Foot Function From First Steps To Adult

Biography

Thank you for reading my profile. I have been teaching since 1996 within Higher Education. My passion is undergraduate education and in 2015 I was nominated by my students for two University teaching awards- best teacher and best post graduate supervisor. I lecture mainly full time on the Physiotherapy undergraduate and postgraduate degree courses. I have written eight books that are now translated into eleven languages. I completed my PhD in Rheumatology in 2009 at the University of Central Lancashire.Prior to working within education I was a Chartered Physiotherapist within the NHS for 11 years at hospitals in my local area, achieving Senior I grade.  During this time I assumed the role of Clinical Educator for students of Physiotherapy thus beginning my teaching career.  While working within the NHS I was also the Physiotherapist to the England Women’s football team for three years. This was a unique and memorable experience and I was immensely proud to represent my country, working with such talented individuals both at home and during tours of countries including France, Denmark, Italy, Iceland, Bulgaria, and the Soviet Union.

Research Interest

Arthritis Care and Research, Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) is an incurable, fluctuating, long-term condition for which prescribed exercise is central to management. However, many people with AS do not undertake prescribed exercises, the reasons for which are poorly-understood.  My research sought to develop a grounded understanding of the exercise beliefs of people with AS, the exercise behaviours they adopt, and the decision making processes they undergo when choosing exercise behaviours.The study led to the grounding of participant perspectives on exercise in AS, rendering the proposed model both relevant and understandable to people with AS.  From a patient perspective it could help people understand and plan their future exercise behaviour in AS.