Professor Jennifer Freeman

My roles include:-

1. Teaching and curriculum develoment

I am activley involved in curriculum development and teaching for the BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy Honours Degree and the Masters Programme in Neurological Rehabilitation.

I supervise both masters and PhD students.

2.  Deputy Director of CHeSCI, Institute of Health and Community  

In addition I co-lead the Rehabilitation Research Group,within CHeSCI, which involves co-ordinating monthly research site meetings and rehabilitation research group meetings, increasing staff awareness of research opportunities, promoting research activity within the Faculty and acting as a resource for staff on site.

I am a member of the School's undergraduate ethics committee.

3. Research

My research is within the field of neurological rehabilitation, with a particular interest in evaluating the effectiveness of whole care packages and targeted interventions in people with neurological conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis, Spinal Cord Injury and Stroke; and in exploring process aspects of rehabilitation care (such as goal setting).  
 
Examples of recently completed / ongoing clinical trials include:

• Evaluating the effects of stretching in people with MS 
• A multi-centred RCT evaluating exercise in people with MS
• A multi-centred RCT investigating the clinical and cost effectiveness of a standing frame programme in people severely disabled by MS. 
• A multi-centred feasibility RCT to investigate use of Web-based technology for exercises in people with MS. 
• A series of studies evaluating falls risk and the development of falls management interventions for people with MS 
• A series of studies which are developing and evaluating the use of a dynamic elastomeric fabric orthoses to accelerate return to sport after lumbo-pelvic injury; 
• 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. 

Qualifications

2001 Certificate in Teaching and Learning, University of Plymouth

1997 Doctorate of Philosophy Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London

1983 Bachelor of Applied Science (in Physiotherapy), with distinction, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia

Professional membership

Member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists 1988 - present (Fellow since 2013)

Council of Health Professions 1987 - present

Association of Physiotherapists Interested in Neurology 1988 - present

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy 2000 - present

Roles on external bodies

1999 Member of Task Group supporting the External Reference Group of the NSF for Older People with Stroke. NHS Executive

2000-2001 External Assessor for Masters in Science, University College London, School of Human Health and Performance

1999-2001 Member of Steering Group of the Outcomes Measures Database,Chartered Society of Physiotherapy

2001 Member of the Policy Development Group of the MS Society

2001-2002 Lead for developing and updating the Standards of Healthcare for people with MS, MS Society of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

2003-2008 Physiotherapy Advisor to the MS Society of Great Britain

2003-2004 Chair of the Clinical Standards Group of the Neurorehabilitation Review Group for the Peninsula Neuroscience Network

2004 Member of National Working Group for the development of a physiotherapy guidance document for the NICE MS Guidelines

2004-2006 Chair of the MS Care Pathways Group for South West Devon and East Cornwall

2006-2015 Member of the Research Grants Review Committee for the MS Society

2007 to date Member for the Research Group for Therapists in MS (MS Trust)  

2008 Workshop Leader. World Health Organisation Consensus Conference on Multiple Sclerosis:establishing a minimum dataset for the International Classification ofDisability and Functioning. Valens, Switzerland

2010 Honorary Member of the Swedish MS Society in recognition of research undertaken in the area of MS rehabilitation

2011-ongoing Member of the International Advisory Board at the Centre for Physiotherapy Research,University of Otago. (2011 – ongoing)

2010-2012 Member of the Working Group to develop Common Data Elements for MS (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke [NINDS] and the National Institutes of Health [NIH])

2012-ongoing Deputy Director Centre for Health and Social Care Innovation (CHeSCI),Plymouth University 

2012 Member Advisory Group for the European Rehabilitation in MS network for Best Practice and Research

2012 Member Advisory Group for MS Trust Information Needs Project 

2012-ongoing Mentor for the NIHR Fellowship Scheme

2014-ongoing Deputy Director of the Affiliated Centre of the Joanna Briggs Centre for Systematic Reviews, Plymouth

2014–ongoing Executive Board Member European“Rehabilitation in MS network for Best Practice and Research: RIMS”

2015-ongoing.Advisory Group Member for CRAAMS (HTA Project) ,University of Nottingham

Teaching interests

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.

Research interests

Clinical trials in rehabilitation, with a special interest in:

• The evaluation of whole packages of care and targeted interventions in people with long term neurological conditions 
• The evaluation of processes of rehabilitation care such as goal setting
• The evaluation of outcome measures

Research groups

• Centre for Health Technology

Research degrees awarded to supervised students

PhD awarded to Dr Jane Grose for thesis entitlied: "Living with MS: the confidant relationship explored". Awarded December 2007. 

Grants & contracts

GRANTS AWARDED