Physiotherapy Research

The Physiotherapy Departments in Sydney Local Health District are involved in research to improve patient care. Current research projects aim to improve the exercise capacity, quality of life and self-management of people with chronic conditions including: chronic lung disease particularly cystic fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); stroke; pelvic exenteration; as well as treatment modalities for musculoskeletal conditions and burns patients, and airway clearance techniques for respiratory conditions.

Selected Grants

Amount awarded	Grant and project details
$480,078	Medical Research Future Fund Preventive and Public Health Research Grant 2019, 2020-2023 Physical activity promotion by health professionals to increase physical activity: two hybrid type II implementation-effectiveness cluster randomised waitlist controlled trials in hospital outpatient settings. Investigator: Hassett L, Sherrington C, Pinheiro M, Howard K, Jennings M, Greaves C, Alison J, Walkley J, Haynes A.
$150,000	Medical Research Future Fund Rapid Applied Research Translation Grant, 2019-2020 Better participation in exercise for people aged 50+ and people with physical disabilities through health professional education Investigator: Sherrington C, Richards B, Baur L, Bauman A, Harvey L, Phongsavan P, Alison J, Tiedemann A, Smith B, Hassett L, West K, Rissel C, Cole J, Walkley J, Dwyer G.
$25,000	Sydney Local Health District The Pitch, 2019 The “You Matter” Equal Access to Cystic Fibrosis Care Initiative -Via Telehealth Lung Function Investigators: Dentice R, Sivam S.

