Research teams

Arthritis and Musculoskeletal

The Arthritis and Musculoskeletal research group conducts leading research into back pain, foot and ankle, and hip and groin injury.

Back pain research
Team leader: Professor Kathryn Refshauge

Foot and ankle research
Team leader: Professor Kathryn Refshauge

Hip and groin research
Team leader: Dr Leslie Nicholson

Osteoarthritis
Team Leader: Associate Professor Marlene Fransen

Breast Cancer Research Group

The focus of the Breast Cancer Research group is to identify and modify the painful, long-term effects of breast cancer treatment to improve overall quality of life.

This is most commonly ongoing shoulder and arm problems such as lymphoedema (arm swelling caused by fluid build-up due to the removal of lymph nodes either by surgery or radiotherapy), shoulder stiffness, weakness, pain and numbness.

Team Leader: Associate Professor Sharon Kilbreath

Lung & Heart Physiotherapy

The research conducted within the Lung And Heart Physiotherapy Research group (LAHPR) falls within 5 themes:

• exercise rehabilitation for chronic and acute-on-chronic cardiac and pulmonary disease
• lung mechanics and flow-rates during exercise
• physiological responses to exercise and airway clearance techniques
• implementation of evidence-based guidelines
• adherence to treatment (exercise)

Team leader: Jennifer Alison

Neurological Rehabilitation

The Neurological Rehabilitation Research group consists of well-established researchers with backgrounds in physiotherapy and occupational therapy.

The group’s research has three major themes:

• relationships between impairment, activity limitation and participation restriction in people with neurological conditions
• effects of physical interventions for people with neurological conditions
• prevention of falls

Team leader: Associate Professor Louise Ada

Occupational Performance

The research of the Occupational Performance Research group focuses on:

• the impact of health factors on important school/work, self care, and other life occupations of individuals and communities and
• the efficacy of occupation-based interventions on people’s occupational health and well-being.