Musculoskeletal health and rehabilitation

One in five people in Australia experience persistent pain. Musculoskeletal disorders (such as back pain, neck pain and osteoarthritis) are the leading contributor to disability worldwide.  Hence, Musculoskeletal Health and Persistent Pain Research is an important program of work at The Hopkins Centre.

This research program focuses on musculoskeletal conditions and persistent pain, including SCI and interventions that have effects on the musculoskeletal system and may cause persistent pain. This research aims to better understand pathophysiology of complex pain states, improve the diagnosis and management and unravel the working mechanisms of successful interventions. We have have a broad research focus, including traditional musculoskeletal conditions, but also neurological conditions and systemic conditions, such as diabetes, and interventions that have important side effects on the musculoskeletal system and may cause persistent pain, such as cancer and cancer treatment. Pain is also an important limiting factor in neurological conditions (e.g., stroke and spinal cord injury), systemic conditions (e.g., diabetes) or an important side effect of treatment (e.g., chemotherapy induced neuropathic pain).

The Musculoskeletal Health and Persistent Pain Research Lab is located at the Griffith University Nathan campus.

The research lab aim is to develop and test novel and effective (non-pharmacological) interventions for people with pain. The lab has state-of-the art equipment to study pain and nerve function, and advanced medical imaging systems. The research lab is led by Prof. Michel Coppieters, and is home to many staff, postdocs, and HDR students of the School of Allied Health Sciences. They are either part of or have strong links with The Hopkins Centre.

If you are interested in what we do or like to collaborate, don’t hesitate to contact us. We are also always looking for healthy control participants for our research projects. So how about visiting the lab while participating in a study, or refer a patient. You can express your interest at: MSK.lab@griffith.edu.au

Read more about the Musculoskeletal Health & Persistent Pain Research Group