Our Publications

2021

Cheng SWM, Alison J, Stamatakis E, Dennis S, McNamara R, Spencer L, McKeough Z. Six-week behaviour change intervention to reduce sedentary behaviour in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a randomised controlled trial. Thorax Published Online First: 05 July 2021. doi: 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2020-214885
Jee AS, Sheehy R, Hopkins P, Corte TJ, Grainge C, Troy LK, Symons K, Spencer LM, Reynolds PN, Chapman S, de Boer S, Reddy T, Holland AE, Chambers DC, Glaspole IN, Jo HE, Bleasel JF, Wrobel JP, DowmanL, Parker MJS, Wilsher ML, Goh NSL, Moodley Y, Keir GJ.Jee AS, et al. Diagnosis and management of connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung disease in Australia and New Zealand: A position statement from the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand. Respirology. 2021 Jan;26(1):23-51. doi: 10.1111/resp.13977. Epub 2020 Nov 24.
McLean AEB, Webster SE, Fry M, Lau EM, Corte P, Torzillo PJ, Troy LK, Jo HE, Geis M, Rhodes JE, Cleary S, Spencer L, Corte TJ. Priorities and expectations of patients attending a multidisciplinary interstitial lung disease clinic. Respirology. 2021 Jan;26(1):80-86. doi: 10.1111/resp.13913. Epub 2020 Aug 17.
Leung RWM, Alison JA, Jenkins SC, Holland AE, Hill K, Morris NR, Spencer LM, Hill CJ, Lee AL, Seale HE, Cecins NM, McDonald CF, McKeough ZJ.Leung RWM, et al. Use of supplemental oxygen during exercise testing and training for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a survey of Australian pulmonary rehabilitation programs. Braz J Phys Ther. 2021 Jan-Feb;25(1):97-102. doi: 10.1016/j.bjpt.2020.04.003. Epub 2020 May 15.Braz J Phys Ther. 2021. PMID: 32499168
Hill K, Chao YL, Cavalheri V, Ng LWC, Wootton SL, McKeough ZJ, Jenkins SC, Eastwood PR, Hillman DR, Jenkins C, Cecins N, Spencer LM, Alison JA. Increasing Walking Speed to Achieve a Pre-training Endurance Shuttle Walk Time of 5-10 min May Improve Test Responsiveness in People With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. J Cardiopulm Rehabil Prev. 2021 Jul 1;41(4):264-266. doi: 10.1097/HCR.0000000000000575.
Bishop JA, Spencer LM, Dwyer TJ, McKeough ZJ, McAnulty A, Alison JA Change in Exercise Capacity and Health-Related Quality of Life at Four and Eight Weeks of a Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program in People with COPD. .COPD. 2021 Dec;18(6):612-620. doi: 10.1080/15412555.2021.2013793. Epub 2021 Dec 19.
Mendes LPS, Parreira VF, Spencer LM, Vieira DSR, Alison JA.Validity and Responsiveness of the Glittre-ADL Test without a Backpack in People with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. COPD. 2020 Aug;17(4):392-400. doi: 10.1080/15412555.2020.1756236. Epub 2020 Jun 29.PMID: 32594774 Clinical Trial.
McKeough ZJ, Large SL, Spencer LM, Cheng SWM, McNamara RJ. An observational study of self-reported sedentary behaviour in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and bronchiectasis. Braz J Phys Ther. 2020 Sep-Oct;24(5):399-406. doi: 10.1016/j.bjpt.2019.05.005. Epub 2019 Jun 5.
Cox NS, Lahham A, McDonald CF, Mahal A, O'Halloran P, Hepworth G, Spencer L, McNamara RJ, Bondarenko J, Macdonald H, Gavin S, Burge AT, Le Maitre C, Ringin C, Webb E, Nichols A, Tsai LL, Luxton N, van Hilten S, Santos M, Crute H, Byrne M, Boursinos H, Broe J, Corbett M, Marceau T, Warrick B, Boote C, Melinz J, Holland AE. Home-based pulmonary rehabilitation early after hospitalisation in COPD (early HomeBase): protocol for a randomised controlled trial. .BMJ Open Respir Res. 2021 Nov;8(1):e001107. doi: 10.1136/bmjresp-2021-001107.
Dowman LM, May AK, Hill CJ, Bondarenko J, Spencer L, Morris NR, Alison JA, Walsh J, Goh NSL, Corte T, Glaspole I, Chambers DC, McDonald CF, Holland AE. High intensity interval training versus moderate intensity continuous training for people with interstitial lung disease: protocol for a randomised controlled trial. .BMC Pulm Med. 2021 Nov 10;21(1):361. doi: 10.1186/s12890-021-01704-2.
Leung RWM, Alison JA, Jenkins SC, Holland AE, Hill K, Morris NR, Spencer LM, Hill CJ, Lee AL, Seale HE, Cecins NM, McDonald CF, McKeough ZJ.Use of supplemental oxygen during exercise testing and training for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a survey of Australian pulmonary rehabilitation programs. Braz J Phys Ther. 2021 Jan-Feb;25(1):97-102. doi: 10.1016/j.bjpt.2020.04.003. Epub 2020 May 15.
Coombs D, Machado GC, Richards B, Wilson R, Chan J, Storey H, Maher CG. Healthcare costs due to low back pain in the emergency department and inpatient setting in Sydney, Australia. The Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific 2021;7: 100089
Coombs DM, Machado GC, Richards B, Needs C, Buchbinder R, Harris I, Howard K, McCaffery K, Billot L, Edwards J, Rogan E, Facer R,Li Q, Maher CG. Effectiveness of a multifaceted intervention to improve emergency department care of low back pain: a stepped-wedge cluster-randomised trial. BMJ Quality & Safety 2021; doi: 10.1136/bmjqs-2020-012337.
Traeger AC, Machado GC, Bath S, Tran M, Roper L, Oliveira C, Peek A, Coombs D,Hall A, Tcharkhedian E, Maher CG. Appropriateness of imaging decisions for low back pain presenting to the emergency department: a retrospective chart review study. Int J Qual Health Care. 2021 Jul 24;33(3):mzab103. doi: 10.1093/intqhc/mzab103. PMID: 34260690.
Zadro JR, Needs C, Foster NE, Martens D, Coombs DM, Machado GC, Adams C, Han CS, Maher CG. Feasibility of delivering and evaluating stratified care integrated with telehealth ('Rapid Stratified Telehealth') for patients with low back pain: protocol for a feasibility and pilot randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open. 2022 Jan 11;12(1):e056339. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-056339. PMID: 35017255; PMCID: PMC8753403.
Barakat-Johnson M et al including Reedy N. Efficacy of a heel off loading boot in reducing heel pressure injuries in australian ICUs: a single randomised trial. Intensive critical care Nursing 2022

2020

Baytieh, L and Li, F. Physiotherapeutic and dietetic parameters in burn patients modelling a multidisciplinary approach to burns practice: a bi-disciplinary illustration of interrelated factors. Burns 2020.

Bishop J, Spencer L, Alison JA (2020). Effect of a pulmonary rehabilitation programme of 8 weeks compared to 12 weeks duration on exercise capacity in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (PuRe Duration): protocol for a randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open Respiratory Research. Volume 7, Issue 1, 1 September 2020

Cheng, S.W.M., Alison, J.A., Stamatakis, E. Dennis, S.M., McKeough, Z.J.(2020). Patterns and Correlates of Sedentary Behaviour Accumulation and Physical Activity in People with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study. COPD: Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Coombs DM, Machado GC, Collett M, Mathieson S, Abdel Shaheed C, Lin C-WC, Maher CG. Continued opioid use following an emergency department presentation for low back pain. Emergency Medicine Australasia Under Review

Coombs DM, Machado GC, Richards B, Oliveira CB, Herbert RD, Maher CG. Clinical course of patients with low back pain following an emergency department presentation: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Emerg Med J. 2020 Sep 11:emermed-2019-209294. doi: 10.1136/emermed-2019-209294. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 32917748.

