Dr Hilary Gunn
Profiles

Dr Hilary Gunn

Associate Professor in Physiotherapy

School of Health Professions (Faculty of Health)

Dr Hilary Gunn can be contacted through arrangement with our Press Office, to speak to the media on these areas of expertise.
  • Physiotherapy
  • Exercise
  • Accidental falls
  • Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
  • Student placement
  • Balance
Biography

Biography

Associate Professor in Physiotherapy at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels including PhD supervision. I am particularly involved with teaching of neurology, but also have expertise in other areas of clinical practice, including elderly care and falls management. Alongside my teaching work I am actively involved in research, and completed my PhD in April 2015. My research areas relate to balance and falls, with a focus on people with neurological conditions. Within the programme I am also responsible for developing and support research activities

Qualifications

I gained my Graduate Diploma in Physiotherapy from the Queen Elizabeth School of Physiotherapy, Birmingham in 1990. Following this I spent two years completing a rotational post where I gained clinical experience in a variety of settings covering the range of 'core' specialities in physiotherapy practice. My first senior post was specialising in medical respiratory care, including cardiac and respiratory rehabilitation programmes, as well as working with patients in the acute stages following stroke and other neurological problems.
Subsequently I moved onto other posts with a greater focus on rehabilitation of patients with neurological disability and multi-pathology associated with ageing. I spent time working in an in-patient neuro-rehabilitation unit, then moved into a post working as a core member of a multi-disciplinary community rehabilitaion team which specialised in the assessment and management of people with long term conditions (predominantly neurology) and complex needs. My last full time clinical post (2002-2005) was working as a locality lead physiotherapist, where I carried day-to day responsibility for the running of the physiotherapy service, as well as maintaining a clinical case load working with older clients, as both in-patients and in the community
I was appointed to teach on the Physiotherapy undergraduate degree in 2005, and have also been involved with programme admissions, placements and clinical research. I completed my MSc in Clinical Education, Peninsula Postgraduate Health Institute in 2007, and my PhD in Health Studies in 2015. Subsequently I have managed an HTA funded feasibility trial of the MS falls intervention that was developed through my PhD work and beyond. I now juggle my academic and research activities alongside maintaining a small input in the clinical world as time allows!

Professional membership

Member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists 1990 - present

Health and Care Professions Council 1990- present

Association of Physiotherapists Interested in Neurology 1995 - present

Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2017)

Teaching

Teaching

Teaching interests

I enjoy being involved with the ongoing delivery and development of the pre-registration physiotherapy programmes and post grad Advanced professional practice modules. My academic work allows me to utilise a variety of teaching methods and approaches, and include a blend of the academic and practical work. I am also module lead for the School wide research dissertation module which blends my academic and research skills and knowledge to support and facilitate students and staff across six professional programmes.
I am closely involved with the teaching of the adult neurology and elderly care elements of the course at both an undergraduate and postgraduate level. This includes relevant patho-physiology, anatomy, and related theory as well as ensuring that the management side of our work remains current and evidence based. The close links between this aspect of my work and my current research activity is extremely valuable in his context.

Staff serving as external examiners

  • University of the West of England MSc Rehabilitation
  • Royal College of Surgeons Ireland UMHS MSc in Neurological Rehabilitation

Research

Research

Research interests

  • Accidental falls in people with Multiple Sclerosis
  • Telerehabilitation
  • Neurological Rehabilitation
  • Frailty and falls in older people

Grants & contracts

Recent Grants

2020       Freeman J et al (HG co-applicant) Development and Evaluation of a Training Package to support the Remote Assessment and Management of People with Movement Impairment and Disability. UKRI/NIHR COVID-19 Rapid Response Initiative £219,700

2019       Dunks. B, Gunn. H (PI). Renaissance: A creative movement and strength programme targeting safe mobility and falls reduction in older people living in community housing associations. European Regional development fund innovations in healthy ageing project £6000

2017       Gunn. H (PI), Atkinson, S. Developing an interactive falls reporting smartphone application. University of Plymouth Institute of Health and Community. £2500

2016-2018   Freeman, J. (CI), Gunn, H., et al ‘Balance Right in Multiple Sclerosis (BRiMS): A guided self-management programme to reduce falls and improve quality of life, balance and mobility in people with Multiple Sclerosis’. NIHR (Health Technology Assessment Scheme) £367,110


