Rehabilitation Studies

A Multi-Modal Exercise and Counselling Rehabilitation Program for Cancer Survivors. (Naumann, Parker, Philpott, Arnold-reed, Brett, Wilson, Farringdon, Woolfitt, Bulsara, Hands, Martin, Smith, Rosario, Munroe - 2010-2011)

The immediate and lasting symptoms observed in patients diagnosed with cancer have gained attention in the oncology arena, especially as survival rates have improved.  Unfortunately, survival is also often associated with compromised quality of life and lingering side effects that may persist for many years.  These side-effects include debilitative fatigue, sleeping problems, pain, loss of strength, increased subcutaneous fat and weight gain, lymphodema, disrupted sexual function, disturbances in body image and self-concept, anxiety, depression and the development of co-morbidities.  Treatment success may be improved if patients are able to develop physical and psychological strength to deal with its debilitating side effects.  Thus, it is crucial that an integrated approach towards managing the physiological and psychological needs of clients with cancer be developed, that involves strategies to reduce the symptoms and enhance recovery and quality of life.  This program aims to evaluate the effects of combining two powerful modalities, exercise and counselling, on the quality of life for breast and prostate cancer survivors.

For further information contact Eric Martin on eric.martin1@my.nd.edu.au.

Cancer in the Adolescent and Young Adult Population: Incidence, Survival and Patterns of Care in Western Australia from 1981-2007.

Investigators: Dr Kristjana Einarsdottir (UWA), Ms Fatima Haggar (UWA); Assoc Prof David Preen (UWA); Prof D'Arcy Holman (UWA), Prof Max Bulsara (UNDA).
Contact: mbulsara@nd.edu.au

Green Tea Polyphenols and cancer prevention: Use of Biomarkers and Population Controls to elicit causal pathways.

Chief Investigators:  Prof C D J Holman (UWA), Dr M Zhang (UWA), Prof  X Xie (Zhejiang University), Prof Y Liu (Zhejiang University), Prof X Zhao (Zhejiang University), Prof M Bulsara (UNDA)
Contact: mbulsara@nd.edu.au.

TARGIT: Targeted Intraoperative Radiotherapy for Early Breast Cancer.

Investigators: Prof David Joseph (Sir Charles Gardner Hospital), Ms Tammy Corica (Sir Charles Gardner Hospital), Prof Christobel Saunders (UWA), Dr Boon Chua (University of Melbourne), Prof Max Bulsara (UNDA)
Contact: mbulsara@nd.edu.au

The WA Safety and Quality of Surgical Care Project: Improving the Safety, Quality and Provision of Surgical Care.

Investigators:  Prof J Semmens (Curtin University), Ms D Hendrie (Curtin University), Prof M Lawrence-Brown (UWA), Prof D Fletcher (UWA), Prof C Platell (UWA), Prof M Bulsara (UWA).
Contact: mbulsara@nd.edu.au

Lower back pain and cortically directed training programmes
The research aims to determine if a cortically directed training programme has a favourable effect on outcome in patients with disabling chronic low back pain.

Investigators: A/Prof Ben Wand, Neil O’Connell (Centre for Research in Rehabilitation, Brunel University), Dr Lorimer Moseley (Oxford University)
Contact: bwand@nd.edu.au

Levels of muscle activation during unweighted shoulder rehabilitation exercises 

Investigators: Sophia Nimphius, Rhys Powell

Functional mobility and deconditioning after brain and spinal cord injury

Investigators: Prof Peter Hamer, Alison Kirkman
Contact: akirkman@nd.edu.au

Motor recovery after stroke
Investigator: Alison Kirkman
Contact: akirkman@nd.edu.au