Cesar Fernandez-de-las-Penas PT, PhD, DrMedSci, is full professor at Universidad Rey Juan Carlos (URJC), Madrid, Spain, where he is also leader of the Clinical Pain Research Group on Manual Therapy and Exercise. He combines his research activity with clinical practice as Head, Division of Physical Therapy Department, at the University Physical Therapy Clinic. He received a bachelors degree in physical therapy from URJC, a first PhD from Aalborg University in Denmark on the subject of headaches (2007) and a second PhD in Spain (2008). He obtained his Doctoral Degree in Master Sciences in Aalborg in 2012 on the topic of central sensitization in chronic pain syndromes. He has received several awards for his research and clinical practice.

Cesar has published around 550 peer-reviewed publications and is the first-named author of approximately 250. His research activities are concentrated on the neuroscience of pain. He has more than 200 peer-reviewed papers on upper quadrant pain syndromes, including shoulder pain conditions. His personal interest is the integration of manual therapy, dry needling and exercise interventions for the management of chronic pain conditions of the upper extremity.

In his clinical practice Cesar treats patients with chronic pain disorders, particularly neck and shoulder pain. His clients include professional sport players whose activities involve the upper extremity, such as climbers, boxers, and basketball players. His premise is: "integrating clinical practice with research is the key for our patients"

Cesar is often invited to present keynote lectures at international conferences, and he has taught workshops in over 20 countries. He is the main editor of 10 textbooks on manual therapy for chronic musculoskeletal pain including Temporomandibular Disorders, also published by Handspring Publishing. He is one of the Editors of the third edition of Travell, Simons & Simons Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction: the Trigger Point Manual and is the co-editor of Trigger Point Dry Needling: an evidence and clinical-based approach.