Physiotherapy Research
Acute Cardiorespiratory Rehabilitation
The two main areas of research are rehabilitation after critical illness and major abdominal and cardiac surgery.
- Architecture of thigh muscles and their relationship to physical activity and strength
- Balance enhanced rehabilitation for falls prevention in COPD
- Delphi Study on ultrasound measurement standardisation
- Demystifying the burden of intensive care survivorship - understanding muscle wasting and falls
- Driving following cardiac surgery: cognitive and mechanical considerations
- Falls and Balance impairment in critically ill: a 6 month follow up
- Frailty in patients undergoing cardiac surgery
- Functional electrical stimulation assisted cycling (eStimCycle):A novel intervention to improve outcomes in the critically ill
- Lung infection prevention post-surgery major abdominal with pre-operative physiotherapy (LIPPSMAck POP) trial: an international multi-centre
- Physical Function in Intensive Care: PACIFIC observational study
- Qualitative study with critical care clinicians: a focus group analysis
- Recovery following critical illness - survivors and carers
- Respiratory muscle testing before and after cardiac surgery
- Sternal management and rehabilitation training (SMART trial): a RCT of modified sternal precautions verses standard care
- Strength training following cardiac surgery: a pilot study
- The effects of upper limb and trunk tasks on sternal micromotion and healing following cardiac surgery
- Ultrasonography and physical activity across the continuum in COPD stable and acute exacerbation
- Validation of the Postoperative Quality of Recovery Scale in bilingual chinese and english speakers
Children
Research focus is on neurodevelopment of pre-term children, children with Cerebral palsy, and Autism.
- Centre of Research Excellence – Newborn Medicine
- Early detection and intervention for infants at high risk of motor impairments
- Motor trajectories of children born <30 weeks’ gestation from birth to 5 years: early predictors and functional outcome
- The feasibility of smart-phones in the early detection of cerebral palsy
- Web-based preventive care intervention for preterm infants and their families – e-prem trial
Exercise oncology
This is an emerging area of research worldwide. We are researching lung cancer and pelvic cancer tumour streams.
Musculoskeletal and Sports Rehabilitation (CHESM)
The Centre for Health, Exercise & Sports Medicine's research focuses on osteoarthritis, osteoporosis and knee and hip injuries with the aim being to reduce the burden of these conditions through conservative, non-drug therapies. It includes aspects of biomechanics and movement examining the mechanical interaction between bone and soft tissue during movement in healthy and pathological populations.
- Arthroscopic Surgery for Hip Impingement versus Best CoNservative Care (FASHIoN)
- Assessment of Beliefs and Clinical practice for Foot Osteoarthritis (ABC-Foot)
- Behaviour change SMS program for knee osteoarthritis (ADHERE)
- Better Knee Better Me
- Exercise for knee osteoarthritis targeting high risk physical characteristics (TARGET)
- Footwear for self-managing knee osteoarthritis symptoms (FOOTSTEP)
- Hip Osteoarthritis Pain Exacerbation risk factors (iHOAP)
- Impact of Cane Use in people with medial knee osteoArthritis (CUBA)
- Influence of athletic footwear on lower limb biomechanics of pubertal girls
- Insoles for Big Toe Osteoarthritis (FORT)
- Internet-based pain coping skills training added to education and exercise program for persistent hip pain (HOPE)
- Internet-mediated physiotherapy and pain coping skills training for persistent knee pain (IMPACT)
- Knee bracing and footwear for medial knee arthritis
- LatErAl hiP pain (LEAP)
- Modified SHoes for osteoARthritis of the Knee (SHARK)
- Optimising primary care management of knee osteoarthritis (PARTNER)
- Patient AdhereNce To Home Exercise pRograms (PANTHER)
- platelet-Rich plasma as a symptom- and disEaSe-modifying Treatment fOR knee ostEoarthritis (RESTORE)
- Telehealth by physiotherapists in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Telephone-delivered support and advice for people with knee osteoarthritis (TELECARE)
- Treatment of foot pain and osteoarthritis
Neurological rehabilitation
This research focuses on improving a person's ability to care for themselves and optimise their outcome from a neurological event or condition such as traumatic brain injury or Parkinson disease.
- A multi-centre randomised controlled trial of polysomnographic titration of non-invasive ventilation in motor neurone disease
- Cardiac Rehabilitation in Stroke Survivors to Improve Survivorship (CRiSSIS)
- Creating a telerehabilitation plan with stroke survivors and caregivers
- Developing consensus on physical activity measurement following stroke
- Effective strength training for walking in neurological rehabilitation
- Focal Spasticity Management: Guidelines, usual care & outcomes
- Help co-design a physical activity program for stroke survivors
- Help us test a physical activity program for stroke survivors
- Improving mobility after traumatic brain injury with ballistic strength training
- Living an active life with Parkinson’s disease
- Resources for Clinicians
- Safe resumption of high-level mobility and cardiovascular fitness following traumatic brain injury