Dr. Maryse Fortin, PhD, CAT(C)

Thesis supervisor Accepting inquiries

Associate Professor, Health, Kinesiology and Applied Physiology
Concordia University Research Chair in Low Back Pain, Spine Imaging, & Musculoskeletal Health Interventions, Health, Kinesiology and Applied Physiology
Research Scholar Junior 2 - FRQ Santé

Thesis supervision details

Supervised programs: Health and Exercise Science (MSc) | Health and Exercise Science (PhD)

Research areas: Spine; Low Back Pain; Paraspinal muscle morphology; Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy, Neck Pain, Ultrasound; Spinal Disorders; Rehabilitation; Athletic Therapy

Contact information

Email:

maryse.fortin@concordia.ca

ORCID:

0000-0002-1189-3591

Biography

Dr. Fortin is currently an Associate Professor in the department of Health, Kinesiology & Applied Physiology. She also holds a FRQS Research-Scholar Junior 2 and a CURC in Low Back Pain, Spine Imaging and Musculoskeletal Health Interventions.

Education:

Postdoctoral Fellowship, PERFORM Centre, Concordia University, Electrical Engineering

Postdoctoral Fellowship, McGill University, Orthopedic Spine Surgery

PhD, University of Alberta, Rehabilitation Science

BSc, Concordia University, Exercise Science, Specialization Athletic Therapy

Research Interests:

Dr. Fortin research focuses on musculoskeletal spine imaging and rehabilitation, with a particular emphasis on the role of the paxrasinal muscles in the development of low back pain and neck pain. Leveraging advanced MRI and ultrasound imaging, he work quantifies changes in the muscle composition, structure and function over time to better understand their contributions to pain and disability. Her research also evaluates the impact of exercise-based interventions on muscle health, with the goal of informing targeted, mechanisms-driven rehabilitation strategies and improving patients outcomes.

Teaching activities

Courses:

EXCI 610/322: Statistics & Research Design

EXCI 424: Honours Seminar I: Issues and Methods in Exercise Science

EXCI 624: Special Topics in Exercise Science

Publications

Selected publications

Montpetit C, Vaillancout N, Rosenstein B, Wesseling EO, Dover G, Weiss C, Papula LA, Melek A, Weber KA, Elliot JM, Fortin M. Effect of aquatic theraoy vs. standard care on gluteal muscle morphology and function in individuals with chronic low back pain: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil 2026 [In press].

Fortin M, Rosenstein B, Bertrand C, Vaillancourt N, Wrigt A, Monpetit C, Macedo L, Elliott J, Cook CE, Tousignant-Laflamme Y, Ma J, Pagé MG, Dover G, Dang-Vu TT, Weber MH. Strenthening and Targeted Rehabilitation for Optimal Neuromusuclar Gains for chronic BACK pain (STRONG-BACK): protocol for a randomized controlled trial in participants with primary nociceptive pain drivers. BMJ Open 2026;16(3):e115538.

Montpetit C, Kobaisi A, Lantz JM, Chauhan R, Anderson DB, Fortin M. The effect of postoperative rehabilitation on outcomes in patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy: A systematic review. Brain Spine 2026;6:105956.

Sheeran L, Mcllroy S, Wong AYL, Anderson DB, Samartzis D, Bogaert L, Domokos B, Spang C, Fortin M, Hodges PW, Bizzini, M, Dvorak J. The ELEVATE-LBP consortium: exercise & evidence to lead effective vital action in translating excellence for low back pain prevention. Eur Spine J. 2026;9: 10.1007/s00586-025-09674.

Vaillancourt N, Montpetit C, Rosenstein B, Fortin M. Athletic Therapy versus Standard Care on Pain, Disability and Psychological Factors of Chronic Low Back Pain: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. Pain Manag. 2026;16(4):309-321.

Soontjens O, Busher J, Fortin M. Achilles tendon ultrasound-derived properties of the dominant and non-dominant jumping leg of university basketball athletes: relation with performance, range of motion and injury. Front Sports Act Living. 2026;18(8):1753505.

Wolfe D, Rosenstein B, Dover G, Boily M, Fortin M. The Effect of a 10-week Electromyostimulation Intervention with the StimaWELL 120MTRS System on Multifidus Morphology and Function in Chronic Low Back Pain Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Funct Morphol Kinesiol. 2025;10(4):443.

Caron FP, Martin Smith C, Naghdi N, Iorio OC, Bertrand C, Fortin M. Morphological characteristics of the thoracolumbar fascia: relationship to chronic low back pain and back extension strength. Eur Spine J. 2025 Jun 11.

Naghdi N, Masi S, Bertrand C, Rosenstein B, Cohen-Adad J, Rivaz H, Roy M, Fortin M. Ultrasound and MRI-based evaluation of relationships between morphological and mechanical properties of the lower lumbar multifidus muscle in chronic low back pain. Eur Spine J. 2025 Jun 9.