We talked with physiotherapist and researcher Daniel Ribeiro about his journey so far.
How did you come to study physiotherapy?
I am from Brazil, and undertook my undergraduate studies back home.
Because I am passionate about exercise and movement, physiotherapy appealed to me.
When I was a teenager, I ruptured my medial collateral ligament of the elbow and I went through a musculoskeletal rehabilitation programme. The exercises helped me to restore movement and muscle strength.
That programme was an extra incentive for me to want to train as a physiotherapist.
Tell us more about your interest in research
I fell in love with research during my undergraduate studies, when we conducted a lab-based study assessing the control of quadriceps during different exercises.
My research at CHARR focuses on musculoskeletal rehabilitation, particularly, clinical biomechanics and clinical trials and my goal is to use laboratory-based studies to inform new clinical trials.
At this point my work is about finding answers and evidence for why and how we achieve certain outcomes in clinical practice.
What is the connection between between research and teaching?
Research and teaching are like two-way avenues, so each informs the other.
In my experience, some great research ideas arise from teaching and clinical practice. The opposite is also true.
How do you see your future in physiotherapy research?
I am definitely looking forward to the next few years and it all looks very promising.
We are due to complete some research projects in the next 12 or 24 months, and we will then be working hard to analyse and interpret data from these studies.
I am also thrilled to have secured a Sir Charles Hercus Health Research Fellowship with funds from the Health Research Council – NZ. This will allow me to dedicate 4 years to research.
It also means that I will be able to learn more about the methods of clinical research, advance my research skills, and design and carry out high-calibre clinical trials.
The Fellowship will help to ensure that my work will have a positive and significant impact on the delivery of healthcare services in New Zealand.
Read more about Daniel's work with shoulder biomechanics and rehabilitation
More information about postural feedback and rehabilitation
You can contact Daniel at: daniel.ribeiro@otago.ac.nz