Jeremy Witchalls

University of Canberra · Research Institute for Sport and Exercise

Background Proprioceptive deficits are common among stroke survivors and can negatively impact their balance and postural control. However, there has been little evaluation of the change in proprioceptive deficits in the lower limbs over time after stroke. This study aimed to examine proprioceptive deficits over time after stroke in both the affect...

Background Despite the importance of lower limb sensation in walking highlighted in systematic reviews, there is limited research investigating the effect of proprioceptive deficits after stroke and any relationship with walking ability. Objectives With stroke survivors of different walking ability, this study aimed to (1) explore side (affected/u...

Previous research has demonstrated that postural stability may be improved by increasing stimulation to the somatosensory system. Wearing lower limb compression garments or textured in-soles have been found to be effective short-term methods for improving postural stability, hypothesized to be due to enhanced tactile feedback. The aim of this study...

Active movement extent discrimination assessment (AMEDA) is a psychophysical task that evaluates proprioception and tactile acuity of the lower limbs, and it is a method of determining sensorimotor ability. Sensorimotor ability is the ability to judge small differences in movement tasks through the process of receiving sensory messages (sensory inp...

Background Given the high incidence and heavy burden of ankle sprains in recruits, large-scale, multifactorial investigations into potential risk factors are warranted. This study aimed to identify the incidence of ankle sprains and associated risk factors among new military recruits during their infantry training. Methods The study included 365 i...

Introduction: The gluteus medius (GMED) and gluteus maximus (GMAX) play a crucial role in postural control, and postural control is impaired in individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI). However, the association between CAI and the recruitment of these muscles remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to explore the contractile thickne...

Coaches typically play a central role in team performance and player selection, but their assessments can also be valuable for the medical team in injury prevention and recovery. This research aimed to evaluate whether soccer coaches' evaluations of their players' physical abilities align with performance testing during pre-season. The players were...

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Objective To review the effectiveness of different physical therapies for acute and sub-acute low back pain supported by evidence, and create clinical recommendations and expert consensus for physiotherapists on clinical prescriptions. Data sources A systematic search was conducted in PubMed and the Cochrane Library for studies published within th...

Background Lower limb somatosensation and proprioception are important for maintaining balance. Research has shown that compression garments or exposure to textured surfaces, can enhance somatosensation however, little is known about the effect of combined compression and texture on somatosensory acuity in the lower limb. This study aimed to assess...

Objective: Acupuncture or similar needling therapy has long been used to improve well-being, but its effectiveness in management of chronic ankle instability (CAI) is unclear. To investigate the efficacy of acupuncture or similar needling therapy on pain, proprioception, balance, and self-reported function in individuals with CAI. Methods: Nine...

Context: Ankle instability can include various impairments, including perceived instability (PI), mechanical instability (MI), and recurrent sprains (RS), alone or combined. Objective: To examine the prevalence of eight ankle impairment subgroups and their effect on neuromuscular performance in pre-recruitment combat soldiers. Design: Cross-se...

Objectives Medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS) is a common musculoskeletal injury in both sporting and military settings. No reliable treatments exist, and reoccurrence rates are high. Prevention of MTSS is critical to reducing operational burden. Therefore, this study aimed to build a decision-making model to predict the individual risk of MTSS w...

This prospective study aimed to determine which specific mobility tests were the most accurate for predicting falls in physically active older adults living in the community. Seventy-nine physically active older adults who met the American College of Sports Medicine physical activity guidelines volunteered. Participants were assessed and followed u...

Objective: To examine whether measures of neuromuscular control and proprioceptive acuity were predictive of falls in an older community-dwelling population and to develop a multivariate prediction model. Methods: Fifty-eight adults aged above 60 living independently in the community were recruited for a prospective falls study. On entry, they u...

Objectives: Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome (MTSS) is a common musculoskeletal injury, both in sports and the military. There is no reliable treatment and reoccurrence rates are high. Prevention of MTSS is critical to reducing operational burden. Therefore, this study aimed to build a decision-making model to predict the individual risk of MTSS withi...

