Benjamin Boyd

Programs and Courses Taught

PT 711 Patient/Client Management: Musculoskeletal I
PT 712 Patient/Client Management: Musculoskeletal II
PT 716 Patient/Client Management: Musculoskeletal III
PT 720 Evidence-Based Practice Seminar
PT 738 Musculoskeletal Medical Management and Imaging I
PT 739 Musculoskeletal Medical Management and Imaging II

About Me

I have extensive clinical experience as an outpatient physical therapist in multiple practice settings throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, most recently at Stanford Tri-Valley in Livermore, where I developed and led a persistent pain program.  I have worked with patients presenting with a wide range of neuromusculoskeletal conditions, with particular interest and expertise in persistent pain and disorders involving the peripheral nervous system. My clinical background continues to inform my teaching and clinical education.
I grew up in the East Bay and continue to enjoy the rich diversity of cultures, events, foods, and outdoor recreational activities that the San Francisco Bay Area has to offer.

Education

I earned my Master of Science in Physical Therapy in 2002 from the joint program at the University of California, San Francisco and San Francisco State University (UCSF/SFSU).  I later returned to earn my Doctor of Physical Therapy Science degree in 2008. That same year, I received certification as an Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist (OCS) through the American Physical Therapy Association.

Teaching Interests

My teaching philosophy prioritizes interaction, discussion, and learner engagement over didactic instruction. I enjoy facilitating a constructivist learning environment, guiding learners to explore concepts through collaborative sense-making. I value an iterative approach, revisiting and building upon complex concepts, to help novices gradually deepen their knowledge and skill.

Scholarly Interests

I have been involved in research examining neuropathic pain conditions, including the mechanosensitivity of the nervous system in people with Diabetes Mellitus and in women following breast cancer treatment.

Publications

Lamb C, Boyd BS, Wallwork S.  Managing chronic non-specific neck pain with multimodal physical therapy treatment, including modified graded motor imagery with action observation. a case report.  J Orthop Sports Phys Ther Cases.  2025;5(2):1-18.
Smoot BJ, Nee RJ, Boyd BS.  Associations between body image, Kinesiophobia, and pain in women post breast cancer treatment.  Rehab Onc.  2024;42(2):74-84.

Broberg MA, Boyd BS.  Similarities between explaining dizziness and explaining pain? Exploring common patient experiences, theoretical models, treatment approaches and potential therapeutic narratives for persistent dizziness and pain.  Physiother Theory Pract.  2022;39(12):2502-2519.

Boyd BS, Smoot BS, Nee RJ.  Left/right judgement task for the chest region, Part 2: evidence for mental maneuvering in performance during chest versus shoulder regions t.  Rehab Onc.  2022;40(2):71-81.

Boyd BS, Smoot BS, Nee RJ.  Left/right judgement task for the chest region, Part 1: performance outcomes in healthy women compared to women post breast cancer treatment.  Rehab Onc.  2022;40(2):60-70.

Nee RJ, Coppieters MW, Boyd BS.  Reliability of the straight leg raise test for suspected lumbar radicular pain: a systematic review with meta-analysis.  Musculoskelet Sci Pract.  2022;59:102529.

Mallari B, Spaeth EK, Goh H, Boyd BS.  Virtual reality as an analgesic for acute and chronic pain in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.  J Pain Res.  2019;12:2053-2085.

Broberg MA, Boyd BS, Backer T.  Reflections on early attempts to provide pain neuroscience education in conjunction with biopsychosocial care from the patient and interprofessional team perspective.  J Humanities Rehab.  2019;May:1-19.

Boyd BS, Nee RJ, Smoot B. Safety of lower extremity neurodynamic exercises in adults with Diabetes Mellitus: a feasibility study.  J Man Manip Ther. 2017;25(1):30-38.  

Boyd BS, Dilley A. Altered tibial nerve biomechanics in patients with diabetes mellitus. Muscle Nerve. 2014;50(2):216-223.

Professional Affiliations & Memberships

American Physical Therapy Association (Orthopedic section member) 2000-present

Community Service

At Samuel Merritt University, I served on the Institutional Review Board for seven years, chaired the Faculty Organization Research Committee, and participated in university-wide work groups on technology, classroom design, scholarship, and grants. Within the department, I spent ten years on the Admissions Committee and contributed to curriculum development in health and wellness, Research/Evidence Based Practice, Capstone, and PCM: Musculoskeletal.

Honors & Awards