About 40 per cent of patients in intensive care units (ICU) develop ICU-acquired weakness—a musculoskeletal condition that results in generalised muscle weakness due to a combination of inflammation, protein catabolism, the effects of drugs given to ICU patients and prolonged bed rest. 

Back and neck pain are among the leading causes of disability in Australia and place a massive financial burden on our healthcare systems.

The relationship between movement, posture and low back pain was the key topic for Dr Kevin Wernli APAM’s PhD.

Why do we need a clinical care standard for low back pain?

In Australia, low back pain is the leading cause of disability burden, lost work productivity and early retirement.

Specifically, what questions did your study seek to answer? 

This period in our lives, which had plenty of joy and wonder, was marred by two things.

One is obvious—COVID restrictions in Melbourne meant that time spent with our new family member was very limited and the new mum’s mental wellbeing took a battering as a result.

The other reason is sadly quite common but not often talked about: birth trauma.

A one-day course presented by Melissa McConaghy explores the latest research into Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders and its implications for treatment and assessment.

Tell us a little bit about this course.

Parkinson’s disease is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder that affects movement and can have a significant impact on a patient’s quality of life, mobility, cognition and mood.

The majority of people with Parkinsonism are diagnosed with idiopathic disease and the remainder with other movement disorders.

As a new graduate, Terry Haines stumbled onto a research career in falls prevention that has brought him many awards and accolades. He recently added another award to that cache, becoming a Member of the Order of Australia.

Professor Terry Haines APAM never intended to work in the aged care sector as a new graduate physiotherapist, but fate had other ideas.