Dr Michael Mansfield PhD MSc BSc (Hons) MCSP MMACP FHEA

Dr Michael Mansfield

School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences
Assistant Professor Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy

Contact details

Address
School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
UK

Michael Mansfield is a Lecturer in Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy. His work focuses on improving outcomes in musculoskeletal and orthopaedic care, with particular expertise in evidence synthesis and psychophysical methods. Michael has held senior leadership and advanced practice roles across academic, public, and independent healthcare sectors, bringing an applied, interdisciplinary approach to both research and education.

Qualifications

  • PhD Health Sciences, University of East Anglia, 2024
  • MSc Advanced Neuromusculoskeletal Physiotherapy (MACP Approved), University of Hertfordshire, 2012
  • BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy, University of Hertfordshire, 2006
  • Fellowship Advance Higher Education - FHEA (Higher Education Academy)

Biography

Dr Michael Mansfield is a Lecturer in Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy at the University of Birmingham. He holds a PhD in Health Sciences from the University of East Anglia, an MSc in Advanced Neuromusculoskeletal Physiotherapy (MACP accredited), and a BSc (Hons) in Physiotherapy. With over 20 years of experience in physiotherapy, Michael has worked across NHS, independent, sporting, and academic sectors.

Michael is the academic lead for ALIGN (Arthroplasty & Orthopaedics Interdisciplinary Group for Evidence & Outcomes), a research network focused on improving musculoskeletal health outcomes and reducing inequalities in orthopaedic care. His research expertise includes evidence synthesis, mixed methods design, and psychophysics, including the use of quantitative sensory testing to investigate somatosensory profiles.

He has led the design and delivery of physiotherapy education and research programmes in higher education and is recognised for his contributions to research-informed teaching and academic leadership. Michael has received several awards from the Musculoskeletal Association of Chartered Physiotherapists and the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy for excellence in research and education. Michael is Co-Editor-in-Chief of Pain and Rehabilitation, the journal of the Physiotherapy Pain Association. He is also a Fellow of Advance HE (FHEA). Michael is a member of the Physiotherapy Pain Association and collaborates with health technology partners on knowledge exchange and consultancy projects that translate evidence into practical innovation.

Teaching

  • MSc Advanced Manipulative Physiotherapy
  • MSc (Pre-registration) Physiotherapy

Postgraduate supervision

Michael welcomes enquiries about doctoral supervision aligned with his research on musculoskeletal health outcomes, service delivery, and rehabilitation equity. Areas of supervision include:

  • Exploring disparities in musculoskeletal and orthopaedic health outcomes, including underrepresented and underserved populations
  • Evaluation of rehabilitation pathways, service design, or models of care following joint replacement or musculoskeletal injury
  • Use of evidence synthesis methodologies to inform clinical or policy decisions
  • Investigating associations between physical activity, psychosocial factors, and recovery trajectories in musculoskeletal conditions
  • Identifying pain phenotypic expressions in a wide range of clinical populations. Using methodologies such as psychophysics

Research

Research interests:

  • Systematic review and evidence synthesis methodologies to inform clinical decision-making and healthcare policy
  • Health inequalities and outcome variation in musculoskeletal and orthopaedic care
  • Interdisciplinary approaches to improving rehabilitation pathways, particularly in orthopaedic surgery and musculoskeletal pain conditions
  • Identification and interpretation of underlying mechanisms in musculoskeletal and neuropathic pain presentations

Other activities

2020-To date

  • Visiting Research Associate, Bannister Laboratory, Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases, King’s College London.
  •  Associate Editor of Pain and Rehabilitation - the Journal of Physiotherapy Pain Association.

https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/ppa/pr

2011-To date 

  • Musculoskeletal Association of Chartered Physiotherapists (MMACP) Full accredited member

2006-To date 

  • Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (MCSP) Full member
  • Health and Social Care Professions Council (HCPC) Full member

2017-2021                  

  • Executive committee member Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, Physiotherapy Research Society

Publications

Recent publications

Article

Wongwitwichote, K, Yu, CWG, Mansfield, M, Deane, J & Falla, D 2025, 'Can physical and psychological factors predict pain recurrence or an exacerbation of persistent non-specific low back pain? A protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis', BMJ open, vol. 15, e096594. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2024-096594

