My Expertise
Assessmment and exercise treatment for chronic musculoskeletal pain, clinical education
Keywords
Fields of Research (FoR)
Exercise Physiology, Rehabilitation and Therapy (excl. Physiotherapy)SEO tags
Biography
John is a renowned Exercise Physiologist based on leadership in his profession as a clinician and clinical educator. His teaching, research and clinical practice is in exercise for musculoskeletal pain, with a special interest in chronic pain. He lead the development of musculoskeletal and workplace rehabilitation curriculum at UNSW that equips new graduates with the real-life skills required for professional practice.
He has made...view more
John is a renowned Exercise Physiologist based on leadership in his profession as a clinician and clinical educator. His teaching, research and clinical practice is in exercise for musculoskeletal pain, with a special interest in chronic pain. He lead the development of musculoskeletal and workplace rehabilitation curriculum at UNSW that equips new graduates with the real-life skills required for professional practice.
He has made significant contributrions to the exercise physiology profession over the last 2 decades through national committees, providing expert opinion, and the delivery of clinical education events including webinars, podcasts, and workshops. Since 2017 John has been a mentor for clincians in regional Australia as part of the Pain Revolution's vision that all Australians have access to the knowledge, skills and local support to overcome persistent pain. He was recognised as a fellow by Exercise and Sports Science Australia in 2020 for his contribution to the exercise physiology profession and community.
My Grants
- 2019 - Tom Penrose Community Service grant, Exercise and Sports Science Australia.
- 2016 - Major research equipment and infrastructure initiative (MREII).
- 2017 The Sydney partnership for health, education, research and enterprise (SPHERE) - 4 year study for community-based study on OA treatment and management
My Qualifications
- 2000 PhD. The University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia.
- 1991-1994 MExSc.The University of Sydney, NSW, Australia.
- 1986–1989 Bachelor of Health & Physical Education. The University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia
My Awards
- 2020 Fellow membership to the Australian Exercise and Sports Association
- 2019 UNSW Medicine Education Team Award for Educational Excellence in Educational Design or Development
- 2019 UNSW School of Medical Sciences SOMS Teacher of the Year award
My Research Activities
While exercise is first line treatment for chronic musculoskeletal pain, there is considerable uncertainty about the optimal exercise type and dose. The focus of John's research is concerned with identifying the optimal approach concerning exercise prescription for chronic musculoskeletal pain. His current research includes understanding and improving the education that clinicians are delivering during exercise treatment for musculoskeletal pain.
John led an international group of clinicians and pain scientists in authoring a clinical practice paper to guide exercise professionals designing and delivering exercise interventions for chronic musculoskeletal pain. This paper was the first to provide clear and practical guidelines for the delivery of evidence-based exercise interventions that align with contemporary pain rehabilitation practices. The paper generated significant interest internationally, with translation to French in 2020.
My Research Supervision
Supervision keywords
Areas of supervision
John's area of interest is exercise and musculoskeletal pain. This includes developing a better understanding of the relationship between exercise and musculoskeletal pain and ways to optimise outcomes for exercise treatment. Nearly all clincial guidelines for musculoskeletal pain inlcude education. John is particularly intesterested in research to better understand the education that clincians are currently delivering during their exercise treatments for chronic MSK pain. This will permit the development and trial of more efficacious combined exercise and education interventions that are targeted to specific musculoskeletal conditions/patient subgroups. Currently John is undertaking research that examines how combining exercise and pain education influences pain and other treatment outcomes during exercise with musculoskeletal pain.
Currently supervising
PhD. School of Medical Sciences, UNSW. The use of pain neuroscience education and exercise in the treatment of musculoskeletal pain
PhD. Prince of Wales Hospital, UNSW. Mediators of healthcare use in relation to chronic low back pain
My Engagement
Through practicum supervision over the previous 10 years, John has has supported and helped develop the clinical knowledge and skills of many UNSW students. He also mentored early career Exercise Physiologists many of who are now making significant contributions to the exercise physiology profession. He has also helps foster the pain management skills of clincians in regional Australia as a mentor for the Pain Revolution.
John frequently develops and convenes professional development opportunites for Exercise Physiologists and other health professions concerning exercise for the management of chronic musculoskeletal pain. He also regularly contributes information on exercise and the management of chronic musculoskeletal pain to the community through media and outreach events.
My Teaching
John is in the unique position of being able to draw on 20 years of clinical and industry experience as a practicing Exercise Physiologist, to develop contemporary curriculum in musculoskeletal rehabiliation and occupational rehabiliation that is highly relevant to a rapidly evolving workplace. His primary area of interest is the assessment and treatment of chronic musulosketetal pain. He places considerable emphasis on critical thinking and problem solving through student-centred learning modalities including flipped classes, case study tutorials, team-based learning and interactive online learning activities. His teaching approach is to design and deliver innovative, relevant, and engaging curriculum that motivates, engages, and equips students with practical skills and confidence in preparation for professional practice.John has a strong interest in developing exercise as medicine curriculum in undergraduate medicine at UNSW and inter-professional teaching with exercise physiology and other health professions.
ORCID as entered in ROS
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2218-9943