Projects
The Centre for Physiotherapy currently supports a diverse range of research from clinical trials to observational studies, qualitative to quantitative research – our aim is to conduct leading research that is novel and translational. Projects are often underpinned through the support of international academic advisors and local community groups and clinicians. These invaluable links globally, nationally and locally allow us to develop research progrmmes that are grounded in real world knowledge, are of a world class standard and will lead to important changes in the practice, development and teaching of physiotherapy.
The School attracts funding for most of its projects from organizations such as the Health Research Council, Lottery Health, SPARC, the Otago Medical Research Foundation, the New Zealand Society of Physiotherapy, Maurice Phyllis Paykel Trust and the University of Otago Research Grants and Major Equipment Grants. Many of our PhD students are the recipients of University of Otago or Health Research Council Scholarships and we have been successful in obtaining a number of summer studentships over the years through a combination of excellent students and interesting projects.
For more information on some of the projects currently running please see below. Should you like further information about any of our current projects or wish to discuss future directions of research, please either contact the investigators (through their profile links) or:
Emma Tumilty
Research Administrator
email Emma Tumilty
A Selection of Current Staff Research Projects
Development of a pre-hospital neurological screening tool for use in concussive brain injury: sensitivity, specificity and reliability
Investigators: Prof John
Sullivan, Assoc Prof Paul McCrory, Dr Graeme Hammond-Tooke,
Dr Tony
Schneiders, Dr. Andrew Gray
Group:
SPEX
To develop a brief quantitative sideline assessment tool for use by sports-physiotherapists to screen for concussion. Prospective validation and reliability of a clinical tool.
Does musculoskeletal screening predict injury in elite athletes?
Investigators:
Dr Tony
Schneiders, Dr Richard Newsham-West, Dr Wayne Hing, Duncan Reid
Dr. Andrew Gray
Group:
SPEX
Screening athletes prior to competition and training is increasingly being undertaken as part of comprehensive injury prevention strategies. Acute, indirect and overuse injuries are all theoretically considered to be preventable during sports and recreation participation. The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the NZAS MSP in identifying risk factors associated with subsequent injury in elite athletes. Specifically, the study aims to identify which components (if any) of the MSP are most useful in predicting subsequent injury in a cohort of carded (elite) New Zealand athletes.
Training and injury profile in participants at the 2008 NZ Masters Games.
Investigators:
Prof.
John Sullivan, Dr Chris Button, Richard Newsham-West, Tony
Schneiders, Gisela Sole, Anne Mündermann
Group:
SPEX
The Masters Games are part of an international movement aimed at promoting and encouraging mature athletes to practice sports regularly and to participate in Masters Games, with the awareness that competitive sport can continue throughout life and improve personal wellbeing and fitness levels. Despite the growing popularity of the Games little is known about the athletes, their motivation to participate, their training programmes in preparation for the Games, and the incidence of injury during preparation. The aims of this study are to profile participants and investigate training practices and injury profiles. This data will provide basic information leading to a better understanding of the Masters athletes and to develop specific injury prevention strategies for this group.
Knowledge acquisition through completing group research projects – Physiotherapy students perceptions.
Investigators: Heather Patterson, Kate O’Regan, Jeremy Duggan, James Sincok, Angeline Wong
The purpose of this study is to explore and describe the self-reported knowledge acquisition of final year physiotherapy students completing group research projects. Physiotherapeutic research plays a pivotal role in creating, defining, and identifying the ‘science’ behind the profession (Noronen and Wikstrom-Grotell, 1999) and is a key element in describing the profession’s ‘body of knowledge’ (Higgs and Titchen, 1995). To this end, undergraduate students are required to conduct research projects in small groups, with clearly documented aims to increase their knowledge and skill base regarding critical analysis, research processes and teamwork. Little is currently known regarding what students identify their knowledge acquisitions from their research experience to be, and how they perceive this may influence their practice both for the remainder of the academic year and beyond.
Neuropathic pain: evidence-based assessment recommendations and physiotherapists perceptions of their implementation.
Investigator:
Dr Leica
Claydon
Group:
REAL
The aims of this programme of research are:
To produce evidence-based recommendations of the definition and assessment of neuropathic pain. Specifically, the sensitivity and reliability of methods used in the assessment of neuropathic pain will be investigated. To explore the perceptions of neurological physiotherapists about their current assessment of neuropathic pain, and the implementation of the evidence-based recommendations. To use the results of these studies to inform the design and develop the diagnostic categories of patients for a new observational cohort study.
Can exercise reduce the impact multiple sclerosis has on daily life?
Investigators:
Dr L.
Hale, Dr S. Dean, Dr J. Hobart, Assoc. Prof. G. Buchan, A. Gray,
Dr L. J. du Plessis
Group:
REAL
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disabling disease, impacting on an individual’s participation in the community. Physiotherapy can be beneficial but the effectiveness of specific interventions requires further investigation. This study will investigate, in adults with MS, the effectiveness of an intense exercise intervention to lessen the impact of MS on daily life. The exercise programme will aim to enhance mobility by optimising physical fitness enabling the individual to be more physically active in their homes and communities. The increased activity will potentially maintain the fitness gains. This pragmatic approach to physiotherapy intervention may also be beneficial for other chronic disabling conditions.
