The SIRPH Research Unit studies the rehabilitation and prevention of musculoskeletal injuries and pain that interfere with physical activity and sports participation – emphasising wellness and health.
Mission statement
Enabling healthy participation in sport and physical activity through research and community engagement with rehabilitation and prevention of musculoskeletal injuries.
Key research activities
In the SIRPH group, we investigate tendon, ligament, joint and muscle injuries to see what happens to the body when these structures get injured and how they can lead to tendinopathies, osteoarthritis and decreased participation in physical activity.
We research treatments such as exercise, manual therapy, taping and orthotics to see how we can best help people return to their regular activity.
We also investigate how we can use exercise, taping and orthotics to prevent injuries from occurring or from getting worse.
Our research involves people of all ages, from kids to older adults.
- Management of anterior knee pain
- Managing tendinopathy
- Preventing and managing chronic ankle instability and ankle osteoarthritis
- Injury prevention and optimal physical activity participation
- Return to sport and participation guidelines
- Exercise and education for lower limb osteoarthritis
Our people
Chairs
Professor Bill Vicenzino
Professor in Physiotherapy
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
Associate Professor Michelle Smith
Associate Professor in Physiotherapy
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
Group members
Dr Natalie Collins
Senior Lecturer in Physiotherapy
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
Dr Viana Vuvan
Lecturer in Physiotherapy
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
Dr Manuela Besomi
Post-doctoral Research Fellow
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
Dr Peter Lawrenson
Honorary Lecturer
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
Dr Melinda Smith
Honorary Research Fellow
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
Current Research Higher Degree candidates
| Candidate | Degree | Supervisor/s | Project Title/Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sultan Alanazi | PhD | Michelle Smith Bill Vicenzino | Improving research outcome and management of ankle osteoarthritis: Development of a Core Domain Set |
| Yousef Alyousef | PhD | Michelle Smith Venerina Johnston | The use of standing workstations in relation to low back pain and other musculoskeletal conditions in office workers |
| Lori Forner | PhD | Michelle Smith Emma Beckman Paul Hodges | Towards better understanding and management of pelvic floor disorders in women engaged in high intensity exercise: The effects of strenuous exercise and vaginal pessaries on pelvic organ descent in females |
| Marguerite King | PhD | Bill Vicenzino Kate Watson | Wearable sensor informed activity workloads and quantified return to play following upper limb injury in elite female waterpolo |
| Isobel O’Sullivan | PhD | Natalie Collins Bill Vicenzino | Exploring foot characteristics and treatments in adolescents with patellofemoral pain |
Projects for interested Research Higher Degree candidates
| Project title and description | Contact |
|---|---|
Improving management and interrupting the sequela of ankle injuries across the lifespan
| Dr Michelle Smith m.smith5@uq.edu.au |
Improving return to sport success for athletes with lateral ankle sprains
| Dr Michelle Smith m.smith5@uq.edu.au |
Preventing and managing sports injuries in adolescent athletes
| Dr Michelle Smith m.smith5@uq.edu.au |
Measures of physical workload in children and adolescents
| Dr Natalie Collins n.collins1@uq.edu.au Dr Manuela Besomi m.besomimolina@uq.edu.au |
Preventing and managing running-related injuries across the lifespan
| Dr Manuela Besomi m.besomimolina@uq.edu.au |
Research projects currently recruiting participants
We are currently seeking participants to take part in research studies.
| Project | Get in touch to learn more |
|---|---|
Ed-Ex Ankle Arthritis Program: Treatment of ankle arthritis Volunteers with ankle arthritis will participate in an education program or a combined education and exercise program. This project will compare these treatments to determine how they affect symptoms and function in people with ankle arthritis. | Dr Michelle Smith m.smith5@uq.edu.au |
Partners and collaborators
- Professor Eamonn Delahunt, University College Dublin, Ireland
- Professor Erik Wikstrom, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA
- Dr Christiaan van Bergen, Amphia Hospital, The Netherlands
- Professor Yvonne Golightly, University of Nebraska Medical Center, USA
- Dr Bruno Tassignon, Vrije University Brussels, Belgium
- Professor David Hunter, University of Sydney, Australia
- Professor Hylton Menz, Latrobe University, Australia
- Professor Michael Rathleff, Aalborg University, Denmark
- Professor Kay Crossley, Latrobe University, Australia
Contact
To contact the Sports Injuries Rehabilitation and Prevention for Health (SIRPH) please email sirph@uq.edu.au.