Can unloading footwear improve clinical care of people with knee osteoarthritis? Osteoarthritis is a public health problem imposing major economic and personal burden. It is the fourth highest cause of morbidity in Australia and national health expenditure in 2007 was $2.03 billion. Footwear can reduce knee load which is linked to disease pathogenesis. Specially-designed unloading shoes will be evaluated in a clinical trial and biomechanical studies to determine their efficacy at reducing sympto ....Can unloading footwear improve clinical care of people with knee osteoarthritis? Osteoarthritis is a public health problem imposing major economic and personal burden. It is the fourth highest cause of morbidity in Australia and national health expenditure in 2007 was $2.03 billion. Footwear can reduce knee load which is linked to disease pathogenesis. Specially-designed unloading shoes will be evaluated in a clinical trial and biomechanical studies to determine their efficacy at reducing symptoms, mechanical mechanism of pain relief, patient sub-groups that best respond to treatment and whether combined treatment with medial arch supports changes knee biomechanics. Outcomes will impact clinical practice and relieve suffering of people with knee osteoarthritis. Findings will also guide future shoe developments for arthritis. Read moreRead less
Mindfulness and coping in chronic illness: insights from a study of joint replacement surgery. This study investigates whether participation in a mental health enhancement program (mindfulness) will improve the recovery of patients undergoing total joint replacement. This will benefit patients by promoting psychological well-being which has direct effects on pain and physical function after surgery.
Program evaluation of the osteoarthritis awareness hub. Persons with osteoarthritis generally have poor knowledge about their disease and its appropriate management. The aim of this project is to evaluate whether improved knowledge, and management decisions of persons with osteoarthritis, can ultimately lead to improved health outcomes.
Knee osteoarthritis: Getting moving with physiotherapy. Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent chronic musculoskeletal condition causing pain, disability and reduced quality-of-life. Further rises in the prevalence of knee OA and associated patient and economic costs are expected due to an ageing population and increasing risk factors for OA such as obesity. This research will provide important information about the role of modified footwear and gait retraining in management of knee OA which ca ....Knee osteoarthritis: Getting moving with physiotherapy. Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent chronic musculoskeletal condition causing pain, disability and reduced quality-of-life. Further rises in the prevalence of knee OA and associated patient and economic costs are expected due to an ageing population and increasing risk factors for OA such as obesity. This research will provide important information about the role of modified footwear and gait retraining in management of knee OA which can influence current clinical practice. This has the potential to reduce the burden of knee OA from both an individual and societal perspective. Furthermore, the research will result in a commercially available shoe suitable for people with knee OA. Read moreRead less
Factors influencing functional locomotion in older adults. Ageing is associated with increasing limitations of physical function such as walking. Many older people also have concurrent medical conditions which may further limit function. This project adopts a multidisciplinary approach to investigate key factors that affect the ability to perform functional tasks of everyday locomotion, such as stair climbing and obstacle avoidance, in older adults including those affected by osteoarthritis. The ....Factors influencing functional locomotion in older adults. Ageing is associated with increasing limitations of physical function such as walking. Many older people also have concurrent medical conditions which may further limit function. This project adopts a multidisciplinary approach to investigate key factors that affect the ability to perform functional tasks of everyday locomotion, such as stair climbing and obstacle avoidance, in older adults including those affected by osteoarthritis. The results will increase knowledge about the adaptability of the ageing human locomotor system in both health and disease. This will provide a theoretical foundation for creating new strategies to reduce the impact of physical degeneration in older people.Read moreRead less