We aimed to examine the associations between ankle instability, identified by mechanical and functional assessments, and an individual’s ability to cope unexpected perturbations. Sixty students were assessed for five different mechanical/functional ankle instability assessments: the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT), history of previous ankl...

Coaches are usually central to team performance and player selection, however, their observations and judgements may also be useful to the medical team where functional screening for injury prevention and recovery typically occur. This study aimed to assess whether soccer coaches' assessment of their players' physical skills is associated with the...

Fatigue can impair function of the three sensory systems (vestibular, visual, and somatosensory) that control postural balance. Yet impairment may be greater among individuals with than those without chronic ankle instability (CAI). The present study used posturography assessment to extend previous findings demonstrating reduced function of the thr...

Objectives To determine whether individuals with and without Chronic Ankle Instability (CAI) can improve their ankle movement discrimination sensitivity by repeated exposure to an ankle proprioceptive task requiring landing. Design A repeated-measures study. Setting University laboratory. Participants 24 university students, 11 with CAI and 13 w...

Objectives Ankle proprioception is important for effective human movement and thus active healthy aging. Chronic ankle instability (CAI) may be a contributing factor in proprioception decline. Proprioception and aging research indicate that there is age-related decline in proprioception, however, most research has been on activities conducted in fl...

To maintain postural balance, the proprioceptive, vestibular, and visual systems continuously provide body position and movement data to the central nervous system. In this study, our main aim was to examine, for the first time, the influence of anaerobically or aerobically induced fatigue on these separate functions in persons with and without chr...

Background The use of physical therapy modalities, especially high intensity laser therapy (HILT), for individuals with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is still controversial. Objective To compare the effects of HILT to other physical therapy modalities on symptoms and function in individuals with KOA. Methods Six databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Li...

While investigators have often compared ankle proprioception between groups with and without chronic ankle instability (CAI), findings have been inconsistent. Possibly this is because ankle proprioceptive impairment in this population is task-specific. Thus, we aimed to compare ankle inversion proprioception in individuals with and without CAI in t...

Aims To examine the relationship between ankle proprioception and the ability to maintain balance with increased magnitudes of unexpected perturbations; and to compare the participants’ ability to maintain balance following perturbations when starting from static and dynamic positions. Methods Sixty physical education students (average 24.6 years)...

Objectives To investigate the prevalence, incidence rate (IR) and burden of health problems (injuries and illnesses) in Australian Olympic class and State Sailing Pathway Program (SSPP) athletes over 12-months of training and competition. Design Descriptive epidemiological study. Methods Ninety-two Australian Sailing and SSPP athletes were prospe...

Objective To assess exercise therapies that aim to enhance proprioception in individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI). Data Sources Five databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and EBSCO) were searched in October 2021. Study Selection Randomized controlled trials involving exercise therapy conducted on individuals wit...

Objectives To determine the effect of graduated compression socks on ankle proprioception and the relationship between fatigue and ankle proprioception measures in half-marathon runners at successive 7 km intervals during a 21-km run. Design Repeated measures study. Methods Twenty well-trained half-marathon runners (mean ± SD: age 38.6 ± 11.3 y,...

Objective: To ensure accurate data capture for a fall study through a system of daily contact with participants. Methods: Fifty-eight adults older than 60 years of age and living independently in the community in Canberra, Australia, were recruited for a prospective fall study. We adopted a system of daily contact with study participants for at...

Background: Neck pain is common in dancers, especially female dancers, and the injury pattern varies in different genres of dance. Among dancesport performers, intensive neck left rotation is required in female International Standard dancers, but it is unknown whether neck pain is associated with neck rotation range of motion and proprioception....

Background: Soccer players experience a high rate of injury, which impacts on individual and team performance, due to the physical demands and complex movements involved in the game. These combine with external variables, such as contact from other players, to increase injury potential. To reduce injury burden, preventative strategy requires an upd...

