Dr Melanie Farlie is a Senior Lecturer in Monash University's Department of Physiotherapy. Mel is an educator, physiotherapy researcher and developer of the Balance Intensity Scale.

In part 2 of this four-part series, Mel demonstrates the process of reading, interpreting and understanding qualitative research. Mel refers to a study by Katherine Lawler and colleagues. Access the study here: https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2024.2343822

In this episode:

• 0:00 Introduction to the episode
• 3:19 Example of the methods of a qualitative study
• 5:00 When is qualitative research the best approach to answer a research question?
• 8:00 Explaining the qualitative methods that were used and relating these methods to what you do in the clinic, e.g. during a subjective assessment or patient interview
• 11:15 How qualitative data can be collected and analysed – exploring and explaining phenomena, understanding the context of the study and introducing the concepted of transferability
• 18:50 Summary and final thoughts

Coming up next in part 3 of the series, we will discuss how to appraise the quality of the study.

Read more about Dr Melanie Farlie here: https://research.monash.edu/en/persons/melanie-farlie

We discussed the Balance Intensity Scale: https://rb.gy/cwcfmz

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This is a discussion aimed at health professionals and health professional students. Always seek the guidance of a qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition.

Dr Melanie Farlie is a Senior Lecturer in Monash University's Department of Physiotherapy. Mel is an educator, orthogeriatric researcher and developer of the Balance Intensity Scale.

In this four-part series, Mel introduces qualitative research, provides examples of how you can read and understand qualitative research, explains how you can search for, and evaluate the quality of, qualitative research, and discusses how qualitative research can influence your clinical practice.

Part 1 of this four-part series is an introduction to qualitative research for students and clinicians.

In this episode:

• 0:00 Introduction to Mel and the four-part series
• 2:00 What is qualitative research and why is it important in physiotherapy?
• 3:25 How is qualitative research different from qualitative research?
• 5:35 What are some barriers for clinicians to engage with qualitative research?
• 7:35 Key terminology you need to be familiar with, e.g. reflexivity – being aware of your influence on the research process. Transferability – can the findings be transferred to other similar contexts?
• 13:45 How can clinicians get started with using qualitative research? Don't just read the abstract, read the methods. Look for systematic reviews of qualitative research
• 16:50 Summary – qualitative research can be very useful when it is transferable to your clinical practice. Jump in and start reading

In part 2 we will explore a recently published qualitative study and how this research's findings may apply to clinical practice.

Read more about Dr Melanie Farlie here: https://research.monash.edu/en/persons/melanie-farlie

Follow Physio Foundations and Perraton Physio at our website www.Perraton.Physio or the Perraton Physio LinkedIn page.

Visit our YouTube channel for more: https://www.youtube.com/@PerratonPhysio

Follow @PerratonPhysio on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram and Linked In.

This is a discussion aimed at health professionals and health professional students. Always seek the guidance of a qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition.

Tim is a consultant physiotherapist and managing director of Melbourne CBD Physiotherapy and Sports Medicine Clinic, in Melbourne, Australia. In this episode, Tim summarised his approach to rehabilitation for people with ACL injuries and ACL reconstruction.

In this episode:

• 0:00 About this episode and welcome Tim
• 2:20 Tim’s background and interests
• 6:33 Why are ACL injuries such a big problem?
• 10:00 How do you manage ACL injuries in the clinic?
• 15:45 Operative and non-operative pathways – it’s not always a black and white decision. ACL healing and long-term outcomes – watch this space.
• 20:22 Meniscal integrity and knee stability, early knee rehabilitation goals and exercises
• 32:00 Isometric and pulsing exercises with a metronome, preparing the motor system for locomotion and confidence in higher load situations
• 34:50 Confidence and fear of movement
• 37:00 Objective measures of function and strength – dynamometry and force plates
• 42:00 Return to sport testing – force plate variables and testing. Don’t forget the ankle plantarflexors

Thanks Tim for a great conversation. Read more about Tim here: https://melbournecbdphysio.com.au/our-clinic/

Tim talked about this website: https://www.aclreferencevalues.nl/

Physio Foundations Podcast Summaries: You can find articles based on Physio Foundations podcast episodes at www.Perraton.Physio or on the Perraton Physio LinkedIn page.

Visit our YouTube channel for more: https://www.youtube.com/@PerratonPhysio

Follow @PerratonPhysio on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram and Linked In.

This is a discussion aimed at health professionals and health professional students. Always seek the guidance of a qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition.