Pedro Almeida, PhD, MScOT, BScOT

Portrait of Pedro Almeida

Affiliate Assistant Professor

phone: TBA

ptavares@unbc.ca

Profile

I completed my Bachelor in Occupational Therapy in 2009 at the Federal University of São Carlos in Brazil, where I also obtained my Master’s in Occupational Therapy in 2012. I then transitioned to an academic position at the University of Brasília, where I started a research program focused on the occupational performance issues experienced by clients living with rheumatological conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and scleroderma.

In 2016, I earned my PhD in Health Sciences from the University of Brasília, during which I had the opportunity to conduct part of my studies at McMaster University’s Faculty of Health Sciences. Between 2019 and 2021, I completed my postdoctoral training at the University of Western Ontario and the Hand and Upper Limb Centre at St. Joseph’s Hospital.

My research is centered on understanding the occupational performance issues experienced by individuals living with rheumatic and musculoskeletal conditions through quantifiable biomechanical methods of analysis, such as surface electromyography and kinematic analysis. This work aims to provide objective, measurable data to assess and enhance therapeutic interventions, ultimately contributing to engage patients in meaningful occupations and creating client-centered solutions for the challenges they face.

One of the most rewarding aspects of my career is collaborating with clients and colleagues from diverse disciplines to enhance our understanding and improve the quality of life for adults affected by musculoskeletal conditions. Outside of my work, I enjoy spending time with my family, balancing my busy life with a healthy dose of coffee.

Research

My research focuses on the occupational performance issues of clients living with physical limitations due to chronic and acute musculoskeletal conditions.

I am particularly interested in understanding the biomechanical modifications experienced by adults living with rheumatic and orthopedic conditions and how these differences affect their occupational repertoire.

Expertise in upper extremity rehabilitation, electromyographic and kinematic analyses as an innovative way to analyze occupational performance issues, allowing sharing this inquiry line with multiple fields of knowledge and producing multidisciplinary solutions for clients experiencing occupational disruption due to physical conditions.

Teaching

The majority of my teaching will be from the UBC Prince George site.

Graduate and Postdoctoral Research Opportunities

Future Research Graduate Students

Please contact Pedro directly to inquire about opportunities.

Affiliations

  • Canadian Association of Occupational Therapy (member)
  • American Association of Occupational Therapy (member)
  • World Federation of Occupational Therapists (member)
  • College of Occupational Therapists, Ontario, Canada (Registered Occupational Therapist)
  • Massachusetts Board of Allied Health Professions, Massachusetts, United States (Registered and Licensed Occupational Therapist)
  • Regional Board of Physical and Occupational Therapy, 11th Region Federal District, Brazil (Registered Occupational Therapist)

Select Publications

*link to articles provided when possible*

  • Canter, B. E., Loitz, Z. M., Richardson, V. E., Pontes, T. B., Katz, L., Berner, K., & Almeida, P. H. (2024). A Pilot Sexual Device Adaptation Project for Occupational Therapy Students: A Skills-Based Approach to Teaching Sexual Activity as an ADL Through Assistive Technology. Journal of Occupational Therapy Education, 8 (1).

  • Barbano, L. M. S., Almeida, P. H. T. Q., Pontes, T. B., & da Cruz, D. C. (2023). Life satisfaction and time-use among full-time and part-time working mothers in Brazil. Work (Reading, Mass.), 10.3233/WOR-220644. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-220644

  • Almeida, P. H. T. Q., Santos, B. B.*, Bernardo, L. D., & MacDermid, J. C. (2022). Does thermoplastics’ thickness influence joint stabilization and movement coordination? An inferential study of wrist orthoses. Prosthetics and orthotics international, 46(6), 633–640. https://doi.org/10.1097/PXR.0000000000000162

  • Lu, Z., Nazari, G., Almeida, P.H.T.Q., Pontes, T. & MacDermid, J.C. (2022) The clinical outcome of physiotherapy after reversed shoulder arthroplasty: a systematic review, Disability and Rehabilitation, 44:23, 6997-7008. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2021.1985633  

  • Nazari, G., Bobos, P., Lu, S., Reischl, S., Almeida, P. H., & MacDermid, J. C. (2022). Psychometric Properties of the Patient-Specific Functional Scale in Patients with Low Back Pathology: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Physiotherapy Canada, 74(1), 6–14. https://doi.org/10.3138/ptc-2020-0042

  • Almeida, P., & MacDermid, J. (2021). Letter to the Editor on “Comparative Effectiveness of Orthoses for Thumb Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis”. Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation, 102(1), 164–165. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2020.08.018
  • Nganji J.T., Murray, E., Cockburn, L., Almeida, P., Mbibeh, L., Stephan, N.M. (2021) , “Smartphones as Alternatives to Computers for Learning and Collaboration in a Multinational Disability-Inclusive Community of Practice,” 2021 Machine Learning-Driven Digital Technologies for Educational Innovation, pp. 1-8, https://doi.org/10.1109/IEEECONF53024.2021.9733748
  • Almeida, P., Bernado, L. D., Pontes, T. B., Davis, J. A., Deodoro, T., Ferreira, R. G., Souza, K. I., & MacDermid, J. C. (2021). Short-Term Impact of Social Distancing Measures During the COVID-19 Pandemic on Cognitive Function and Health Perception of Brazilian Older Adults: A Pre-Post Study. Journal of applied gerontology: the official journal of the Southern Gerontological Society, 7334648211015458. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/07334648211015458
  • Bernado, L.D., Pontes, T. B., Souza, K. I., Ferreira, R. G., Deodoro, T. M. S., Almeida, P. (2021) Activity card sort e o repertório ocupacional de idosos: uma revisão integrativa da literatura. Brazilian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 29 (1). https://doi.org/10.1590/2526-8910.ctoAR2130

  • Bernado, L.D., Pontes, T. B., Souza, K. I., Santos, S. G., Deodoro, T. M. S., Almeida, P. (2020). Cross-cultural adaptation and content validity of the Activity Card Sort for Brazilian Portuguese. Brazilian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 28(4), 1165-1179. https://doi.org/10.4322/2526-8910.ctoao2051
  • Almeida, P., MacDermid, J. C., Dos Santos Couto Paz, C. C., Da Mota, L., Matheus, J. (2020). The immediate effect of thumb orthoses on upper extremity’s movement: A kinematic analysis of five unique devices. Gait & posture, 82, 209–216. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gaitpost.2020.09.008