Incidence of risk factors for falls in adults with intellectual disability.
Investigators:
Dr L.
Hale, Dr A. Bray, Dr C. Robertson;
Group:
REAL
International research suggests that adults with intellectual disability have a higher injury rate than other adults. A pilot study in Otago and Southland in 2002 confirmed these concerns and noted that a significant proportion of injuries are due to falls, necessitating the need for fall prevention strategies. We are planning a programme of research aimed at systematically and scientifically developing fall prevention programmes for adults with intellectual disability. The first step in this research programme will be to determine the incidence of all events experienced by adults with intellectual disability and to explore the injuries and the factors associated with falling in a national prospective study. As this study will be a large undertaking involving a group of people who are largely invisible in public health policy and practice, and who present with their own unique challenges feasibility work is essential to develop the appropriate methodology to be used in a national study. The challenges with research in this particular group include difficulty with communication, a deficiency of literature to guide research and lack of databases allowing easy identification of potential participants.
Cumulative spinal loads during wool harvesting
Investigators:
Dr
Stephan Milosavljevic,
Dr Allan
Carman, Prof. Jack Callaghan, Assoc. Prof. Peter Milburn
Group:
AMOCK
Wool harvesting involves both shearing and wool handing, both physically demanding tasks that place stress on the spine. While lifting heavy loads is recognised as an injury risk, repetition and time of exposure (cumulative loading) is becoming recognised as equally important in causing low back pain and injury. This study will investigate using a biomechanical model acute and cumulative loading on the lumbar spine in wool harvesting, including catching and dragging sheep, shearing, wool handling, and wool pressing. Anatomical detail, coupled with biomechanical modelling of the tasks and the dimension of time, will determine cumulative loads throughout a full workday. Outcomes will include an estimate of the risk of injury at the elbow, shoulder, lumbar spine, hip, knee and ankle, plus suggest ways of modifying these tasks, and evaluating new approaches to wool harvesting. Longer-term goals include application of this approach to injury risk reduction to other rural occupations.
The patient-specific functional scale: validity and responsiveness.
Investigators: Dr J. H. Abbott,
Prof. D.
Baxter
Group:
AMOCK
In clinical practice, it is important to have accurate and efficient ways of measuring each patient’s level of function or disability. Disability and outcome measurement tools are essential to monitor change; set therapeutic goals; quantify effectiveness of interventions in research; contribute to quality assurance monitoring; justify treatment to third-party payers; and inform health-care policy. Many disability and outcome measurement tools are, however, inflexible, inaccurate, or inefficient. In this clinical cohort study of patients with musculoskeletal disorders, we will investigate a disability and outcome measurement tool that has been developed to overcome those common shortcomings. The Patient-Specific Functional Scale is widely applicable and efficient; relevant and informative. Early research has been shown it to be valid, accurate, and sensitive to change in some applications. We will complete the picture by evaluating its application, reliability, validity, and responsiveness to change in patients’ status in musculoskeletal conditions not yet studied.
The relationship between measurements of spinal posture, movement and pulmonary function in female competitive rowers.
Investigators:
Dr Gill
Johnson,
Dr Margot
Skinner
Group:
AMOCK
The purpose of this study is to examine the relationships between spinal posture, rib cage mobility, lung function and spinal movement in a group of healthy young adult female and male competitive rowers using non-invasive measurements.
A profile of the health of Māori students at the University of Otago
Investigators:
Dr Margot
Skinner,
Dr Gill
Johnson
Group:
AMOCK
To gather data in order to obtain a health profile (including weight, height, hip and waist measurements, blood pressure of the Māori students that attend the University of Otago Dunedin Campus. The data for individuals will be compared with the national data published for Māori.
Exploring the Interaction Between the Pelvic Segment and Gluteal and Thigh Muscles
Investigators:
Gisela
Sole,
Dr
Stephan Milosavljevic
Groups:
SPEX and
AMOCK
Hamstring and groin injuries are common in sports such as rugby, cricket and soccer. Programmes that include functional sports specific exercises or trunk control have been associated with a lower risk of recurrence, however the mechanism whereby these programmes affect thigh muscle performance is unclear. Investigating a putative proprioceptive or functional link between structures of the pelvis and the thigh muscles and in the long term contribute toward more effective injury preventative and rehabilitative strategies. The aim of this research pathway is to examine the interaction between the thigh and gluteal muscles and the pelvic joints in injured and healthy people and to follow the participants’ injury status for 18 months to determine whether predictive relationships exist between any of the variables and recovery, injury or re-injury.
Clinical Research
An Assessment of the information needs of young persons with a sport-related concussion and their Family/Whānau: A Focus Group Study
This project will seek the opinion of Teenagers and their families as to what information would be useful for them following a sports concussion to assist them in dealing with the consequences of a concussion. more info..
MAADI Cup Posture Study
Sport and Recreation New Zealand (SPARC) is funding a study into spinal posture and mobility in junior (lightweight) rowers. more info...
Postgraduate Doctoral Projects
