Fall 2015 Research Update
By Derek Rutherford, PT, PhD
50 years ago, Dalhousie University graduated its first physiotherapy students. Think of what drives our practice today, our educational models, our students and faculty and the fundamental theme that underlies much of what we know, how we practice and how we succeed in 2015. Evidence informs the decisions that we make as Physiotherapists and is becoming increasingly engrained in our professional psyche. Now imagine a healthcare world without PubMed and the latest research at the tip of our fingertips. How would that look? How would you feel? In fact, it was not until many years after this graduating class that physiotherapy research became the foundation of practice and the future of our profession. Today at Dalhousie University, the Forrest Building contains two world class research facilities, physiotherapy students complete research projects and many of our faculty are busy talking about their work all over the world. Quite a change in 50 years!
This summer was a particularly busy time for faculty and students, presenting their work and focusing on knowledge dissemination and discussions with fellow researchers, clinicians and students about changing the face of Physiotherapy for the future. Below is a list of works that were completed over the past few months. Authors bolded include PT school students and/or Faculty.
Publications:
Witcher C, McGannon KR, Hernandez P, Dechman G, Ferrier S, Spence JC, Rhodes RE, Blanchard CM. A Qualitative Exploration of Exercise Among Pulmonary Rehabilitation Participants: Insight from Multiple Sources of Social Influence. Respiratory Care. In Press
Earl, M. Warner, G., Andrew, M., Godin, .J., Keen, S., Morrison, A., and Keefe, J. “Personal and Contextual Factors Associated with Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) among Residents in Long-term Care: A Descriptive Analysis.” Canadian Physiotherapy Association National Congress, Halifax, NS, June 2015
Ward, M., Moreside, J., Wong, I., Rutherford, D. Bilateral gluteal muscle activation is altered during gait in individuals with unilateral symptomatic hip. Canadian Physiotherapy Association National Congress, Halifax, NS, June 18-21, 2015
MSc PT student, Matthew Ward presents "Bilateral gluteal muscle activation is altered during gait in individuals with unilateral symptomatic hip," at Congress in June, 2015.
Baker, M., Moreside, J., Wong, I., Rutherford, D. Individuals with early hip osteoarthritis demonstrate altered knee joint motion and muscle activation. Canadian Physiotherapy Association National Congress, Halifax, NS, June 2015
MSc Rehabilitation Research student, Matthew Baker presents "Individuals with early hip osteoarthritis demonstrate altered knee joint motion and muscle activation," at Congress in June, 2015.
Hurley S, Kozey Keadle S, Stanish W, Hubley-Kozey C. Physical activity assessment based on objective accelerometer and self-report data: Comparing asymptomatic and knee osteoarthritis groups. Osteoarthritis Research Society International World Congress on Osteoarthritis (OARSI), Seattle WA, 2015
Hubley-Kozey C, Astephen Wilson J, Costello K, Stanish W. (2015). Biomechanical and neuromuscular alterations in knee osteoarthritis and asymptomatic controls: a longitudinal study. Osteoarthritis Research Society International World Congress on Osteoarthritis (OARSI), Seattle WA, 2015
Astephen Wilson J, Ikeda D, Costello K, Stanish W, Kozey C. (2015). Biomechanical and neuromuscular longitudinal changes at 2.5-3 years with and without kneeosteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis Research Society International World Congress on Osteoarthritis (OARSI), Seattle WA, 2015
Hatfield G, Stanish W, Hubley-Kozey C. (2015). Does prolonged muscle activity during gait explain a decreased ability to unload the knee joint in those with medial compartment knee osteoarthritis?. Osteoarthritis Research Society International World Congress on Osteoarthritis (OARSI), Seattle WA, 2015
Wong, I., Ward, M., Moreside, J., Rutherford, D. Bilateral hip motion and gluteal muscle activation is altered during gait in individuals with unilateral symptomatic hip osteoarthritis.Canadian Orthopaedic Association/American Orthopaedic Association Symposium, Vancouver, BC, 2015.
Moreside,J., Wong, I., Rutherford, D. Gluteal muscle activation patterns and hip joint motion are altered in those with moderate and severe hip osteoarthritis compared to asymptomatic cohort. International Society of Biomechanics, Glasgow, Scotland, July, 2015
Barrette, A., Dechman, G. Factors associated with high level athletes playing through pain of an injury: a systematic review of qualitative studies. Dalousie Pain Research Day, Halifax, Nova Scotia, June, 2015
MSc Rehabilitation Reseach Student, Amy Barrette presents her poster at DAL Pain Research Day in June, 2015.
Grants:
COPD, Skeletal Muscle and Lower Limb Function Assessment.
Funded by the Canadian Lung Association.
Investigators include D. Saey (Laval), S. Mathur (U of T), P. Camp (UBC) and G Dechman (Dalhousie).
Partnering Together to Improve Palliative Care in Long Term Care. Co-funding from Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Partnerships in Health System Improvement.
Funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Manitoba Health Research Council, Ontario Ministry of Health and Long term Care and Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation
Principal Investigators: Kaasalainen S, Costello A, Hunter P, Neves P, Sussman T, Thompson G, Venturato
Co-Investigators: Akhtar-Danesh N, Bourgeois-Guérin V, Chochinov H, dal Bello-Haas V, Duggleby W, Earl M, Goodridge D, Hadjistavropoulos T, Holtslander L, McCleary L, McClement S, O’Leary J, Papaioannou A, Parker D, Ploeg J, Sinclair S, Strachan P, Thorpe L, Touchette C, Trinidad G, You J, Young L.
Graduates:
Peter Stilwell sucessfully defended his MSc Rehabilitation Research in Physiotherapy thesis on August 17, 2015. He will graduate in October, 2015.
Events:
Faculty members met for their annual Research Retreat on June 24, 2015.
Dr. Shaun Boe presented a pop-up lecture during the Faculty of Health Professions's #KnowYourDal campaign on September 17, 2015.