Jason Bennett
Associate Professor of Physical Therapy262.951.3034jbennett@carrollu.edu Office: CGS LL 04
TEACHES IN THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM(S)
Physical Therapy (DPT)Biography
Dr. Jason E. Bennett is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at Carroll University. He is a licensed physical therapist, board-certified clinical specialist in sports physical therapy, and certified athletic trainer with more than 25 years of experience in physical therapy and athletic training. His professional work integrates sports and orthopedic rehabilitation, doctoral education, and clinical research. At Carroll, he coordinates the Orthopedics I, II, and III courses and mentors Doctor of Physical Therapy students in research. His scholarship addresses sports injury risk, bone health, strength assessment, human movement, and rehabilitation outcomes following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. He also serves the profession through residency accreditation site reviews, scholarly peer review, and sports medicine education.
Education
PhD, Orthopaedic and Sports Science — Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions, 2011.
MSPT, Physical Therapy — Clarke University, 1998.
BS, Physical Education and Health (Athletic Training concentration), summa cum laude — University of Wisconsin–Platteville, 1994.
Areas of Specialization
Sports physical therapy and orthopedic rehabilitation; anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and return-to-sport considerations; running-related injuries and bone stress injury risk; strength and performance assessment; three-dimensional movement analysis and force-plate measurement; musculoskeletal rehabilitation; and physical therapy education.
Scholarly and Professional Achievements
Dr. Bennett has published peer-reviewed research on medial tibial stress syndrome and exercise-related leg pain in runners, lower-extremity bone injury risk factors, calcaneal bone density, and exercise performance. Selected journal publications include articles in the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy (2001), International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy (2012, 2015, 2022), Journal of Athletic Training (2015), and International Journal of Exercise Science (2020). He authored or coauthored a chapter on electromyographic biofeedback in the fifth, sixth, and seventh editions of Physical Agents in Rehabilitation (2018, 2022, and 2026), as well as continuing education home-study coursework for sports physical therapists. His peer-reviewed research has been presented at national meetings, including APTA's Combined Sections Meeting, and internationally at the IOC World Conference for Prevention of Injury and Illness in Sport (2017 and 2021). Recent presentations have addressed handheld dynamometer comparisons (2025 and 2026), shoulder muscle activity in archers (2024), and recovery measures following ACL reconstruction (2022).
Honors and Awards
Best Poster, Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions Annual Evidence-Based Practice Symposium (2011); Alpha Eta Honor Society (2013); Marilyn Ott Ratay Scholarship in Physical Therapy (1998); Health and Physical Education Honor Student (1994); Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society (1994); and summa cum laude, University of Wisconsin–Platteville (1994).
Service to Carroll University and Profession
At Carroll University, Dr. Bennett has served as a member of the Academic Steering and Faculty Executive Committees, DPT Faculty Mentor, and a medical provider for Carroll Athletics. His national professional service includes serving as an on-site reviewer for the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education and as an APTA CSM abstract reviewer for the American Academy of Sports Physical Therapy. He serves as a manuscript reviewer for journals including Sports Health, Physical Therapy in Sport, International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, International Journal of Therapy & Rehabilitation, and Journal of Athletic Training.
Community Service
Dr. Bennett has volunteered in sports medicine with USA Wrestling, United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, and the USA Paralympic Shooting Team. He has also provided medical volunteer support at national sporting events, including NCAA wrestling, NCAA Basketball, U.S. Figure Skating, U.S. gymnastics, and marathon events.
What is your teaching style?
My teaching is student-centered, clinically oriented, and grounded in active learning. I use case-based discussions, practical laboratory experiences, and evidence-based clinical reasoning to help students connect foundational concepts to patient examination, differential diagnosis, and intervention planning.
Why do you do what you do?
I enjoy helping future physical therapists develop the knowledge, confidence, and clinical reasoning skills needed to make a meaningful difference in their patients’ lives. Teaching also allows me to connect my interests in sports medicine, rehabilitation, and research while continuing to learn alongside students and colleagues.
How do you make learning engaging?
I bring authentic clinical problems into the classroom through simulated and live patient cases, interactive questioning, and hands-on practice. In orthopedic courses, students apply examination findings to develop a working diagnosis and management plan, then discuss how new information might change their decisions. I emphasize active participation, constructive feedback, and opportunities to practice skills in realistic clinical situations.
What should students know about you?
I am passionate about sports physical therapy and committed to creating an engaging, meaningful, and supportive learning environment that challenges students to grow both personally and professionally. My goal is to inspire students to think critically, develop confidence in their clinical decision-making, and discover their own passion for the profession.
Beyond the classroom, my faith and family are central to who I am. I enjoy reading literature that explores the intersection of medicine and the human experience, coaching my daughter, listening to my son play the piano, and following my twins' careers as military jet and helicopter pilots.
