I would like to announce the advertisement of a Research Studentship
within the Department of Physiotherapy at Queen Margaret University
College, Edinburgh.
PhD Studentship in Physical Therapy Starting September 2002
QMUC is committed to a high level of research in 8 key strategic areas
including Physical Therapy. The Physical Therapy Research Area of the
University College is allocating a funded PhD Studentship of
£6,555 p.a. (plus a discretionary allowance of up to £1,800 p.a. and
assistance with additional research expenses). Fees will be waived. The
studentship will be in the following area:
• The assessment of peripheral nerve function in people with chronic pain
The project:
The successful candidate will develop and evaluate a clinically-based
method of assessing nerve function in people with chronic pain.
Quantitative Sensory Testing (QST) will be used, where the subject’s
response to varying degrees of heat, cold, pressure or vibration indicates
their perception of activity in the nervous system. We have used QST for a
number of years within the Department of Physiotherapy and the technique is
common in the experimental literature. An example of the application of QST
was the study by Greening and Lynn (1998) which found that patients with
repetitive strain injury (RSI) and at-risk office workers had reduced
sensitivity to vibration in the hand. Other conditions have also been
assessed using QST techniques, such as complex regional pain syndrome,
peripheral neuropathy, diabetic neuropathy, spinal cord injury, low back
pain and osteoarthritis. Sensitisation or desensitisation of assessment
outcomes in such conditions has shown that QST is a useful tool for
identification of altered sensory processing and in plotting the
progression of such conditions. Further development of assessment protocols
using these methods is important.
Through contacts with clinical sites and occupational health departments
there are currently a range of options for the recruitment of a clinical
population. These include patients with specific conditions such as
Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) and diabetic neuropathy, and also with more
generalised chronic pain complaints.
Further information can be obtained from the Director of Studies:
Dr Shea Palmer,
Lecturer,
Department of Physiotherapy,
Queen Margaret University College,
Duke Street,
EDINBURGH,
EH6 8HF
Tel. +44 (0)131 317 3356
Fax. +44 (0)131 317 3815
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