Dr. Mario G. Novo, Dpt
Medical Fellow
Dr. Mario G. Novo is an academic, clinician, and educator specializing in Exercise Physiology and Physical Therapy, with particular expertise in Pain Science, Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) training, Kinesiology, and human movement. His professional work brings together clinical rehabilitation, exercise science, movement education, and the practical application of evidence-informed approaches to improving physical function and human performance.
As a Full-Time Faculty Lecturer at Middle Tennessee State University, Dr. Novo teaches courses including Functional Anatomy and Movement, Exercise Testing and Prescription, and Exercise Movement Techniques. Through these subjects, he helps students develop a deeper understanding of human anatomy, movement mechanics, physical assessment, exercise programming, and the relationship between movement and overall physical performance.
Dr. Novo brings approximately two decades of clinical and instructional experience to his academic work. His background allows him to approach movement from both clinical and performance perspectives, connecting principles of rehabilitation and physical therapy with exercise physiology, strength and conditioning concepts, and movement education.
A significant area of Dr. Novo’s professional expertise is Blood Flow Restriction training and its clinical application. Alongside his work in BFR, his background in pain science contributes to his broader interest in how movement and exercise can be understood and applied within rehabilitation and physical performance settings.
Natural Movement creates an opportunity to explore how exercise, environment, and human performance interact.
Education & Continuing Education
Dr. Novo earned his Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) from Florida International University, providing the clinical foundation for his work in rehabilitation, movement science, and exercise physiology.
Beyond his formal education, Dr. Novo has been extensively involved in professional and continuing education. He has authored and taught numerous continuing education courses focused on the clinical application of Blood Flow Restriction training and pain neuroscience. Through this work, he has helped translate complex scientific and clinical concepts into practical education for professionals working with movement, rehabilitation, and human performance.
His educational work has included presentations at major symposiums as well as engagements with professional sports and government audiences across the United States and Europe. These experiences have allowed him to contribute his knowledge of BFR, pain science, rehabilitation, and exercise physiology to a broad range of professional settings.
Dr. Novo’s combination of academic teaching and continuing professional education reflects a career centered on connecting research, clinical knowledge, and practical movement applications. His work emphasizes not only understanding the science behind exercise and rehabilitation, but also applying that knowledge effectively in real-world environments.
MovNat Medical
As a MovNat Medical Fellow, Dr. Novo brings his clinical, academic, and educational experience to the growing intersection between Natural Movement and clinically relevant movement education.
His expertise in physical therapy, pain science, exercise physiology, kinesiology, functional anatomy, and exercise prescription provides a valuable clinical perspective on how Natural Movement principles can be examined and understood within rehabilitation and human performance.
Within MovNat Medical, Dr. Novo supports the connection between movement education and clinical practice. His background provides a framework for exploring how natural and functional forms of movement relate to physical capacity, exercise prescription, rehabilitation, and long-term movement health.
His involvement also reflects a broader interest in moving beyond isolated exercise and examining human movement within more natural and varied environments. This perspective aligns with his research interests in understanding how exercise and movement in nature may interact with physiological, psychological, and performance-related outcomes.
Through MovNat Medical, Dr. Novo contributes to an interdisciplinary approach that brings together clinical rehabilitation, exercise science, movement education, and Natural Movement. His work helps strengthen the scientific and educational foundation for examining Natural Movement through the lens of physical therapy and human movement science.
Research Interests
Dr. Novo is particularly interested in exploring the relationship between human performance, exercise, and movement in natural environments. His research interests encompass a broad range of physiological and behavioral factors that may help deepen the understanding of how humans respond and adapt to movement and exercise.
Among these areas is the potential relationship between exercise and movement in nature and cardiovascular measures such as blood pressure. He is also interested in examining factors associated with muscle mass, bone turnover, energy metabolism, and body composition, all of which play important roles in physical function, health, rehabilitation, and human performance.
Another important dimension of his interests involves the relationship between movement and human perception and behavior. This includes sensed fear and chronic pain avoidance, particularly as they relate to an individual’s willingness or ability to engage with movement.
These interests connect closely with Dr. Novo’s background in pain science and physical therapy. Chronic pain can influence how individuals perceive movement and physical challenges, while fear and avoidance can affect participation in physical activity. Exploring these relationships within natural movement environments represents an area of particular interest in his ongoing work.
Taken together, these areas reflect Dr. Novo’s interest in studying human movement as a multidimensional process rather than solely as physical exercise. His work considers how physiological responses, physical capacity, pain, perception, behavior, and the environment may interact within rehabilitation and human performance.
These questions are central to his ongoing interest in advancing rehabilitation, exercise physiology, and human movement science while exploring the potential role of movement in nature within these fields.
Qualifications & Areas of Expertise
• Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), Florida International University
• Full-Time Faculty Lecturer, Middle Tennessee State University
• Approximately two decades of clinical and instructional experience
• Exercise Physiology
• Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation
• Pain Science and Pain Neuroscience
• Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) Training
• Clinical Application of BFR Training
• Kinesiology
• Human Movement Science
• Functional Anatomy and Movement
• Exercise Testing and Prescription
• Exercise Movement Techniques
• Movement and Human Performance
• Continuing Professional Education
• Natural Movement and Clinically Relevant Movement Education