Rate My Professor Mark Overton

Dr Mark Overton served as Clinical Lecturer in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Musculoskeletal Medicine at the University of Otago, Christchurch, within the Division of Health Sciences, from May 2021 to January 2025. A graduate of the University of Otago School of Physiotherapy, Overton completed his Bachelor of Physiotherapy and subsequently pursued a Master of Physiotherapy between February 2010 and June 2017, motivated by an interest in occupational health physiotherapy sparked during an undergraduate placement at Southern Rehab in Christchurch, where he valued the holistic rehabilitation of individuals with persistent pain and barriers to work participation. He furthered his education with a PhD in the field of Pain from the University of Otago, awarded in 2023, based on his thesis titled "Does pain phenotyping predict pain and functional outcomes in people with persistent musculoskeletal pain?" Prior to his academic role, Overton held the position of Clinical Lead Physiotherapist at Southern Rehab in Christchurch from October 2017 to March 2020.

Mark Overton's research specializations include rehabilitation physiotherapy, musculoskeletal disorders, injury prevention, clinical research in persistent pain, and occupational health, with a particular emphasis on knee osteoarthritis pain experiences using ecological momentary assessments, longitudinal studies on activity-related pain and sensitization, and biopsychosocial factors. His key publications feature "Electromyography of neck and shoulder muscles in instrumental musicians with musculoskeletal pain compared to asymptomatic controls: A systematic review and meta-analysis" (Musculoskeletal Science and Practice, 2018); "Physical activity levels and injury prevention knowledge and practice of a cohort of carpentry students" (New Zealand Journal of Physiotherapy, 2016); "Activity-related pain predicts pain and functional outcomes in people with knee osteoarthritis: a longitudinal study" (Frontiers in Pain Research, 2023); "Are ecological momentary assessments of pain valid and reliable? A systematic review and meta-analysis" (The Clinical Journal of Pain, 2023); "Experiences and perceptions of using smartphone ecological momentary assessment for reporting knee osteoarthritis pain and symptoms" (The Clinical Journal of Pain, 2023); and "Understanding the biopsychosocial knee osteoarthritis pain experience: an ecological momentary assessment" (Pain Reports, 2024). These works, often in collaboration with researchers such as Nicola Swain, Ram Mani, and David Gwynne-Jones, advance clinical understanding and management of musculoskeletal pain.