Jennifer Freeman

Academic profile

Professor Jennifer Freeman

Associate Head of School (Research)
School of Health Professions (Faculty of Health)

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The Global Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. Jennifer's work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

Goal 03: SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being

About Jennifer

My roles include:-

1. Associate Head of School (Research) 

2. Chair of the School Of Health Professions Undergraduate Ethics Committee.

3. Teaching and curriculum development for undergraduate and masters degree programmes within the School of Health Professions. 

4. Supervision of Masters and PhD students. I am very happy to discuss PhD opportunities within the field of physiotherapy and rehabilitation.

3. Lead of the Rehabilitation Research Group (within the Peninsula Institute of Health and Care Research), which holds monthly research group meetings.

4. Research: My research is focused predominately within the field of neurological rehabilitation, with particular expertise in the design and implementation of clinical trials in the rehabilitation of people with Multiple Sclerosis .  

Examples of recently completed / ongoing research include:

  • A multi-national, multi-centred 4 -armed RCT evaluating exercise and cognitive rehabilitation in people with progressive MS (COGEX trial)
  • A multi-centred service evaluation/ scoping review and national online survey to develop a telerehabilitation toolkit for the assessment of people with physical impairments
  • A multi-centred RCT investigating the clinical and cost effectiveness of a standing frame programme in people severely disabled by MS (SUMS Trial) 
  • A multi-centred feasibility RCT to investigate use of web-based technology for exercises in people with MS (WEBPaMS trial). 
  • A series of studies evaluating falls risk and the development of falls management interventions for people with MS (including the BRiMS trial)
  • A series of studies which are evaluating the clinical and cost effectiveness of a dynamic elastomeric fabric orthosis in the management of lumbo-pelvic pain in peri and post-partum women (including the EMaPP trial). 

Supervised Research Degrees

PhD awarded to: 

Dr Jane Grose for thesis entitled: "Living with MS: the confidant relationship explored". Awarded 2007. 
Dr Jodielin Ofori for thesis entitled: “Effect of Short Term Stretching on Ankle Stiffness and Range of Motion in People with Multiple Sclerosis”. Awarded 2013.
Dr Hilary Gunn for thesis entitled: “Evaluating and managing falls in people with multiple sclerosis”. Awarded 2015.
Dr Esther Fox for thesis entitled: "Pilates based core stability training in ambulant individuals with multiple sclerosis: a multi-centre randomised double blind placebo-controlled trial”. 2015
Dr Leanne Sawle for thesis entitled: “ The development and evaluation of a dynamic elastomeric fabric orthoses (DEFO) to aid in the management of athletic lumbopelvic injury”. Awarded 2015. 
Dr Terri Gorst for thesis entitled: “The effects of foot and ankle impairments on mobility and balance in community dwelling adults post stroke- a personal and multi-disciplinary approach”. 2017
Dr Angie Logan for thesis entitled: “A randomised controlled feasibility trial to investigate the effects of a functional standing frame programme versus usual physiotherapy to improve function and quality of life and reduce neuromuscular impairment in people with severe sub-acute stroke”. Awarded 2019
Dr Lee Cameron for thesis entitled: “The management of pelvic girdle pain through the use of dynamic elastomeric orthoses”. Awarded 2020. 
Dr Richard Collings for thesis entitled: “Footwear and insole design features to prevent foot ulceration in people with diabetes”. Awarded 2020.
Dr Rachel Dennett for thesis entitled: “Adherence to Physical Activity Interventions in People with Multiple Sclerosis”. Awarded 2021.

 

Teaching

1. Teaching at degree and masters level.

  • Physiotherapy, with a special interest in adult neurology
  • Evidence based practice / research methodology 
  • Outcome measurement

2. Supervision of masters and PhD students, using both quantitative and qualitative approaches, systematic and scoping reviews.

Highlights

REF REF Impact Case Study
 Improving the management of pelvic girdle dysfunction with an innovative orthosis