Introduction: Army training often incurs physical injury, with ankle injuries occurring in 10-20 % of soldiers during training. These patterns are reported with similar frequency and body-part distribution of injury in Israeli Defence Force (IDF) combat units. Research has shown that 32 % of individuals with ankle injuries develop chronic ankle ins...

Introduction: Kinesiology tape (KT) has been thought to be useful in enhancing performance and preventing injuries. However, it was unknown whether use of KT while wearing training shoes could improve ankle proprioception in individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI) in functional movement, such as drop landing. The current research was to de...

Background: Military training activities aim to establish a consistent level of fitness in soldiers and raise all to full combat standard. Physical fitness tests typically involve a combination of aerobic, agility and muscular strength activities. Various aspects of fitness have been shown to be predictive of reduced injury risk within this populat...

Introduction: MASK-EDTM simulation is a novel educational approach in which a clinically experienced educator dons a high-fidelity silicone mask and plays the role of a patient. MASK-EDTM simulation has not yet been evaluated in physiotherapy education. The purpose of this study was to describe physiotherapy students’ perceptions of the value of MA...

Proprioceptive ability - the sense of where body parts are located in space - is one of many factors thought to affect falls risk among the elderly. Active movement extent discrimination is an approach to measuring proprioception that is administered in an ecologically valid testing environment to better reflect the exercise of proprioceptive skill...

Objectives To determine whether self-reported chronic ankle instability (CAI) affects the physical performance of soldiers during army training, in routine army fitness tests and other sensorimotor tests. Design Prospective cohort comparison. Method Soldiers enrolled on the Infantry Commanders Course (ICCourse) of the Israeli Defense Force were t...

Objective To determine the effect of different lengths of kinesiology tape (KT) on ankle inversion proprioceptive performance in individuals with or without chronic ankle instability (CAI). Design A repeated measures study. Methods Fifteen participants with unilateral CAI and fifteen participants with no CAI volunteered. The Ankle Inversion Discr...

Objectives To assess whether ankle tape applied by a Sport and Exercise Physiotherapist (SEP) or self-applied by the athlete results in a change in proprioception and whether it is maintained during a netball session. Design Randomised controlled trial. Setting Australian Institute of Sport. Participants 53 pre-elite netball athletes. Main outc...

Objective Strength training as a form of exercise therapy has long been used to maintain or promote strength, but its effectiveness as a treatment intervention in chronic ankle instability is not fully understood. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of strength training compared to no exercise and neuromuscular control training on...

Background Research evidence has suggested that a more sensitive ankle proprioceptive testing method with higher ecological validity is needed for assessing proprioceptive deficits in individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI). Objectives 1) To determine the test-retest reliability of a novel ankle proprioception assessment tool, the Ankle I...

Previous research has found ankle proprioception to be impaired in people with Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the relationship between ankle proprioception and functional mobility in people with PD has not been fully investigated. The purpose of this study was to examine whether ankle proprioception is related to the functional mobility of peop...

Purpose Previous research has found hemispheric asymmetries in the utilization of proprioceptive information. It is undetermined, however, if there is any change in asymmetry in proprioceptive function when external stimulation, such as vibration, is presented. The present study was to investigate the immediate effects of vibration stimulation (VS)...

The Active Movement Extent Discrimination Apparatus (AMEDA) has been used for measuring proprioception at various joints in the body for more than two decades. The utility of this instrument for discriminating groups has been reported in terms of an area under the curve (AUC) derived from an absolute identification test. This metric has supported s...

Objectives: The aim of this study is to identify if intrinsic factors tested in the preseason screening (PSS) can identify an elevated risk of injury. This aim has two aspects; to assess whether previous injury is associated with ongoing deficits in performance, and to assess if the PSS can identify differences in intrinsic factors that profile ri...

Tan, J, Shi, X, Witchalls, J, Waddington, G, Lun Fu, AC, Wu, S, Tirosh, O, Wu, X, and Han, J. Effects of pre-exercise acute vibration training on symptoms of exercise-induced muscle damage: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2020-Exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) normally occurs after unaccustomed high-in...

