Professor Kathryn Refshauge

Qualifications: DipPhty, Grad.Dip ManipTher, MBiomedE, PhD Positions held: Deputy Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences Professor of Physiotherapy Contact information

Biography

Kathryn is strongly motivated by the desire to improve health outcomes, in particular to prevent chronic pain and disability after musculoskeletal injury. Her particular passion is to understand the underlying mechanisms by which acute injury leads to chronicity.

Professor Refshauge is an internationally recognized leader in research in musculoskeletal injury, in particular sports injuries, back pain and neck pain. In her research, she integrates her background knowledge of neuroscience and biomechanics with her expertise in clinical physiotherapy. She has particular clinical and academic expertise in musculoskeletal physiotherapy. Kathryn's laboratory-based research has resulted in the development of diagnostic tests and tools to measure disability after musculoskeletal injury, and has led to the design of new prevention strategies and treatments for sports injuries and for back pain. Her clinical research includes several large epidemiological and prognostic studies and clinical trials investigating treatment efficacy for musculoskeletal injuries. She is currently investigating diagnosis, treatment and prevention of various musculoskeletal conditions, including back and neck pain, ankle injury and shoulder conditions. She is also exploring outcomes from different models of health care delivery. Kathryn is often invited to present her work at international conferences - she has presented in all continents.

More recently, together with A/Prof Sharon Kilbreath, Kathryn commenced researching questions of quality of life after medical treatment for breast cancer. To date, these studies have focussed on arm morbidity, including: lymphoedema risk, development, assessment and treatment; and arm stiffness and weakness.

Teaching and Service Responsibilities

• Undergraduate and postgraduate Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy, postgraduate Exercise and Sports Science.
• Supervision of research students, including honours, masters and PhD Students.

Research Opportunities

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Selected Publications

• Kilbreath SL, Ward LC, Lane K, McNeely M, Dylke ES, Refshauge KM, McKenzie D, Lee M, Peddle C, Battersby KJ (2010). Effect of air travel on lymphedema risk in women with history of breast cancer.  Breast Cancer Research and Treatment. (In press Feb 2010).
• Hush JM, Refshauge KM, Sullivan G, De Souza L, McAuley JH. (2010). Do numerical rating scales and the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire capture changes that are meaningful to patients with persistent back pain? Clinical Rehabilitation. (In press Feb 2010).
• Czerniec SA, Ward LC, Lee MJ,  Refshauge KM, Beith J, Kilbreath SL (2010). Segmental measurement of breast cancer related arm lymphedema using perometry and bioimpedance spectroscopy. Supportive Care in Cancer. (in press, May 2010)
• Leaver AM, Refshauge KM, Maher CG, McAuley JH. (2010). Conservative interventions provide short-term relief for non-specific neck pain: a systematic review. Journal of Physiotherapy. 56: 73-85.
• Rose KJ. Raymond J. Refshauge K. North KN. Burns J. (2010). Serial night casting increases ankle dorsiflexion range of motion in children and young adults with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease: a single-blind, randomised controlled trial. Journal of Physiotherapy. 56: 113-119.
• Czerniec SA, Ward LC, Refshauge KM, Beith J, Lee MJ, York S, Kilbreath SL (2010). Assessment of breast cancer-related arm lymphedema - comparison of physical measurement methods and self-report. Cancer Investigation. 28: 54-62.
• Lee TS, Kilbreath SL, Sullivan G, Refshauge KM, Beith JM. (2010). Patient perceptions of arm care and exercise advice after breast cancer surgery. Oncology Nursing Forum.  37: 85-91.
• Van den Dolder P, Ferreira P, Refshauge K (2010). Is soft tissue massage an effective treatment for mechanical shoulder pain? A study protocol. Journal of Manual and Manipulative Therapy. 18: 50-54.

Selected Grants

Further grants and further publications