Jacob Thorp

About Jacob Thorp

I am the Associate Program Director in the Department of Physical Therapy. In addition to my administrative duties, I teach across a variety of content areas including differential diagnosis, imaging, and musculoskeletal conditions.

I earned my MBA in August 2025 and my certification in dry needling from Myopain Seminars. I am a board-certified clinical specialist in orthopedic physical therapy and completed the 10-year recertification process, Fall 2024. Graduating from an osteopathic based PT school, combined with my training and certification from the University of St. Augustine, I consider myself an expert in the field of orthopedic spine manual physical therapy.

My research agenda investigates the immediate and short-term outcomes associated with dry needling. My present study investigates changes in function and lower extremity measures following one month of dry needling in participants who experienced a stroke. My scholarly agenda includes collaboration with Carolyn Kisner to author a total of 11 chapters on the management of the spine and TMJ regions in the 6th, 7th, 8th editions of Kisner’s and Colby’s Therapeutic Exercise textbook.

Prior to joining Charleston Southern, I was a full-time faculty at East Carolina University for 12 years. My course directing and teaching responsibilities included content related to the spine and TMJ regions, manual therapy, chronic pain, therapeutic exercise, and administration. I was also the director of our faculty practice, opened a second facility, and managed our student-run clinic. I was active in clinical practice treating patients with chronic pain including spine, TMD, and headaches.