Research Projects

Physical Activity

Investigate the use of physical activity for well individuals and groups with diabetes, obesity, dementia and cerebral palsy as a means of preventing or minimising morbidity.

• Adolescent spinal pain in the Western Australian Pregnancy (Raine) Cohort
• Spinal pain and information technology use in the Busselton Healthy Aging Study
• Development and evaluation of Curtin’s Activity, Food and Attitudes Program – a multi-disciplinary, family-centred, community-based intervention for overweight/obese adolescents
• Evidence-based guidelines for wise use of computers by children
• Electronic games and physical activity in children
• Familial aspects of spinal pain – Joondalup Spinal Health Study
• Computer task performance at cycling and walking workstations
• Validation study of the StepWatch Activity Monitor ™ to measure physical activity in girls and women with Rett syndrome

Musculoskeletal

Investigate the mechanisms, development, classification and management of disorders and motor control dysfunction in a broad cross section of the community.

• The effectiveness of pulsed electrical stimulation in the management of osteoarthritis of the knee: results of a randomised controlled trial.
• Adolescent spinal pain in the Western Australian Pregnancy (Raine) Cohort
• Spinal pain and information technology use in the Busselton Healthy Aging Study
• Evidence-based guidelines for wise use of computers by children
• Familial aspects of spinal pain – Joondalup Spinal Health Study
• Lumbar loading and lumbo-pelvic kinematics during the tennis serve in elite adolescent players

Cardio-vascular-pulmonary

Examine physiologic responses to exercise tests and the efficacy of exercise training, exercise effects on blood vessels, physical activity and cardiovascular disease risk factors and self management interventions to reduce healthcare burden in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma.

• Improving Indigenous Cardiovascular Health: Extending a Secondary Prevention Model to Primary Prevention

Pain

Focuses on the ability to modulate spinal pain with movement based therapies. Mechanisms underlying acute and chronic musculoskeletal pain are investigated using novel experimental pain methods in healthy controls and patient cohorts. Mechanisms and efficacy of movement based interventions to minimise musculoskeletal pain and enhance movement are also investigated.

• The effectiveness of pulsed electrical stimulation in the management of osteoarthritis of the knee: results of a randomised controlled trial.

Ergonomics

Investigate the prevention of musculoskeletal disorders related to insufficient or inappropriate activity. Examples in this area include health issues associated with increased use of computers by children, learning musical instruments, performing manual tasks and decreased movement in office work.

• Adolescent spinal pain in the Western Australian Pregnancy (Raine) Cohort
• Spinal pain and information technology use in the Busselton Healthy Aging Study
• Evidence-based guidelines for wise use of computers by children
• Electronic games and physical activity in children
• Familial aspects of spinal pain – Joondalup Spinal Health Study
• Pistol draw kinematics
• Computer task performance at cycling and walking workstations