Podiatry, Physiotherapy & Radiography

The Department is committed to becoming a centre of excellence in each of its professional areas, with emphasis on research of a specific nature, which subsequently feeds back to underpin undergraduate programmes. This approach is supported by a Clinical Research Centre based at the Rehabilitation Centre in the Southern General Hospital NHS Trust. The Clinical Research Centre is equipped with specialist biomechanical and physiological equipment and allows for investigation into patient balance, gait, movement, lifting and handling. This facility brings laboratory based research into an environment in which patients are treated, potentially improving patient care, as well as enhancing research facilities for undergraduates, postgraduates and University and Hospital staff alike.

The department also boosts a x-ray-imaging suite that houses a state of the art fully integrated general X-ray system. Installed in March 2000, the machine is primarily used for teaching purposes but is also an integral part of the department's research strategy. The suite itself not only contains the X-ray machine but also an Ultrasound machine; changing facilities; dark room (containing film processor & X-ray film copier) and observation room.

A high percentage of the research is carried out outwith the University in a symbiotic relationship with the local hospitals, particularly the Royal Infirmary & the South Glasgow University Hospital. Current research areas being investigated include; Aerobic exercise in Rheumatoid Arthritis and other patient groups; The measurement of aerobic power and functional capacity; The use of field tests in patient evaluation and gait analysis in CFS patients. The division has also carried out extensive research evaluating exercise based cardiac rehabilitation programmes in women post myocardial infarction. Coronary heart disease (CHD) continues to be the leading cause of morbidity and subsequent disability in women in all industrialised societies. Post myocardial infarction (MI) exercise based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is now an accepted part of the patients recovery post MI. There has been considerable research in this field of coronary care but it has consistently focused on men. Few studies have incorporated women, and in those that have, the numbers of women subjects have been small. The referral and recruitment patterns of women have not been fully investigated. Furthermore, there have been no women only studies that can differentiate the effect of cardiac rehabilitation on women compared to men. It is the division's aim to redress this balance.

Current research areas of interest of the staff are varied and cover the priority areas identified by the NHS Task Force, namely: Biomechanics and Gait; Orthopaedic/Podiatric surgery; Diabetes; Health promotion; Arthrosis; World Wide Web teaching and learning and Resources

Occupational Health and Safety (Ocular risks of human nail dust in Podiatry)
Pain in the Elderly and the development of a specific pain questionnaire.
Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis and the role of orthoses in the reduction of pain
Control of foot function as well as anatomy of the great toe and how a particular muscle functions around this joint and has an influence on the function of the great toe.
Repetitive Strain Injury in podiatry
Web based teaching and learning as a strategy and the use of innovative teaching strategies in podiatry.

Research by staff in the Division is at the forefront of new technology in the field of Radiographic Positioning. Staff in co-operation with colleagues in Sweden and U.S.A. have invented and developed a computerised patient positioning device for Diagnostic Radiography. This device acts as a guidance tool for the positioning and monitoring of patients during X-ray examinations, at present it's potential usefulness in radiotherapy treatment is being explored.

Radiography incorporates a number of imaging modalities and plays a key role in the delivery of radiotherapy treatment. There are research initiatives in the field of ultrasound MRI and radiotherapy treatment planning being undertaken in liaison with sister universities and local hospitals. Radiographers are also heavily involved in promoting clinical effectiveness and carrying out research essential to the promotion of good clinical practice.