Pain

Man clutching his head in pain.
INMOTION 30 Mar, 2026

Acute vestibular online learning package

Physiotherapists from the Royal Melbourne Hospital describe the development and feasibility testing of an online vestibular learning package aimed at improving clinician confidence and knowledge in the assessment and management of acute dizziness.

Dizziness represents around four per cent of emergency department presentations in Australia. 

While often benign, it can indicate serious or life-threatening conditions such as stroke. Accurate assessment of patients presenting with acute dizziness is therefore critical. 

Graphic of a person lying on a couch with an ice pack on her head.
INMOTION 30 Mar, 2026

Pain in Practice

Season 2 of the Physios on the Mic podcast turns its focus to pain, with hosts Sophie Shephard and Matt Fa.

Pain can affect anyone – of any age or background – and the skills to treat it are relevant to all physiotherapists, regardless of their clinical focus. 

For this reason and many more, it was an obvious choice for the topic of a podcast series, Pain in Practice, hosted by Sophie Shephard MACP and Matt Fa APAM. 

Sherrie Krampel and the team at Total Health Choice. Photo by Grant MacIntyre
INMOTION 30 Mar, 2026

Physio enjoys career switch to work with older people

After almost switching to a career in the finance industry, Sherrie Krampel decided to give physiotherapy one last try. She opened a mobile physiotherapy practice in Melbourne in 2011, predominantly working with older people in their homes, and hasn’t looked back since.

Like many physiotherapists, Sherrie Krampel APAM’s pathway into the profession began with sport. 

Two women undertaking a reformer pilates class
INMOTION 25 Mar, 2026

Snapshots of the latest research

The April issue answers diverse questions with a consistent answer: physiotherapy delivers meaningful impact when it is accessible, evidence-informed and implemented well. Scientific editor Mark Elkins provides a summary of the content.

Should the abdomen be relaxed or contracted during Pilates exercise for low back pain? 

A randomised trial from Brazil tackles a longstanding assumption in Pilates-based rehabilitation: that consciously contracting the abdominal wall during exercise enhances outcomes. 

Person undergoing upper-limb therapy
INMOTION 25 Mar, 2026

Mirror therapy for upper limb after stroke

Researchers from Australia and Brazil conducted a systematic review examining whether unilateral or bilateral mirror therapy offers meaningful benefits for upper-limb motor recovery after stroke. Lead author Augusto Boening agreed to answer some questions about the review.

Person in a hospital gown waiting in a doctor's office
INMOTION 02 Mar, 2026

Pain beliefs and elective back surgery

Dr Daniel Harvie explores why patients opt for unnecessary back surgery and how physiotherapists can help them choose another path.

Back pain is everywhere.

For most people, it settles or becomes managed.

But for some, pain remains a big problem and people understandably look for big solutions.

Spinal surgery feels like one of them—a logical physical solution to what may be understood as a physical problem.

The image is of a physiotherapist working with a patient on her jaw.
INMOTION 02 Feb, 2026

The art and science of pain

PAIN Orofacial pain physiotherapist Karri Field sees herself as a detective, sifting through the clues to help her clients manage their pain.

Karri Field MACP’s grandmother was among the first women to train as physiotherapists in New Zealand so Karri’s desire to follow in her footsteps was there from an early age. 

And while she was initially interested in applying her knowledge to dancers, she became interested in pain pathways as a student at Australian Catholic University. 

A man clutching his knee
INMOTION 02 Feb, 2026

Prioritising multidisciplinary care

Brett Baxter views physiotherapy as a bridge between people, systems and possibilities. He talks to Chloe Pignéguy about linking teams, shaping education and how healing often begins with simply listening.

Brett Baxter

Growing up in Abergowrie in northern Queensland, Brett Baxter APAM wasn’t exposed to a variety of career paths. 

A healthcare worker helping a person to walk along a corridor
INMOTION 02 Feb, 2026

Beyond borders: care, courage and connection

From Melbourne to Gaza, palliative care physiotherapist and humanitarian researcher Dr Rachel Coghlan is helping redefine how compassion, dignity and advocacy intersect in global health.

For Dr Rachel Coghlan APAM, physiotherapy was never about sport or injury—it was about people. 

‘Unlike many of my peers, who went into physiotherapy with a view to going into sports physio or private practice, I think I was always in it for the caring aspect. 

A smiling elderly lady sitting in a wheelchair and holding an umbrella
INMOTION 30 Jan, 2026

Physiotherapy management of multiple sclerosis

A new Invited Topical Review outlines the latest evidence for physiotherapy management of multiple sclerosis, highlighting the benefits of aerobic, resistance, combined and mind–body exercise while identifying gaps and priorities for future research and practice. The author, Dr Yvonne Learmonth, answered some questions about the review.