Rebecca (Rab) Abbott, PT, DPT, PhD

Assistant Professor

Education and Licensure

Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, PhD, Mechanical Engineering, 2021
Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, Doctor of Physical Therapy, 2018
Tufts University, Medford, MA, BS, Mechanical Engineering, 2008
Licensure Information/Registration Number: Physical Therapist, Colorado #PTL.0019732, Minnesota #12539

See CV

Areas of Expertise

Biomechanics Movement Science Rehabilitation Science Joint Hypermobility

Research

Research Interests

Musculoskeletal & Orthopedics

Research Profile

Funded/In Review Grant Activity

Completed Support

NIH/NIAMS F32 AR082276. Abbott (PI). 08/28/2023 – 02/28/2024. Generalized joint hypermobility and chronic neck pain: associations with dynamic cervical spine instability. The goal of this fellowship is to advance Dr. Abbott’s scientific training in the process of better defining the incidence and clinical features of chronic neck pain in individuals with generalized joint hypermobility. Role: Principal Investigator.

Scholarly Agenda

To develop informed diagnostics and rehabilitation interventions to improve outcomes in symptomatic generalized joint hypermobility. The first phase involves determining the role of joint instability in the development of chronic joint pain in joint hypermobility.

Peer Reviewed Publications

Complete List of Published Work in MyBibliography:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/rebecca.abbott.1/bibliography/public/

Abbott, R., Nishimwe, A., Wiputra H., Breighner, R., and Ellingson, AM. A Super-Resolution Algorithm to Fuse Orthogonal CT Volumes using OrthoFusion. Scientific Reports, 15(1), p.1382. (2025). doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-85516-y.

Abbott, R., Cornwall, J., Crawford, R., De Martino, E., Elliott, JM., Galloway, GJ., Hides, J., Hoggarth, MA., McMahon, K., McKay, M., Peek, A., Perraton, Z., Reeve, A., Sheldrick, K., Seitz, A., Semciw, A., Smith, AC., Franettovich Smith, M., Stone, D., Walton, D., Weber, KA., Wesselink, E. Chapter 4.5.3 Advances in Magnetic Resonance Imaging Measures. Grieve's Modern Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy, 5th Edition. United Kingdom: Elsevier Health Sciences, 2024.

McKay MJ, Weber KA, Wesselink EO, Smith ZA, Abbott R, Anderson DB, Ashton-James CE, Atyeo J, Beach AJ, Burns J, Clarke S, et al. MuscleMap: An Open-Source, Community-Supported Consortium for Whole-Body Quantitative MRI of Muscle. Journal of Imaging. 10(11), p.262. (2024). doi: 10.3390/jimaging10110262.

Abbott, R., Elliott, J., Murphey, T. and Acosta, A.M. The role of the deep cervical extensor muscles in multi-directional isometric neck strength. Journal of Biomechanics, 168, p.112096. (2024). doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2024.112096.

Nikpasand, M., Abbott, R., Kage, C., Singh, S., Winkelstein, B., Barocas, V., Ellingson, A. Cervical Facet Capsular Ligament Mechanics: Estimations based on Subject-Specific Anatomy and Kinematics. JOR Spine, (2023)

Koroth, J., Buko, E., Abbott, R., Johnson, C., Ogle, B., Stone, L., Ellingson, A., Bradley, E. Macrophages and Intervertebral Disc Degeneration. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 24, no. 2 (2023): 1367.

Weber, K.A., Abbott, R., Bojilov, V. et al. Multi-muscle deep learning segmentation to automate the quantification of muscle fat infiltration in cervical spine conditions. Sci Rep 11, 16567. (2021).

Smith, A.C., Albin, S.R., Abbott, R. et al. Confirming the geography of fatty infiltration in the deep cervical extensor muscles in whiplash recovery. Sci Rep 10, 11471 (2020).

Abbott, R., Peolsson, A., West, J., Elliott, J., et al. The qualitative grading of muscle fat infiltration in whiplash using fat and water magnetic resonance imaging. The Spine Journal, 18(5), pp.717-725 (2018).

