Translating physiotherapy research into practice
Our researchers investigate advanced techniques and evidence-based care to better diagnose, treat and prevent a wide range of health conditions and movement disorders. Research within this discipline focuses on repairing damage, reducing stiffness and pain, increasing mobility and improving quality of life. This discipline has two areas of research focus and strength:
- Cardiorespiratory Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation
- Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation.
Cardiorespiratory Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation
Our research
The primary research aim of the group is to use physiotherapy-based interventions to improve short and long-term outcomes in patients with acute and chronic disease including intensive care, burns, heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiac disease, pulmonary hypertension, lung transplantation, heart transplantation, cystic fibrosis and bronchiectasis.
Research topics
- Physiological/psychological factors that limit functional capacity in health and disease
- Risks and benefits of environmental heat exposure in chronic disease
- Mechanisms of breathlessness in disease
- Physiotherapy practice in intensive care
- Physiotherapy interventions to improve outcomes in burns patients
Lead researchers
- Professor Norm Morris, The Prince Charles Hospital & Griffith University
- Professor Jenny Paratz, The Royal Brisbane Women’s Hospital & Griffith University
Equipment and facilities
A rage of on-campus facilities can be found here.
Clinical sites: Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging (CMRI, located TPCH), portable metabolic systems (Cortex Metamax, located TPCH, RBWH and GU), electronically braked cycle ergometer (Lode), PhysioFlow (portable cardiac output, TPCH), DXA for measurement of body composition (RBWH) and devices for measuring physical activity (Sensewear armbands and pedometers). At each of the clinical sites, researchers have access to clinical investigations including the examination of cardiac function (invasive and non-invasive), lung function, haematology and neurological function.
Key Collaborators
- Gold Coast University Hospital (Cardiology, Respiratory Medicine, Intensive Care, Community Health)
- The Prince Charles Hospital (Thoracic Medicine, Richard Slaughter Centre for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cardiology, Heart and Lung Transplantation, Intensive Care)
- Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Brisbane (Intensive Care, Burns, Emergency Department, Thoracic Medicine)
- The Princess Alexandria Hospital, Brisbane
- The Mayo Clinic, Rochester/Scottsdale USA
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania
- The University of Sydney
Research Funding
- The National Health and Medical Research Council
- The Royal Brisbane and Women’s Foundation
- The Prince Charles Foundation
- Health Innovation, Investment and Research Office
- Actelion Pharmaceuticals
- Intensive Care Foundation
PhD Candidates
| Name | Research topic |
|---|---|
| Julie Adsett | Exercise-based rehabilitation for stable heart failure. |
| Craig Aitken | Towards Individualising Rehabilitation: Identifying factors which limit exercise tolerance in chronic heart and lung disease. |
| Bryce Balmain | Thermoregulatory responses to exercise in the heat in heart failure |
| Donna Hickling | Body composition, nutritional status and functional status of patients pre-and post-lung transplant. |
| Aaron Lin | Exercise responses in pulmonary hypertension using exercise MR. |
| Sharon Kwiatkowski | Investigation of home-based exercise for severe COPD. |
| Orlando Flores | Reversing metabolic changes post burn injury. |
| Lisa Franks | Personalising Airway Clearance In Non-Cystic Fibrosis Bronchiectasis. |
Research Masters
| Name | Research topic |
|---|---|
| Amanda Baker | Patient centred principals in goal setting practices in rehabilitation. |
| Jemima Boyd | Exercise for mechanically ventilated patients in intensive care. |
| Kate Burton | Physical activity levels and inflammatory amongst adults with cystic fibrosis. |
| Rebecca Kelly | Physical Activity following heart transplantation. |
| Lauren O'Connor | Physical Activity following heart transplantation |
| Maureen Peasey | Pulmonary Rehabilitation and Physical Activity in COPD. |
| Georgia Taylor | Effect of folate supplementation on endothelial vascular function in heart failure patients. |
Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation
Our research
Our clinical and experimental research aims to improve the understanding of the pathophysiology of common musculoskeletal conditions and to optimise their clinical diagnosis and management. Furthermore, we aim to reveal the underlying working mechanisms of physiotherapy-based interventions. We aim to improve short and long-term outcomes in people with acute and chronic conditions, such as back and neck pain, neuropathies, tendinopathies, concussion, persistent pain and sport-related injuries. We are also interested in the impact of systemic diseases, such as diabetes and cancer (and cancer treatment), on the musculoskeletal system. We use a wide range of research designs, ranging from mechanistic studies to large-scale RCT’s, and use a wide variety of methods.
