Dr Rhonda Orr
B Pharm, M ExSpSc, PhD
Senior Lecturer
C43K - K Block Cumberland Campus
The University of Sydney
| Telephone | 93519475 |
| Fax | 93519204 |
|
|
Biographical details
Rhonda’s research interests have evolved from her industry and clinical experience as a Pharmacist, and integrated with Master’s and Doctoral studies in exercise and sport science. Her PhD investigated the efficacy of power (resistance) training on muscle function, balance physical capacity and psychosocial function in healthy elderly. The interest in whole body vibration exercise developed as another modality that might provide benefits to muscle function and balance. Rhonda’s interest in drugs and sport stemmed from her pharmacology background. It commenced with investigating the effect on caffeine on exercise performance and progressed to the wider issues of doping and performance enhancement in elite sport. Recent research has continued in elite sport to investigate the physical demands of and injuries sustained in elite rugby league through measurement and analysis of performance and training.
Research interests
Drugs in sport and anti-doping issues associated with high performance sport. Performance analysis and physical demands of elite rugby league. Injury surveillance in elite developing athletes. Resistance training and balance in seniors. Whole body vibration exercise
Teaching and supervision
Rhonda is the Unit of Study Coordinator for EXSS3037 Exercise Pharmaology and Immunology in the B Appl Sc (Exercise and Sport Science) and B Appl Sc (Exercise Physiology) degrees, as well as EXSS5064 Nutrition and Pharmacology in the Master Exercise Physiology program. She is currently supervising 5 Masters and Doctoral students whose projects cover the topics of quantifying physical and movement demands in elite rugby league players using Global Positioning Systems technology. injury surveillance in elite junior rugby league, dose response of whole body vibration in adults, dose response of resistance training and detraining in adults, and the effect of exercise on cognition and academic performance in adolescents.
Awards and honours
In 2010, Rhonda was awarded the Health Sciences Research Award at Gerontological Society of America Annual Meeting in New Orleans for: Effect of standing posture during whole body vibration training on muscle morphology and function in older adults. In addtiion, Rhonda received the Clinical Medicine Person-in-Training Award at Gerontological Society of America Annual Meeting in Orlando, Floridafor: Power training improves balance in healthy older adults, in 2005
Selected grants
2011
- Injury Prevalence and Characteristics in Elite Junior Rugby League Players; Orr R, O'Connor H, Riddington P; New South Wales Sporting Injuries Committee/Research and Injury Prevention Scheme.
- Lunar Prodigy Bone Densitometer Manufactured By General Electric Australia; Fiatarone Singh M, Davis G, Brand-Miller J, Kilbreath S, Brennan P, March L, Johnson N, Rooney K, Orr R; National Health and Medical Research Council/Equipment Grants.
2009
- Baseline study of knowledge and awareness of anti-doping in the sporting community; Orr R, Macniven R, Bauman A; Department of Health and Ageing (Federal)/Anti-Doping Research Program (ADRP).
2008
- Pulmonary and Exercise Testing in Chronic Disease: Vmax Encore System.; Alison J, McKeough Z, Harmer A, Mackey M, Orr R; Faculty of Health Sciences/Equipment Development Grant.
- Efficacy of vibration training for osteoporosis/osteopenia and sarcopenia in patients with cystic fibrosis: a pilot randomised controlled trial; Orr R; Faculty of Health Sciences/Cumberland Teaching and Learning Grant.
- Preventative Health Care Screening for GP Use in Patients Aged 45-55 years and Evaluation of Efficacy; Orr R; Aspen Pharmacare (Australia) Pty Ltd/Research Support.
2001
- Sarcopenia and nutritional status-underlying mechanisms for injury in recurrent fallers; Orr R; University of Sydney/Internal Research Grant Allocations.
Selected publications
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|