Our research covers three main areas:
Musculo-skeletal disease
We aim to understand neuromuscular and biomechanical factors involved in the development and progression osteoarthritis (OA) and osteoporosis (OP) in humans.
Development is the starting of OA and OP and their progression is getting worse.
Our specific research programs are:
- Examining the neuromuscular biomechanical factors that cause OA to develop in tibiofemoral and patellofemoral joints of the knee. We are studying people who have had a arthroscopic partial meniscectomy (APM), anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) and matrix autologous chondrocyte implant surgery (MACI).
- Investigating the neuromuscular biomechanical factors that are related to poor outcomes after knee replacements. We have and are studying total (TKA), unicondylar (UKA) and 2/3rd (2/3KA) knee arthroplasty.
- Studying the rehabilitation of people with knee cartilage defects (MACI) and moderate knee OA.
We have also completed a study into different types of rehabilitation programs for people with moderate knee OA. Our study demonstrates that there is specific therapeutic effect at the knee that may affect the knee muscle activation patterns in gait.
Musculo-skeletal injury
We want to understand the neuromuscular and biomechanical causes for different musculo-skeletal injuries and development solutions to preventing these injuries from occurring.
Some specific research programs are knee ligament injury and lower back injuries in cricket bowling, and treatment of burns patients.
Our specific research programs are:
- Investigating training programs to reduce external knee and anterior cruciate ligament loading with funding from the AFL Research and Development Board. We are evaluating if combined balance and technique training can reduce the number of ACL injuries over the course of a season in community level Australian Football. This program is the first sports medicine intervention study funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council.
- Investigating In collaboration with the Burns Unit at Royal Perth Hospital outcomes in the treatment of burn injuries. Understanding outcomes requires quantitative methods to assess and improve the effectiveness of treatment therapies. 3D motion analysis is proving to be such a tool, and when coupled with exercise rehabilitation our preliminary research is showing that dramatic improvements in movement and quality of life are possible. This work is also examining of use of Botulinum Neurotoxin-A in the treatment of pain and limitations to movement.
- Identifying the aetiology of lumbar back injuries of both adult and young fast bowlers. We have identified that fast progression of disc degeneration occurs in bowlers with inappropriate techniques.
- With funding from Cricket Australia, expanding previous research on general bowling techniques and the effects of fatigue on bowling technique to include identifying 3D biomechanics giving rise to lumbar back injuries in young fast bowlers.
Treatment for neuromuscular disorders
We want to understand the neuromuscular and biomechanical mechanisms that can be used to best treat people with neuromuscular disorders, such as acquired brain injury, Parkinsons disease, spinal cord injury, and children with cerebral palsy (CP).
Much of this work is in collaboration with Princess Margaret Hospital for Children and Sir Charles Gardiner Hospital. We focus on gait and upper limb function.
Specific research programs:
- 3D gait analysis is being used to assist planning of multilevel surgery and spasticity treatment planning
- gait re-training and muscle strengthening is being employed to improve function of children with CP
- Quantifying how muscles are changing with typical childhood development and in those with CP, using MRI techniques.
- Using 3D motion analysis to test the efficacy of deep brain stimulation on mobility and tremor.
University information
CRICOS Code: 00126G
