Rate My Professor Michael Zarro

Dr. Michael Zarro is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, with a joint appointment in the Department of Orthopedics. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from the University of Maryland, College Park in 2009 and a Doctor of Physical Therapy from the University of Maryland School of Medicine in 2012. His career began as a Physical Therapist at MedStar National Rehabilitation Network in 2012, where he advanced to Clinic Coordinator in 2013 and held clinical positions until 2018. From 2015 to 2018, he served as Team Physical Therapist for the Loyola University Maryland Greyhounds, developing and leading their sports physical therapy program. Since 2018, Zarro has been Team Physical Therapist for the University of Maryland Terrapins at College Park, and since 2021 for the University of Maryland, Baltimore County Retrievers, providing musculoskeletal care, injury prevention, and return-to-sport rehabilitation for Division I athletes. Academically, he joined as Adjunct Professor in 2016 and was appointed Assistant Professor in 2018. He teaches human anatomy, biomechanics, musculoskeletal rehabilitation, sports rehabilitation, and exercise prescription, while mentoring graduate students in clinical and research projects.

A board-certified Sports Clinical Specialist since 2015, Zarro holds additional certifications as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, APTA Credentialed Clinical Instructor, Emergency Medical Responder, and in dry needling, blood flow restriction training, dynamic neuromuscular stabilization, and spinal manipulation. He earned the International Olympic Committee Diploma in Sports Physical Therapy in 2017. His research focuses on sports physical therapy, including ACL reconstruction outcomes, return-to-sport testing, roles of physical therapists in collegiate athletics, bone stress injuries, running injuries, post-concussion syndrome, throwing injuries, and tendinopathy management. Key publications include "Hop to It! The Relationship Between Hop Tests and The Anterior Cruciate Ligament - Return to Sport Index After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in NCAA Division 1 Collegiate Athletes" (International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, 2023), "Roles And Responsibilities Of The Physical Therapist In Collegiate Athletics: Results Of A National Survey" (International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, 2022), "Single-Leg Vertical Hop Test Detects Greater Limb Asymmetries Than Horizontal Hop Tests After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in NCAA Division 1 Collegiate Athletes" (International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, 2021), and "Extensor Carpi Ulnaris Tendinopathy in Athletes: A Review of the Conservative and Rehabilitative Options" (Hand, 2022). Zarro received the MedStar National Rehabilitation Network Hero Award in 2017 and Alumni of the Year from the Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science in 2023. He chairs the Professional and Collegiate Sports Special Interest Group of the American Academy of Sports Physical Therapy, serves as Maryland State Legislative Representative, and reviews manuscripts for journals.