Publications

Publications

Key publications

Key publications are highlighted

Journals
Articles
Goddard S, Gunn H, Kent B, Dennett R & Goddard S (2024) 'The Experience of Physical Recovery and Physical Rehabilitation Following Hospital Discharge for Intensive Care Survivors— A Qualitative Systematic Review' Nursing Reports 14, 148-163 , DOI Open access
Harpham I, Gunn H, Marsden J, Bescos Garcia R & Connolly L (2024) 'Home‐based high‐intensity interval training for people with Parkinson's: Protocol for the HIIT‐Home4Parkinson's randomized, controlled feasibility study' Health Science Reports , DOI Open access
Hassan AB, Salihu AT, Masta MA, Gunn H, Marsden J, Abdullahi A, Ahmad RY & Danazumi MS (2023) 'Effect of transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation on spasticity in upper motor neuron conditions: a systematic review and meta-analysis' Spinal Cord , DOI Open access
Harpham I, Gunn H, Marsden J & Connolly L (2023) 'Co-Creating a Feasible, Acceptable and Safe Home-Based High-Intensity Interval Training Programme for People with Parkinson’s: The HIIT-Home4Parkinson’s Study' IJERPH Open access
Harpham I, Gunn H, Marsden J & Connolly L (2023) 'The feasibility, safety, physiological and clinical effects of high‑intensity interval training for people with Parkinson’s: a systematic review and meta‑analysis' Aging Clinical and Experimental Research , DOI Open access
Buckingham S, Anil K, Demain S, Gunn H, Jones RB, Kent B, Logan A, Marsden J, Playford ED & Freeman J (2022) 'Telerehabilitation for people with physical disabilities and movement impairment: development and evaluation of an online toolkit for practitioners and patients' Disability and Rehabilitation 1-8 , DOI Open access
Buckingham SA, Sein K, Anil K, Demain S, Gunn H, Jones RB, Kent B, Logan A, Marsden J & Playford ED (2022) 'Telerehabilitation for physical disabilities and movement impairment: A service evaluation in South West England' Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice , DOI Open access
Buckingham SA, Anil K, Demain S, Gunn H, Jones RB, Kent B, Logan A, Marsden J, Playford ED & Freeman J (2022) 'Authors' Responses to Peer Review of “Telerehabilitation for People With Physical Disabilities and Movement Impairment: A Survey of United Kingdom Practitioners”' JMIRx Med 3, (1) , DOI Open access
Buckingham SA, Anil K, Demain S, Gunn H, Jones RB, Kent B, Logan A, Marsden J, Playford ED & Freeman J (2022) 'Telerehabilitation for People With Physical Disabilities and Movement Impairment: A Survey of United Kingdom Practitioners' JMIRx Med 3, (1) , DOI Open access
Jones RB, Hubble S, Taylor L, Gunn H, Logan A, Rowland T, Bradwell H, Connolly LJ, Algie K & Anil K (2021) 'Authors’ Response to Peer Reviews of “Technologies to Support Assessment of Movement During Video Consultations: Exploratory Study”' JMIRx Med 2, (3) e32248-e32248 , DOI Open access
Jones RB, Hubble S, Taylor L, Gunn H, Logan A, Rowland T, Bradwell H, Connolly LJ, Algie K & Anil K (2021) 'Technologies to Support Assessment of Movement During Video Consultations: Exploratory Study' JMIRx Med 2, (3) , DOI Open access
Anil K, Freeman JA, Buckingham S, Demain S, Gunn H, Jones RB, Logan A, Marsden J, Playford D & Sein K (2021) 'Scope, context and quality of telerehabilitation guidelines for physical disabilities: a scoping review' BMJ Open 11, (8) , DOI Open access
Gunn H, Stevens KN, Creanor S, Andrade J, Paul L, Miller L, Green C, Ewings P, Barton A & Berrow M (2021) 'Balance Right in Multiple Sclerosis (BRiMS): a feasibility randomised controlled trial of a falls prevention programme' Pilot and Feasibility Studies 7, (1) , DOI Open access
Coote S, Comber L, Quinn G, Santoyo-Medina C, Kalron A & Gunn H (2020) 'Falls in People with Multiple Sclerosis' International Journal of MS Care 22, (6) 247-255 , DOI Open access
Logan A, Freeman J, Pooler J, Kent B, Gunn H, Billings S, Cork E & Marsden J (2020) 'Effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions to treat orthostatic hypotension in elderly people and people with a neurological condition' JBI Evidence Synthesis Publish Ahead of Print, , DOI Open access
Gunn H, Andrade J, Paul L, Miller L, Creanor E, Stevens K, Green C, Ewings P, barton A & Berrow M (2019) 'A self-management programme to reduce falls and improve safe mobility in people with secondary progressive MS: the BRiMS feasibility RCT' Health Technology Assessment 23, (27) , DOI Open access
Hunter HD, Lovegrove C, Haas B, Freeman J & Gunn H (2019) 'Experiences of people with Parkinson's disease and their views of physical activity interventions: a qualitative systematic review' JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports , DOI Open access
Freeman J, Gorst T, Gunn H & Robens S (2019) '"A non-person to the rest of the world": experiences of social isolation amongst severely impaired people with multiple sclerosis' Disability and Rehabilitation 1-9 Author Site , DOI Open access
Munford D & Gunn HJ (2018) 'What are the perceptions and experiences of falls amongst people with stroke who live in the community?' Disability and Rehabilitation , DOI Open access
Gunn HJ, Cameron M, Hoang P, Lord S, Shaw S & Freeman J (2018) 'The relationship between physiological and perceived fall risk in people with multiple sclerosis: implications for assessment and management' Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 99, (10) , DOI Open access
Hunter H, Lovegrove C, Haas B, Freeman J & Gunn H (2017) 'Experiences of people with Parkinson's disease and their views of physical activity interventions: a qualitative systematic review protocol' JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports 15, (11) 2619-2623 Author Site , DOI Open access
Gunn HJ, Endacott R, Haas B, Marsden J & Freeman J (2017) 'Development of a balance, safe mobility and falls management programme for people with multiple sclerosis' Disability and Rehabilitation , DOI Open access
Gunn HJ, Andrade J, Paul L, Miller L, Creanor S, Green C, Marsden J, Ewings P, Berrow M & Vickery J (2017) 'Balance Right in Multiple Sclerosis (BRiMS): a guided self-management programme to reduce falls and improve quality of life, balance and mobility in people with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis: a protocol for a feasibility randomised controlled trial' Pilot and Feasibility Studies , DOI Open access
Hoang PD, Baysan M, Gunn H, Cameron M, Freeman J, Nitz J, Low Choy NL & Lord SR (2016) 'Fall risk in people with MS: A Physiological Profile Assessment study' Multiple Sclerosis Journal - Experimental, Translational and Clinical 2, 205521731664113-205521731664113 , DOI Open access
Gunn H, Markevics S, Haas B, Marsden J & Freeman J (2015) 'Systematic Review: The Effectiveness of Interventions to Reduce Falls and Improve Balance in Adults With Multiple Sclerosis' Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 96, (10) 1898-1912 , DOI Open access
Coote S, Sosnoff JJ & Gunn H (2014) 'Fall Incidence as the Primary Outcome in Multiple Sclerosis Falls-Prevention Trials' International Journal of MS Care 16, (4) 178-184 , DOI
Nilsagård Y, Gunn H, Freeman J, Hoang P, Lord S, Mazumder R & Cameron M (2014) 'Falls in people with MS--an individual data meta-analysis from studies from Australia, Sweden, United Kingdom and the United States' Mult Scler 21, (1) 92-100 Author Site , DOI Open access
Gunn H, Cattaneo D, Finlayson M, Freeman J & Sosnoff JJ (2014) 'Home or away? Choosing a setting for a falls-prevention program for people with multiple sclerosis' Int J MS Care 16, (4) 186-191 Author Site , DOI
Gunn H, Creanor S, Haas B, Marsden J & Freeman J (2013) 'Frequency, characteristics, and consequences of falls in multiple sclerosis: findings from a cohort study' Arch Phys Med Rehabil 95, (3) 538-545 Author Site , DOI
Gunn H, Creanor S, Haas B, Marsden J & Freeman J (2013) 'Risk factors for falls in multiple sclerosis: an observational study' Mult Scler 19, (14) 1913-1922 Author Site , DOI
Gunn HJ, Newell P, Haas B, Marsden JF & Freeman JA (2013) 'Identification of risk factors for falls in multiple sclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis' Phys Ther 93, (4) 504-513 Author Site , DOI
Gunn H, Hunter H & Haas B (2012) 'Problem Based Learning in physiotherapy education: a practice perspective' Physiotherapy 98, (4) 330-335
Gunn H & Freeman J (2012) 'Repeated falls: a key outcome or an adverse event?' Physiother Res Int 17, (1) 1-3 Author Site , DOI
Gunn HJ, Hunter H & Haas B (2011) 'Problem Based Learning in physiotherapy education: a practice perspective' Physiotherapy , DOI Open access
Gunn H & Goding L (2007) 'Continuing Professional Development of physiotherapists based in community primary care trusts: a qualitative study investigating perceptions, experiences and outcomes' Physiotherapy 95, (3) 209-214 , DOI
Conference Papers
Dennett R, Gunn H & Freeman J (2018) 'Effectiveness of and user experience with web-based interventions in increasing physical activity levels in people with Multiple Sclerosis: A systematic review' Oxford University Press (OUP) , DOI Open access
Gunn H, Endacott R, Haas B, Marsden J & Freeman J (2015) 'Developing a falls management intervention for people with MS: a nominal group study' 526-526
Finlayson M, Cattaneo D, Cameron M, Coote S, Freeman J, Gunn H, Jonsdottir J, Matsuda P, Peterson E & Sosnoff J (2015) 'The international MS falls prevention research network: development and direction' 520-521
Robens S, Fox E, Grose J, Gunn H & Freeman J (2014) 'Social isolation amongst severely impaired people with multiple sclerosis (MS): choice, control and identity' 968-969
Gunn H, Nilsagard Y, Cameron M, Hoang P, Mazumder R, Freeman J & Lord S (2013) 'Falls in people with multiple sclerosis: an international perspective' 45-45
Gunn HJ, Marsden J, Haas B, Creanor S, Zajieck J & Freeman J (2012) 'Risk factors for falls in Multiple Sclerosis' RIMS Hamburg S15-S24
Gunn H, Freeman J, Marsden J, Haas B, Creanor S & Zajicek J (2012) 'Risk factors associated with falls in people with multiple sclerosis' S19-S19
Gunn H, Hunter H & Haas BM (2009) 'An exploration of clinical educators’ perceptions of Physiotherapy students who are studying on a Problem Based Learning (PBL) undergraduate programme' Negotiating Problem Based Learning - 9th Finnish Problem-based Learning Conference Tempere, Finland 4-/-0/20094-/-0/2009
Presentations and posters
Gunn H, Andrade J, Paul L, Miller L, Creanor S, Green C, Marsden J, Ewings P, Berrow M & Vickery J Gunn H, Andrade J, Paul L, Miller L, Creanor S, Green C, Marsden J, Ewings P, Berrow M & Vickery J 'Balance Right in Multiple Sclerosis (BRiMS): A guided self-management programme to reduce falls and improve quality of life, balance and mobility in people with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis: a protocol for a feasibility randomised controlled trial' Author Site , DOI Open access
Gunn HJ, Andrade J, Paul L, Miller L, Creanor S, Stevens K, Green C, Ewings P, barton A & Berrow M Gunn HJ, Andrade J, Paul L, Miller L, Creanor S, Stevens K, Green C, Ewings P, barton A & Berrow M 'Balance Right in Multiple Sclerosis (BRiMS): Preliminary results of a randomised controlled feasibility trial' , DOI Open access
Gunn H, Andrade J, Paul L, Miller L, Stevens K, Creanor S, Green C, Ewings P, Barton A & Berrow M Gunn H, Andrade J, Paul L, Miller L, Stevens K, Creanor S, Green C, Ewings P, Barton A & Berrow M 'Balance Right in Multiple Sclerosis (BRiMS): Preliminary results of a randomised controlled feasibility trial' , DOI
Bunn LM, Jones R, Haas B, Gunn H & Schoenborn P Bunn LM, Jones R, Haas B, Gunn H & Schoenborn P 'Clinical CPD in Devon and Cornwall: Surveying current constraints to accessing activities and scoping the potential for web-based CPD delivery for clinicians' Open access
Logan A, Freeman J, Pooler J, Kent B, Gunn H, Cork E, Billings S & Marsden J Logan A, Freeman J, Pooler J, Kent B, Gunn H, Cork E, Billings S & Marsden J 'The effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions to treat orthostatic hypotension (OH) in people with stroke: a systematic review' Author Site , DOI
Logan A, Freeman J, Pooler J, Kent B, Gunn H, Cork E, Billings S & Marsden J Logan A, Freeman J, Pooler J, Kent B, Gunn H, Cork E, Billings S & Marsden J 'The effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions to treat orthostatic hypotension in people with stroke: a systematic review' , DOI
Denton A, Gunn H & Hemmings K Denton A, Gunn H & Hemmings K 'Associations between physical activity, quality of life and headache in people with Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension' Author Site , DOI
Denton A, Gunn H & Hemmings K Denton A, Gunn H & Hemmings K 'Associations between physical activity, quality of life and headache in people with Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension' Author Site , DOI