Background: The purpose of the current study was to assess the reliability and validity of the lower extremity functional test (LEFT) for predicting low back and lower limb injury in active athletes. Methods: Seventy athletes (45M, 25F; mean age: 21 ± 2 years) from seven different sports volunteered. The LEFT was a battery of five weight-bearing...

Objectives To determine whether the proprioceptive ability of advanced and expert snowsport participants increased with time on-snow, and whether gender, age, snowsport discipline and/or previous ankle injury were factors in proprioceptive ability at the start of the winter snow season (T1, n = 80) compared to mid- season (T2, n = 39). Design Obse...

Evaluating countermeasures designed to reduce the impact of microgravity exposure on astronaut performance requires the development of effective methods of assessing changes to sensorimotor function in 1g analog systems. In this study, somatosensation at the ankle and fingers, lower leg muscle activity and visuomotor control were assessed using a f...

BACKGROUND: During flight, fast jet pilots frequently move their heads into extreme positions while withstanding large amounts of stress on their cervical spines. These factors are thought to contribute to episodes of neck pain. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of previous neck pain prevalence data in fast jet pilots to...

The burpee is a popular conditioning exercise, however there is a limited understanding of the internal load burpee protocols place on the body. This study compared the acute physiological and neuromuscular fatigue, to two high intensity interval training (HIIT) protocols, a sprint running and a burpee protocol. Twenty-four (35.7±8.6 years, VO2peak...

Background: The burpee, is one of the best-known exercises worldwide due to increased popularity among high intensity interval training programs. However, previously conducted research on the burpee has used inconsistent terminology and discrepancies in technical knowledge that has resulted in uncertain data representation. This literature review i...

Objective: To determine whether pre-season shoulder ROM and strength can be used to identify athletes at risk of future shoulder injury. Design: Prospective cohort. Setting: High performance sports institute. Participants: 76 sub-elite water polo players. Main outcome measures: Mean pre-season shoulder internal (IR) and external rotation (...

Water polo players require a high level of upper-extremity strength, flexibility and coordination to achieve a peak level of throwing performance. Increased levels of shoulder proprioceptive acuity, strength and range of motion (ROM) have been previously associated with higher sporting performance. A coach-rating scale, used to quantify an athlete'...

Water polo players have greater isokinetic shoulder strength than age‐matched controls. Due to the repetitive demands of throwing, however, water polo players demonstrate an altered strength ratio, with greater internal rotation (IR) strength relative to external rotation (ER). The relationship between shoulder strength and risk of shoulder injury...

Question Can manual therapy improve functional outcomes for individuals with chronic ankle instability? Design Systematic review with meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Participants Individuals with chronic ankle instability. Intervention Manual therapy is defined as an intervention that involves joint mobilization, and mobilization...

INTRODUCTION: Aerial combat manoeuvres involve frequent “head checks” above or behind the line of flight. Some head check positions are more physically demanding than others and may contribute to pilot neck pain. This study developed an automated system to interpret head-mounted inertial sensor data to reliably count each head check and classify th...

Objective: Investigate the patterns and circumstances of shoulder injury, in both male and female sub-elite water polo players, through evaluating the injury incidence, mechanism and subsequent training time lost. Design::Retrospective cohort. Setting: Sports institute. Participants: 80 sub-elite water polo players. Main outcome measures: Total inj...

Objectives: Quantifying individual risk for medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS) is valuable due to the high prevalence, substantial financial and service costs, and lengthy recovery time of the condition. Identification of those at risk is a key first step in prevention of the condition. This study aimed to test a suite of best evidence risk fact...

Objectives: Water polo is a popular water-based contact sport that involves swimming, throwing and defending. Cumulatively, these repetitive overhead activities are thought to increase the risk of shoulder injury and, subsequently to affect players' physical conditioning as well as team performance. The purpose of this review was to examine availa...

Objectives The use of microsensor technologies to conduct research and implement interventions in sports and exercise medicine has increased recently. The objective of this paper was to determine the validity and reliability of the ViPerform as a measure of load compared to vertical ground reaction force (GRF) as measured by force plates. Design A...