Embedding Evidence-Based Practice in Speech and Language Therapy: International examples

SSTO Principal Lecturer Dr Hazel Roddam’s book 'Embedding Evidence-Based Practice in Speech and Language Therapy: International examples' has been published in Danish.

The book, already selling well across Denmark, Sweden and Finland, is a translation of her 2010 book published by Wiley-Blackwell, which is an edited collection of international chapters from 24 countries.

This publication was initially targeted at speech and language therapists (SLTs), but has also been cited across a wide range of healthcare professions – who all share the same drivers to keep themselves up-to-date with the research evidence base relevant to their field of practice. Written for an audience of clinical practitioners, at any stage of their career, the book is a valuable resource for SLT students and lecturers.

Dr Roddam has also been invited to deliver a three-hour workshop on her book in Copenhagen next March, which will be her second invited lecture in Denmark. She has also had a return invitation to lecture on Evidence-Based Practice at the University of Oslo in June 2014.

Sport and Social Movements: From the Local to the Global

The SSTO's Senior Professor John Horne has completed a new book entitled 'Sport and Social Movements: From the Local to the Global.'

Written in collaboration with a team of four other multinational authors, this is the first book-length treatment of the way social movements have intersected and continue to intersect with sport.

It traces the history of various social movements associated with labour, women, peace, the environment and rights (civil, racial, disability and sexual), and their relationship to sport and sports mega-events.

Based on research that draws on theories of social movements and new social movements, the book includes a valuable chronology of social movements, illustrations of key episodes in the development of the relationships between sport and different social movements and an agenda for future research and scholarship.

Written in a clear and comprehensive style it is suitable for all levels of higher education, researchers and the general reader who want to know more about the role that sport has played in the development of social movements and campaigns for social justice.

The book is set for release on 21 November and is available to pre-order here.

SSTO historian traces football's founders

A cultural historian from the SSTO has tracked down the descendants of the founding fathers of football. Dr Jane Clayton, from the International Football Institute based in the School, led a four month search on behalf of the Football Association.

Little was known about Ebenezer Morley, Arthur Pember, Charles William Alcock, Francis Maule Campbell, John Forster Alcock, Herbert Thomas Steward, George Twizell Wawn and James Turner, who formed the FA in 1863.

However, Dr Clayton found the families of six of the men who drafted the original 13 laws of Association Football, and joined them for a ceremony at Wembley Stadium as a blue plaque was unveiled in their honour.

They travelled from as far away as Washington DC, Chicago and Auckland, as well as Lancashire and London for the event which started a week of celebrations to mark the FA's 150th birthday.

Dr Clayton said: "For the search to have been so successful is incredibly pleasing as, from a historical perspective, we now know a lot more about a number of the men that created the most popular sport in the world 150 years ago."

Alex Horne, general secretary of the FA, said: "In terms of historical significance, the eight founding fathers of football should be placed alongside other great pioneers of this nation.

"The game has become a focal point of the lives of nearly every household in England since it was formed, so to now understand more about the history of these men is incredibly important."

Contemporary Perspectives in Leisure

SSTO Senior Lecturer Dr Sean Gammon has completed a new book entitled 'Contemporary Perspectives in Leisure.'

Written in conjunction with Dr Sam Elkington from the University of Bedfordshire, the book uses a variety of disciplinary approaches to introduce the most important trends in contemporary leisure in the 21st Century.

With contributions from some of the leading international figures in modern leisure studies, the book examines key philosophical and theoretical debates around leisure, with reference to concepts such as happiness, enjoyment and quality of life, as well as the most interesting contemporary themes in leisure studies, from youth leisure and 'dark' leisure to technology and adventure.

The book will be released on 29 November. To pre-order a copy please click here.

Spinal Dysfunction CPD events

The SSTO is hosting two CPD events covering the Assessment and Management of Spinal Dysfunction in Primary care.

