People with breathing difficulties or urinary incontinence may be at greater risk of spinal injuries according to a University of Queensland researcher.
Associate Professor Paul Hodges from UQ’s School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences is investigating the correlation between the nervous system dealing with multiple tasks, such as respiration and joint stability, and the risk factors for developing musculoskeletal pain and injury.
“Muscles often perform multiple functions at the same time and the brain prioritises these tasks according to their relative importance, which means that the accuracy of joint stability often comes second and places the person at greater risk of injury,” he said.
Dr Hodges has received $70,000 as one of seven recipients of the 2002 UQ Foundation Research Excellence Awards for early career researchers, valued in total at nearly $500,000.
The annual awards, now in their fourth year, recognise outstanding performance and leadership potential, and this year formed part of the inaugural UQ Research Week from Monday, September 23–Friday, September 27.
Dr Hodges plans to use the grant to examine how the brain controls movement and alters with pain and what situations put people at greater risk of injury.
“Musculoskeletal pain is the third leading cause of health-care expenditure in Australia and spinal pain is the most common and expensive work-related injury in western society.
“The identification of risk factors for back pain, particularly for those suffering from asthma and urinary incontinence, will help develop guidelines for injury prevention and provide new strategies for rehabilitation, thereby improving patient outcomes.”
Dr Hodges will continue work with Swedish researchers at the Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenberg and the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm to ultimately test whether task-conflict between breathing and trunk muscle support increases the risk of spinal injury.
They will use human and porcine subjects to examine the mechanical properties of the spine by using electrical currents to stimulate nerves and by recording signals sent by the brain to muscles while experiencing pain.
Dr Hodges’ research will also examine whether the co-ordination between eyes and neck movement increases the risk of injuries such as whiplash.
He said the grant would fund a part-time research assistant, research equipment and a two-month overseas trip to Sweden for data collection and analysis.
A UQ graduate, Dr Hodges was a 1991 University Medallist after receiving a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 6.95 out of a possible 7 for his Bachelor of Physiotherapy. In 1996 he completed a PhD into motor control of the trunk and strategies used to control the trunk with and without pain.
Since 1996 he has received more than $1.8 million funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), the Swedish Research Council and other granting bodies.
The 33-year-old joined the University as an Associate Professor and NHMRC Research Fellow last year after working with the Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute in Sydney and the Karolinska Institute in Sweden.
He was presented with his award at a ceremony held at the new UQ Centre on Thursday, September 26.
Media: For further information, contact Associate Professor Hodges (telephone 07 3365 2008, email: p.hodges@shrs.uq.edu.au) or Joanne van Zeeland at UQ Communications (telephone 07 3365 2619, email: communications@uq.edu.au).
