Biography
Michaël Bertrand-Charette is a physiotherapist-clinician and regular professor in the physiotherapy program at the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi. His research expertise focuses on musculoskeletal injuries, proprioception and motor control, as well as the interaction between these themes and pain. To this end, he uses various innovative approaches (transcranial magnetic stimulation, electrical stimulators, tendon vibration, etc.) to study the integration of sensorimotor information and the underlying mechanisms, while enabling him to better understand the impact of rehabilitation on musculoskeletal injuries in order to maximize return to function.
Why did you choose to study pain management?
During my transition from master’s to PhD, I had the opportunity to redirect my choice of research theme. I was working as a physiotherapist at the time and I decided to opt for a pain related theme, as this is one of the main reasons for which patients seek our advice. I was well aware that pain can have a significant impact on people living with it, and that it can also interfere with rehabilitation. However, as I looked into the scientific literature, I noticed that there is a lack of knowledge about the interaction between pain and rehabilitation of certain conditions. This led me to focus my doctorate in the field of pain with an interest to improving knowledge and care in rehabilitation.
