College of Health and Human Services
Caio V. Messias Sarmento, PhD
Associate Professor
Physical Therapy | 559.278.2054 | Office: PTIA 121
Education
American Association for Anatomy (2023)
Ph.D., Rehabilitation Science
University of Kansas Medical Center (2019)
M.S., Specialization in Cardiopulmonary Physiotherapy
University of Gama Filho (2007)
B.S., Physiotherapy
Universidade Paulista (2005)
Courses Taught
- PHTH 510: Anatomy of the Appendicular Skeleton
- PHTH 511: Anatomy of the Axial Skeleton
- PHTH 533: Functional Kinesiology for Physical Therapists
- PHTH 534: Gait and Movement
- PHTH 596: Case Reports
- PHTH 587: Evidence-Based Practice in Physical Therapy
- PHTH 598: Doctoral Project
Dr. Caio V. Messias Sarmento is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at California State University, Fresno. He holds a Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Science from the University of Kansas Medical Center and has a strong academic background in human anatomy and chronic musculoskeletal pain. Originally from Brazil, he brings international experience in healthcare and education, having worked and studied in Brazil, England, and Japan.
At Fresno State, Dr. Sarmento oversees the Gross Anatomy Laboratory and teaches cadaver-based anatomy in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program. His research focuses on chronic pain and anatomy education. He has published extensively on topics such as fibromyalgia, systemic inflammation, and pain perception, and actively presents his work on anatomy education at national and international conferences.
Dr. Sarmento is an engaged member of the American Association for Anatomy, where he served on the Publication Committee and contributes to the Anatomy Scholars Program as part of its development team. He also serves on a national task force of the American Council of Academic Physical Therapy focused on advancing research in academic physical therapy.
Outside academia, Dr. Sarmento enjoys road biking, hiking, and traveling, embracing the outdoors and diverse cultures. His passion for learning new languages further reflects his commitment to global engagement and lifelong learning.
- Anatomy Education
- Gross Anatomy
- Human cadaveric dissection
- Rehabilitation
- Chronic pain
- American Association for Anatomy. Feb 2020 to Present
- American Council of Academic Physical Therapy. Aug 2022 to Present
- American College of Sports Medicine. Dec 2021 Nov 2024
- American Physical Therapy Association – Faculty Partner. Jan 2020 to Dec 2022
Peer-Reviewed Publications
Alajam RA, Alqahtani AS, Moon S, Sarmento CVM, Smirnova IV, Pang MYC, Liu W. Evaluating Biomarkers of Bone Health After an 8-Week
Walking Program in Non-Ambulatory Stroke Survivors: A Pilot Study.J. Clin. Med, 2024 Sep
Sarmento CVM, Liu Z, Smirnova IV, Liu W. Exploring Adherence to Moderate to High-Intensity Exercises
in Patients with Fibromyalgia: The Role of Physiological and Psychological Factors—A
Narrative Literature Review. Physiologia, 2023 Sep.
Ko N, Balderama E, Sarmento CVM, Roos J. The Effectiveness of Aquatic Exercise on Improving Fatigue and Quality of
Life in Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis: A Meta-Analysis. Journal of Aquatic Physical Therapy, 2023 Mar.
Sarmento CVM, Moon S, Pfeifer T. et al. Inflammatory response to a bout of high-intensity exercise in females with fibromyalgia. Sport Sci Health. 18, 2022 Jan.
Alajam RA, Alqahtani AS, Moon S, Sarmento CVM, Frederick J, Smirnova IV, Liu W. Effects of walking training on risk markers of
cardiovascular disease in individuals with chronic spinal cord injury. J Spinal Cord Med. 45, 2021 Jan.
Hoover Jeffrey C, Alenazi Aqeel, Alshehri Mohammed, Alqahtani Bade, Alothman Shaima,
Sarmento CVM, Yahya Abdalghani, Rucker Jason, Kluding Patricia. Recruiting and Retaining Patients
with Breast Cancer in Exercise Trials: A Meta-analysis, TJACSM. 1, Winter 2021
Sarmento CVM, Moon S, Pfeifer T, Lai SM, Colgrove Y, Smirnova IV, Liu W. The Efficacy of Qigong
Exercise on the Main Symptoms of Fibromyalgia: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Integrative Medicine Research 2020
Moon S, Sarmento CVM, Steinbacher M, Smirnova IV, Colgrove Y, Lai SM, Lyons KE, Liu W. Can Qigong improve non-motor symptoms in people with Parkinson's disease - A pilot
randomized controlled trial? Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice 2020
Sarmento CVM, Maz M, Pfeifer T, Pessoa M, Liu W. Opioid Prescription Patterns Among Patients with Fibromyalgia. Journal of Opioid Management 2019
Moon S, Sarmento CVM, Smirnova IV, Colgrove Y, Lyons K, Lai SM, Liu W. Effects of Qigong Exercise on Non-Motor Symptoms in Parkinson's Disease: A Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial. Medicines 2019
Alqahtani AS, Alajam R, Moon S, Sarmento CVM, Eickmeyer SM, Jernigan S, Smirnova IV, Liu W. Reduction of risk for cardiovascular
disease in non-ambulatory stroke survivors using an assisted-walking aerobic exercise:
A pilot study. Int J Cerebrovasc Dis Stroke 2019
Peer-Reviewed Scientific and Professional Presentations
Yap CC, Sievers R, Sarmento CVM, Ko N. Differences in Multifidus Corticospinal Excitability and Its Modulation between Healthy
