Kesava Kovanur Sampath

• PhD; M.Ost (NZ); PG Cert. in Ter. Teaching (NZ); Grad Dip Health Sci (Infant &Youth); B.Phty (India)
• Principal Academic Staff Member at Waikato Institute of Technology

Objective To determine whether manual therapy or exercise therapy or both is beneficial for people with hip osteoarthritis in terms of reduced pain, improved physical function and improved quality of life. Methods Databases such as Medline, AMED, EMBASE, CINAHL, SPORTSDiscus, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Physiotherapy Evidence Databas...

The aim of this meta-analysis was to determine the effectiveness of spinal manipulation in influencing various biochemical markers in healthy and or symptomatic population. Electronic databases (n = 10) were searched (from inception till September 2016) and eight trials (325 participants) that met the inclusion criteria were included in the meta-a...

Study Design Controlled laboratory study. Background Spinal manipulation (SM) can trigger a cascade of responses involving multiple systems, including the sympathetic nervous system and the endocrine system, specifically, the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. However, no manual therapy study has investigated the neuroendocrine response to SM (ie, sympa...

Manual therapy initiates a cascade of neurophysiological changes in various systems including the peripheral nervous system, autonomic nervous system and the endocrine system. Of particular focus of this review was the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. When faced with a stressor, the HPA axis provides the frontline of defence resulting in...

Background Infantile asymmetries of posture, movement and/or shape are common. Coincidence in the presentation of asymmetrical features can lead to a broad spectrum of descriptors. Published guidelines on prevention strategies are not currently available. The objective of this systematic review was to find, evaluate, and synthesise the available ev...

Worldwide, mothers experience physical postpartum symptoms affecting their quality of life, such as perineal pain, urinary incontinence, faecal incontinence, pelvic girdle pain, and dyspareunia. However, the experience of postpartum recovery in New Zealand is poorly understood. The primary objective of this study was to explore the views of postpar...

Objectives To describe the prevalence and profile of NZ osteopaths treating people experiencing headaches and migraines. This study is the first to describe this practice. Background Manual and manipulative therapy interventions are commonly sought by individuals experiencing headaches or migraines. Evidence supports the use of manual therapy as p...

Background: Manual therapy is routinely used in the management of upper back pain (UBP), a disabling condition. However, the approach to diagnosis and treatment techniques used by manipulative physiotherapists and osteopaths is largely unknown. Objectives: To explore knowledge about UBP, including diagnosis and treatment, by New Zealand (NZ) ost...

Background: Chronic pain management is challenging. Those with chronic pain present to health professionals, including osteopaths. Methods: Secondary analysis of a cross-sectional survey of the Osteopathy Research Connect - New Zealand (ORC-NZ), a practice-based research network (PBRN). Demographic, practice, and treatment characteristics of ost...

Indigenous populations are disproportionately affected by type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and associated complications. However, the lack of cultural integration with the current management approach does not suit indigenous communities. Therefore, the aim of this scoping review is to map the existing literature related to culturally appropriate car...

Introduction Healthcare professionals are expected to demonstrate competence in the effective management of chronic disease and long-term health and rehabilitation needs. Care provided by groups of collaborating professionals is currently well recognized as a more effective way to support people living with these conditions than routine, single-pro...

Youth field hockey exhibits elevated injury rates, potentially attributed to insufficient training, limited injury prevention awareness, and resource constraints for players and coaches. Furthermore, a connection exists between inadequate sports recovery practices and sports-related injuries. This study represents the inaugural exploration in New Z...

Introduction: The peripheral stress response, consisting of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and hypothalamic pituitary adrenal-axis (HPA-axis), functions to maintain homeostasis in response to stressors. Cervical spine manual therapy has been shown to differentially modulate the stress response in healthy populations. No study has investigated...

Background: Infantile asymmetries of posture, movement and/or shape are common. Coincidence in the presentation of asymmetrical features can lead to a broad spectrum of descriptors. Evidence-based guidelines on prevention strategies are not currently available. The objective of this systematic review was to find, evaluate, and synthesise the availa...

The Waikato Institute of Technology launched an innovative approach in 2019 to deliver a Bachelor of Physiotherapy degree. The programme utilised a blended-block learning andragogy of face-to-face (block-week) and online learning. At the end of the first 4-year cycle, it seemed pertinent to understand the students’ perspective of this approach, whi...

The Waikato Institute of Technology launched an innovative approach in 2019 to deliver a Bachelor of Physiotherapy degree. The programme utilised a blended-block learning andragogy of face-to-face (block-week) and online learning. At the end of the first 4-year cycle, it seemed pertinent to understand the students' perspective of this approach, whi...

Upper back pain (UBP), often referred to as thoracic spine pain, is a prevalent musculoskeletal condition with significant implications for individuals' quality of life. Manual therapy (MT) techniques are commonly used by physiotherapists and osteopaths to manage upper back pain. However, the efficacy of such interventions has not been investigated...

