Program at the School of Rehabilitation, Université de Sherbrooke, where he has been a faculty member since 2008. He also served as a Visiting Scholar at Duke University's Doctor of Physical Therapy Division from 2016-2017. His research is conducted through the Centre de recherche du CHUS, focusing on chronic pain management associated with musculoskeletal disorders, particularly low back pain.

His educational background includes:

• Postdoctoral studies in Biomedical Sciences from Université de Montréal (2011)
• PhD in Clinical Sciences from Université de Sherbrooke (2008), with thesis on "Le role des hormones sexuelles dans la douleur chez des femmes saines"
• Master's degree in Clinical Sciences from Université de Sherbrooke (2005), with thesis on "The relationship between heart rate and pain"
• Bachelor of Science from Université d'Ottawa (1999)
• Certification McKenzie (Cr. MDT)
• Registered Physical Therapist (PT)

Professor Tousignant-Laflamme's research focuses on three main axes: 1) improving the management of low back pain in rehabilitation; 2) chronic pain management; and 3) personalization of rehabilitation care for musculoskeletal disorders. His work advances knowledge and practices in low back pain, chronic pain management, and personalized rehabilitation care. He collaborates with research teams to develop and validate assessment tools to support clinicians in measuring pain, functional limitations, and other deficits related to musculoskeletal disorders. His research integrates biopsychosocial approaches to understand pain mechanisms and develop targeted interventions.

His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on prognostic tools, pain phenotyping, psychologically-informed physiotherapy, and implementation of evidence-based practices. The Pain and Disability Drivers Management Model appears as a central framework in many of his studies, showing his commitment to developing and validating clinical decision-making tools that address the multidimensional nature of pain. His work spans from basic assessment tool development to large implementation studies aiming to transform clinical practice.

His scientific achievements have been recognized with numerous awards:

• Fellow, Ordre Professionnel de la Physiothérapie du Québec (2022)
• President of the executive committee, Canadian Council of Physiotherapy University Programs (CCPUP) (2020)
• Physical Therapy Program Teaching Award, Université de Sherbrooke
• Prix Alice-Girard for French-language publication, Fonds de recherche du Québec - Santé (FRQS)
• Multiple best presentation and publication awards from Université de Sherbrooke and other institutions
• Board membership with McKenzie Institute Canada and Ordre professionnel de la physiothérapie du Québec (OPPQ)

Professor Tousignant-Laflamme has secured significant research funding as principal investigator and co-investigator, with recent grants totaling over $3 million from agencies including Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Fonds de recherche du Québec - Santé (FRQS), and Veterans Affairs Canada. His current projects focus on validating quality indicators for chronic pain management, improving disability outcomes in chronic low back pain, evaluating integrated care models for Long COVID, and implementing the Pain and Disability Drivers Management Model across various clinical settings. He actively collaborates with national and international research networks to advance knowledge translation and implementation of evidence-based practices in pain management and rehabilitation.

He leads the development of the MAPS (Measures Associated to PrognoStic) tool, which aims to personalize rehabilitation care for individuals with musculoskeletal disorders by establishing prognostic profiles. His work bridges clinical practice and research through active engagement with healthcare providers, policymakers, and patient stakeholders to ensure that research findings translate into improved patient outcomes.