Elliott, J., Cornwall, J., Kennedy, E., Abbott, R. and Crawford, R. Towards defining muscular regions of interest from axial magnetic resonance imaging with anatomical cross-reference: part II - cervical spine musculature. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 19(1). (2018).

Crawford, R., Cornwall, J., Abbott, R. and Elliott, J. Manually defining regions of interest when quantifying paravertebral muscles fatty infiltration from axial magnetic resonance imaging: a proposed method for the lumbar spine with anatomical cross-reference. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 18(1). (2017).

Abbott, R., Pedler, A., Sterling, M., Hides, J., Murphey, T., Hoggarth, M., & Elliott, J. The geography of fatty infiltrates within the cervical multifidus and semispinalis cervicis in individuals with chronic whiplash-associated disorders. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 45(4), 281-288. (2015).

Smith, A., Parrish, T., Abbott, R., Hoggarth, M., Mendoza, K., Chen, Y. and Elliott, J. Muscle-fat MRI: 1.5 tesla and 3.0 tesla versus histology. Muscle & Nerve, 50(2), pp.170-176. (2014).

Abbott, R., Parrish, T., Hoggarth, M., Smith, A., & Elliott, J. Letter to the editor regarding Smuck M, Cristostomo RA, Demirjian R, et al. Morphologic changes in the lumbar spine after lumbar medial branch radiofrequency neurotomy: a quantitative radiological study. The Spine Journal, 14(6), 1088-9. (2014).

Abbott, R. Unlocking Biomechanisms in Rehabilitation Research through Computational Musculoskeletal Modeling. CONVERGE 2025 – Connecting Manual Therapy with Mechanistic Insights Conference. Feb 22, 2025. Invited Talk.

Abbott, R., Ludewig, P., Barocas, V., Ellingson, A. Prevalence and Clinical Presentation of Chronic Neck Pain in Individuals with Generalized Joint Hypermobility. Midwest TL1 Research Summit. Sept 29-30, 2023. Platform Presentation.

MacEwan, M., Abbott, R., Barocas, V., Ellingson, A. Dynamic Compliance Vector: Utility for Quantifying Spinal Mechanics. American Society of Biomechanics (ASB) 2023. Platform Presentation.

Abbott, R., Breighner, R., Ellingson, A. 3-D Reconstruction for Creating Bone Models from Low-Resolution Clinical CT. Mayo Clinic and University of Minnesota Musculoskeletal Research Symposium. Mayo Clinic. Rochester, MN. September 14, 2022. Invited Lecture.

Abbott, R., Breighner, R., Ellingson, A. Super-Resolution 3-D Reconstruction for Creating Bone Models from Low-Resolution Clinical CT. North American Congress on Biomechanics (NACOB). Ottowa, Canada. August 2022. Platform Presentation.

Abbott R, Murphey T. Automation and Information Maximization for Biomechanics-based Diagnostics and Rehabilitation. Robotics Science and Systems (RSS) AI in Rehabilitation Workshop. Freiburg, Germany. 2019. Platform Presentation.

Abbott, R., Hoggarth, M., Elliott, J. The spatiotemporal changes in neck muscle fat infiltration (MFI) in Whiplash-Associated Disorders (WAD). APTA Combined Sections Meeting. New Orleans, LA, USA. 2018. Platform Presentation.

Abbott, R., Pedler, A., Sterling, M., Hides, J., Murphey, T., Hoggarth, M., Elliott, J. The distribution of muscle fat infiltration within the deep extensor muscles in whiplash-associated disorders. APTA Combined Sections Meeting. Indianapolis, IN, USA. 2015. Platform Presentation.

Abbott, R., Elliott, J., Acosta, A., Murphey, T. Functional Consequences of Cervical Muscle Fat Infiltration in Whiplash-Associated Disorders (WAD). 12^th International Society for the Study of Pain (IASP) Research Symposium. Aarhus, Denmark. 2014. Platform Presentation.

Kage C., Abbott, R., MacEwan, M., Nishimwe, A., Sembrano, J., Helwig, N., Ellingson, A. In Vivo Segmental Contributions to Planar Motion: Implications for those with Chronic Neck Pain. American Society of Biomechanics (ASB) Conference. Madison, WI. 2024.