Coombs DM, Machado GM, Richards B, Needs C, Buchbinder R, Harris I, Howard K, McCaffery K, Billot L, Edwards J, Rogan E, Facer R, Li Q, Maher C. Effectiveness of a multifaceted intervention to improve emergency department care of low back pain: a stepped-wedge cluster-randomised trial. BMJ Quality and Safety Under Review

Coombs DM; Machado GM; Richards B; Wilson R; Chan J; Storey H; Maher CG. Healthcare costs due to low back pain in the emergency department and inpatient setting in Sydney, Australia. The Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific, 2021 Feb 1, ISSN: 2666-6065, Vol: 7, Page: 100089

Cox NS, McDonald CF, Hill CJ, O'Halloran P, Alison JA, Zanaboni P, Macdonald H, Holland AE (2020). Tele rehabilitation for chronic respiratory disease. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (accepted)

Dwyer TJ, Griffin BN, Bye PTP, Alison JA (2020). Elicitation interview study to identify salient beliefs about exercise participation in adults with cystic fibrosis. Physiotherapy. 107:286-291

Hill K, Chao YL, Cavalheri C, Ng LWC, Wootton SL, McKeough ZJ, Jenkins SC, Eastwood PR, Hillman DR, Jenkins C, Cecins N, Spencer LM, Alison JA. Increasing Walking Speed to Achieve a Pre-training Endurance Shuttle Walk Time of 5 to 10 Minutes May Improve Test Responsiveness in People With COPD. Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention (accepted 6/11/2020)

Jee AS, Sheehy R, Hopkins P, Corte TJ, Grainge C, Troy LK, Symons K, Spencer LM, Reynolds PN, Chapman S, de Boer S, Reddy T, Holland AE, Chambers DC, Glaspole IN, Jo HE, Bleasel JF, Wrobel JP, Dowman L, Parker MJS, Wilsher ML, Goh NSL, Moodley Y, Keir GJ.Jee AS, et al. Diagnosis and management of connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung disease in Australia and New Zealand: A position statement from the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand. Respirology. 2021 Jan;26(1):23-51.Respirology.

Lee JYT, Tikellis G, Corte TJ, Goh NS, Keir GJ, Spencer L, Sandford D, Khor YH, Glaspole I, Price J, Hey-Cunningham AJ, Maloney J, Teoh AKY, Watson AL, Holland AE.Lee JYT, et al. The supportive care needs of people living with pulmonary fibrosis and their caregivers: a systematic review. Eur Respir Rev. 2020 Apr 29;29(156):190125.

Leung RWM, Alison JA, Jenkins SC, Holland AE, Hill K, Morris NR, Spencer LM, Hill CJ, Lee AL, Seale HE, Cecins NM, McDonald CF, McKeough ZJ.Leung RWM, et al. Use of supplemental oxygen during exercise testing and training for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a survey of Australian pulmonary rehabilitation programs. Braz J Phys Ther. 2021 Jan-Feb;25(1):97-102.

Logan GS, Dawe RE, Aubrey-Bassler K, Coombs D, Parfrey P, Maher C, Etchegary H, Hall A. Are general practitioners referring patients with low back pain for CTs appropriately according to the guidelines: a retrospective review of 3609 medical records in Newfoundland using routinely collected data. BMC Fam Pract. 2020 Nov 18;21(1):236. doi: 10.1186/s12875-020-01308-5. PMID: 33208086; PMCID: PMC7677768.

McKeough ZJ, Large SL, Spencer LM, Cheng SWM, McNamara RJ.McKeough ZJ, et al. An observational study of self-reported sedentary behaviour in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and bronchiectasis. Braz J Phys Ther. 2020 Sep-Oct; 24(5):399-406.

McLean AEB, Webster SE, Fry M, Lau EM, Corte P, Torzillo PJ, Troy LK, Jo HE, Geis M, Rhodes JE, Cleary S, Spencer L, Corte TJ.McLean AEB, et al. Priorities and expectations of patients attending a multidisciplinary interstitial lung disease clinic. Respirology. 2021 Jan;26(1):80-86.