Yu, CWG, Wongwitwichote, K, Mansfield, M, Deane, J & Falla, D 2025, 'Physical and psychological predictors for persistent and recurrent neck pain: A protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis', BMJ open, vol. 15, no. 2, e094967. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2024-094967

Mansfield, M, Jong, S & Smith, T 2025, '“You do it to cover your own back”: The assessment of cervical spine radiculopathy among physiotherapists in the United Kingdom. A mixed methods research study.', PLoS ONE, vol. 20, no. 7, e0325922. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0325922

FieldWalker, A, Patel, R, Zhao, L, Kucharczyk, M, Mansfield, M & Bannister, K 2024, 'A parallel human and rat investigation of the interaction between descending and spinal modulatory mechanisms', European Journal of Pain.

Annison, D, Abedi, A & Mansfield, M 2024, 'Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis Presenting As Non-specific Low Back Pain: A Case Report on Diagnostic Challenges and Management in Primary Care', Cureus, vol. 16, no. 4, e58084. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.58084

Holmes, M, Miller, C & Mansfield, M 2024, 'Rehabilitation of stage-one scapholunate instability (ReSOS): An online survey of UK practice.', Hand Therapy. https://doi.org/10.1177/17589983241268056

Mansfield, M, Thacker, M, Taylor, JL, Bannister, K, Spahr, N, Jong, S & Smith, TO 2023, 'The association between psychosocial factors and mental health symptoms in cervical spine pain with or without radiculopathy on health outcomes: a systematic review', BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, vol. 24, 235. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-023-06343-8

Smith, TO, Mansfield, M, Sarah, H, Allie, W, Khoury, R, Clark, A, Dures, E & Adams, J 2022, 'Caregiving for older people living with chronic pain: analysis of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing and Health Survey for England', British Journal of Pain. https://doi.org/10.1177/20494637221144250

Abstract

Mansfield, M, Thacker, M, Taylor, J, Bannister, K, Spahr, N, Jong, S & Smith, T 2024, 'CSP2023: 78 The association between psychosocial factors and mental health symptoms in cervical spine pain with or without radiculopathy on health outcomes', Physiotherapy, vol. 123, no. Supplement 1, pp. e11-e12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physio.2024.04.015

Poster

Jones, S, Willett, M, Mansfield, M & Stephens, G 2023, 'Late-stage rehabilitation and return to sports for Anterior Cruciate Ligament reconstructions (ACL-R): A Physiotherapy Survey', CSP Annual Conference 2023, United Kingdom, 24/10/23 - 10/11/23.

Joseph, T, Mansfield, M, Cummins, T, MacMahon, S, Fielding, A, Graven-Nielsen, T & Bannister, K 2022, 'Does activation of a descending modulatory control impact the development of secondary hyperalgesia', The World Congress on Pain (IASP 2022), Toronto, 19/09/22 - 23/09/22.

Review article

Mansfield, M, Kumar, V & Stephens, G 2024, 'Can Preoperative Quantitative Sensory Testing Predict Persistent Post-operative Knee Pain following Total Knee Replacement? A Systematic Review', Physiotherapy Practice and Research, vol. 45, no. 1, pp. 77-93. https://doi.org/10.3233/PPR-240892

Huisman, D, Mansfield, M, Cummins, TM, Rona Moss-Morris, R, McMahon, SB & Bannister, K 2024, 'Gastrointestinal pain: a systematic review of temporal summation of pain paradigms and outcomes', European Journal of Pain. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejp.2283

Mansfield, M, Roviello, G, Thacker, M, Willett, M, Bannister, K & Smith, TO 2024, 'The association between conditioned pain modulation and psychological factors in people with chronic spinal pain: A systematic review', British Journal of Pain, pp. 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1177/20494637241229970

Deng, M & Mansfield, M 2022, 'Association between Body Weight and Body Mass Index and Patellar Tendinopathy in Elite Basketball and Volleyball Players: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis', Healthcare, vol. 10, no. 10, 1928. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10101928

View all publications in research portal