Professor Barby Singer - Hypertonicity, Education, APA Career Pathway Framework

Barby Singer is a Professor in the School of Medical & Health Science at Edith Cowan University in Perth, Western Australia. She is an APA Neurological Physiotherapist, a Fellow of the Australian College of Physiotherapists by Original Contribution in 2011 and has more than 40 years of clinical and academic experience in neurological rehabilitation. Barby has been a key leader in Australia for post-graduate neurological education both at the tertiary level and at the Australian Physiotherapy Association. She has held various roles in the Australian College of Physiotherapists and her passion for positive changes has led to a number of changes in the examination process for Fellowship by Specialisation and the new career pathway framework. In 2021 she was bestowed with the APA’s elite Honoured Member status.Barby holds a PhD in hypertonicity management, a Post Graduate Diploma in Health Sciences (Neurosciences), a Master of Science and a Diploma Physio which she completed way back in 1980 in Auckland, NZ.Barby’s research interests include management of spasticity for people with acquired brain injury, self management support for people with long term neuro conditions, measuring outcomes in neuro rehab and interventions to improve recovery of arm function after acquired brain injury. There is a ton to unpack with Barby but this episode focuses on here thoughts on clinical education both for clinician learning and for patient management, the APA career pathway framework, hypertonicity, and serial casting. We also talk about Advanced practice and physio specialisation in countries and whether pay is sufficient for these highly trained physios. So lots to check out, we hope you enjoy it.2.02 Intro3.23 Barby’s varied career4.40 Physios need to be educators8.47 APA career framework12.11 Rural specialist 15.29 Clinical Mentorship in the new career framework17.47 Industry shortage21.04 Remuneration for advanced or specialist Physios24.47 Advanced practice opportunities in neuro26.19 Barby’s interest in hypertonicity & PhD31.37 Anterior knee pain botulinum toxin34.38 Spasticity definition & measurement38.10 Hypertonicity management - where we’ve gone wrong43.17 Role of serial casting52.29 Working with PhD students58.11 Episode reflectionLinksBarby’s Edith Cowan University Profile pageBarby’s ResearchGateBarby’s Linked InAPA career pathway frameworkPapers Barby talks about in the episode:Sutherland et al., 2022 - Do randomised controlled trials evaluating functional outcomes following botulinum neurotoxin-A align with focal spasticity guidelines? A systematic reviewWilliams et al., 2020 A synthesis and appraisal of clinical practice guidelines, consensus statements and Cochrane systematic reviews for the management of focal spasticity in adults and childrenLike our podcast and want to support us?Share the show with your friends & colleagues, give us a rating on your podcast platform or Buy us a coffee. Matt & Erin run the podcast out of their own time and resources. We'd love to update our recording equipment & cover our podcast publishing costs. Buy us a coffee if you can.