and Low Back Pain Individuals (Poster presentation). Combined Sections Meeting (CSM), Anaheim, CA, February 2026
Roos JM, Galvez EL, Friesen JJ, Mireles OA, Reimann JN, Rivera ST, Cuyzon J, Rojo
AR, Sarmento CVM (Presenting Author). Does Admission Self-Selected Gait Velocity Predict Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility
Length of Stay? (Podium presentation). Combined Sections Meeting (CSM), Anaheim, CA, February 2026
Sarmento CVM, Tran J. The Impact of Sedentary Time on Pain Perception and Physical Functioning:
A Cross-Sectional Pilot Study (Poster presentation). Anatomy Connected, Portland, OR, March 2025
Roos JM, Sarmento CVM, Galvez EL. Correlational Study on Self-Selected Gait Velocity and Inpatient Rehabilitation
Facility Length of Stay (Poster presentation). Combined Sections Meeting (CSM), Houston, TX, February 2025
Sarmento CVM (Co-Chair), Pratt RL (Co-chair), Topp K (Co-chair). Speakers: Barbe MF, Marchand S, Basbaum AI. Pain's Intricacies: Unveiling Mechanisms and Emotional
Ties (Scientific session)Anatomy Connected, Toronto, Canada, March 2024
Chaves XA, Sarmento CVM. Decoding DPT Anatomy Education Trends in the U.S.: a Journey into Student Satisfaction,
Innovative Teaching, and the Power of Cadaver-Virtual Fusion (Podium presentation). Anatomy Connected, Toronto, Canada. March 2024
Sarmento CVM, Hanhem H, Viner CA, Sawdon-Bea J. The Efficacy of Standing Desks in Enhancing Cardiometabolic
Health: A Pilot Randomized Crossover Study. (Poster presentation). CSM APTA, Boston, MA. February 2023
Sarmento CVM, Alvarado J., Adame-Walker J., Valdez T.The Trends of Treatments for People with Fibromyalgia
in the United States. An Observational Study. (Poster presentation). CSM APTA, San Diego, CA. February 2023
Sawdon-Bea J, Ang A, Anderson S, Bailey D, Sperling A, Roos J, Sarmento CVM. Burnout, Self Esteem, Perceived Stress and Sport Competitive Anxiety in Adolescent Female Athletes. (Poster presentation). CSM APTA, San Diego, CA. February 2023
Sawdon-Bea J, Anderson S, Ang A, Bailey D, Sperling A, Sarmento CVM, & Roos J. Burnout, Self Esteem, Perceived Stress and Sport Competitive Anxiety in Adolescent Female Athletes. September 25, 2022. (Podium presentation). CPTA Annual Conference, Anaheim, CA. September 2022.
Sarmento CVM, Alvarado J., Adame-Walker J, Valdez T. Is Physical Therapy on the Right Track to Counterbalance the Opioid Epidemics? Preliminary Analysis from an Ongoing Nationwide Survey. (Poster presentation). CPTA Annual Conference. Anaheim, CA. September 2022
Sarmento CVM. Patient's Perceived Efficacy of the Most Common Treatments for the Management of Fibromyalgia Symptoms: An Ongoing Nationwide Survey. (Poster presentation). California Health Sciences University, Research Day, Clovis, CA. May 2022
Sarmento CVM, Ko N, Roos J. The Effectiveness of a Multimodal Approach to Teaching Gross Anatomy
Courses in a Doctor of Physical Therapy Program. (Poster presentation). Experimental Biology, Anatomy Education: Teaching Methods & Innovations, Philadelphia,
PA. April 2022
Singh B, Johnson LA, Sarmento CVM. Methods of Teaching Anatomy in Doctor of Physical Therapy Programs (Poster presentation). Combined Sections Meeting (CSM), San Antonio, TX. February 2022
Sarmento CVM, Roos J, Ko N. A Multimodal Pedagogy Approach to Enhance Academic Performance and Students' Satisfaction in a Graduate Level Anatomy Course (Poster presentation). American Association for Anatomy Regional Meeting, Virtual Meeting. Dec 2021
Sarmento CVM, Moon S, Pfeifer T, Smirnova IV, Maz M, Liu W. The Efficacy of a Qigong Program on Serum Levels of IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 and Pain Post-High Intensity Exercise in Patients with Fibromyalgia (Podium presentation). International Medical Tai Chi and Qigong Association 2021 Virtual Conference, Virtual Meeting. Oct 2021
Sarmento CVM, Moon S, Pfeifer T, Smirnova IV, Colgrove Y, Lai SM, Liu W. Efficacy of a Mind-Body Intervention on Post-High Intensity Exercise Pain in Patients with Fibromyalgia. (Poster presentation). PAINWeek, The National Conference on Pain for Frontline Practitioners, Las Vegas, NV. Sep 2021
Sarmento CVM. The Impact of Qigong on Inflammatory Responses Due to a Bout of High-Intensity Exercise in Females with Fibromyalgia. (Poster presentation). CPTA Conference, Virtual Conference. Oct 2020
Sarmento CVM. Inflammatory Response to a Bout of High-Intensity Exercise in Females with Fibromyalgia. (Podium presentation). APTA Combined Sections Meeting, Denver, CO. Feb 2020
Moon S and Sarmento CVM. Qigong to Improve Sleep Quality and Inflammation in People with Parkinson's Disease: Potentials and Challenges. (Poster presentation). APTA Combined Sections Meeting, Denver, CO. Feb 2020
Sarmento CVM, Liu W. The Efficacy of Qigong on the Main Symptoms of Fibromyalgia. A Randomized Clinical Trial (Poster presentation). ACSM's 66th Meeting, Orlando, FL. May 2019
Sarmento CVM, Maz M, Liu W. The Trends of Opioid Prescription Patterns Among Patients with Fibromyalgia (Podium and poster presentation). The International Narcotics Conference, San Diego, CA. Jun 2018