Professor Valerie Sparkes
Interim Professional Head: Physiotherapy / Director: Biomechanics and Bioengineering Research Centre Versus Arthritis
- sparkesv@cardiff.ac.uk
- +44 (0)29 206 87560
- Room 13.06, Eastgate House, Newport Road, Cardiff, CF24 0AB
- Available for postgraduate supervision
Overview
Other Roles
Director, Biomechanics and Bioengineering Research Centre Versus Arthritis
Interim Professional Head of Physiotherapy
Honorary Secretary for the Society of Back Pain Research
Research Interests
Management of Musculoskeletal Disorders
The main focus of my research is developing physiotherapeutic interventions for musculoskeletal disorders
- Self management approaches to rehabilitation of musculoskeletal disorders.
- Our research group focuses on delivering targetted treatments for people with musculoskeletal disorders using technology based and functional interventions.
- I have a passion for inspiring young people to enagage in science and the health professions.
- I am STEM abassador and I work with the Nuffield Foundation providing Nuffiled Research Placements
Biography
Clinical Work Experience
Prior to working at Cardiff University, I spent 18 years in clinical setting specialising in musculoskeletal out-patient physiotherapy including sports injuries. I worked in the NHS at Addenbrooke's NHS Trust, Cambridge and Private Practice in Cambridge. In my last post I worked in the Rheumatology Clinics as an Extended Scope practitioner triaging patients with spinal pain.
My academic work whilst at Addenbrookes Hospital included projects on differential diagnosis of abdominal pain, working with Professor John Hunter, auditing of the management of Spinal Pain within out-patients and research into the effects of different exercise programmes on outcomes following spinal surgery.
I review papers for numerous journals and funding bodies.
Professional memberships
I am a registerd on the Health and Care Professions Council. I am a member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy,The Manipulation Association of Chartered Physiotherapists, British Orthopaedic Research Society, The Society of Back Pain Research the Cardiff Institute of Tissue Engineering and Repair (CITER).
Publications
We are currently unable to retrieve the list of publications. Visit our institutional repository.Teaching
My teaching focus is on pathological changes in musculoskeletal tissues and research methods. Within the sports modules I teach clinical reasoning related to the assessment and treatment of sports/musculoskeletal disorders.
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I work with a multidisciplinary team within the Biomechanics and Bioengineering Research Centre Versus Arthritis investigating the causes and management of musculoskeletal related disorders in particular spinal and knee pain. My main focus is developing targetted treatments and developing interventions for spinal disorders.
https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/biomechanics-bioengineering-research-centre-versus-arthritis
I am a member of the Planetary Health Cardiff University Research Network
I am a member of Cardiff Institute of Tissue Engineering and Repair (CITER) which encourages multidisciplinary research
I am Honorary Secretary of the Society of Back Pain Research
Supervision
I have a large porfolio of PhD students working in the areas of self management for Musculoskeletal disorders.
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