The Efficacy Of Manipulation For Recent Onset Neck Pain
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$393,974.00
Summary
Neck pain is extremely common, with a point prevalence of 46% in the general community. Neck pain can cause significant disability, and is the second most common injury causing people to take time off work. Neck pain and its associated disability clearly poses a substantial social and economic burden. Neck manipulation (high velocity thrust of the joints, often associated with a click) is widely used by physiotherapists for the management of recent onset neck pain, but there is no clear evidence ....Neck pain is extremely common, with a point prevalence of 46% in the general community. Neck pain can cause significant disability, and is the second most common injury causing people to take time off work. Neck pain and its associated disability clearly poses a substantial social and economic burden. Neck manipulation (high velocity thrust of the joints, often associated with a click) is widely used by physiotherapists for the management of recent onset neck pain, but there is no clear evidence for its efficacy. In addition, the use of manipulation is associated with serious, although rare, adverse events such as stroke or even death. The risk-benefit analysis, therefore, does not clearly favour manipulation because efficacy has not been established, while the risks are serious, but infrequent. The findings of the proposed study will clearly and precisely determine the efficacy of manipulation compared with the safer treatment technique of mobilisation (gentle oscillatory pressure applied to the joints), information that is currently unavailable. This information is of vital importance to many different disciplines, including health professionals, insurance companies, and to administrators for development of health policy. Our findings will thus provide evidence-based guidelines for the use of manipulation, and will ultimately lead to safer practice of physiotherapy for neck pain.Read moreRead less
Multidisciplinary Management Of Vertebral Metastases Identification Of Standardized Surgical Guidelines
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$358,604.00
Summary
The spine is the commonest site of cancer spread to the skeleton and often leads to severe pain and paralysis. Recent advances in surgical techniques enable removal and reconstruction of all tumours of the spine. However, surgery remains controversial because of the need to weigh up the patient’s estimated length of survival with the risks of surgery. Our aims are to develop clear guidelines on which patients to perform surgery on, and what type of surgery to perform.
Physiological Mechanisms Of Efficacy Of Cervical Flexor Muscle Retraining
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$264,750.00
Summary
Neck pain is a significant problem in society and its frequency is beginning to match the proportions of back pain, probably reflecting our increasingly sedentary lifestyles. Several problems have been identified in the muscle system in persons who suffer from neck pain. Therapeutic exercise has been found to have benefit in preventing and relieving pain and improving the neck function. Currently there are several, quite different methods of exercise and there is controversy regarding how therap ....Neck pain is a significant problem in society and its frequency is beginning to match the proportions of back pain, probably reflecting our increasingly sedentary lifestyles. Several problems have been identified in the muscle system in persons who suffer from neck pain. Therapeutic exercise has been found to have benefit in preventing and relieving pain and improving the neck function. Currently there are several, quite different methods of exercise and there is controversy regarding how therapeutic exercise works. It has been argued that parameters such as changes in muscle strength, endurance, joint position sense or muscle coordination may be responsible for the clinical efficacy. It is difficult to disentangle the effective component of exercise strategies and thus prescribe the most effective exercise strategies. This series of experiments will evaluate the physiological factors that change with a specific exercise intervention and to compare different exercise modalities in order to identify the most effective means to induce these changes. Cervical muscle training, using a proven exercise intervention strategy for chronic neck pain and headache, has been chosen as the model to investigate these questions. This exercise strategy has been chosen not only because it has been shown to be effective, but also because it does not conform to contemporary rationales for strength or endurance training. Thus while effective in relieving pain, it is unlikely to produce changes in these parameters. Thus other mechanisms are likely to be responsible for the clinical change. This research stands to make a significant contribution to exercise therapeutics by identifying the effective components of different exercise methods and investigating the pain relieving effects of the specific exercise. This knowledge will lead to the construction of a research based exercise program for neck pain patients, rather than have the current situation of often arbitrary choice of exercise.Read moreRead less
Clinical Outcomes Following Lumbar Spine Surgery Using The DIAM Non-fusion Interspinous Implant
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$72,343.00
Summary
This investigation will focus on a single minimally-invasive surgical intervention used in the treatment of disorders of the lumbar spine. The Device for Intervertebral Assisted Motion (DIAM) is a novel system for stabilizing the disc and joints of the low back which is promoted over fusion for improving stability while restoring normal vertebral alignment. This new device has limited research evaluation of efficacy and will be examined with the aim of providing clinical guidelines for its use.
HPV-based Testing And Treatment For The Elimination Of Cervical Cancer In Papua New Guinea (HPVTATE)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,590,166.00
Summary
Building on the innovative cervical screening model that we successfully designed and delivered in partnership with provincial health authorities in urban primary care settings in PNG, the overarching aim of the proposed study is to determine the reach, effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, acceptability and scalability of HPV-based testing and treatment for the elimination of cervical cancer (HPVTATE) among women in rural and remote communities in Papua New Guinea.
Centre For Research Excellence In Cervical Cancer Control (C4)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,486,383.00
Summary
Cervical cancer remains common globally despite over 50 years of Pap testing. Australia led the world in HPV vaccination and in 2017 will be the first to deliver a national screening program based on HPV testing. Our CRE, led by cervical cancer prevention experts at CCNSW,VCS, and Kirby, will marry cross-disciplinary research and evaluation of HPV vaccination and screening to provide solid evidence about these new approaches with a view to ultimately reducing the global burden of this cancer.