Chronic health and disability

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. 

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. 

Aged care residents doing exercises.
INMOTION 25 Mar, 2026

Twilight Aged Care leads the way in residential falls prevention

Physiotherapist Cameron Boyd and APA Policy and Government Relations Senior Policy Advisor Mirjana Jovetic outline the benefits of Twilight Aged Care’s physiotherapy-led exercise and falls prevention program.

New South Wales residential aged care provider Twilight Aged Care has had outstanding results in falls and injury reduction and risk management since implementing a comprehensive, physiotherapy-led exercise and falls prevention program in its facilities three years ago. 

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.

Two women sitting on a couch and chatting
INMOTION 23 Mar, 2026

Yarning about pelvic health

A recent recipient of a 2025 Seeding Grant is investigating the lived experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women regarding pelvic health.

Emma Wise APAM is a Perth-based physiotherapist whose main focus, for the majority of her career, has been pelvic health. 

In 2010 she began a Master of Clinical Physiotherapy (Continence and Women’s Health) at Curtin University, where she developed an interest in how research and evidence translate into practice. 

Rugby players link arms behind their backs in preparation for playing a game on the sports field.
INMOTION 02 Mar, 2026

Physiotherapist in elite sports marks 50 years in practice

As the physiotherapy profession marks International Women’s Day this month, InMotion showcases the story of one physiotherapist who embodies the power of persistence. Over five decades, Linda Bennetts carved out a place for herself in elite sports and private practice at a time when those worlds were not designed for women.

When Linda Bennetts APAM says she became a physiotherapist ‘by complete mistake almost’, she is not being modest—she is being truthful. 

A young woman hugging an elderly woman.
INMOTION 25 Feb, 2026

ParkinsonNet: improving rural access to care

Professor Michele Callisaya from the University of Tasmania provides an overview of a research project that aims to improve access to high quality Parkinson’s care in rural Australia.

A physiotherapists works with a patient who has a disability.
INMOTION 02 Feb, 2026

New voice speaks out in disability

DISABILITY Ashleigh Hoo might be relatively new to physiotherapy but her work in the disability sector has already made a significant impact. Here, Ashleigh discusses joining the APA Disability national group’s New South Wales committee as its new graduate representative.

For Singaporean-born physiotherapist Fang Qi ‘Ashleigh’ Hoo APAM, a career in healthcare has always been about people. 

Long before she entered university in Australia, Ashleigh knew that she wanted a profession grounded in human connection.

An artist's graphic of lungs to show cardiorespiratory.
INMOTION 02 Feb, 2026

Learning and leading in the ICU

CARDIORESPIRATORY Cardiorespiratory physiotherapists tend to be curious, quick-thinking and great team players and Luke McDonald is no exception. His career as an ICU clinician, educator and researcher shows just how far a love of problem-solving can take you.

Luke McDonald APAM describes his introduction to physiotherapy as a ‘diagnosis by exclusion’. 

An image of acupuncture on a patient.
INMOTION 02 Feb, 2026

Greater need for needling nous

ACUPUNCTURE AND DRY NEEDLING Tristan Chai’s physiotherapy career has been shaped by curiosity, collaboration and a drive to deepen his clinical reasoning.

Tristan Chai APAM’s pathway into physiotherapy began with a love of sport and a desire to stay connected to health, even if elite competition was off the cards. 

Tristan studied at the University of South Australia and, after graduating, stepped into his first role in private practice in Adelaide.