The events will look at practical assessment and also critically discuss and evaluate investigations (including radiology) and management strategies for lumbar and cervical management. These will explore the role of both surgical and conservative interventions including physiotherapy, rehabilitation and pain management.

Case discussions will form a large part of both courses.The events form part of a masters degree module so will be aimed at critically reviewing and evaluating contemporary practice. This is a valuable opportunity for experienced practitioners to reflect on, develop and consolidate skills supported by a team of experts.

The Lumbar Spine event takes place on November 21/22, while the Cervical Spine event is December 12/13. Full details of both events can be viewed here and here. There are limited places avaliable. For bookings or more information please email us.

SSTO has new Professor

After consideration by the Professorial and Readership Committee, Nicola Lowe has been appointed as Professor of Nutritional Sciences in SSTO.

Professor Lowe is the first person within SSTO to progress internally to the role and she broke off from her busy schedule to tell us how her appointment came about:

"I have been active in the field of micronutrient research for over 25 years, beginning with my doctoral research on kinetic studies of zinc metabolism in the Department of Medicine at Liverpool University.

"During my postdoc years at the Department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of California, Berkeley, my focus changed from basic biochemistry to whole body nutrient metabolism. Professor Janet King was Post-Doc advisor there. As a world-renowned micronutrient researcher, she was and still is my inspiration for achieving the highest levels in research.

"Coming to UCLan in 2000 as a Senior Lecturer gave me the opportunity to develop my research as a Principal Investigator in my own right. It has been a slow journey, taking 10 years to initially develop local networks while maintaining my international connections, then building up a research and publication portfolio with internal and external collaborators.

"Although basic scientific research is important in its own right, I always had the drive to apply basic research to situations where it could make practical differences to human health. One of the milestones at UCLan was becoming involved with the Abaseen Foundation, where I found a way to use my knowledge to tackle some of the real malnutrition issues in rural Pakistan.

"I have two strands to my research portfolio. I am still involved in basic research around micronutrient requirements and am leading a new European Commission network of Zinc biologists (from chemists to public health specialists) with academic partners from 16 European Countries, while continuing to develop the public health nutrition research hub to tackle malnutrition in NW Pakistan with the Khyber Medical University and Abaseen Foundation.

"Moving from Senior Lecturer to Reader and finally Professor was a hard journey. It has taken many years, lots of persistence and an inherently stubborn personality to meet the stringent criteria for Readership and then Professorship. I became a Reader in 2011 and the transition to Professor was a challenging experience, but the hurdles that have to be overcome make the award even more satisfying.

"My mission as a Professor at UCLan is continue to do research that can be applied to improve human health and wellbeing wherever it is most needed, and to inspire and equip the next generation of undergraduates and postgraduates to take up the mantle when their time comes."

Greg saves the day

An SSTO Physiotherapist helped save the day at a recent BBC Blue Peter film shoot. Greg Littler was on hand to help new presenter Lindsey Russell through a tough challenge at Preston Gymnastics Club.

Lindsey had been invited to take part in the British Gymnastics programme, which fuses traditional acrobatic tricks with kicks and leaps made famous through martial arts and stunt actors.

She spent two days with a young group of freestylers, learning various tricks with the help of the club's qualified coaches on their bespoke FreeG equipment.

However, the performance was nearly pulled from the show with the demands of filming leaving Lindsey needing Greg's magic touch to successfully complete the challenge.

Greg said he was delighted to be able to help: "I received a call in the morning that Lindsey had been training for her latest challenge and was struggling with muscle soreness. I assisted with Soft Tissue massage, Kinesio tape and advice in relation to recovery and preparation for the event.

"I worked both at the club and prior to the event at Blue Peter Studios at Media City. Lindsey did incredibly well considering it was a completely new type of training and managed to complete the challenge with no issues."

Greg also confirmed UCLan Physiotherapy Clinic has set up a link with Preston Gymnastics Club for our Sports Therapy students to support some of their athletes.