ESSA Research Grants

ESSA 2022 Research Grant Winners

Associate Professor Bernie Bissett and Ms Mary Johnson

The University of Canberra

Supported by project researchers: Michelle Bennett, Carol Huang, Louise Gainsford, Allison Maher, Kacie Paterson, Tanya Buettikofer, Andrew Woodward, Madeleine Brady and Julie Cooke.

Exercise Physiology in COVID recovery: exploring the feasibility and safety of graded exercise therapy in a COVID-Recovery Clinic.

We are analysing the feasibility and safety of graded exercise therapy as a central element of ‘Long COVID’ rehabilitation in our multidisciplinary clinic in Canberra. Around 5 – 10% of COVID survivors experience ‘Long COVID’, with weakness, fatigue and breathlessness frequent problems. We are using individually-tailored assessment, prescription and supervision of graded exercise in our COVID Recovery clinic, and exercise physiologists are at the heart of our multidisciplinary team. It is crucial that we capture data to demonstrate exercise can be delivered safely in people with Long COVID, as clinicians around the world seek to optimise recovery for their clients.

Why is this beneficial?

In many parts of the world there is a resistance to using exercise in recovery from COVID, and a lack of data to inform practice. Our study results will provide clear evidence about the safety and feasibility of graded exercise therapy, and will guide exercise physiologists about how exercise training can be used effectively in people with Long COVID. These findings will be relevant not just to clinicians working in COVID recovery clinics, but also to a diverse range of community settings where clients will present with the challenges of COVID recovery for many years to come.

Associate Professor Annette Raynor

Edith Cowan University

Supported by project researchers: Lauren Fortington Stacey Scott, Sally Casson and Jennifer Grieve.

A little bit of exercise goes a long way – increasing independence of aged care residents with Parkinson's Disease.

Residential Aged Care (RAC) settings are notoriously under-resourced, with staff under considerable pressure, making it difficult to provide effective exercise to all residents. For residents with complex care needs, such as Parkinson’s Disease (PD), the situation is amplified. Our project aims to establish the benefits and financial value of providing an exercise physiologist led 12-week exercise program for people with PD living in RAC. Results will provide the potential physical and social benefits to the resident, the indirect benefits to staff, cost to the organisation and identify critical design features that need to be considered when working with this population.

Why is this beneficial?

This study will report on program needs (design, time, resources), impact on the residents and staff and the cost to the organisation of delivering a 12-week exercise program to those with Parkinson’s Disease. These findings can inform ongoing discussions between ESSA, policy makers, funding providers and the sector leads to justify the value of routinely employing AEPs within residential aged care. Findings will also be translated and disseminated through journal articles and ESSA-led education programs to ensure the AEP workforce is ready to meet future demands and opportunities in this complex area of care using evidence based best practice methods.

 

Ms Mary Johnson & Associate Professor Bernie Bissett


Associate Professor Annette Raynor

ESSA 2021 Research Grant Winner

Associate Professor Nathan Johnson

The University of Sydney

Supported by project researchers: Professor Stephen Twigg, University of Sydney; Mr Callum Baker, University of Sydney; Dr Danquing Min, University of Sydney; Professor Viv Chuter, University of Western Sydney.

In Australia approximately 50,000 people with diabetes develop a foot ulcer each year, which leads to increased risk of hospital admissions and amputations. People who develop a “diabetic foot ulcer” (DFU) are often advised to avoid physical activity. Yet, regular exercise has significant metabolic and cardiovascular benefits for people with diabetes, and may even benefit foot ulcer healing. There is a great need to find safe and effective ways for people with DFUs to engage in exercise, and to evaluate the effects of exercise on health and wound healing in people with DFUs.

Our proposed research will use a “randomised controlled design” to compare the effects of 12 weeks of regular exercise versus usual care on metabolic, cardiovascular, and wound health in adults with DFUs. Our multidisciplinary research team which includes AEPs, physician, scientists and podiatrists from the University of Sydney, Western Sydney University and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, will lead this translational exercise-based study at the Charles Perkins Centre (University of Sydney). This world first study is aimed at finding benefits for patients and providing clear, practical guidance for clinicians and exercise specialists managing people with diabetes and its complications.

Why is this beneficial?

The results of this randomised control trial (RCTs) will provide important new evidence concerning the efficacy of regular, combined resistance and ergometry-based aerobic exercise training on glycaemic control, fitness, cardiovascular health and wound healing people with diabetes-related foot ulcers. These are important insights into an area of practice that AEPs do not routinely operate, despite plausible reasons to believe that exercise can be safe and effective.

Accredited Exercise Physiologists (AEPs) are best positioned to provide exercise therapy for people with diabetic foot ulcers, representing an important and so-far missed opportunity for the profession to impact on the national burden of diabetes. However, to date quality exercise studies in people with diabetes who have foot ulceration are lacking. Subsequently there is little evidence to guide exercise assessment and delivery. Also, there are practical challenges to implementing exercise for people with diabetes-related DFU: weight-bearing exercise increases plantar foot pressure and skin shear stress and may negatively impact ulcer healing. Moreover, people with DFU cannot undertake water-based exercise due to active ulceration.

Our multidisciplinary research team which includes AEPs, physicians, scientists and podiatrists will trial a novel approach to combined resistance and aerobic exercise assessment and training, which we anticipate will provide guidance for exercise specialists to implement safe and effective exercise in practice. Ultimately, this may help improve health and reduce the burden of DFUs for many people.