Meharg D, Gwynne K, Gilroy, J, Alison JA (2020). Exercise-based interventions for Indigenous adults with chronic lung disease in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States of America (USA): a systematic review. Journal of Thoracic Disease (accepted 15/10/2020)

Mendes, L.P.D.S, Parreira, V.F, Spencer, L.M., Vieira, D.S.R., Alison, J.A (2020). Validity and Responsiveness of the Glittre-ADL Test without a Backpack in People with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. COPD: Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. 17 (4):392-400

Oliveira CB, Amorim HE, Coombs DM, Richards B, Reedyk M, Maher CG, Machado GC. Emergency department interventions for adult patients with low back pain: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials. Emerg Med J. 2021 Jan;38(1):59-68. doi: 10.1136/emermed-2020-209588. Epub 2020 Oct 9. PMID: 33037020.

Tabyshova A, Hurst JR, Soriano JB, Checkley W, Huang EW, Trofor AC, Flores OF, Alupo P, Gianella G, Ferdous T, Meharg D, Alison JA, Correia de Sousa J, Postma MJ, Chavannes NH, van Boven JFM. (2020). Gaps in COPD guidelines of low- and middle-income countries: a systematic scoping review. Chest 59(2):575-584

Tikellis G, Lee JYT, Corte TJ, Maloney J, Bartlett M, Crawford T, Glaspole IN, Goh N, Herrmann K, Hey-Cunningham AJ, Keir G, Khor YH, Price J, Sandford DG, Spencer L, Teoh A, Walsh J, Webster S, Holland AE.Tikellis G, et al.Peer Connect Service for people with pulmonary fibrosis in Australia: Participants' experiences and process evaluation. Respirology. 2020 Oct;25(10):1053-1059.

Whitty JA, Rankin J, Visca D, Tsipouri V, Mori L, Spencer L, Adamali H, Maher TM, Hopkinson NS, Birring SS, Farquhar M, Wells AU, Sestini P, Renzoni EA, Whitty JA, et al. Cost-effectiveness of ambulatory oxygen in improving quality of life in fibrotic lung disease: preliminary evidence from the AmbOx Trial. Eur Respir J. 2020 Feb 6;55(2):1901157.

Wootton S L, King M, Alison JA, Mahadev S, Chan ASL (2020). COVID-19 rehabilitation delivered via a tele health pulmonary rehabilitation model: a case series. Respirology Case Reports. 8 (8), 2020, e00669 doi: 10.1002/rcr2.669

2019

Alison J. Pulmonary rehabilitation for COPD - 'Breathe easy, walk easy'. Respiratory Medicine Today 2019; 4(2): 30-33

Alison JA (2019). Handgrip strength - potential of a simple test to aid management in COPD. (Editorial). Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 23 (4):385-386

Alison JA, Franssen FME (2019). Optimising health in chronic lung diseases: what did we learn from the experts in pulmonary rehabilitation? Respirology 24(9):916-917 doi: 10.1111/resp.13638

Alison JA, McKeough ZJ, Leung R, Holland AE, Hill K, Morris NR, Jenkins S, Spencer L, Hill C, Lee A, Seale H, Cecins N, McDonald CF (2019). Oxygen compared to air during exercise training in COPD with exercise-induced desaturation. Eur Respir J 53(5)

Alison JA, McKeough ZJ, Leung RWM, Holland AE, Hill K, Morris NR, Jenkins S, Spencer LM, Hill CJ, Lee AL, Seale H, Cecins N, McDonald CF. Exercise training in COPD with exercise-induced desaturation does improve exercise capacity, irrespective of whether supplemental oxygen or air is provided during training. Eur Respir J. 2019 Nov 14;54(5). pii: 1901725. doi: 10.1183/13993003.01725-2019.

Alison JA, McKeough ZJ, Leung RWM, Holland AE, Hill K, Morris NR, Jenkins S, Spencer LM, Hill CJ, Lee AL, Seale H, Cecins N, McDonald CF. Oxygen compared to air during exercise training in COPD with exercise-induced desaturation. Eur Respir J. 2019 May 30;53(5).

Alison, J. A., McKeough, Z. J., Leung, R. W. M., Holland, A. E., Hill K., Morris, N. R., Jenkins, S., Spencer, L. M., Hill, C. J., Lee, A.L., Seale, H., Cecins, N., McDonald, C. F. Exercise training in COPD with exercise-induced desaturation does improve exercise capacity, irrespective of whether supplemental oxygen or air is provided during training. Eur Respir J 2019 54:5 p. 1901725-1901725 (letter)

Beauchamp MK, Brooks D, Ellerton C, Lee A, Alison J, Camp PG, Dechman G, Haines K, Harrison SL, Holland AE, Marques A, Moineddin R, Skinner EH, Spencer L, Stickland MK, Xie F, Goldstein RS. Pulmonary Rehabilitation With Balance Training for Fall Reduction in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Res Protoc. 2017 Nov 20;6(11):e228.

