Mr Rik Dawson
Sydney School of Public Health
Sydney Musculoskeletal Health, Institute for Musculoskeletal Health
Faculty of Medicine and Health
Dr. Rik Dawson is a gerontological physiotherapist and Postdoctoral Researcher at the Institute for Musculoskeletal Health in the School of Public Health, University of Sydney. In 2024, Dr. Dawson earned their PhD. Their research focuses on the effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and implementation of physiotherapy and telehealth interventions to redcue falls, improve mobility, and enhance quality of life for older adults across various settings.
Dr Dawson's research focsues of the effectiveness of physiotherapy-led physical activity interventions, including exercise programs, and the use of telehealth to enhance access to allied health services. His research aims to improve health outcomes for older adults and advancing evidence-based practice in multidisciplinary interventions within aged care.
Dr Dawson provides supervision of honours and Masters students. Rik has co-supervised 1 Honours students to completion. Rikis currently supervising 1 Masters and 1 Honours student.
Dr Dawson is currently redeveloping the TOP UP website to enhance engagement and enjoyment of technology, aiming to boost exercise adherence. Additionally, Rik is exploring the use of wearables to increase motivation for exercise among older adults.
Dr Rik Dawson is the President of the Australian Physiotherapy Association for the 2025-2026 term. They are a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a member of the Australian Association of Gerontology.
Publications
Journals
- Dawson, R., Suen, J., Sherrington, C., Kwok, W., De Barros Pinheiro, M., Haynes, A., McLennan, C., Sutcliffe, K., Kneale, D., Dyer, S. (2024). Effective fall prevention exercise in residential aged care: an intervention component analysis from an updated systematic review. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 58(12), 641-648. [More Information]
- Dawson, R., Gilchrist, H., De Barros Pinheiro, M., Nelson, K., Bowes, N., Sherrington, C., Haynes, A. (2024). Experiences of Older Adults, Physiotherapists, and Aged Care Staff in the TOP UP Telephysiotherapy Program: Interview Study of the TOP UP Interventions. JMIR Aging, 7(1), e53010. [More Information]
- Dawson, R., De Barros Pinheiro, M., Nagathan, V., Taylor, M., Delbaere, K., Olivera, J., Haynes, A., Rayner, J., Hassett, L., Sherrington, C. (2023). Physiotherapy-led telehealth and exercise intervention to improve mobility in older people receiving aged care services (TOP UP): protocol for a randomised controlled type 1 hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial. BMJ Nutrition, Prevention and Health, 6(2), 273-281. [More Information]
2024
- Dawson, R., Suen, J., Sherrington, C., Kwok, W., De Barros Pinheiro, M., Haynes, A., McLennan, C., Sutcliffe, K., Kneale, D., Dyer, S. (2024). Effective fall prevention exercise in residential aged care: an intervention component analysis from an updated systematic review. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 58(12), 641-648. [More Information]
- Dawson, R., Gilchrist, H., De Barros Pinheiro, M., Nelson, K., Bowes, N., Sherrington, C., Haynes, A. (2024). Experiences of Older Adults, Physiotherapists, and Aged Care Staff in the TOP UP Telephysiotherapy Program: Interview Study of the TOP UP Interventions. JMIR Aging, 7(1), e53010. [More Information]
2023
- Dawson, R., De Barros Pinheiro, M., Nagathan, V., Taylor, M., Delbaere, K., Olivera, J., Haynes, A., Rayner, J., Hassett, L., Sherrington, C. (2023). Physiotherapy-led telehealth and exercise intervention to improve mobility in older people receiving aged care services (TOP UP): protocol for a randomised controlled type 1 hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial. BMJ Nutrition, Prevention and Health, 6(2), 273-281. [More Information]
Selected Grants
2022
- Improving mobility in aged care with telehealth physiotherapy: an effectiveness and implementation randomised controlled trial (The TOP UP Study), Sherrington C, Dawson R, De Barros Pinheiro M, Haynes A, Flinders University/Aged Care Centre for Growth and Translation Research project
- A physiotherapy-led telehealth and exercise intervention to improve mobility in older people receiving aged care services: an effectiveness and implementation randomised controlled trial (The TOP UP Study), Dawson R, De Barros Pinheiro M, Sherrington C, Dementia Australia Research Foundation Ltd/Project Grant