Neuropathic pain can be caused by a lesion or disease of the somatosensory system characterized by pathological neuro-immune alterations. At a molecular level, microRNAs (miRNAs) act as regulators of gene expression orchestrating both immune and neuronal processes. Thus, miRNAs may act as essential modulators of processes for the establishment and...

Headache disorders are an important cause of pain and disability and substantially affect quality of life. Osteopaths are primary health care practitioners who primarily manage musculoskeletal conditions including headaches and migraines in their practice. However, there is a lack of data concerning the profile of Aotearoa/New Zealand (NZ) osteopat...

Background: The practice of osteopathy differs around the world. However, the dominant practice is that of manual therapy interventions guided by assessment of the neuromusculoskeletal system. Patient populations treated by osteopaths vary across the lifespan and include groups with more-nuanced care requirements such as those who are pregnant. The...

Background Physical examination involves clinical skills where therapists or trainees use their hands to assess tissues or joints for the presence or absences of abnormalities. The traditional “See one, do one, teach one” approach to teach these techniques has been shown to be inadequate. Therefore, digital applications such as virtual reality (VR)...

Field hockey, a physically demanding sport gaining popularity among New Zealand's youth, necessitates a balanced approach to training load and recovery to minimise injury risk and performance decline. Youth sports coaches are vital in implementing injury prevention programs prioritising sports recovery and the health and wellbeing of young field ho...

Background: miRNAs have been shown to be dysregulated in Neuropathic pain conditions such as diabetic painful neuropathy (DPN). While invasive techniques such as blood samples are routinely used to collect and analyse miRNAs, the use of non-invasive techniques such as salivary samples for analysing miRNAs involved in neuropathic pain has been minim...

Background: Spinal manipulation (SM) has been hypothesized to influence the autonomic nervous system (ANS). Further, it has been proposed that the effects may vary depending on the segment manipulated. The aim of this systematic review was to synthesize the current level of evidence for SM in influencing the ANS in healthy and/or symptomatic popul...

Neuropathic pain can be caused by a lesion or disease of the somatosensory system characterised by pathological neuro-immune alterations. At a molecular level, microRNAs (miRNAs) act as regulators of gene expression orchestrating both immune and neuronal processes. Thus, miRNAs may act as essential modulators of processes for the establishment and...

Objective: The aim of this systematic review was to update the current level of evidence for spinal manipulation in influencing various biochemical markers in healthy and/or symptomatic population. Methods: This is a systematic review update. Various databases were searched (inception till May 2023) and fifteen trials (737 participants) that met...

Diabetes is a major cause of morbidity and premature mortality worldwide and now identified as a ‘public health emergency’ and a ‘modern and preventable pandemic’. Indigenous populations are disproportionately affected by type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and associated complications. Student run free clinics (SRFCs) may play an important role in the...

Objectives Manual therapy is a specific hands-on approach used and taught by various professions such as physiotherapy and osteopathy. The current paradigm of teaching manual therapy incorporates the traditional ‘See one, do one, teach one’ approach. However, this ‘teacher centred’ approach may not enable learners to develop the complex clinical sk...

Increasingly, interprofessional teamwork is required for the effective delivery of public health services in primary healthcare settings. Interprofessional competencies should therefore be incorporated within all health and social service education programs. Educational innovation in the development of student-led clinics (SLC) provides a unique op...

In 2019, Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec) (Te Pūkenga) launched an innovative approach to the delivery of the Bachelor of Physiotherapy degree. The programme utilises a blended-block learning andragogy, of mixed face-to-face (block-week) and online learning. At the end of first 4-year cycle, it seemed pertinent to understand the students’ p...

Patient and public involvement (PPI) in every aspect of research will add valuable insights from patients’ experiences, help to explore barriers and facilitators to their compliance/adherence to assessment and treatment methods, bring meaningful outcomes that could meet their expectations, needs and preferences, reduce health care costs, and improv...

Background: Cervical spine mobilizations may differentially modulate both components of the stress response, consisting of the autonomic nervous system and hypothalamic pituitary adrenal-axis, depending on whether the target location is the upper or lower cervical spine. To date, no study has investigated this. Methods: A randomized, crossover t...

Background Currently, teaching methods for developing physical assessment and palpation skills in manual therapy is challenging for both learners and educators. 3D digital technologies such as virtual reality (VR) may facilitate and/or address these challenges. However, their current usage in improving learning outcomes in manual therapy education...

Objectives The current paradigm of teaching manual therapy is ‘teacher centred’ and may not enable learners to develop the complex clinical skills of manual therapy. 3D technologies such as virtual reality may facilitate the teaching and learning of manual therapy. Hence the aim of the current study was to investigate the perception, knowledge and...

Objectives: Manual therapy is a specific hands-on approach used and taught by various professions such as physiotherapy and osteopathy. The current paradigm of teaching manual therapy incorporates the traditional ‘See one, do one, teach one’ approach. However, this ‘teacher centred’ approach may not enable learners to develop the complex clinical s...