Dentice R, Elkins M, Verschuer J, Eberl S, Dwyer G, Bye P (2019). Side lying during nebulisation can significantly improve apical deposition in healthy adults and adults with mild cystic fibrosis lung disease: a randomised crossover trial. BMC Pulmonary Medicine 19:128

Dwyer, TJ Daviskas, E, Zainuldin, R, Verschuer J, Eberl S, Bye, PTP, Alison, JA.(2019). Effects of exercise and airway clearance (PEP) on mucus clearance in cystic fibrosis: a randomised cross-over trial. Eur Respir J (accepted 24/01/2019)

Franssen FME, Alison JA (2019). Rehabilitation in chronic lung diseases: live your life to the max. Editorial. Respirology. 24(9):828-9. doi: 10.1111/resp.13511

Halliday M, Garcia AN, Amorim AB, machado GC, Hayen JA, Pappas E, Ferreira P, hancock MJ. treatment effect sizes of mechanical diagnosis and therapy for pain and disability in patients with lower back pain: a systemic review. J Orth and Sports Physical therapy. 2019;49(4):219-232

Hill K, Ng C, Wootton SL, McKeough ZJ, Eastwood PR, Hillman DR, Jenkins C, Spencer L, Jenkins SC, Cecins NM, Alison JA. The minimal detectable difference for endurance shuttle walk test performance in people with COPD on completion of a program of high-intensity ground-based walking. Respir Med. 2019 Jan;146 :18-22.

Ho JP, Alison JA, Ng LWC, Wootton SL, McKeough ZJ, Jenkins SC, Eastwood PR, Hillman DR, Jenkins C, Spencer LM, Cavalheri V, Hill K. People With COPD Who Respond to Ground-Based Walking Training Are Characterized by Lower Pre-training Exercise Capacity and Better Lung Function and Have Greater Progression in Walking Training Distance. J Cardiopulm Rehabil Prev. 2019 Sep;39(5):338-343.

Leung RWM, Alison JA, McKeough ZJ (2019) Inter-rater and intra-rater reliability of the Brief-BESTest in people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Clinical Rehabilitation 33:104-112.

McKeough Z, Large S, Cheng S, Spencer L, McNamara R. Self-reported sedentary behaviour in people with COPD & bronchiectasis. TSANZ Conference Gold Coast 2019

McKeough ZJ, Large SL, Spencer LM, Cheng SWM, McNamara RJ. An observational study of self-reported sedentary behaviour in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and bronchiectasis. Braz J Phys Ther. 2019 Jun 5. pii: S1413-3555(19)30069-3. doi: 10.1016/j.bjpt.2019.05.005.

Ng C, Wootton SL, McKeough ZJ, Jenkins S, Alison JA, Cecins N, Spencer L, Hill K (2019) The minimal detectable difference for endurance shuttle walk test performance in people with COPD on completion of a program of high-intensity ground-based walking. Respiratory Medicine 146:18-22.

Redfern J, Hyun K, Singleton A, Hafiz N, Raeside R, Spencer L, Carr B, Caterson I, Cullen J, Ferry C, Santo K, Hayes A, Leung RWM, Raadsma S, Swinbourne J, Cho JG, King M, Roberts M, Kok C, Jenkins C, Chow C. ITM support for patients with chronic respiratory and cardiovascular diseases: a protocol for a randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open. 2019 Mar 1;9(3):e023863.

Sanchez P, Everett B, Salamonson Y, Redfern J, Ajwani S, Bhole S, Bishop J, Lintern K, Nolan S, Rajaratnam R, Sheehan M, Skarligos F, Spencer L, Srinivas R, George A. The oral health status, behaviours and knowledge of patients with cardiovascular disease in Sydney Australia: a cross-sectional survey. BMC Oral Health. 2019 Jan 11;19 (1):12.

Spencer LM, McKeough ZJ. Maintaining the benefits following pulmonary rehabilitation: Achievable or not? Respirology. 2019 Sep;24(9):909-915. doi: 10.1111/resp.13518.

Wootton SL, Hill K, Alison JA, Ng LWC, Jenkins S, Eastwood PR, Hillman DR, Jenkins C, Spencer LM, Cecins N, McKeough ZJ. Effects of ongoing feedback during a 12-month maintenance walking program on daily physical activity in people with COPD. Lung 197(3):315-9

Zafiropoulos B, Alison JA, Heard R (2019). Physical activity levels of allied health professionals working in a large Australian metropolitan health district - an observational study. Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare 12: 51-62.

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2021

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