About Us

Who are we?

The Centre for Health, Exercise and Sports Medicine (CHESM) was established in October 2000 as a multidisciplinary centre within the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, administered through the Department of Physiotherapy.

We combine high calibre researchers with experienced clinicians from a range of disciplines including physiotherapy, medicine, science, exercise science and podiatry. We also has a number of internationally recognised clinical associates and research collaborators.

Our facilities

What do we do?

The Centre's activities fall under three main areas:

Research – including post doctoral training
Education – research higher degree supervision and teaching within the undergraduate and postgraduate curricula
Engagement – ensuring research has an impact in the general and professional communities

View our most recent annual report for more information. You can also view our annual report from the year before.

What is our focus?

Our main research focus is on the role of conservative strategies, particularly exercise, in promoting overall health and well being and in preventing and managing the public health problems that are currently facing society. To do this, a lifespan approach is taken from childhood through to the elderly years.

A particular focus is the prevention and management of musculoskeletal conditions such as osteoarthritis.

Our People

Research Higher Degree students

Pei Wei Chi, PhD Candidate
"Effects of modifiable athletic footwear features on running and landing biomechanics of healthy young females: Implications for the development of knee pain syndromes and ACL injury"
Luke Davies, PhD Candidate
"Enhancing quality care in physiotherapy delivered via Telehealth"
Sam Kayll, PhD Candidate
"The effects of foot-based interventions on patellofemoral joint loads in people with and without patellofemoral disorders"
Travis Haber, PhD Candidate
"Enhancing the therapeutic effects of exercise for hip and knee osteoarthritis"
Ehsan Lohrasbipeydeh, PhD Candidate
"The effects of dual tasking and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) status on knee forces during a provocative landing task in young females"
My-Linh Nguyen, PhD Candidate
"Using behavioural economics and health behaviour theory to improve participation in physical activity"
Patrick Rowe, PhD Candidate
"The Prevention and Management of Ankle Sprains and Chronic Ankle Instability in Netball"
Emma Searle, PhD Candidate
"A digital health intervention to increase physical activity participation in individuals with knee osteoarthritis"
Scott Starkey, PhD Candidate
"Effect of physiotherapy interventions on knee joint contact force in at risk and established knee osteoarthritis via patient specific neuromusculoskeletal modelling"
Julia Zhu, PhD Candidate
"Development of implementation strategies and more impactful physiotherapy for individuals with knee osteoarthritis"