Emilio "Louie" Puentedura, PT, DPT, PhD
Clinical Professor
Department of Physical Therapy
Dr. Puentedura has been a practicing orthopedic manual therapist for over 44 years, earning his Bachelor of Applied Science in Physiotherapy in 1980 and a Graduate Diploma in Manipulative Therapy in 1983 from La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia. After 15 years of clinical practice in Australia, he moved to the United States and became board certified in Orthopedic Physical Therapy in 1997 and completed a post-professional Doctorate in Physical Therapy in 2005 at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona, and a PhD in Physical Therapy in 2011 at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Dr. Puentedura completed 10 years on faculty as Assistant and then Associate Professor of the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. Dr. Puentedura has taught physical therapists and physical therapy students for more than 30 years and has published more than 100 scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals since 2010. His works have been cited over 5300 times (h-index: 35, i10-index: 63). Additionally, he has co-authored several textbooks and book chapters, and has presented many peer-reviewed presentations. He has received several awards including the Rose Excellence in Research Award from the Orthopedic Section of the American Physical Therapy Association, the John Medeiros Award from the Journal of Manual and Manipulative Therapy, and presentation awards at the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists Annual Conferences in 2012 and 2016.
Current Research Interests
- Pain Neuroscience Education
- Safety and precision in the delivery of manual and manipulative therapy
- Mechanisms and effects of dry needling
- Best practice education of physical therapy students in manual and manipulative therapy, and dry needling
Current Courses Taught
- DPT 6610 Human Anatomy
- DPT 6620 Musculoskeletal System I
- DPT 6151 Pain Science