Research topics
- Pain modulation, including central sensitisation, in acute and chronic musculoskeletal conditions
- Neuro-immune responses in people with persistent musculoskeletal pain
- The effect of exercise and manual therapy on low-grade systemic inflammation and neuro-immune responses in the central nervous system in people with neck pain
- Psychosocial factors in patients with musculoskeletal conditions at risk of developing persistent pain
- Sports injury prediction and prevention in elite and community athletes, including hamstring injuries and shoulder injuries
- Motor control training for people with low back pain
- Sport-related concussion in elite and adolescent athletes
- Effect of prolonged bed rest on trunk and hip muscles
- Use of ultrasound imaging technologies in physiotherapy assessment and treatment
- Neurophysiological mechanisms underpinning chronic pain in tendinopathy
- Tissue biomechanics in tendinopathy
Lead researchers
- Professor Michel Coppieters, Professor of Allied Health Research
- Professor Julie Hides, Deputy Head of School, School of Allied Health Sciences
- Associate Professor Leanne Bisset, Discipline Lead Physiotherapy, School of Allied Health Sciences
- Dr Daniel Harvie, NHMRC Post-doctoral research fellow
The Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy research team consists of 12 people, consisting of staff and postdoctoral research fellows.
Frequently used methods and facilities
Facilities on campus: Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Labs
Methods:
- Quantitative sensory testing
- Diagnostic ultrasound imaging
- Gait analysis
- Electromyography
- Motion analysis
- Balance assessment
- Proprioception assessment
- Vestibular system assessment
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
- Endogenous analgesia and pain modulation assessment
Access to advanced medical imaging (off campus)
- MRI / MRI-Diffusion Tension Imaging
Key collaborating institutions
- Gold Coast University Hospital, Gold Coast
- The Princess Alexandria Hospital, Brisbane
- Mater Health Services, South Brisbane
- QSCAN Radiology Clinics
- Allsports Physiotherapy & Sports Medicine
- The Hopkins Centre
- GCORE
- Lions FC, Brisbane.
- Queensland Academy of Sport, Brisbane.
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania
- European Space Agency
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
- The Clinical Trials Centre, Griffith University
Research funding
- Gold Coast University Hospital Foundation
- Health Innovation, Investment and Research Office (Queensland Health)
- Lions FC
- UK Space Agency
- Allsports Physiotherapy & Sports Medicine Clinics
PhD Candidates
| Name | Research topic |
|---|---|
| Eva Sierra-Silvestre | Towards better understanding & improving diabetic neuropathies: nerve dysfunction, neuromechanical changes and the effect of exercise. |
| Nick Olthof | A new tool to test tactile acuity in patients with chronic neck pain. |
| Felix Leung | A prospective investigation of musculoskeletal and vestibular deficits post-concussion in adolescent rugby players (NHMRC postgraduate scholar). |
| Nigel Smith | Investigating the sensorimotor control of the hamstring muscle group in elite Australian Football League players. |
Laura Schwab | A prospective investigation of the risk factors, mechanisms and incidence of shoulder injury in community Australian Rules football. |
Margot Sexton | Post-concussion headache, pain processing and cervical spine control in adolescent male and female sports players. |
| Connor Lambert | Optimal loading regime to improve bone health. |
| Ellen Armstrong | Efficacy of goal-directed, functional training and cycling to improve function in children with CP. |
| Ramona Clark | Development of a standardized paediatric-specific lower limb neurological examination. |
| Steven Watson | The LIFTMOR Study; Lifting intervention for training muscle and osteoporosis rehabilitation. |
| Adrien Cerrito | Cervical spine loading in rugby union players during scrummaging. |
Research Masters
| Name | Research topic |
|---|---|
| Hayley Thomson | Identifying responders and non-responders to the UPLIFT program for people with persistent low back pain. |
| Courtney Bounds | Pain and performance in infantry soldiers in the Royal Australian Army. |
| Lee Corey | Endogenous pain modulation in athletes: a longitudinal observational study. |
| Ben Goodlich | Validity of ActiGraph accelerometers for detecting type and intensity of physical activity in children with moderate to severe cerebral palsy. |