Abbott, R., Dalske, K., Molenaar, C., Oriala, D., Volin, B., Ellingson, A. Generalized Joint Hypermobility and Neck Pain: Effects on Range of Motion and Strength. American Society of Biomechanics 2023. Poster Presentation.

Abbott, R., Dalske, K., Molenaar, C., Oriala, D., Volin, B., Ellingson, A. Generalized Joint Hypermobility: Prevalence and Effects on Range of Motion and Strength. American Physical Therapy Association in Motion Conference 2023. Minneapolis, MN. Poster Presentation.

Abbott, R., Ludewig, P., Barocas, V., Ellingson, A. Generalized Joint Hypermobility and Chronic Neck Pain: An Under-Recognized Neck Pain Subgroup. CTSI Translational Science Symposium. September 15, 2022. Poster Presentation

Abbott R, Elliott J, Acosta A, Murphey T. The Role of Deep Neck Extensors in Multi-Directional Isometric Neck Strength. APTA Combined Sections Meeting. 2021 Virtual Poster Presentation (due to Covid)

Abbott R, Acosta A, Murphey T, Elliott J. Computational Modeling of the Effects of Cervical Multifidus Weakness of Force Generation at the Head. APTA Combined Sections Meeting. Denver, CO, USA. 2020.

Abbott R, Murphey T. Automation and Information Maximization for Biomechanics-based Diagnostics and Rehabilitation. Robotics Science and Systems (RSS) AI in Rehabilitation Workshop. Freiburg, Germany. 2019.

Smith AC, Tappan R, O'Dell DR, Weber KA, Abbott R, Hoggarth MA, Elliott JM. Imaging of spinal trauma: can protons inform prognosis and improve outcomes?” APTA Combined Sections Meeting Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy Educational Session. New Orleans, LA USA. 2018. Poster Presentation.

Abbott, R, Elliott J, Peolsson A, West J, Aslund,U, Karlsson,A. Dahlquvist Leinhard O. Muscle Quality Matters: Translation of Muscle Fat Infiltration Analysis to Clinical Practice and Biomechanical Modeling. APTA Combined Sections Meeting. San Antonio, TX, USA. 2017. Poster Presentation.

Abbott R, Elliott J., Peolsson A, West J, Aslund U, Karlsson A, Dahlquvist Leinhard O. The Qualitative Grading of Muscle Fat Infiltration in Neck Muscles Using Fat/Water MRI. International Society of Electrophysiology and Kinesiology (ISEK). Chicago, IL, USA. 2016. Poster Presentation.

Smith AC, Parrish TB, Abbott R, Hoggarth MA, Mendoza K, Chen YF, Elliott JM. Measuring skeletal muscle and relative fat-to-water percentage: the comparison of MR Imaging versus histology. APTA Combined Sections Meeting, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, 2014. Poster Presentation.

Abbott R, Elliott J, Acosta, A, Murphey, T. Biomechanical Consequences of Cervical Muscle Fat Infiltration in Whiplash-Associated Disorders (WAD). 7^th World Congress of Biomechanics. Boston, MA, USA. 2014. Poster Presentation.

Abbott R, Murphey T, Lin A, Elliott J. Quantification of Cervical Spine Muscle Fat with Fat/Water Separation MRI and Muscle Biopsy. Conference and Exposition of the APTA. Salt Lake City, UT, USA. 2013. Poster Presentation.

Tools & Resources

CU Campuses

CU Anschutz

Rebecca (Rab) Abbott, PT, DPT, PhD

Education and Licensure

Areas of Expertise

Awards

Teaching Responsibilities

Research

Research Interests

Funded/In Review Grant Activity

Rebecca (Rab) Abbott, PT, DPT, PhD

Education and Licensure

Areas of Expertise

Awards

Teaching Responsibilities

Research

Research Interests

Funded/In Review Grant Activity

Peer Reviewed Publications

Professional Presentations (Platform, Grand Rounds, Invited Lectures)

Presentations (Abstract & Poster)