Background Preliminary evidence suggests that individuals with persistent post-concussion symptoms (PPCS) have a dysfunctional stress response, consisting of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and hypothalamic pituitary adrenal-axis (HPA-axis). Objectives This review aims to explore the extent of evidence for dysfunction of the stress response in...

Background Osteopathy requires reliable and valid research tools to generate evidence on the different aspects of practice including how practitioners approach the clinical care of patients. Such research will help the osteopathy profession understand its contribution to healthcare provision and communicate this to stakeholders. However, current qu...

Background: Currently, teaching methods for developing complex physical assessment and palpation skills in manual therapy is challenging for both learners and educators. 3D digital technologies such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality may facilitate and/or address these challenges. However, their current usage and/or r...

Objective The purpose of the present study was to determine the neuroendocrine response after a thoracic spinal manipulation in people with Achilles tendinopathy. Methods This was a randomized 2-sequence, 2-period crossover trial. A total of 24 participants, mean (standard deviation) age of 48 (7) years, with a diagnosis of Achilles tendinopathy (...

Background Clinical practice guidelines commonly recommend adopting a biopsychosocial (BPS) framework by practitioners managing musculoskeletal pain. However, it remains unclear how osteopaths implement a BPS framework in the management of musculoskeletal pain. Hence, the objective of this review was to systematically appraise the literature on the...

Background 10-15% of individuals who sustain a concussion develop persistent post-concussion symptoms (PPCS). Presently, there is no consensus regarding the pathophysiology of PPCS. Preliminary evidence suggests that individuals with PPCS have either a dysfunctional autonomic nervous system (ANS) or hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA-axis). T...

Background: Clinical practice guidelines commonly recommend adopting a biopsychosocial (BPS) framework by practitioners managing musculoskeletal (MSK) pain. However, it remains unclear how osteopaths implement a BPS framework in the management of MSK pain. Hence, the objective of this review was to systematically appraise the literature on the curr...

The trusted role and professional standing that osteopaths have with their patients and within their wider communities requires that the information and messages they communicate are informed by and congruent with current evidence, public health guidance and scientific consensus. This expectation is even more critical during the covid-19 pandemic,...

Background The incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) is rising in India and there is a need for a systematic review to corroborate the effects of physiotherapy interventions and their cultural adaptations on CVDs in India. Objectives To summarize the level of evidence for the effects of physiotherapy interventions on disease-specific and gen...

Background Musculoskeletal (MSK) pain conditions have a substantial influence on the quality of life. Psychosocial factors such as depression, anxiety and social isolation have been shown to play an important role in the development and management of MSK pain. Therefore, clinical practice guidelines commonly recommend adopting a biopsychosocial (BP...

What are the current knowledge, perceptions and attitudes toward integrating the biopsychosocial (BPS) model in clinical practice by osteopaths in New Zealand?

Protocol for a systematic review to determine the effectiveness of spinal manipulation on eliciting changes in ANS activity in humans.

In this conference presentation, the findings from the study looking at the neuro-endocrine response following a thoracic spinal manipulation in people with Achilles Tendinopathy was presented.

In this poster, the changes in Tissue Oxygenation Index (TOI) in calf muscle following a thoracic spinal manipulation in people with AT was presented.

Background: A majority of patients with uncomplicated mood disorders are managed in the primary care setting. The link between psychological issues and musculoskeletal pain has been well established. Therefore, osteopaths are potentially well placed to in early identification and management of mood disorders. Hence, understanding barriers to identi...

Spinal Manipulation (SM) is a common therapeutic technique used by a multitude of practitioners (Physiotherapists, Osteopaths and Chiropractors) to reduce pain and improve physical function. Various studies have explored the mechanisms through which SM acts. One such mechanism is the liberation of biochemical markers following a SM. Therefore, a sy...

Spinal manipulation, a common therapeutic technique used by physiotherapists may have widespread effects on various biochemical markers such as pain markers, inflammatory markers and endocrine markers. The aim of this systematic review was to determine the effectiveness of spinal manipulation in influencing various biochemical markers in healthy an...

Introduction: Spinal manipulation can trigger a cascade of neurophysiological response involving multiple bodily systems including the endocrine system. However, there is little knowledge that supports these effects. Therefore, the objective of this study trial was to determine whether a thoracic spinal manipulation (TSM) influences the endocrine m...

Down syndrome (DS) is the most common aneuploidy of chromosome 21, characterized by the presence of an extra copy of that chromosome (trisomy 21). Children with DS present with an abnormal phenotype, which is attributed to a loss of genetic balance or an excess dose of chromosome 21 genes. In recent years, advances in prenatal screening and diagnos...

Objective A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to illustrate whether people with multiple sclerosis engage in more physical activity following behaviour change interventions. Data resources MEDLINE, CINAHL, PubMed, Web of Sciences, Cochrane Library, SCOPUS, EMBASE and PEDro were searched from their inception till 30 April 2015. Tri...