Contact
Biography
I graduated as a Physiotherapist in 1994 and worked clinically in the field of Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation and Rheumatology for 7 years. In 2002, I joined the University of Nottingham as a lecturer, delivering and teaching modules on the BSc Physiotherapy course and was also responsible for the development of clinical education within the programme. I completed my MSc at the University of Nottingham in 2004 and a PgCHE in 2007. I have been a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy since 2015
In 2009, I was awarded a prestigious Allied Health Professionals Fellowship by Arthritis Research UK . My PhD was an epidemiological study investigating the associations between knee pain, radiographic severity and ultrasound features in a community population. As part of my Fellowship I undertook an intensive course in Applied Epidemiology in 2010 at the University of Aberdeen.
Since completing my PhD, I have returned my role as a lecturer in the School of Health Sciences. I lead on a number of undergraduate courses including Evidence-based practice, Rheumatology, Physical activity & Health, and the final year Dissertation Project. My educational interests include the use of peer assessment in formative and summative assessment and the use of online teaching and research led teaching. I am also the exam officer for the undergraduate programmes. I supervise MSc students and PhD students across the Faculty.
I collaborate closely with the Division of Academic Rheumatology and the Versus Arthritis Pain Centre at the University of Nottingham on a number of research projects. I am a co-investigator on an NIHR BRC project developing a complex nurse-led intervention for knee pain.
Expertise Summary
Osteoarthritis remains my condition of interest in terms of research, though I have an appreciation for a wide range of musculoskeletal and chronic pain conditions. I am particularly interested the use of exercise, physical activity and lifestyle interventions for these conditions.
I have experience in a range of quantitative research study designs including epidemiology studies (cohort and case-control studies), feasibility studies and RCTs.
My teaching expertise includes the management and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal diseases and disorders, physical activity for health and evidence-based practice.
Teaching Summary
Lead for the following courses on the BSc Hons Physiotherapy and BSc Sport Rehabilitation programmes
- Developing evidence- based practice
- Physical Activity & Health
- Rheumatology
- Dissertation project
Teaching contributions to the BSc Physiotherapy
- Sports Medicine & Sports Injuries (Epidemiology)
- Long-term & Complex Conditions
- Personal & Professional Development
Teaching contribution to the MSc Physiotherapy
- Advancing Neuromusculoskeletal Practice
Research Summary
Current research projects include:
Developing and evaluating the feasibility of a nurse-led complex package of care for knee pain. Funded by Nottingham NIHR Biomedical Research Centre (Musculoskeletal Theme).
Does abnormal gait and poor lower limb function predict pain worsening after 1 year In people with early knee pain? Secondary analysis from the KPIC Cohort study
Influence of peripheral and central pain mechanisms on quadriceps strength in people with knee pain? Secondary analysis from the KPIC Cohort study
Current PhD Student Projects
- Relative efficacy of different types of exercises in the treatment of knee and hip osteoarthritis: A network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Completed 2019
- Systematic review and Network Meta-analysis of non-pharmacological treatments for Fibromyalgia.
- Evaluation of the acceptability, fidelity and feasibility of a nurse led non-pharmacologic complex package of care for knee pain.
- Development of an individualised exercise package for Hip and Knee Osteoarthritis.
- Development of a contextual enhancement package for physiotherapy management of Osteoarthritis.
- Incidence of knee pain and multimorbidity in ex-professional footballers and general population
- Prevalence and incidence of shoulder pain in the UK
Selected Publications
SARMANOVA, A., HALL, M., FERNANDES, G. S., BHATTACHARYA, A., VALDES, A. M., WALSH, D and DOHERTY, M., 2017. Association between ultrasound-detected synovitis and knee pain: a population-based case–control study with both cross-sectional and follow-up data Arthritis Research & Therapy. 19(1), 281 FERNANDES GS, SARMANOVA A, WARNER S, HARVEY H, AKIN-AKINYOSOYE K, RICHARDSON H, FROWD N, MARSHALL L, STOCKS J, HALL M, VALDES AM, WALSH D, ZHANG W and DOHERTY M, 2017. Knee pain and related health in the community study (KPIC): a cohort study protocol. BMC musculoskeletal disorders. 18(1), 404 HALL, M., HUSSAIN, B., WHITE, S., DIVER, C., DOHERTY, M., DASNAIR, R. and ZHANG, W., 2017. Acceptability and feasibility of a Mindfulness intervention for people with osteoarthritis-related knee pain In: PhysiotherapyUK. 103. e44
Past Research
Knee pain and related health in the community (KPIC): a cohort study. Funded by Arthritis research Pain Centre & Arthritis Research UK Centre for Sport, Exercise and Osteoarthritis
Acceptability of a Mindfulness Intervention for people with OA related knee pain. Funded by Nottingham University Hospital Charity.
Ultrasound features of inflammation and their relationship with knee pain and radiographic knee OA. Funded by Arthritis Research UK
Ultrasound features of inflammation following an intra-articular injection of corticosteroid and a placebo in symptomatic OA knees. Funded by Arthritis Research UK
Impact of knee pain and radiographic osteoarthritis (OA) on balance, knee joint proprioception, strength and function in the over 45's.
Management of 1st time patellar dislocations
Future Research
Development of a physiotherapy protocol for knee arthrofibrosis following total knee replacement surgery
Development of a nurse-led package of care for Fibromyalgia
Enhancing contextual response for Physiotherapy interventions
Physical activity in patients following total hip and knee replacements