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The manual handling of people (MHP) is a core activity for care workers in residential aged care and is known to be associated with high incidence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). 

Promoting patient mobility within the manual handling (MH) interaction is an endorsed MHP risk control intervention strategy that should reduce risk exposure for staff and may also benefit the patient through increased independence and autonomy. However, while staff MHP intervention outcomes have been extensively investigated, evidence of the impact on patient outcomes, including mobility, is limited.  

This project investigated the nature and extent of environment related MHP interventions that may have influenced patient mobility outcomes through a review of the literature, trial of an existing PH assessment tool and subsequent development of the Pro-Mobility Patient/Person Handling Assessment Tool or Pro-Mob for this specific purpose.

Category: Injury outcomes

Researcher: Dr Robyn Coman

Supervisor: Dr Carlo Caponecchia 

Level: PhD

Status: Completed 

Serious head injuries are a major concern in light passenger vehicle rollover crashes. There are efforts in the USA and Australia to assess the feasibility of developing a dynamic rollover test to evaluate the crashworthiness of a vehicle in a rollover.

However, detailed information about the characteristics of serious head injuries in single-vehicle, single-event, ie. pure rollover crashes, and regarding the capabilities of the dynamic rollover test devices chosen for the separate USA and Australian investigations, is lacking. 

To address this knowledge gap, two crash databases are investigated to describe the characteristics of head injuries and associated crash factors for pure rollover crashes in Australia and the USA. 

Results from 80 dynamic rollover tests are analysed to evaluate the effects various test methods have on replicating and measuring ATD head response associated with serious head injury. The structural and kinematic responses of 48 vehicles in 83 tests conducted using the Jordan Rollover System (JRS) are evaluated. 

Logistic regression analysis is used to assess the relationship between the structural response of JRS-tested vehicles and the occurrence of incapacitating or fatal injury in single-vehicle rollover crashes. 

Finally, a human body finite element model is subjected to impact conditions identified from dynamic rollover tests to demonstrate the effect of rollover-related impact parameters on a pattern of head and spine injury observed in crash data.

Category: Injury outcomes

Researcher: Dr Garrett Mattos

Supervisor: Professor Raphael Grzebieta

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Concussion is prevalent in collision and contact sports and an injury of specific interest. Laboratory and epidemiological research in football codes, in which headgear is not mandatory, has demonstrated the limited effectiveness of headgear in preventing concussion. 

To further understand the biomechanics of concussion and develop effective prevention methods, it was necessary to investigate the dynamics of head impacts in sport.

Category: Injury outcomes

Researcher: Dr Declan Patton

Supervisor: Professor Raphael Grzebieta

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